Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Grubhub Clone with Adalo

Building a food delivery app like Grubhub typically requires a team of developers, months of coding, and a substantial budget—putting it out of reach for most entrepreneurs and small businesses. The complexity multiplies when you consider the need for a multi-sided marketplace that connects customers, restaurants, and delivery drivers across web, iOS, and Android platforms simultaneously. Managing real-time orders, payment processing, and location services adds even more technical hurdles that traditionally demand specialized expertise.

That's where Adalo comes in. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. This means you can create a fully functional Grubhub clone complete with restaurant listings, ordering systems, and delivery management without writing a single line of code.

This comprehensive tutorial will walk you through creating a fully functional food delivery marketplace using Adalo's no-code platform. You’ll build a complete multi-sided marketplace with restaurant listings, ordering systems, payments, and delivery management. While some advanced features like real-time GPS tracking and live order updates require external integrations, we will guide you on how to implement these features using Custom Actions and third-party services like Firebase. You can even publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android with Adalo, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding anything.

Why Adalo Works for Building a Food Delivery Marketplace

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web, iOS, and Android apps published to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This makes it the perfect platform for creating a Grubhub-style food delivery marketplace, where you need robust database functionality to manage restaurants, menus, orders, customers, and delivery drivers all in one interconnected system.

For a food delivery app to succeed, it needs to be where your users are—on their phones and ready to download from the app stores they trust. With Adalo, you can build once and deploy everywhere, reaching hungry customers on iOS, Android, and the web simultaneously. Plus, built-in push notification capabilities let you alert customers when their order is confirmed, being prepared, or out for delivery, keeping them engaged throughout the entire ordering experience.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and App

1. Visit Adalo.com and create an account
2. Click "Create New App"
3. Select "Mobile App" for full camera and location features
4. Name your app (e.g., "FoodHub Delivery")
5. Choose "Start from Template" and select Restaurant Ordering Template

Step 2: Configure Basic App Settings

1. Set primary color scheme (red/orange for food apps)
2. Choose readable fonts for menu text
3. Enable location services in app settings
4. Configure push notification permissions
5. Set up the Google Maps API key in Adalo. For configuration details, refer to Google Maps API setup documentation

Setting Up the Marketplace Database

Step 3: Enhance the Users Collection

1. Navigate to Database in left sidebar
2. Select default "Users" collection
3. Add role-based properties:
   
   • Is Customer (True/False - default: true)
   • Is Restaurant Owner (True/False - default: false)
   • Is Driver (True/False - default: false)
   • Phone Number (Text)
   • Profile Picture (Image)
   • Current Location (Location)
   • Delivery Address (Location)

Step 4: Create Restaurants Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Restaurants"
3. Add essential properties:
   
   • Restaurant Name (Text)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Address (Location)
   • Phone (Text)
   • Cuisine Type (Text)
   • Opening Hours (Text)
   • Delivery Fee (Number)
   • Minimum Order (Number)
   • Rating Average (Number - default: 0)
   • Is Active (True/False - default: true)

Step 5: Build Menu Structure Collections

1. Create "Menu Categories" collection:
   
   • Category Name (Text)
   • Display Order (Number)
   • Is Available (True/False)
2. Create "Menu Items" collection:
   
   • Item Name (Text)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Price (Number)
   • Image (Image)
   • Is Available (True/False)
   • Preparation Time (Number)

Step 6: Create Order Management Collections

1. Create "Orders" collection:
   
   • Order Number (Text)
   • Status (Text - Values: "Pending", "Confirmed", "Preparing", "Ready", "Out for Delivery", "Delivered", "Cancelled")
   • Order Total (Number)
   • Delivery Fee (Number)
   • Tax Amount (Number)
   • Tip Amount (Number)
   • Special Instructions (Text)
   • Delivery Address (Location)
   • Order Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Estimated Delivery (Date & Time)
2. Create "Order Items" collection:
   
   • Quantity (Number)
   • Item Price (Number)
   • Special Requests (Text)

Step 7: Set Up Database Relationships

1. Restaurants relationships:
   
   • Add "Owner" → Users (Many to One)
2. Menu Categories relationships:
   
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurants (Many to One)
3. Menu Items relationships:
   
   • Add "Category" → Menu Categories (Many to One)
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurants (Many to One)
4. Orders relationships:
   
   • Add "Customer" → Users (Many to One)
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurants (Many to One)
   • Add "Driver" → Users (Many to One)
5. Order Items relationships:
   
   • Add "Order" → Orders (Many to One)
   • Add "Menu Item" → Menu Items (Many to One)

Database relationship setup

Building Customer-Facing Features

Step 8: Create Restaurant Discovery Screen

1. Add new screen "Browse Restaurants"
2. Add Custom List component:
   
   • Data source: Restaurants
   • Filter: Is Active = true
3. Display for each restaurant:
   
