How Grubbian Works: From Discovery to Table in Minutes

Dining plans are easier when everyone has the same details. Grubbian brings restaurant discovery, bookings, optional meal pre-orders and order conversations into one place.

1. Find a restaurant

Browse grubbian.com/restaurants or use the Android app. You can explore without an account. Location permission is optional; search by restaurant, city or cuisine instead.

Open a profile to check its menu, photos, hours, booking lead time and reviews. Some directory listings are not yet accepting Grubbian bookings. Check for the reservation button rather than relying on a discovery label.

Sign in when you want to book, save favourites or manage an order.

2. Choose your booking and meals

Pick a date, time and group size offered in the booking form. Bookings are limited to the next two weeks and must meet the restaurant's hours and minimum lead time.

Reserve a table and order when you arrive, or pre-order meals where the restaurant offers that option. For a meal pre-order, select items and quantities for each guest and add guest notes. Check supplied allergen information and confirm essential requests directly with the restaurant.

Review the details and amount, then send your request. You do not pay at this stage.

3. Wait for acceptance, then pay

Pending means the restaurant is reviewing your request. Accepted means it is ready for you to confirm and pay. Open Orders and choose Confirm to pay by M-Pesa or card.

For a table booking, pay the stated deposit. The full deposit is deducted from your restaurant bill when you dine. For a meal pre-order, pay the full meal amount, less any eligible Rewards points used.

Confirmed means Grubbian has verified payment. Use the deadline shown on your order: unaccepted requests and unpaid Accepted orders can expire. Checkout closes one minute before the payment deadline.

If you paid but the status is unclear, check Orders before paying again. Contact Grubbian with your order ID and transaction reference if you need help.

4. Keep plans and conversations together

You can edit eligible Pending or Accepted meal pre-orders, including the time, group size, meals and guest notes. Review the new total because current menu prices and booking rules apply. An edited Accepted order returns to Pending for fresh restaurant review. Opening or discarding an edit draft does not change the live order.

Open an existing order to chat with the restaurant while it is Pending, Accepted or Confirmed. Chat is useful for questions and arrival details; use the order controls to change the booking. Existing conversations remain readable after an order closes.

On Android, the notification bell brings together chats and saved notifications. In your browser, use Messages for conversations and Orders for the booking status. Push alerts depend on permission and delivery, so check the order when needed.

5. Dine and earn eligible Rewards

Eligible participating meal pre-orders earn 1 point per complete KES 100 of qualifying cash paid. Each point is worth KES 1 toward an eligible meal. Earnings become Available after fulfilment.

Redemption unlocks permanently after 100 qualifying earned points have become available. Then use available points for up to 50% of an eligible meal's original value. Deposit-only bookings and amounts paid with points do not earn points. Your wallet and unlock progress are in Orders.

See Grubbian Rewards for eligibility, balance states and a worked example.

If plans change

Pending or Accepted orders can be cancelled at no charge. For a Confirmed booking, contact the restaurant promptly to agree a resolution. Deposit bill credit and refund eligibility are separate: where a refund is appropriate, the restaurant can request it for Grubbian to verify and process. See refund help.

For restaurant owners

Create a restaurant account, or start with Claim on an existing listing where available. Complete the required verification and listing checks before receiving bookings.

Cash settlement and Rewards reimbursement follow separate timelines. Ordinary settlement is usually within three working days after verified payment; eligible Rewards reimbursement becomes payable after fulfilment and is submitted on approximately three-hour runs, subject to funding, payout controls and provider availability. Submission is not immediate credit.

Read Grubbian for restaurants for applicable fees, a payment example and onboarding guidance.

For booking, payment or account questions, visit Help or email info@grubbian.com.