Instacart built its reputation as a go-to grocery delivery service, bringing supermarket essentials to your doorstep. 

But what about your favorite restaurant meals – can Instacart deliver those too? 

This article explores Instacart's capabilities (and recent changes) regarding restaurant meal delivery. 

We'll dive into Instacart's core services, its new partnership with Uber Eats for restaurant orders, how the process works, and how it stacks up against dedicated food delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub. 

By the end, you'll know exactly whether Instacart delivers restaurant meals in the U.S. and what to expect if you give it a try.

Instacart's Core Service vs. Restaurant Delivery

Instacart's primary service has always been grocery delivery. 

The platform connects customers with personal shoppers who handpick items from local stores and deliver them the same day​. 

This model excels for groceries – Instacart partners with chains like Kroger, Costco, Publix, and more to bring you everything from produce to pantry staples without you setting foot in a store. 

Instacart even offers insights on the best times to place grocery orders to get faster delivery and fresh stock​ based on Instacart delivery time analysis.

However, historically Instacart did not deliver restaurant-cooked meals. 

If you were craving pizza or burgers, you'd typically turn to food delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub) rather than Instacart. 

Recognizing this gap – and the fact that over one-third of Americans order takeout at least once a week​ – Instacart began exploring ways to expand into prepared meal delivery.

"Ready Meals" from Grocery Stores 

In 2022, Instacart rolled out a Ready Meals Hub featuring prepared foods from grocery store delis and kitchens. 

The idea was to offer a cheaper, healthier alternative to restaurant takeout by letting customers order ready-to-eat supermarket items (like rotisserie chickens, salads, sushi, and hot deli meals) alongside their groceries. 

Instacart even marketed this as a way to "break up with takeout" – encouraging users to get dinner from the grocery store rather than a restaurant. 

This move showed Instacart's interest in the meals space, but it still wasn't restaurant delivery in the traditional sense (it was limited to meals from grocery partners).

No Native Restaurant Service (Pre-2024)

Aside from grocery store meals, Instacart didn't have its own restaurant delivery arm. 

It wasn't dispatching drivers to McDonald's or Olive Garden on your behalf, and there was no option to order from restaurants within the Instacart app for most of its history. 

Any rumors of Instacart doing "hot food" delivery were minimal or related to special partnerships with grocery stores. 

In short, if you asked in 2023 "Does Instacart deliver restaurant food?" the answer would have been "not directly" – you'd be advised to use a dedicated food app for your restaurant cravings.

Instacart's Expansion into Restaurant Delivery

Things changed in 2024. 

Instacart decided that if it couldn't beat food delivery apps, it would join forces with one. 

Enter the partnership with Uber Eats.

Partnership with Uber Eats (2024)

In May 2024, Instacart announced a strategic partnership with Uber Eats to bring restaurant deliveries to the Instacart platform​.

This was a major development: instead of building a restaurant delivery network from scratch, Instacart piggybacked on Uber Eats' existing infrastructure. 

Instacart users across the U.S. would get access to hundreds of thousands of restaurants through a new Restaurants tab in the Instacart app. 

Essentially, Instacart created a portal to Uber Eats – Instacart customers can browse local restaurants and menus in the Instacart app, place an order, and an Uber Eats driver fulfills the delivery​.

How It Works

Instacart added a dedicated "Restaurants" tab in its mobile app's bottom menu (alongside Grocery and other categories). 

Tapping this shows nearby restaurants (powered by Uber's database) that you can order from​. 

You select menu items and check out just as you would with any Instacart order, but behind the scenes Uber Eats handles the order – an Uber courier picks up the food and delivers it to you​.

The experience stays within the Instacart app, but it's Uber's logistics making it happen. 

Instacart+ Member Perks 

One big incentive Instacart offered is for its paid members (Instacart+, formerly Instacart Express). 

Instacart+ subscribers get $0 delivery fees on restaurant orders over $35​ as a new perk included in their $99/year (or $9.99/month) plan. 

In other words, if you're an Instacart+ member and your takeout order is $35 or more, you pay no delivery fee – a nice benefit for families ordering dinner or anyone bundling multiple meals. 

Service fees and tips still apply, similar to other platforms.

Non-members can still order restaurant meals via Instacart, but they'll be charged the standard Uber Eats delivery fee and service fees for that order.

Instacart's and Uber's Motivations

This partnership is a win-win in several ways. 

Instacart earns a commission (affiliate fee) on every restaurant order placed through its app​, adding a new revenue stream without having to build a fleet of drivers. 

It also makes Instacart more of an "all-in-one" food app, which could keep users from straying to competitors.

Uber Eats, on the other hand, gains access to Instacart's large customer base, especially in suburban areas where Instacart is strong.

Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted that this alliance would bring Uber Eats to more consumers via Instacart, driving more orders for restaurants and more work for couriers​. 

Both companies clearly see a common enemy in DoorDash, the U.S. market leader in food delivery (55% market share vs Uber's ~29%​). 

By teaming up, Instacart and Uber hoped to counter DoorDash's growth in both grocery and restaurant delivery​

Timeline & Availability

The Uber Eats-powered restaurant feature began rolling out in the summer of 2024. 

By now (2025), it's broadly available throughout the U.S. wherever Uber Eats operates. 

Instacart users in most cities should see the Restaurants tab in-app and be able to order takeout. 

(The feature is currently app-only; Instacart's help center notes that restaurant ordering is not yet available on the Instacart website, only on the mobile app) 

There's no separate sign-up required – it's part of the Instacart app experience for everyone, with enhanced benefits for Instacart+ members.

Instacart's official stance on this expansion has been optimistic. "Through this partnership, Instacart customers now have access to both the best online grocery selection in the U.S. and restaurant delivery, making it even easier for them to conveniently tackle all their food needs from a single app," said Instacart CEO Fidji Simo​. 

This quote underscores Instacart's goal: be the one app you open whether you need ingredients for tomorrow's dinner or a hot meal tonight.

How to Order Restaurant Meals via Instacart (Step by Step)

Ordering a restaurant meal on Instacart is designed to be simple for users. Here's how the process works from start to finish:

1. Update/Open the Instacart App: Ensure you have the latest version of the Instacart app on your phone.

2. Tap the "Restaurants" Tab: Along the bottom navigation menu of the app, tap Restaurants​. This will switch you from the grocery storefront to the restaurant ordering interface. You'll typically see a list of cuisines or nearby restaurants, similar to other food delivery apps.
   Browse and Choose a Restaurant: Scroll through the selection of eateries available in your area. Instacart will show local restaurants (powered by Uber Eats' database) including fast food, casual dining, and local favorites. You can also use the search function or cuisine filters (e.g. Pizza, Chinese, etc.) to find a specific restaurant or type of food.

3. Select Your Items: Tap on a restaurant to view its menu. Then tap on menu items to add them to your cart, just like adding grocery items. You can customize items (for example, selecting toppings on a burger or choosing sides) within the Instacart interface.

4. Review Your "Restaurant" Cart: When you've added everything, go to your cart. Note that Instacart keeps restaurant orders separate from grocery orders​.

5. Checkout: Proceed to checkout for the restaurant order. You'll see the delivery address and payment method confirmation. Important: Because Uber processes the payments for these restaurant orders​, you may need to enter your credit card information the first time you place a restaurant order, even if you already have a card saved with Instacart. This extra step links a payment method for Uber's system. After the first time, it should be saved for future restaurant checkouts.

6. Delivery Details: Select your delivery preferences (e.g., leave at door or hand it to me, any drop-off notes). You'll also see an estimated delivery time just like on Uber Eats – often in the range of 30-60 minutes depending on the restaurant's prep time and distance. Choose a tip for your courier (the default tip and fee structure mirrors Uber Eats).

7. Place Order: Tap "Place Order". Instacart will confirm the order and begin processing it through Uber Eats.

8. Order Tracking: You can track the status of your restaurant order in real-time through the Instacart app​. The interface will typically show when the restaurant is preparing the food, when a courier is on the way to pick it up, and an updated ETA for delivery. This tracking is essentially Uber's tracking, but integrated into Instacart's app. You'll even see the courier's first name and vehicle, similar to how you see an Instacart shopper's info for grocery orders.

9. Delivery: An Uber Eats driver arrives with your food. They will follow the delivery instructions you specified. Since it's an Uber Eats courier, they're experienced with handling food orders. From the user perspective, it feels no different than a normal food delivery drop-off.

10. Support and Issues: If something goes wrong (e.g., an item is missing or the order is delayed), you can get help via the Instacart app, but notably Uber Eats' support handles restaurant order issues. Instacart's Help Center says that for any problems with restaurant orders, you'll be connected to chat with Uber Eats support. So, behind the scenes, Uber's customer service resolves restaurant order issues, not Instacart's team.

Separate from Grocery Orders

It's worth emphasizing that Instacart does not (yet) allow combining a grocery order and a restaurant order into one checkout or delivery. 

They are treated as distinct transactions – your groceries will be shopped and delivered by an Instacart shopper, and your restaurant meal will be delivered by an Uber Eats driver, possibly arriving at different times. 

So, you can't throw a cheeseburger into your weekly grocery order and have it come in the same bag. 

If you want both groceries and takeout on the same day, you'll place two orders (one in the Grocery tab, one in Restaurants).

Delivery Times

Restaurant deliveries via Instacart/Uber Eats are typically as quick as ordering through Uber Eats directly. 

