When you think of Grubhub, you probably picture late-night pizza runs, greasy burritos, or that overpriced pad thai you ordered after a long workday. For years, Grubhub has been the reliable workhorse of restaurant delivery. But in 2024 and beyond, the game changed. Suddenly, every major delivery app started offering not just food, but groceries and alcohol.
So here’s the question millions of users are asking: Should I use Grubhub for my weekly milk run or last-minute wine emergency?
In this article, we’ll evaluate the food delivery company Grubhub on grocery and alcohol delivery from every angle—prices, speed, product selection, hidden fees, and how it stacks up against rivals like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart. By the end, you’ll know exactly whether to tap that green button or stick with a dedicated grocery app.
Let’s dig in.
What Grubhub Actually Offers for Grocery and Alcohol (Beyond Restaurant Food)
Grubhub isn’t new to convenience, but their expansion into non-restaurant goods has been quieter than competitors. Here’s the current landscape as of early 2026.
Grocery Partners and Store Coverage
Grubhub partners with both national chains and local markets. Depending on your city, you might see:
- Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa in some regions)
- Regional grocery chains (like Tops, Gristedes, or smaller independents)
- Bodega-style stores for quick essentials
- Select CVS and Walgreens locations (though DoorDash has a tighter grip here)
But here’s the honest truth: Grubhub does not have full-service grocery giants like Kroger, Albertsons, or Publix in most markets. If you want a full weekly shop with 50 items, Grubhub will likely disappoint you.
Alcohol Delivery: What’s Available?
Alcohol laws vary wildly by state, but Grubhub offers beer, wine, and spirits where legally permitted. You’ll typically find:
- Beer (domestic, craft, imported)
- Wine (red, white, rosé, sparkling)
- Spirits (vodka, whiskey, rum, tequila — in select states)
- Seltzers and ready-to-drink cocktails
The catch? Many alcohol orders come from existing restaurant partners or smaller liquor stores, not massive warehouses. That means limited pricing competition.
How We Evaluate: The Four Most Important Metrics
To properly evaluate the food delivery company Grubhub on grocery and alcohol delivery, we tested orders across three US cities (Austin, Chicago, and suburban New Jersey). We focused on four key areas:
- Speed – From tap to door.
- Selection – Can you find what you actually need?
- Pricing – Base prices + fees + tips.
- Reliability – Wrong items? Missing ID checks? Melted ice cream?
Let’s break down each one.
Speed: Can Grubhub Handle “I Need This Now” Grocery Runs?
Grubhub’s delivery model is still built around restaurant logistics. That means a single driver picks up your order from one store and brings it directly to you. Unlike Instacart or Shipt, Grubhub doesn’t batch multiple grocery orders together.
Average delivery times in our tests:
- Convenience store orders (5–10 items): 18–28 minutes
- Small grocery orders (10–20 items): 30–45 minutes
- Alcohol-only orders: 22–35 minutes
That’s decent. It’s not Amazon Fresh fast (15 minutes in some cities), but it’s competitive with Uber Eats.
Real-life use case: You’re mid-recipe and realize you’re out of butter and eggs. Grubhub can save you. But for a full Thanksgiving shop? No.
Tip: Look for stores labeled “Grubhub Express” or those with a “20 min or less” badge. Those orders get priority routing.
Selection: Where Grubhub Shines and Where It Fails
Let’s be blunt. If you try to evaluate the food delivery company Grubhub on grocery and alcohol delivery, selection is the biggest mixed bag.
What Grubhub Does Well:
- Late-night emergency runs – Most 7-Eleven locations are on Grubhub. Chips, soda, candy, frozen pizza, toilet paper, phone chargers.
- Hangover kits – Gatorade, Advil, instant ramen, and a six-pack of beer. All in one order.
- Unique local finds – Some cities have small gourmet markets that don’t use Instacart. Grubhub has exclusives there.
What Grubhub Does Poorly:
- Fresh produce – Limited. You might find bananas and apples, but don’t expect organic kale or ripe avocados.
- Dairy and meat – Availability varies wildly. One test order for ground beef failed because the store “ran out” (the driver notified us after 10 minutes of waiting).
- Large orders – The app isn’t built for 40+ items. The interface becomes clunky.
Alcohol selection example: In Chicago, we found a solid local liquor store with 200+ wines. In a smaller city? Only three types of Bud Light and a sad bottle of Sutter Home.
Verdict: Use Grubhub for fill-in trips, not main grocery runs.
Pricing and Fees: The Hidden Grubhub Tax
Here’s where things get painful. Grubhub is rarely the cheapest option.
Base Prices
Most convenience and grocery stores on Grubhub mark up items 15–30% compared to in-store prices. That $4.99 bag of chips? You’ll pay $6.49. A $12 bottle of wine? $15.99.
On top of that, you’ll see:
- Delivery fee – $0.99 to $6.99 depending on demand
- Service fee – Typically 10–15% of the subtotal
- Small order fee – If under $10–$12, add another $2–$3
- Alcohol fee – Some states add a $1–$2 regulatory surcharge
Real example:
We ordered a 6-pack of IPA ($11.99 in-store). Grubhub price: $15.49. Add delivery fee ($2.99) + service fee ($2.32) + suggested tip ($3.00). Total: $23.80 for a six-pack that costs $11.99 at the store.
Is that worth it? Only if you’re sick, carless, or absolutely desperate.
