First-Time Ordering with the DoorDash App? A Friendly Guide to Your First Meal

So, you’re hungry and don’t feel like cooking tonight, eh? Maybe it’s a busy weekday, maybe the Leafs game just started, or maybe you just want that late-night poutine without stepping outside into the snow. That’s where DoorDash comes in.

DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps across the country. From coast to coast, Canadians use it to order everything from sushi in Vancouver, shawarma in Ottawa, to double-doubles and Timbits (yep, even Tim Hortons is on there in many cities). With just a few taps, you can explore nearby restaurants, place your order, and have a Dasher bring it straight to your door. Easy peasy.

This guide is made for first-time customers — folks who’ve just downloaded the app and are ready to order their very first meal. Think of it as your playbook: we’ll walk you through downloading the app, creating an account, finding the food you’re craving, placing your first order, and tracking it all the way to your doorstep.

Why this matters:

Ordering for the first time can feel a little overwhelming, like trying to skate on fresh ice — smooth once you get going, but tricky at the start.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to browse, order, and receive your meal without any hiccups.

You’ll also learn a few handy features that make the experience even better — like scheduling a delivery ahead of time or saving your go-to addresses for faster checkouts.

So grab your phone, maybe a comfy seat on the couch, and let’s get started with your very first DoorDash order. Dinner (or lunch… or late-night snacks) is just a few taps away, eh!

Getting Ready Before You Order

Before you can dig into your first delivery, there are a couple of quick steps to set yourself up. Don’t worry — it’s straightforward, and you’ll only need to do most of these once. After that, ordering is as easy as ordering a double-double at Timmies.

Download & Install the App

Head over to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search for DoorDash. Hit download, and within a minute or two, you’ll have the app sitting right on your home screen.

Create Your Account

When you first open the app, you’ll be asked to sign up. You can use your email address, phone number, or even connect with Google or Apple for faster setup. Make sure to create a secure password — you don’t want anyone sneaking free pizza on your account, eh.

Add Your Delivery Address

This is key. The app needs to know where to bring your food. Tap “Add Address” and punch in your home address, apartment number, buzz code, or office details. The more accurate you are, the smoother your delivery will be. Nobody wants their poutine going on a detour down the block.

Set Up Payment

DoorDash makes it pretty flexible:

Credit or Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
PayPal
Apple Pay / Google Pay (depending on your device)

You can add more than one payment method if you like. Once it’s saved, checkout will be quick next time — no fumbling for your wallet when you’re already starving.

At this point, you’re good to go. The app is installed, your account is ready, your address is saved, and your payment is set up. In other words, you’re standing at the blue line with the puck — all that’s left is to make the play and order your first meal.

Exploring the App Interface

Now that you’re all set up, let’s take a quick tour of the DoorDash app. Think of this like walking into a brand-new grocery store — you’ll want to know where everything’s at before grabbing your cart.

Home Screen

When you first open the app, you’ll land on the Home Screen. Here’s what you’ll usually see:

Featured Restaurants: Popular spots in your area that other locals are loving.
Categories: Craving pizza, burgers, sushi, or maybe a little poutine? Categories make it easy to browse by cuisine.
Promotions: Keep an eye out for discounts or “$0 delivery fee” deals that pop up right here.

It’s a bit like the front page of a flyer — the best deals and hot picks are right there.

Search & Filter

If you know exactly what you want (say, a butter chicken or a double cheeseburger), just tap the search bar at the top. You can search by:

Restaurant name (e.g., “Tim Hortons”)
Type of food (e.g., “ramen”)
Dish name (e.g., “chicken wings”)

You can also filter by delivery time, price range, ratings, or distance. Handy if you don’t want to wait too long for your meal — nobody likes hanger (that hungry + angry mood), eh.

Deals & Promotions

DoorDash often highlights special promos:

“Free delivery” from select restaurants.
Discounts on your first order.
DashPass savings (if you subscribe, but more on that later).