In many cases, users have found the delivery time to be indistinguishable – you might get your food in about 30 minutes, give or take, depending on distance and kitchen prep. 

Instacart's system aims to "batch" the process efficiently: as soon as you order, an available Uber Eats courier is dispatched to the restaurant to pick up the food and bring it to you.

If you're used to Instacart grocery orders taking an hour or two (because a shopper has to go through a whole store), keep in mind restaurant orders are faster since it's just a pickup. 

You won't be scheduling these for later – it's on-demand.

Payments and Receipts

Your Instacart app will show you a receipt for the restaurant order, but note that tips might not appear on that receipt immediately (Uber processes the tip after delivery). 

Within 48 hours, the final receipt (with tip) should be available in the app​ according to Instacart's receipts documentation. 

The charges on your credit card might show something indicating Uber or a third-party since Uber is processing it.

In summary, ordering restaurant meals on Instacart is very much like using any food delivery app, except you're doing it from within the Instacart environment. 

It's straightforward once you've set up your payment method, and it's a convenient add-on for those who are already frequent Instacart users.

Instacart vs. Dedicated Food Delivery Apps (How Do They Compare?)

Now that Instacart can bring you pad thai or pizza along with your apples and bread, it's natural to wonder how it compares with the big restaurant delivery apps. 

Here's a comparison of Instacart's restaurant delivery vs. apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub:

Restaurant Selection

Because Instacart's restaurant listings are powered by Uber Eats, the selection of restaurants is vast. 

Instacart instantly gained access to hundreds of thousands of Uber's partner restaurants nationwide​. 

In practical terms, the range of eateries you see in the Instacart app should mirror what's on Uber Eats in your area. 

DoorDash and Grubhub might have some different restaurants (each platform has a few exclusivity deals), but generally all major chains and many local spots will appear on all three.

There may be rare cases where a restaurant is on DoorDash but not on Uber Eats, hence not on Instacart's list. 

But for the most part, Instacart (via Uber) offers comparable restaurant options to any food delivery app.

Delivery Fulfillment

Instacart's grocery service relies on its own fleet of shoppers/drivers, but for restaurant orders Instacart uses Uber's couriers​. 

DoorDash and Grubhub use their own driver networks. 

What does this mean for you? 

In urban areas, Uber Eats tends to have a robust courier network, so you'll get a driver quickly. 

DoorDash is similarly strong (it's the U.S. leader in food delivery volume). 

There isn't a clear winner in speed – all aim to deliver within about 30-45 minutes for nearby restaurants. 

One subtle difference: if you're in a suburban or rural area, Instacart has a strong user base there for groceries, and Uber saw this partnership as a way to reach more suburban customers​.

So via Instacart, Uber Eats might extend to areas it wasn't heavily used before, potentially improving coverage. 

For the customer experience, delivery speed and tracking on Instacart's restaurant orders are essentially the same as using Uber Eats directly (since it's literally the same drivers and system).

Fees & Pricing

Instacart's restaurant ordering carries similar fees to other platforms. 

If you're not an Instacart+ member, you'll pay a delivery fee (whatever Uber Eats would charge for that order) and a service fee. 

Instacart doesn't add extra on top of Uber's fees; in fact, Uber stated menu prices on Instacart are the same as on Uber Eats (no hidden markup)​, and drivers are paid the same as an Uber Eats order. 

For Instacart+ members, the $0 delivery on $35+ orders is a great perk – but note that Uber One (Uber's membership) gives $0 delivery on orders $15+ (lower threshold) and DoorDash's DashPass gives $0 delivery on $12+ orders from restaurants. 

User Experience & Convenience 

One advantage of Instacart is consolidation. You can have a single app for groceries and restaurant food. 

This is convenient if you're already juggling too many delivery apps. 

For example, a busy parent who uses Instacart for weekly shopping might prefer to also order Friday night takeout via Instacart instead of opening another app. 

Instacart's interface now lets you toggle between groceries and restaurants easily.

However, remember you cannot mix items from grocery and restaurant in one checkout. 

They are separate experiences within the app (unlike DoorDash which sometimes lets you add a convenience store item to your restaurant order). 

So, the convenience is about app management, not about a single order combining everything. 

Also, Instacart's restaurant section might feel slightly different than what Uber Eats users are accustomed to (since it's integrated in a grocery app), but it's designed to be intuitive.

Unique Features

Dedicated food apps sometimes have features like order scheduling (ordering hours ahead), group orders, or subscription meal plans. 

Instacart's restaurant feature in its early stages is mostly basic on-demand ordering. 

As of now, you cannot schedule a restaurant order for later via Instacart like you can on DoorDash/Uber. 

It's also exclusively delivery – no pickup option via Instacart. 