   • Restaurant image/logo
   • Name and cuisine type
   • Rating stars and delivery time
   • Delivery fee and minimum order
4. Add Search Input component:
   
   • Filter restaurants by name
   • Enable real-time-like search via manual refresh

Step 9: Build Restaurant Detail Screen

1. Create "Restaurant Detail" screen
2. Add restaurant header section:
   
   • Cover image
   • Name, rating, and delivery info
   • Hours and contact details
3. Add menu categories navigation:
   
   • Horizontal Custom List of categories
   • Click action filters menu items
4. Add menu items display:
   
   • Custom List filtered by selected category
   • Show item details and "Add to Cart" buttons

Step 10: Implement Shopping Cart System

1. Create "Shopping Cart" screen
2. Add cart items list:
   
   • Custom List of Order Items
   • Filter: Order > Customer = Logged In User AND Order > Status = "Pending"
   • Display item details and quantity controls
3. Add order summary section:
   
   • Subtotal calculation
   • Delivery fee display
   • Tax calculation
   • Total amount
4. Add checkout button linking to payment

Cart functionality guide

Step 11: Configure Payment Processing

1. Set up Stripe Marketplace Payments and get API keys. For detailed instructions, refer to the official Stripe Marketplace Payments documentation
2. In Adalo settings, add Stripe configuration
3. Create "Checkout" screen with:
   
   • Payment Component from Adalo
   • Dynamic pricing from cart total
   • Success action: Update order status to "Confirmed"
   • Send confirmation notifications

Restaurant Management Dashboard

Step 12: Build Restaurant Owner Registration

1. Create "Restaurant Registration" screen
2. Add form components:
   
   • Restaurant details input
   • Location picker for address
   • Document upload for verification
   • Bank details for payments
3. On submit: Create restaurant record linked to user

Step 13: Create Order Management Interface

1. Add "Restaurant Dashboard" screen
2. Add incoming orders list:
   
   • Filter: Restaurant = Current User's Restaurant
   • Group by order status
   • Real-time refresh capability
3. Add order detail actions:
   
   • Accept/Decline buttons for new orders
   • Status update dropdown
   • Estimated preparation time input

Step 14: Build Menu Management System

1. Create "Menu Management" screen
2. Add category management:
   
   • Custom List of menu categories
   • Add/edit/delete category options
3. Add item management:
   
   • Custom List of menu items by category
   • Edit pricing and availability
   • Upload/change item images
   • Toggle item availability

Driver Functionality

Step 15: Create Driver Registration

1. Build "Driver Application" screen
2. Add verification forms:
   
   • Driver license upload
   • Vehicle information
   • Insurance documents
   • Background check consent
3. Set up approval workflow for new drivers

Step 16: Build Driver Dashboard

1. Create "Driver Home" screen
2. Add available orders list:
   
   • Filter: Status = "Ready" AND within delivery radius
   • Sort by distance or order value
3. Add active delivery tracking using external services like Firebase (for real-time updates)
   
   • Current assigned order details
   • Customer contact information
   • Navigation integration with external maps

Step 17: Implement Delivery Status Updates

1. Add status update buttons on active deliveries
2. Configure automatic notifications:
   
   • "Picked up" status → notify customer
   • "Delivered" status → complete order
   • Photo capture for delivery confirmation

Adding Location and Maps Integration

Step 18: Configure Google Maps Services

1. Get Google Maps API key with enabled services:
   
   • Maps JavaScript API
   • Places API
   • Geocoding API
   • Distance Matrix API
2. Add API key in Adalo settings
3. Test location services on all screens

Step 19: Add Restaurant Location Features

1. Install Maps component from Adalo Marketplace
2. Display restaurants on map view:
   
   • Multiple markers for restaurant locations
   • Custom markers with restaurant logos
   • Info windows with basic details
3. Add distance-based filtering:
   
   • "Restaurants within 5 miles" filter
   • Sort by closest to furthest

Step 20: Handle Delivery Address Management

1. Add location picker for delivery addresses
2. Save customer addresses for repeat orders
3. Calculate delivery fees based on distance
4. Validate addresses within delivery zones

Implementing Real-Time Features

Step 21: Set Up Push Notifications

1. Configure notification permissions on app launch. For guidance on setting up Push Notifications, visit Adalo Push Notifications setup guide
2. Create notification triggers for:
   
   • New orders (to restaurants)
   • Order confirmations (to customers)
   • Status updates (to all parties)
   • Delivery completion alerts
3. Test notifications across iOS and Android

Step 22: Add Live Order Tracking (External Integration)

