The 2021 Uber Eats Cravings Report

The Uber Eats Cravings Report is the annual snapshot of the most popular, most unusual, and most unique delivery order requests the company sees each year. In the year 2021, customers have relied on Uber Eats to get everything from sandwiches to sunflowers to screwdrivers – and everything in between. As you’ll see below, you really can get *anything* on Uber Eats!

Grocery delivery is on the rise. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of grocery delivery by several years – and the company only expects it to grow. Of the more than 1,000+ active grocery stores on Uber Eats in the U.S., weekends were the most popular days to order delivery, with the 5-7pm timeframe the most popular time to schedule orders. And one person even ordered $7,719.82 worth of groceries, containing over 218 individual items!
That sh*t is bananas. Bananas are the #1 selling grocery item in the U.S. – in fact, Uber Eats sold more than 25,150 pounds of bananas in the U.S. in September alone.
It’s always 5:00 PM on Uber Eats. As Uber Eats expanded into alcohol delivery this year, folks across the world raised a glass. Thirsty customers in Sacramento, Palm Springs and Tampa Bay ordered the most alcohol delivery. Without a doubt, large margaritas, Tito’s vodka, White Claw variety packs, Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Corona were the most popular orders.
Get *literally* anything. With the addition of convenience stores like Walgreens, CVS, and 7-Eleven and flower shops like FTD, folks started ordering everything from dozens of red roses to Blue Raspberry Slurpees to BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test Kits to Slim Jim Original Giant Smoked Snack Stick, and more.
On repeat. The saying is true: when you know, you know. One eater in Raleigh, NC ordered from Zayka Indian Cuisine 904 times, someone in Nashville, TN ordered Pasta Amore 794 times, and a hungry customer in Peoria, IL ordered from Bacci Pizza 764 times.
Say cheese(fries). Compared to before the pandemic, side orders of cheese fries increased more than 1,234%.
Manners matter. The most polite states are Montana, Vermont, Oregon, Idaho and Washington – they say “please” and “thank you” the most in their instructions. And customers in Asheville, NC, Santa Fe, NM and the Florida Keys were the most generous tippers.
Picky eaters. Eaters in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Georgia seem to be the pickiest – these states are most often adding special instructions to their orders while people in West Virginia, Delaware, Utah, South Dakota and Missouri are super laid back. They hardly ever add special instructions!
You’re so extra. Extra soy sauce, extra spicy and extra gravy were on the rise last year, while requests for “extra avocado,” “extra mayo,” “extra pickle” and “extra ranch” slowed down.
Plz hold. Requests for “no egg,” “no jalapeños,” “no cilantro,” “no cucumber” and “no vegetables” increased dramatically over the last year, while folks asked for “no mustard” much less frequently.
Health nuts and green machines. Eaters in Florence, SC, Cincinnati, OH, and Miami, FL ordered the most healthy food last year, while folks in Northern Missouri, Southern Arkansas and West Texas satisfied their cravings.