It’s worth checking this tab before you place your order — like scanning the coupon section before hitting the checkout at Canadian Tire.

By now, you know your way around the app: the home screen is your launchpad, the search bar is your compass, and the deals tab is your wallet’s best friend. Next up: let’s actually place your first order.

Placing Your First Order

Here’s the fun part — actually ordering your meal. It’s like game day: you’ve set up the arena, now it’s time to drop the puck and play.

Find a Restaurant or Dish

From the home screen, you can either scroll through the featured spots or use the search bar to type in what you’re craving.

Want a pepperoni pizza? Just type “pizza” and see what’s close by.
Craving a shawarma wrap? Search “shawarma” and you’ll find the best local joints.
Not sure? Browse the categories until something catches your eye.

Add Items to Your Cart

Once you’ve picked a restaurant, tap on the menu item you want. Most items let you customize:

Choose size (regular or large).
Add toppings or extras (extra cheese, bacon, spicy mayo — you name it).
Write special instructions (like “no onions, please” or “sauce on the side”).

When you’re happy with your selection, hit “Add to Cart.”

Review Your Cart

Before checking out, open your cart to double-check:

Did you order the right dish and quantity?
Any special notes included?
Are the prices what you expected?

This is the moment to make changes — better to catch it now than realize you forgot fries after the Dasher’s already on the way.

Select Your Payment Method

If you added more than one payment option earlier (say, your debit card and PayPal), you’ll be asked to choose which one to use for this order. Tap your preferred method, and you’re set.

Confirm & Checkout

Once everything looks good, hit the “Place Order” button.

The restaurant gets your order instantly.
A Dasher will be assigned shortly to pick it up and bring it over.

Congrats — you’ve just placed your very first DoorDash order! 🎉

With your order confirmed, you might be wondering: what happens next? That’s where order tracking comes in. You’ll get to follow your meal’s journey from kitchen to doorstep, almost like watching your Uber arrive after a night out.

Tracking Your Order

So you’ve placed your order — now what? Instead of sitting there wondering if your food’s stuck in traffic on the 401, the DoorDash app keeps you in the loop every step of the way.

Order Status Updates

Once your order goes through, the app will show a clear timeline:

Restaurant Confirmed – they got your order and are starting to prep.
Dasher Assigned – a nearby driver has accepted the delivery.
Pickup – your Dasher is either waiting at the restaurant or already grabbed your food.
On the Way – they’re driving (or biking, or scootering) to your address.
Delivered – meal’s in your hands (or at your doorstep if contactless).

It’s like play-by-play commentary — you’ll always know where things stand.

Live Map Tracking

The app gives you a real-time map view, so you can actually see your Dasher moving toward your location. It’s oddly satisfying, kind of like watching your buddy finally show up to hockey practice after saying “I’m five minutes away” for the last half hour.

Push Notifications

If you don’t want to keep the app open, no worries — DoorDash will send notifications straight to your phone. You’ll know when:

The restaurant has started your order.
The Dasher picked it up.
They’re close to arriving.

Handy if you’re multitasking — like tossing laundry in, or catching up on the latest episode of Letterkenny.

At this point, you’re not just waiting around blindly. You know when the food’s cooking, when it’s on the road, and exactly how close it is to your doorstep.

Receiving Your Order

When your Dasher pulls up, it’s go time — no one likes cold fries, eh. Here’s how it usually works when your order reaches your place:

Contactless Delivery

By default, many orders are contactless. That means your Dasher will drop the food at your door, snap a quick photo, and mark it as delivered.

• You’ll get a notification when it’s done.

• Open the door, grab your bag, and enjoy.

This is super handy if you’re in sweats, on a Zoom call, or just not in the mood for small talk.

Hand-to-Hand Delivery

Prefer to meet your Dasher? No problem. If you choose this option (or if the building setup requires it), the driver will ring your buzzer or knock on your door and hand over the order directly.

