# Why are pizza and Chinese the only 'delivery' foods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415 "2004-07-16T14:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/1 "2004-07-16T14:34:49Z")
I myself would like to be able to have Mexican food, or hamburgers, or a chicken sandwich, or fish and chips, or any number of other items delivered to my house, but I can’t, because they don’t deliver at the restaurants where you’d order that stuff. Why is it that Chinese restaurants and pizza joints have become the only establishments in our culture that will send someone out to deliver food to your house? I’m sure that this thread is going to get some responses of different exceptions to this rule, which I am quite anxious to hear. (Although that’s not going to change the situation here where I am.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/2 "2004-07-16T14:41:21Z")
There’s a burger joint down the street from me that delivers. I can also get Mexican, Thai and Greek food delivered. But that’s because I live in Queens, and Queens kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/3 "2004-07-16T14:42:00Z")
Around here, we have all kinds of delivery food (Steak, Veggies, Thai, Chinese, Pizza, Hot Wings, etc). Here’s one nation-wide service - [Steak Out](http://www.steakout.com/) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/4 "2004-07-16T14:44:51Z")
Any type of food that can be made and eaten is delivered in Toronto. And when I lived in Kingston, McDonald’s rolled out a delivery service there. However, I think the OP asks a valid question if you rephrase it as “why are za and Chinese the MAIN delivery foods?” I think it has to do with the nature of the food. 'Za and Chinese are quick, cheap foods that lend themselves to being eaten without the bother of silverware or place settings. They also don’t lose their taste if they get a little cold, an obvious benefit when delivering food. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/5 "2004-07-16T14:47:59Z")
I live outside of Albany, and I can get all kinds of things; from burgers to garlic knots to wings to salads. ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/6 "2004-07-16T14:48:42Z")
In Philly (and other major cities methinks), we have something called Dining-In that delivers food from an assortment of restaurants that do not normally deliver. Many of them high end. You pay for it, but I like getting a nice Filet Mignon delivered to my door! [http://diningin.com](http://diningin.com) to see if they are in your area. As for why pizza and chinese are generally the only delivery places, I think a lot of places think their food quality will suffer if they do not serve it “hot off the grill”. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/7 "2004-07-16T14:53:21Z")
We can order almost anything from home out here. McDonald’s has also begun home delivery. There’s even a service called Meals-On-Wheels that brings you food home delivered from restaurants that don’t directly offer home delivery 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/8 "2004-07-16T14:56:07Z")
Last year someone set up a delivery service here. They provide all the local menus and you ring them with your order. They pass it on and deliver the meal. They only charge $4 per retaurant visited. They will also pick up alcohol and some grocery items - snacks, drinks. chocolates, cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/9 "2004-07-16T15:41:34Z")
I’ll echo a few of the other posters on here. Many cities have a delivery service that will go to selected restaraunts and drive the food to you for a surcharge. I’ve had mixed results from these. Some are great and timely, others, not to careful with your precious cargo. Which I think would be part of the issue. Some foods don’t travel well and as mentioned in this same thread, suck rocks when cold. Fries for example. Either you eat them hot or throw them out. If they’re cold they’re awful, and they don’t heat up well. Larger downtown areas where people live nearly above the restaraunts they are eating from will offer delivery more often than places where they have to drive out into the suburbs. Also, with a few exceptions, most places that offer delivery don’t have much in the way of seating inside. They expect a delivery only business and can save a lot of money having just room to cool and a place to pick up for walk-ins. An westablished restaraunt would have top either maintain a delivery staff that might not get much action but still have to be paid an hourly wage. This could be costly if people didn’t order delivery from them, as they wouldn’t expect it to be available. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/10 "2004-07-16T15:55:18Z")
One Silicon valley company I worked for during the boom used to take Waiters-On-Wheels orders late in the day. It was on the company. Of course, what it really was was a bribe to work late. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/11 "2004-07-16T16:04:39Z")
> [@xash](#): > > There’s even a service called Meals-On-Wheels that brings you food home delivered from restaurants that don’t directly offer home delivery 🙂 FYI, here in the US, Meals On Wheels is the name of a a social service agency that delivers meals to people who can’t get out of the house, like some elderly or disabled people. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/12 "2004-07-16T16:15:43Z")
Around here, there’s a roast dinner delivery service that isn’t Meals on Wheels. Apart from that – mainly pizza and KFC. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/13 "2004-07-16T16:22:55Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > FYI, here in the US, Meals On Wheels is the name of a a social service agency that delivers meals to people who can’t get out of the house, like some elderly or disabled people. True. Also Meals-on-wheels (the US version for the disabled or elderly) isn;t restaraunt quality food. Think more Hot School Lunch for seniors. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/14 "2004-07-16T17:59:26Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > FYI, here in the US, Meals On Wheels is the name of a a social service agency that delivers meals to people who can’t get out of the house, like some elderly or disabled people. I think the name you’re thinking of is “Waiters on Wheels” for the home delivery of restaurant meals. But, home delivery of McDonalds is just sad. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/15 "2004-07-16T19:45:02Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > I think the name you’re thinking of is “Waiters on Wheels” for the home delivery of restaurant meals. > > But, home delivery of McDonalds is just sad. No, I was amused by the fact that **xash** said that a commercial meal delivery service in Mumbai is called Meals on Wheels, while here in the US, it’s a social service agency. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/16 "2004-07-16T20:57:36Z")
Hey…I live in the sticks. I’m lucky to get pizza delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/17 "2004-07-16T21:31:12Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Hey…I live in the sticks. I’m lucky to get pizza delivered. Hell, living 3 and a half miles south of town means _nobody_ will deliver. Not Pizza Hut, not Pizza Pro, not the small local joint which makes huge-ass thin crusts. We’d waive the speed guarantees if that was an option, but it isn’t. (The Chinese place doesn’t deliver at all, I don’t think, but that’s okay because the Chinese food sucks around here.) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/18 "2004-07-16T21:53:55Z")
> [@xash](#): > > There’s even a service called Meals-On-Wheels that brings you food home delivered from restaurants that don’t directly offer home delivery 🙂 Meals-On-Wheels is a charitable organization that delivers one hot meal a day to the elderly and incapacitated. Least wise in this town. Not a pickup and delivery service for the benefit of the general public. You could arrange for a taxi cab to do the pickup and delivery for a price. Or a courier service would likely do the job for a price. Or drive it yourself. As a last resort ‘hoof it.’ ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/19 "2004-07-16T21:55:16Z")
A friend of mine started a company called Dining Out maybe 5 or 6 years ago. The company delivers from most of the major restaurants in the St. Louis metro area. It was a great idea on her part - she was bought out two or three years ago when she moved out-of-state with her husband, but before she left, she was very successful. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415/20 "2004-07-16T22:22:15Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Hey…I live in the sticks. I’m lucky to get pizza delivered. There’s always the Post Office. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-pizza-and-chinese-the-only-delivery-foods/255415.md?page=2)