Chicago — or the Windy City, as it’s commonly known — is a popular tourist destination, but it’s so much more. This friendly midwestern metropolis has a fantastic restaurant scene. Both locals and tourists have a huge range of options to choose from. Many options are deeply rooted in Chicago’s multicultural landscape, which means that you can find everything from Polish food to Thai cuisine.

If you’re a restaurant owner in the Chicagoland area, it’s important to note that local customers love to order delivery as much as they like to dine out. Partnering with a reputable and reliable third-party delivery service can help you provide the best possible experience for every guest.

According to Grubhub’s most recent data, these dishes are the most popular for delivery in Chicago:

• Burrito bowl
• Cheeseburger
• Hash browns
• Burrito
• Italian beef sandwich
• Pad Thai
• Onion rings
• Hot dog
• Crab rangoon
• Double cheeseburger

With the best third-party delivery in Chicago, your restaurant can reach people who are hungry and ready to order their next meal. The trick? Finding a delivery partner with prompt delivery drivers, a user-friendly food delivery app, and an all-around exceptional service experience.

The benefits of third-party delivery

When you’re adding delivery to your restaurant’s offerings, there are two main options: offer in-house delivery or work with a third-party delivery company. Both options have merit, but many successful restaurants in Chicago opt for a delivery partner — especially if they’re small, independent businesses without the budget to build out a dedicated restaurant delivery app of their own.

As you determine which approach is best for your restaurant, it’s helpful to consider the benefits of a third-party delivery service.

Increased reach and visibility

The best third-party delivery platforms come with large, preexisting customer bases. Grubhub, for example, has more than 33 million active users. Listing your Chicago restaurant on a third-party delivery marketplace gives you the chance to tap an eager audience beyond your regular crowd. Your restaurant will automatically appear in relevant searches and map results for people in your area.

The best part? Existing users are already comfortable with app ordering. Plus, when they log in, they’re usually hungry and ready to order.

Positive customer experience

Customers expect an excellent delivery experience — and third-party apps can help you get there. Services such as Grubhub have the delivery process down to a science, so they can offer lightning-fast order processing, step-by-step in-app order tracking, and rapid delivery. Your customers enjoy the convenience, whether they’re picking up a takeout order or getting food delivered to their home or office.

Streamlined operations

Adding in-house food delivery is a labor-intensive process that requires your restaurant to invest in hiring, logistics, scheduling, and technology. Third-party food delivery services offer a simplified approach — they provide the technological infrastructure, an app and online ordering website, and the drivers. All you need to do is connect to the system and upload your menu; the service handles everything else, from payment processing to GPS driver tracking. This arrangement is considerably more streamlined, enabling you to offer food delivery without complicating operations.

Marketing and promotions

As with any new business venture, a delivery service requires regular marketing. Third-party delivery platforms often provide marketing and promotions support to streamline the process. Grubhub, for example, offers marketing resources, social media templates, and promotional tools. It’s a great way to highlight your food, attract more customers, and help your business stand out from other local restaurants.

Key features to look for in a third-party delivery service

There are many food delivery services available to restaurants in the Chicago area — Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Doordash are just three options. To find the right fit, evaluate each one in terms of:

• Included tools. Look for platforms that come with easy-to-use promotions and loyalty tools that can help your restaurant build brand awareness and boost order volume.
• Dashboard. A great third-party food delivery service should offer a user-friendly portal where you can view your account, customer data, ordering history, promotions performance, and other metrics. 
• Flexibility. Choose a service that offers multiple food delivery options, including flexible takeout and delivery. Verify that the company works with professional drivers; they have a significant impact on the delivery experience. 
• Online ordering. Some services, including Grubhub, enable you to build an online ordering website. It acts as a branch of your existing website and provides another food delivery option to meet customers’ needs.

No two food delivery services are created equal; make sure to do your research to find the partner that suits your restaurant.

Get your meals in customers’ hands faster with Grubhub

If your Chicago restaurant is ready to work with a third-party food delivery service, Grubhub can help. Our industry-leading app enables you to offer flexible takeout and delivery; you can even opt for self-delivery if you have drivers on staff and supplement with Grubhub drivers during busy periods. We can help you reach more customers and build a more efficient operation with expert tips, resources, and tools designed to give you a leg up in the competitive Chicago restaurant industry.

Ready to get started? Sign up for Grubhub today.