Keep an eye on your phone when the status says “Arriving Soon.”
If you’re in a condo or apartment, make sure you’ve added the unit number, buzzer code, or lobby instructions so they can find you easily.

Rating & Feedback

After the delivery, the app will prompt you to rate the experience:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ scale for the restaurant and the Dasher.
Option to leave comments (like “food was hot and fresh” or “super friendly driver”).
You can also add a tip if you didn’t already — Dashers really appreciate it, and it helps support the folks braving traffic and weather to get your food to you.

That’s it — your first DoorDash order is officially in your hands (or on your table). Whether it’s a burger, sushi, or that midnight poutine, you’ve just mastered the delivery basics.

Cancelling or Updating an Order

Sometimes life happens — maybe you clicked the wrong restaurant, forgot to remove the onions, or plans changed halfway through. DoorDash gives you a few ways to adjust, but timing is everything.

Cancelling an Order

Right after checkout: If the restaurant hasn’t started cooking yet, you can usually cancel with a full refund.
Once food prep has begun: You might only get a partial refund.
After pickup: At this point, cancellation isn’t an option — your Dasher is already en route.

To cancel:

Open your order in the app.
Tap “Help” → “Cancel Order.”
Follow the prompts and confirm.

It’s kinda like calling off a hockey game — easier before the puck drops.

Updating Delivery Instructions

Need to tweak your delivery info? No sweat.

Open your order → select “Delivery Instructions.”
Update your buzzer code, apartment number, or special notes like “leave at side door.”
The app will notify your Dasher automatically.

This is a lifesaver if you realize last-minute your roommate locked the front door or you want the food left at a different entrance.

Contacting Support

If you run into an issue — missing items, restaurant delays, or anything else — you can get help quickly:

Use in-app chat for instant support.
Or request a call if the problem’s bigger.

DoorDash’s customer support is available pretty much around the clock, which is handy if your 11 p.m. wings order goes sideways.

So whether it’s cancelling, updating instructions, or getting help, the app’s got you covered. Just remember: the sooner you act, the smoother the fix will be.

Extra Features

Once you’ve got the basics down, DoorDash has a few extra features that can make your ordering life easier — and sometimes cheaper.

DashPass

If you find yourself ordering more than once in a while, DashPass might be worth it.

It’s a monthly subscription that gives you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees from eligible restaurants.
After just a few orders, it often pays for itself — kinda like buying a coffee card and getting free brews after a week.

Schedule a Delivery

Not hungry right now but know you will be later? You can schedule orders in advance.

Choose your meal.
Pick a delivery time later in the day (or even tomorrow).
Perfect if you want dinner to arrive right after your shift or when the hockey game starts.

Saved Addresses

Tired of typing your address every time? Save multiple addresses in the app.

Home, office, your buddy’s place — whatever you need.
Makes checkout faster, especially if you bounce between spots.

Reorder Favourites

Loved that butter chicken you had last Friday? Just hit “Reorder” and the same meal will be in your cart in seconds. It’s like having a “usual” at your local diner, but digital.

With these features, you’re not just ordering food — you’re making the whole process smoother, faster, and sometimes even cheaper.

Conclusion

And there you have it — your crash course on ordering with DoorDash. From downloading the app to unwrapping that first warm meal at your doorstep, you now know the whole playbook.

Ordering food doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few taps, you can explore local restaurants, track your order in real time, and enjoy your meal without stepping outside — whether it’s a blizzard, a heatwave, or just a lazy Sunday.

Remember:

Add your address and payment info once, and you’re set for the future.
Use filters and search to find exactly what you’re craving.
Don’t stress if plans change — cancellations, updates, and support are only a tap away.
Extra features like DashPass and scheduled deliveries can make the whole experience even smoother.

So go ahead — grab your phone, place that first order, and let DoorDash handle the heavy lifting. Dinner, lunch, or late-night snacks are now just a few taps away, eh!