---
title: "The Shopify Restaurant & Prepared-Food App Stack (2026)"
description: "A restaurant on Shopify needs seven layers: menu, modifiers, kitchen hours, delivery scheduling, order rules, dispatch, and (optionally) POS. Here's the reference stack — what each app does and what a real store spends per month."
contentType: "blog"
locale: "en"
localized: true
source: "https://orderrules.com/blog/shopify-restaurant-food-delivery-app-stack"
slug: "shopify-restaurant-food-delivery-app-stack"
date: "2026-08-05"
tags:
  - "shopify"
  - "restaurant"
  - "food delivery"
  - "app stack"
  - "online ordering"
  - "delivery scheduling"
  - "shopify apps 2026"
---
The instinct when you put a restaurant on Shopify is to over-install: browse the app store, see a category for everything, add one of each, and end up with a dozen apps that fight over your checkout and a $400 monthly bill. The better path is to install the minimum stack that covers the capabilities below, run live for a month, and add only what experience proves you need.

This is the full reference stack for a Shopify restaurant or prepared-food store in 2026 — what each layer does, the current best apps and their real prices, and what a launch stack costs at three sizes. (Selling groceries or convenience items instead? That stack is a little different — see [the Shopify grocery delivery app stack](/blog/shopify-grocery-delivery-app-stack).)

## The 7 capabilities a restaurant storefront has to deliver

Every Shopify restaurant has to do these seven things. Your apps map directly to them — pick one app per layer, not two, not zero.

| # | Capability | What it does in plain terms |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menu + checkout | Browse the menu, add to cart, take payment. Shopify + a food theme. |
| 2 | Menu modifiers | "No onions," "add cheese," "choose protein" on a dish. |
| 3 | Kitchen hours | Close checkout when the kitchen is off. |
| 4 | Delivery & pickup scheduling | Let the customer pick ASAP or a slot; set zones. |
| 5 | Order rules | Minimum order value, per-slot/day capacity, cutoffs, per-customer limits. |
| 6 | Dispatch / last-mile | Route the order to a driver and track it. |
| 7 | POS / reviews / mobile (optional) | Counter orders, social proof, a native app. |

Two of these — kitchen hours (#3) and order rules (#5) — are handled by one app, **OrderRules**, which can also cover the slot picker in #4. So a typical restaurant needs about four apps for the core, not seven.

## What native Shopify covers for free

Before installing anything, know what Shopify already does, so you don't pay for it twice:

- **Menu + checkout + payments** — the catalogue, cart, and Shopify Payments.
- **Local delivery** — a delivery area by radius or postcode, a fee, and a minimum — but only with **Shop Pay** at checkout (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal bypass it), and with no time slots or capacity.
- **Local pickup** — a "ready in X" prep time per location, but no customer-chosen pickup time.
- **POS Lite** — free in-person selling.

Everything else in this stack — kitchen hours, ASAP or scheduled slots, capacity caps, menu modifiers, dispatch — needs an app. Native gets you started; it doesn't run a real restaurant on its own.

## Layer 1: Storefront theme & menu

Shopify handles the catalogue; the choice that matters is the theme. Good news: you don't need to pay for one.

**Savor** is Shopify's own free theme built for food and beverage — edge-to-edge food imagery, nutritional info, quick-buy. **Crave** and **Taste** are other free Shopify food/drink themes, and the general-purpose **Dawn** and next-gen **Horizon** themes are free and fast. For most restaurants a free food theme is the right call; revisit a paid theme only once you've run 50–100 orders and know what your menu UX actually needs.

Build each dish as a product, grouped into collections (Burgers, Sides, Drinks, Combos). The *options* on a dish are the next layer.

## Layer 2: Menu modifiers ("no onions, add cheese")

Shopify's built-in variants top out and get unwieldy for food customization. A product-options app adds dropdowns, checkboxes, and conditional logic with optional price add-ons:

- **Easify Product Options** — Free · Pro $9.99 · Premium $19.99. Deep conditional logic and add-on pricing; a common pick for food.
- **Globo Product Options** — Free · Premium $9.90 · Advanced $19.90. Unlimited options beyond the variant cap.
- **Avis (AvisPlus) Product Options** — Free · Pro $12 · Advanced $24, with POS integration.

Any of the three covers a food menu well. Start on a free tier and upgrade when you need conditional logic (e.g. "extra patty" only shows on burgers).

## Layer 3: Kitchen hours

Default Shopify keeps checkout open 24/7; a kitchen doesn't. This is the first rule Shopify won't enforce for you — leave it out and someone orders at 2am and you wake to a refund.