If you want to use a restaurant's loyalty rewards or certain promo codes, you might find those easier to apply directly on the restaurant's app or a dedicated platform. 

Instacart's focus is convenience rather than deep restaurant-specific features.

Food Delivery App Comparison

Common Questions About Instacart's Restaurant Delivery

Can Instacart deliver fast food (like McDonald's, Taco Bell, etc.)? 

Yes. Instacart can facilitate fast food deliveries as long as those restaurants are available on Uber Eats in your area. 

Since Instacart's service piggybacks on Uber Eats, you have access to the same McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell (and more) that you'd see on Uber Eats. 

Just open the Restaurants tab on Instacart and search for your favorite fast food chain. You can order a Big Mac Meal or a burrito supreme through Instacart, and an Uber Eats driver will deliver it. 

Essentially, any restaurant Uber Eats delivers from – including fast food – is now something Instacart can deliver too. 

Do keep in mind, very small orders might still have delivery fees; consider adding extra items or be an Instacart+ member to maximize value for fast food orders.

Are menu prices higher on Instacart's restaurant tab compared to ordering directly from the restaurant or through Uber Eats? 

According to Instacart and Uber, the menu prices are the same as on Uber Eats​. 

You shouldn't see any additional markup just because you're ordering via Instacart. 

Restaurants sometimes price items a bit higher on delivery apps than in-store, but that would be a universal effect (and typically set by the restaurant). 

Instacart itself isn't adding extra cost on top of Uber's pricing. 

In fact, Uber Eats explicitly said that consumers will see the same prices on Instacart as on Uber Eats, and that couriers are paid the same​. 

So, you can expect parity in pricing. 

Of course, you'll still pay a delivery fee and service fee unless waived by a membership or promotion, just as you would elsewhere. 

But there's no "Instacart surcharge" on the food items.

Do I need to download Uber Eats or have an Uber Eats account for this to work? 

No, you do not need the Uber Eats app or account at all if you use Instacart. 

Everything is handled through your Instacart account. 

The partnership is behind the scenes. 

You just use Instacart like usual, and Instacart and Uber coordinate on the backend. 

If you do happen to have both apps, you might notice the order in your Uber Eats history as well (some users have reported seeing their Instacart-placed restaurant orders in the Uber Eats app if using the same phone/email, because Uber obviously processes it). 

But you're not required to sign in to Uber or have Uber One or anything. One less app on your phone, theoretically!

Can I use an Instacart gift card or promo code for restaurant orders? 

Generally, Instacart gift cards and grocery promo codes will not apply to restaurant orders, since those orders are processed by Uber's system. 

Instacart's help center suggests you may need a separate payment method for restaurant checkouts​. 

This implies that Instacart credits (from gift cards or refunds) likely only apply to grocery orders. For now, consider the restaurant transactions siloed – they'll charge your card directly via Uber. 

If you have a promo code specific to Instacart (say $10 off groceries), it probably won't work on restaurant items.

On the flip side, if Uber is running a promotion (like a discount on McDonald's through Uber Eats), you might not have a way to input that on Instacart's interface. 

So, you might miss some promo opportunities on either side when using this combined approach.

What about Canada or other countries? 

The discussion here is focused on the U.S. In Canada, Instacart has also been experimenting – they have partnerships with restaurant delivery (for example, a similar integration with Uber Eats was rolled out for certain Canadian grocery chains)​.

It's worth checking your local Instacart app; the Restaurants tab may or may not be available depending on your region. 

As of early 2025, Instacart's restaurant delivery via Uber is primarily a U.S. offering, with potential expansion to Canada given Uber Eats' presence there. 

Instacart operates in the U.S. and Canada, so those are the main markets in question.

What This Means for Food Delivery Users in 2025

So, does Instacart deliver restaurant meals? 

In 2025, the answer is yes – Instacart can bring you restaurant takeout thanks to its Uber Eats partnership. 

This marks a significant evolution from Instacart's grocery-only origins. 

For consumers, it means more flexibility: you can satisfy that sushi craving or order Friday night pizza using the same app that delivers your weekly groceries.

This move by Instacart reflects a larger trend of convergence in the delivery industry. Grocery services and restaurant services are overlapping as companies vie to be the ultimate delivery app. Instacart and Uber's alliance is partly aimed at challenging DoorDash's dominance by combining strengths​. 

Early signs indicate the partnership is beneficial – Instacart reported increased customer engagement and grocery spending from users who also order restaurant meals​

If you're trying to decide whether to use DoorDash or Instacart for your food needs, this new integration makes the choice more complex. 

Take a minute to consider your ordering patterns. Are you mainly ordering groceries with occasional restaurant meals? Instacart might be your best bet. 

using restaurant gift cards with delivery apps