1. Sign up for Firebase or similar service for real-time updates
2. Use Custom Actions to update driver locations and enable location-based updates
3. Create webhook endpoints for location updates from external services
4. Display tracking on customer order screen
5. Offer manual refresh (pull-to-refresh or button) or on-visit updates via Custom Actions while the screen is open; background intervals aren’t supported natively

Step 23: Configure Order Status Automation

1. Set up automatic status progressions
2. Add time-based triggers:
   
   • Auto-accept after restaurant timeout
   • Driver assignment for ready orders
   • Delivery completion reminders
3. Implement status change notifications using Push Notifications

Payment and Commission Management

Step 24: Set Up Stripe Connect for Marketplace

1. Choose a paid plan as needed — see Pricing
2. Configure Stripe Connect in restaurant onboarding — see Stripe Connect Marketplace
3. Add commission percentage settings
4. Set up automatic payment splitting:
   
   • Platform commission (5-15%)
   • Restaurant payment (remaining amount)
   • Driver tips (separate processing)

Step 25: Build Financial Dashboard

1. Create earnings overview for restaurants
2. Add transaction history displays
3. Show commission breakdowns
4. Enable payout schedule management
5. Add dispute resolution workflows

Advanced Features and Optimization

Step 26: Implement Performance Optimizations

1. Enable "Load Items as User Scrolls" on all lists
2. Set maximum list item limits (20-30 items)
3. Optimize images (compress/resize before upload and use smaller thumbnails in lists)
4. Use calculated fields instead of dynamic calculations
5. Consider external database migration for large datasets

Step 27: Add Review and Rating System

1. Install Star Rating component from marketplace
2. Create "Reviews" collection with:
   
   • Rating (1-5 stars)
   • Review text
   • Customer and restaurant relationships
3. Calculate average ratings for restaurants
4. Display reviews on restaurant detail screens

Step 28: Build Customer Support Features

1. Create help center with FAQs
2. Add in-app chat for customer service
3. Build order issue reporting system
4. Set up refund request workflows
5. Add contact information and support hours

Multi-App Architecture Strategy

Step 29: Split Into Specialized Apps

For optimal performance, create separate apps sharing one database:

1. Customer App: Ordering and tracking only
2. Restaurant App: Order management and menu updates
3. Driver App: Delivery assignments and navigation
4. Admin App: Platform management and analytics

Each app optimizes for specific user needs while sharing the same database.

Step 30: External Service Integration

Consider these external services for production scaling:

• Xano or Airtable: Database management for 10,000+ records
• Firebase or similar services: Real-time notifications and tracking
• Twilio: SMS backup notifications
• Make.com: Complex workflow automation
• Analytics platforms: User behavior tracking

Testing and Launch Preparation

Step 31: Comprehensive Testing Protocol

1. Create test accounts for all user types
2. Test complete order workflows:
   
   • Customer browsing and ordering
   • Restaurant order management
   • Driver pickup and delivery
   • Payment processing and commissions
3. Verify notification delivery across platforms
4. Test location services and mapping accuracy

Step 32: Launch Preparation

1. Choose a paid plan as needed
2. Complete app store preparation:
   
   • App descriptions and screenshots
   • Privacy policy and terms of service
   • Age ratings and content guidelines
3. Set up customer support systems
4. Prepare marketing materials and launch strategy

Platform Limitations and Workarounds

Critical Constraints to Address:

Performance Issues:

• Apps slow significantly after 2,500 records per collection
• Lists-within-lists create exponential performance problems
• External database required for large-scale operations

Real-Time Limitations:

• Adalo does not support native live tracking. For such features, use external integrations like Custom Actions or Firebase
• Manual refresh required for updates

Workaround Strategies:

• Use external collections for large datasets
• Implement Firebase for real-time updates
• Create separate apps for different user types
• Optimize images and limit list sizes

Cost Breakdown and Resources

Adalo Subscription Costs:

• For detailed pricing, please refer to the official Adalo Pricing page

Additional Service Costs:

• For detailed Google Maps API pricing, visit Google Maps API pricing
• For detailed Stripe pricing, visit Stripe Pricing
• External databases may incur additional fees (varies by provider)
• Optional third-party push services may incur additional fees

Marketplace Components:

• For detailed pricing on components, visit Adalo Component Marketplace

Additional Resources

• Adalo Component Marketplace for specialized features
• Database Documentation for relationship setup
• Custom Actions Guide for external integrations
• App Templates for starting points
• Video Tutorials for visual learning

Note: This Grubhub clone includes menus, ordering, cart/checkout, basic payment integration, and delivery management using Adalo’s features. Real-time updates like GPS tracking, dynamic ETA calculations, and background job handling aren’t native. If you need those features, integrate external services through Custom Actions or External Collections. For large-scale apps, optimize your app with progressive list loading, external databases, and efficient image handling to ensure better performance.

FAQ