Enforce trading hours at the **Shopify Functions checkout layer**, not a display-only widget, so checkout genuinely closes (across Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and direct URLs) with a clear "we're closed, back at 11" message. This is **[OrderRules](/pricing)** on the free Starter plan; the deeper context is in [how to set store hours](/blog/how-to-set-store-hours-shopify) and [display vs. enforcement](/blog/store-hours-display-vs-enforcement-shopify). For a restaurant the OrderRules path is usually best because the same app also handles Layer 5 (order rules) — one app, two layers.

## Layer 4: Delivery & pickup scheduling

This is the customer-facing "when and where" — pick ASAP or a time slot, delivery or pickup, within your zones. The big question is **ASAP vs. scheduled**, and it splits the field:

- **Zapiet Eats** — $49.99/month (250 orders included). The purpose-built *restaurant* product: on-demand **ASAP** ordering plus scheduled slots, prep-time buffers, per-slot limits, and true kitchen **accept / delay / decline** pace control — zero commission. If you want the DoorDash-style "order now, ready in 25 min" experience on your own store, this is the one that does it.
- **Zapiet — Pickup + Delivery** — Essential $29.99 · Advanced $79.99 · Professional $179.99. The heavyweight for complex multi-zone, multi-location scheduling (scheduled-slot oriented rather than ASAP).
- **Pickeasy** — Free (≤10 orders) · $9.99 · $19.99 · $29.99. Strong value slot picker for pickup + local delivery.
- **Bird** — Free (10 orders) · $19.99 · $49.99 · $99.99. Clean calendar picker with time slots.
- **Stellar** — Free (≤100 orders) · from $14.99. Budget picker with pickup.

Most of these (except Zapiet Eats) are **scheduled-slot** tools — great for "order by 2pm for a 6pm delivery," not for on-demand. Pick one; don't install two delivery apps or customers see double slot pickers. Full side-by-side detail is in [the best Shopify delivery date picker apps guide](/blog/best-shopify-delivery-date-picker-apps). And remember: none of these enforce your kitchen hours, minimum, or capacity at checkout — that's the next layer.

## ASAP vs. scheduled ordering: the restaurant question

This is the detail that separates a *restaurant* setup from a generic food store. Two ordering modes:

- **Scheduled** — the customer picks a future slot ("6:00–6:30pm today"). Every general slot app (Zapiet, Pickeasy, Bird, Stellar) does this well. Ideal for meal prep, catering, and stores that batch-cook to set windows.
- **ASAP / on-demand** — "order now, ready in about 25 minutes," the aggregator experience. Among Shopify apps, **Zapiet Eats** is the one built for it, with prep-time buffers and manual **accept / delay / decline** so the kitchen paces the queue in real time.

Whichever mode you run, the *pace* still has to be controlled — and that's the ordering-rules layer. **Per-slot and per-day capacity caps** (OrderRules) stop either mode from handing the kitchen more than it can cook: scheduled orders sell a slot out; ASAP orders hit a per-window ceiling and the next customer is pushed back. Prep-time buffers decide *how long* each order takes; capacity caps decide *how many* you accept — you want both.

## Layer 5: Order rules — minimum, capacity, cutoffs, per-customer

A restaurant needs four rules, and they all live in one place — **[OrderRules](/pricing)** — enforced server-side at checkout across every wallet:

- **Minimum order value.** A $6 delivery loses money once the driver's paid; set a floor (many food shops use $20–$30). See the [minimum order value guide](/blog/shopify-minimum-order-quantity-guide).
- **Per-day and per-slot capacity caps.** Cap orders at what the kitchen can actually cook per window, so a rush sells out instead of overbooking. See [delivery capacity limits](/blog/delivery-capacity-limits-shopify).
- **Order cutoffs + prep lead time.** Late orders roll to the next window. See [cutoff times](/blog/setting-up-cutoff-times-shopify).
- **Per-customer limits.** Useful for flash deals and limited items.

This is the layer that keeps the kitchen from being overwhelmed — the operational backbone under everything else. The vertical detail is in [Shopify order limits for food businesses](/blog/shopify-order-limits-for-food-businesses) and [managing restaurant takeout orders](/blog/managing-restaurant-takeout-orders-shopify). OrderRules' **Advanced** plan ($19.99) also includes its own delivery/pickup date-and-slot picker, so a simpler store can cover Layers 4 *and* 5 in one app.

## Layer 6: Dispatch / last-mile

Someone has to carry the food, and that's a separate concern from the checkout. A dispatch app takes placed orders and routes them:

- **Shipday** — Free (300 orders/month) · Pro $39 · Elite $99. Restaurant-origin dispatch to your own fleet or third-party couriers (DoorDash/Uber), with a driver app and live tracking. The closest "restaurant dispatch" fit.
- **EasyRoutes** — Free · Standard $39 · Premium $59. Route optimization, a driver app, live GPS tracking, and proof of delivery for your own drivers.

