Some (if not most) of my friends consider me as the go-to guy to ask for anything techie in nature, and just recently, about food delivery stuff. This ongoing pandemic converted me to a silent beta tester (of sorts; in my own right) of different online services from food delivery, courier, or delivery services (especially the “pabili” type of service).
A few days ago, I stumble upon SmartBite Philippines through an ad on my social media feed. According to their Facebook page, they had been around in the Philippines for a year (started during the ECQ/MECQ days of May 2020). Further research showed that the company was established in 2017 and has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
My initial check on their website revealed some popular restaurants near our place, as well as a few caterers from nearby cities.
Saan Aabot ang PHP500 Mo?
Last Saturday, 03 July 2021, we were too lazy to cook at home so I thought of ordering via SmartBite Philippines. If you’re looking for fast food delivery, SmartBite may not be your option. As they specialize in catering services, restaurant/caterer options on this website require at least an hour of booking prior to delivery (some vendors require at least 24 hours between booking and delivery/pickup).
After sign-up, your online journey in using SmartBite will begin by choosing between delivery or pickup, identifying the delivery address, and delivery/pickup date and time.
Surfing through the different vendors on the website, I got intrigued with Lacson’s Food Delivery. Why? Because of their pricing: Arroz Ala Cubana for just PHP11.20! The catch: the minimum order is 10 packs.
No problem! I have a plan. So, I ordered Arroz Ala Cubana, Burger Steak, Chicken Adobo, and Sweet and Sour Meatballs for a total of forty (40) meal packs. The total cost: PHP534 to include the delivery fee.
Fast-forward to the morning of Monday, 05 July 2021 — delivery day. I logged in to the SmartBite website at around 10:00 AM and saw some progress with my orders under “Delivery Events” — was able to track where the delivery rider was.
Right on the dot, minutes before 11:00 AM, the rider arrived and the food packs (40 sets, complete with a plastic spoon, fork, and table napkins) are here!
So, where did all the 40 prepacked meals went? Some, we savored during lunch at home. I sent a couple of packs to my brother for him and his officemates to enjoy. And remember when I said I have a “plan”? I went out for a quick walk around the highway and gave away lunch to a couple of street dwellers.
Initial Impressions & Verdict on SmartBite Philippines
I’m impressed with the SmartBite website, ordering process, and delivery! With a +/-30 minutes delivery window based on your preference and receiving the food items minutes before that timeframe is awesome. The choices of vendors, as well as the pricing, are just OK.
I only wish that for them to have a send-to-me feature soon — perfect if you want to treat your officemates, teammates, friends, or family at any given occasion.
Right now, I could think of a particular perfect usecase for SmartBite Philippines: Bayanihan. If you are planning to feed many people (say during any celebration, or if you want to have a feeding activity for the needy), and want to have the food items delivered at your doorsteps on time, give them a try (don’t take my word for it; go give them a shot).