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How to Use the Uber Eats App as a Customer, Eh?

When you’re hungry in Canada, Uber Eats has pretty much become the go-to app — whether you’re in the middle of downtown Toronto craving sushi, or chilling in a small town wanting some late-night pizza. For most Canadians, it’s like having a food court right in your pocket, eh.
The app is designed to be quick, simple, and user-friendly. From the moment you open it, you can browse restaurants, pick your meal, and have it delivered to your doorstep — sometimes faster than brewing a fresh pot of Timmies.

But here’s the thing: while Uber Eats makes food delivery easy, a lot of customers don’t know the full ins and outs of the app. Beyond just “tap, order, and wait,” there are features that can save you money, make delivery smoother, and even help you avoid those awkward moments when you accidentally order pineapple on pizza (and want to cancel ASAP).

In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to use Uber Eats as a customer in Canada — from signing up, placing your first order, tracking deliveries, to leaving ratings and tips. We’ll even cover how to cancel an order (and what happens when you do), plus a few bonus features you might not know about.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about ordering food — it’s about making the whole experience smoother, smarter, and maybe even saving a few loonies along the way.

Getting Started with Uber Eats

Before you can chow down on that late-night poutine or sushi platter, you’ll need to get the app set up properly. Don’t worry, it’s smoother than skating on fresh ice.

Download & Install App

Head over to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and search for Uber Eats. The download is free, and the app doesn’t take up much storage. Within a few minutes, you’ll be ready to roll.

Sign Up / Log In

If you already use the Uber rides app, good news: you can log in with the same account. If not, signing up is straightforward — just enter your email, phone number, and create a password. You’ll also need to verify your phone with a quick text code (no biggie, eh).

Set Your Delivery Address

This step is key. Once you punch in your delivery address, the app shows all the nearby restaurants that can deliver to you. You can add multiple addresses — like home, work, or even your buddy’s place — and switch between them easily. Handy if you’re ordering wings for hockey night at a friend’s basement.

At this point, you’re fully set up and ready to explore. 

Browsing & Choosing Restaurants

Now that your Uber Eats app is set up, it’s time for the fun part — scrolling through all the food options until you’re hungrier than a bear in spring. The app makes it easy to find exactly what you’re craving, whether it’s shawarma, sushi, or a good old plate of poutine.

Search Function

At the top of the app, you’ll see the search bar. Type in anything:
  • A restaurant name (say, “A&W” or “Tim Hortons”).
  • A dish (“butter chicken,” “ramen,” “burgers”).
  • Even a cuisine (“Thai,” “Mexican,” “Canadian comfort food”).
Within seconds, the app shows you a list of matching spots nearby.

Filters & Sorting

Sometimes the choices can feel endless, so filters are your best friend. You can sort by:
  • Price range ($, $$, $$$).
  • Rating (because nobody wants soggy fries with two stars).
  • Delivery time (clutch when you’re starving and need it fast).
  • Promotions (discounts and free delivery — who doesn’t love saving a few loonies?).

Explore Sections

Not sure what you’re in the mood for? Uber Eats has curated categories like:
  • Popular near you – local favourites trending in your area.
  • Deals & promos – perfect if you’re tight on cash after paying rent.
  • New on Uber Eats – discover restaurants that just hopped on the app.
  • Top Eats – the highest-rated spots, kind of like the “all-star lineup” of food.
These sections make it easy to stumble upon hidden gems, especially in bigger cities like Toronto or Montréal where food options are endless.
Once you’ve found a spot that makes your stomach growl, it’s time to place your order. 

Placing an Order

Here’s where the rubber meets the road — or more like where the fries meet the gravy. Once you’ve found the restaurant and meal you’re craving, the Uber Eats app makes checkout as smooth as a Zamboni-cleaned rink.

Add to Cart

Tap the dish you want, then customize it. Extra cheese? Hold the onions? Double gravy on your poutine? The app usually lets you tweak toppings, portion sizes, or side options. Once you’re happy, hit Add to Cart.

Review Cart

Before you hit pay, take a sec to double-check your order. The cart shows you:
  • Item breakdown (food cost).
  • Delivery fee (varies by restaurant and distance).
  • Taxes (hello, HST/GST).
Tip (optional but encouraged — more on tipping later).
This is your chance to catch mistakes — because nothing’s worse than realizing you ordered three Caesar salads instead of three pizzas, eh.

Add Promo Codes or Discounts

Got a coupon code from Uber Eats? Maybe a referral bonus from a buddy? Enter it here to save a few toonies. The app also auto-applies some discounts if the restaurant is running a deal.

Confirm & Pay

When you’re ready, hit Checkout. Payment options include:
  • Credit/debit cards.
  • Apple Pay or Google Pay.
  • Uber Cash or gift cards.
Once payment goes through, your order heads to the restaurant and you’ll see updates right away.
After that, the waiting game begins — but the app keeps you in the loop.

Tracking Your Order

Once you’ve placed your order, the Uber Eats app doesn’t leave you hanging. Instead of sitting there wondering if your food’s stuck in traffic on the 401, you get real-time updates from kitchen to doorstep.

Live Updates

The app shows you step by step what’s happening:
  • Restaurant confirms your order.
  • Food is being prepared.
  • Driver is on the way to pick it up.
  • Order is heading to your address.
It’s like play-by-play commentary, but for your dinner instead of hockey.

Map Tracking

Open the app and you’ll see your driver’s location on the map, moving toward the restaurant and then your address. You’ll even see an ETA countdown, which is clutch when you’re starving and watching the minutes tick down.

Notifications

Don’t feel like staring at your phone? No worries, the app pings you with push notifications:
  • When the restaurant starts your order.
  • When the driver picks it up.
  • When the driver’s pulling into your street.
That way, you don’t miss the knock at the door — or the chance to grab your food before the dog beats you to it.

