Ordering dinner by phone has turned into a routine part of life across the U.S., with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub handling millions of orders each quarter. The price gap between app orders and walk-in orders is now a common complaint, with higher menu prices, service fees and delivery charges showing up on the same meal.
App prices are often higher before fees are added
DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub all disclose that prices on their apps may be higher than in-store prices at some restaurants. DoorDash states in its customer help materials that merchants may set menu prices on DoorDash that differ from in-store prices, and Uber Eats uses similar language in its app and support pages.
That means the difference can start before a delivery fee is even added. In many orders, customers pay a higher menu price, then a service fee, then taxes, and often a separate delivery charge, according to the checkout screens shown in each app as of June 2026.
Grubhub also states that restaurants may adjust menu prices on the platform. The companies have not published a single national average showing how much more a customer pays versus ordering at the counter, but the itemized totals in the apps confirm that the final price can exceed the in-person total by several dollars on a single meal.
The impact shows up in cities across the country
The pricing issue is not limited to one state or one chain. In New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, customers regularly see side-by-side differences between app prices and in-store menu boards, especially at independent restaurants and fast-casual chains that use third-party delivery.
What is confirmed is that restaurants can set different prices by platform, and app companies can add separate fees tied to delivery and service. What is not publicly known is a complete nationwide list of restaurants that mark up every item, because DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub do not release full merchant-by-merchant pricing data.
Some cities have also debated how delivery platforms affect restaurant economics. New York City previously adopted commission-cap rules during the pandemic era, and those debates helped bring more attention to how menu markups and fees are split between restaurants, platforms and drivers.
Why the gap exists and what customers can expect
Restaurants have said higher app prices can help offset commissions charged by delivery platforms. Those commissions have often been reported in public policy debates and company materials as reaching roughly 15% to 30%, depending on the service package, market and promotional terms.
The delivery companies have said their fees support app operations, payment processing and driver logistics. DoorDash, in its public investor materials, has repeatedly described its marketplace as covering delivery, technology and support costs, while Uber has made similar statements in earnings reports for its delivery business.
For customers, that means the cheapest option is often still ordering directly from the restaurant and picking up the food in person when that option exists. The exact gap varies by restaurant and city, and the platforms continue to tell users the full subtotal, fees and taxes before checkout is completed.