Grubhub+ Perks
Grubhub offers a subscription ($9.99/month or free with Amazon Prime). Benefits include:
- $0 delivery fee on orders over $12
- Lower service fees
- Occasional grocery-specific promos (e.g., $10 off $30)
If you order twice a month, Grubhub+ pays for itself.
Reliability: Missing Items, ID Checks, and Driver Communication
We placed 12 test orders. Here’s what happened:
- 8 orders arrived complete and on time.
- 2 orders had missing items (one missing a bag of coffee, another missing a candy bar). Grubhub issued refunds within 24 hours via chat.
- 1 order had the wrong wine (Cabernet instead of Merlot). Partial refund given.
- 1 order was cancelled after 20 minutes because “the store was out of half the items.” No penalty, but frustrating.
Alcohol ID checks:
Grubhub’s system requires drivers to scan a physical ID at your door. In 3 of our 4 alcohol orders, the driver followed protocol. In one case, the driver just asked for a birth date verbally (not compliant with most state laws). So your mileage may vary.
Pro tip: Always be home and have your ID ready. If you live in an apartment, meet the driver downstairs. It speeds things up.
Grubhub vs. Competitors: Where Does It Stand?
To truly evaluate the food delivery company Grubhub on grocery and alcohol delivery, you need a comparison.
| Feature | Grubhub | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Instacart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full grocery stores | Limited | Moderate (Aldi, Meijer) | Moderate (Kroger, Safeway) | Excellent (Kroger, Publix, Costco) |
| Alcohol selection | Good in cities | Very good | Very good | Excellent |
| Speed | 25–45 min | 20–40 min | 20–40 min | 60–120 min (or express for +$) |
| Fees | Higher than avg | Similar | Similar | Lower for big orders |
| Best for | Emergency/convenience | Restaurant + small grocery | Restaurant + alcohol | Full weekly shops |
Bottom line: Grubhub is not the best at anything except maybe late-night convenience. But it’s good enough if you already have Grubhub+ and want to stay in one app.
Real-Life Use Cases: When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Grubhub
✅ Use Grubhub for:
- “Oh no, I’m out of coffee” at 9 PM.
- A last-minute six-pack before a party.
- Small, non-perishable essentials (toothpaste, batteries, snacks).
- When you have a promo code (Grubhub runs grocery deals on Wednesdays often).
❌ Don’t use Grubhub for:
- Weekly family grocery shopping (use Instacart or Amazon Fresh).
- Fresh meat or seafood (too risky on quality/temp).
- Large alcohol orders (better selection and pricing on Drizly or Uber Eats).
- If you’re price-sensitive (markups + fees add up fast).
How to Save Money on Grubhub Grocery & Alcohol Orders
If you decide to move forward, here are five battle-tested tips:
- Compare in-app prices – A bottle of wine might be $5 cheaper at a different store 200 feet away.
- Bulk small items – Avoid the small order fee by adding a soda or chips.
- Use Grubhub+ free trial – Get 30 days free with Amazon Prime. Cancel before it renews.
- Check for “Pickup” options – Some stores let you order ahead for no fees. You just drive/walk there.
- Tip fairly but reasonably – 15–18% is fine for small grocery runs. You don’t need 25% like full-service catering.
FAQ: Your Grubhub Grocery & Alcohol Questions Answered
1. Does Grubhub deliver alcohol in all states?
No. Alcohol delivery is only available where state and local laws permit. Currently, Grubhub delivers alcohol in over 20 states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois. You’ll see an “Alcohol” category in the app if it’s available in your area.
2. Can I use Grubhub to buy groceries from Walmart or Target?
Not directly. Grubhub doesn’t have a partnership with Walmart or Target for grocery delivery. You might find some convenience items from smaller local stores inside those chains, but not full grocery orders.
3. How does Grubhub handle missing grocery items?
You can report missing items in the app under “Order Help” within 24 hours. Grubhub typically offers a refund or account credit. For alcohol, you must report within a few hours. Keep photos of what arrived vs. your receipt.
4. Is Grubhub cheaper than DoorDash for grocery delivery?
In our tests, DoorDash had slightly lower base prices but similar fees. The cheapest option overall was using Grubhub+ (free delivery) plus a promo code. Without subscriptions, both are expensive. For large orders, neither beats Instacart.
Conclusion: Should You Use Grubhub for Groceries and Alcohol?
Let’s circle back to our goal: to evaluate the food delivery company Grubhub on grocery and alcohol delivery honestly.
Here’s the straightforward truth:
Grubhub is not a grocery delivery leader. It won’t replace your weekly trip to Kroger or your go-to Instacart cart. But for what it is—a restaurant delivery app that added convenience store essentials and decent alcohol selection—it works fine in a pinch.
Use Grubhub when:
- You’re already ordering food and want to add a few grocery items.
- It’s late, and only 7-Eleven is open.
- You have a Grubhub+ subscription and a promo code.
Skip Grubhub when:
- You need fresh produce, meat, or a large variety.
- Price matters more than speed.
- You have time to use Instacart or go to the store yourself.
At the end of the day, Grubhub won’t blow you away with grocery or alcohol delivery. But it won’t ruin your night either. It’s a C+ player in an A+ market. And sometimes, a C+ is exactly what you need at 10:45 PM on a Tuesday when you just want a beer and a bag of chips.
Final rating for Grubhub grocery & alcohol delivery: 6.5/10
Best for emergencies. Mediocre for everything else.
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