Receiving Your Order

The big moment finally arrives — your Uber Eats driver is at the door (or dropping off curbside). Here’s what to expect and how it works in Canada:

Delivery Options

  • Door Delivery: Most common. The driver knocks or rings the bell, and you take the bag straight from them.
  • Leave at Door: Popular since the pandemic. Perfect if you’re in your PJs and don’t wanna chat.
  • Meet Outside / Curbside: Handy in condos or downtown apartments where lobby access is tricky.

Contactless Delivery

If you select leave at door, the driver snaps a quick photo for proof. You’ll see it in your app so you’re not left guessing if your pad thai is sitting in the snow.

Checking Your Order

Before you dig in, do a quick scan:
  • Does the bag match your order?
  • Sealed packaging intact?
  • Drinks upright?
Canadians are usually polite, but it’s totally fair to check before saying “thanks, eh.”

Rating & Tipping

Once you’ve polished off that burger or sushi roll, Uber Eats gives you one last task: rate your experience and leave a tip. It might feel like a small step, but in Canada, it’s actually a big part of the dining culture.

Rating Restaurants & Drivers

The app prompts you to give both the restaurant and the driver a star rating (1–5 stars).
  • For restaurants: You can share if the food was fresh, portion sizes were fair, and packaging was solid (nobody likes soggy fries).
  • For drivers: Rate punctuality, professionalism, and how carefully the food arrived.
Canadians tend to be polite, but being honest here helps the platform improve. If your poutine was cold or your order missed a side of gravy, this is your chance to flag it.

Tipping Culture in Canada

Unlike some countries, tipping is standard in Canada — not just for dine-in, but also for delivery.
  • Usual range: 10–20% of the order value.
  • Flat tips: $2–$5 is common for smaller orders.
  • Bigger tips: Often given if drivers battle through snowstorms, heavy traffic, or carry up multiple condo floors without elevators.
Pro tip: Want your food to arrive hot and fast during rush hour? Being known as a “good tipper” definitely doesn’t hurt, eh.

Impact of Ratings

  • For drivers: High ratings keep them in good standing with Uber Eats and may unlock perks or more delivery opportunities.
  • For restaurants: Consistently strong ratings push them higher in the app’s recommendations.
  • For customers: If you tip well and keep your rating behaviour fair, drivers may be more inclined to accept your orders quickly.
It’s a small circle of give-and-take — your feedback and generosity directly shape the quality of service you’ll get down the road.

Cancelling an Order

Sometimes you hit order and then realize you picked the wrong pizza topping, or your buddy just showed up with takeout already. No worries — Uber Eats lets you cancel, but there are a few catches you’ll want to know.

How to Cancel in the App

  • Open your Uber Eats app.
  • Tap the order you want to cancel.
  • Hit “Cancel Order” (you’ll see this option as long as the restaurant hasn’t finished prepping).
  • Confirm the cancellation.
Simple as that — just a couple taps, and it’s done.

Timing Matters

  • Before the restaurant accepts/starts cooking → Full refund, no problem.
  • After cooking starts → You may only get a partial refund (because the food’s already in the works).
  • After the driver picks up → Cancelling at this point usually means no refund, since the food’s already on the move.
Basically: the earlier, the better.

Possible Consequences

  • Refund deductions: You might lose part of your payment if you cancel late.
  • Driver inconvenience: Cancelling when the driver’s already en route can leave them stranded, which doesn’t exactly score you karma points, eh.
  • Repeated cancellations: Do it too often, and your account might get flagged.

Alternative Options

Not ready to cancel but need changes?
  • Use the in-app chat to reach the restaurant or driver.
  • Adjust delivery instructions if you move locations nearby.
  • Sometimes you can save the order instead of scrapping it altogether.

Extra Features in the App

Uber Eats isn’t just about grabbing a late-night shawarma or your morning Timmies. The app’s got some handy extras that make life easier — and a little more fun — for Canadian users.

Scheduled Orders

Got a work lunch at noon or hockey night with friends? You can schedule your order ahead of time. Set it, forget it, and your food shows up when you need it. No more hangry moments.

Favourites

If you’ve got a go-to sushi spot in Toronto or a killer poutine place in Montréal, hit that heart button. Next time, your faves pop up right away — saving you from endless scrolling when you’re craving comfort food.

Subscription (Uber One)

For folks who order often, Uber One is a solid deal.
  • Free delivery on eligible orders.
  • Discounts on food and even rides.
  • Exclusive promos that pop up now and then.
It’s like having a loyalty card, but digital — and a bit more generous, eh.

Group Orders

Planning a night in with friends or family? With Group Orders, everyone adds their picks to the same cart. No more “you order yours, I’ll order mine” chaos. Plus, everyone pays their own way — keeping it fair and square.

With these features, Uber Eats becomes more than just a delivery app — it’s part of everyday Canadian routines, from small-town dinners to downtown late-night bites.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the Uber Eats app makes grabbing a meal in Canada as easy as ordering a double-double at Timmies. From scrolling through your favourite local joints to tracking your driver dodging slush puddles in February, the whole process is designed to be smooth and straightforward.

The key takeaways?

  • It’s quick, user-friendly, and packed with extras like scheduled orders and group features.
  • Ratings and tipping aren’t just “nice-to-haves” — they’re part of the culture here, and they keep the system running fairly.
  • With a bit of savvy (like using promo codes or subscribing to Uber One), you can save a few loonies while still enjoying the convenience.
So whether you’re craving poutine in Montréal, sushi in Vancouver, or late-night pizza in Toronto, Uber Eats has your back — rain, shine, or a full-blown snowstorm, eh.

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