Uber Eats 2024 Delivery Trends In Sa - Including A R20,000 Order

Crispy chicken - with pap as the most preferred side dish - was the most searched item on the Uber Eats app in South Africa in 2024, according to the apps latest Cravings Report.

The report reveals the country's top food delivery trends last year, ranging from 1.2 million late-night orders, a customers R20,000 spend on a single order, to a customer making orders for 364 days.

Besides crispy chicken and pap, South Africans also love chips - and they prefer it crispy or nothing. One user declared, No garnish, no sauce, crispy chips!!! in eight different orders, Uber Eats said.

Johannesburg and Pretoria residents made a whopping 1.2 million late-night orders between 23:00 and 03:00, distinguishing themselves as the ultimate midnight munchers.

The most popular restaurants on Uber Eats are in Sandton City, while Durban tops the country as the most vegan-friendly city, with 0.6 of all orders being plant-based. Johannesburg and Pretoria collectively ordered the most vegan dishes.

One user took the prize for the most expensive order of 2024, spending over R20,000 on a pricey cognac. Meanwhile, Margate takes the crown as the friendliest city, that is, with the most pleases and thank yous in their orders. Johannesburg and Pretoria are close behind.

See more highlights below:

• One customer placed 2,378 orders in 2024. That's more than six orders a day.
• Another user ordered on 364 days of the year. We're guessing they skipped Christmas to give their driver a day off, Uber Eats mused.
• One savvy user saved over R18,000 in 2024 on 779 orders with Uber One.
• Someone ordered 706 meals for two.
• One courier travelled nearly 40,000 kilometres in 2024 - almost enough to circle the Earth. They also clocked 4,500 service hours and made 7,959 trips.
• Another driver delivered 320 orders to the same customer.

One user accompanied their Beef Brisket Ramen order with a touch of poetry:

"From midnight snackers to guilty pleasures, we look forward to bringing even more delicious moments to the table for years to come," says Cassie Jaganyi, Head of Communications at Uber Eats South Africa.