These run *after* the order is placed. They don't gate checkout, and they aren't a substitute for the ordering rules — they're the delivery-logistics layer on top.

## Layer 7: POS, reviews & mobile (optional)

Add these when the core is running, not before:

- **Shopify POS** — Lite is **free** with any paid plan (fine for occasional counter orders); **POS Pro** is $89/location for full retail features. Only worth Pro once you're taking real in-person volume.
- **Reviews** — **Judge.me** (Free · $15) or **Loox** (free Beginner tier · $49.99) add photo reviews and social proof, which matters a lot for food.
- **Mobile app** — builders like **Tapcart** (from $500), **Vajro**, or **MobiLoud** ($1,499) turn your store into native iOS/Android apps. Powerful for repeat orders via push notifications, but the pricing means it only pays back at real volume — mobile web is fine to launch.

## The reference stack at three sizes

### Lean stack (~$39/month)

| Layer | App | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Savor (free) | Free |
| Kitchen hours + daily cap | OrderRules Starter | Free |
| Delivery + pickup | Shopify native (Shop Pay only) | Free |
| Platform | Shopify Basic | $39/mo |

Best for: a brand-new restaurant testing the model. Limits: no ASAP or slot picker, no capacity caps, no menu modifiers beyond variants, and native local delivery only works with Shop Pay.

### Standard stack (~$70–$130/month)

| Layer | App | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Shopify Basic | $39/mo |
| Kitchen hours + order rules + slot picker | OrderRules Advanced | $19.99/mo |
| Menu modifiers | Easify Product Options | Free–$9.99/mo |
| Delivery scheduling (deeper) | Pickeasy or Bird | Free–$30/mo |
| Dispatch | Shipday | Free–$39/mo |
| Theme | Savor (free) | Free |

Best for: most restaurants doing real delivery + pickup volume. OrderRules Advanced covers hours, capacity, minimums, cutoffs, *and* the slot picker; add a dedicated scheduling app only if you need deeper zone rules.

### Full stack ($250–$500+/month)

| Layer | App | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Shopify (mid-tier) | $105/mo |
| Kitchen hours + order rules | OrderRules Advanced | $19.99/mo |
| ASAP ordering + kitchen pace | Zapiet Eats | $49.99/mo |
| Menu modifiers | Easify Premium | $19.99/mo |
| Dispatch | Shipday Elite / EasyRoutes | $59–$99/mo |
| POS (counter) | Shopify POS Pro | $89/location |
| Reviews | Judge.me / Loox | $15–$50/mo |
| Mobile app (if justified) | Tapcart | $500+/mo |

Best for: high-volume restaurants and multi-location or ASAP-first operations. Most stores don't need everything here — add the modules that map to real operations.

## Putting it together: a delivery burger shop

A concrete standard stack for a burger shop doing delivery to a few nearby areas plus pickup:

- **Shopify Basic** + the free **Savor** theme for the menu.
- **Easify Product Options** so customers build their burger (patty count, cheese, no onions).
- **OrderRules Advanced** for the kitchen hours (checkout closes after 11pm), a $20 delivery minimum, a 40-orders-a-night cap split across slots, a Friday-rush cutoff, and the delivery/pickup slot picker.
- **Shipday** to dispatch each order to the shop's own driver with live tracking.

That's roughly **$70–$90/month** all-in, and it covers the whole flow: a customer builds a burger, picks delivery or 1-hour pickup, can only order in-hours and above the minimum, the kitchen never takes more than 40 a night, and the driver gets a routed, tracked order. Add **Zapiet Eats** (+$49.99) the day you want true ASAP "order now" ordering, or **POS Pro** when the counter gets busy. Nothing else is needed to launch — and none of it pays a marketplace commission.

## The three layers people confuse

The single biggest source of over-buying (or gaps) is treating these as one thing. They're three:

1. **Ordering rules — OrderRules.** *Whether and how much* can be ordered: kitchen hours, minimum order value, per-day/per-slot capacity, cutoffs, per-customer limits. Checkout-level gating, across every wallet. (Plus a slot picker on Advanced.)
2. **Delivery scheduling — Zapiet Eats / Zapiet / Pickeasy / Bird / Stellar.** *When and where* it arrives: the customer-facing ASAP-or-slot picker, pickup, and zones.
3. **Dispatch / routing — Shipday / EasyRoutes.** *Getting it to the door*: route optimization, driver assignment, live tracking — after the order is placed.

A store running only OrderRules has rules and a slot picker but no driver routing. A store running only a delivery app has slots but no hours or capacity enforcement. A store running only a dispatch app can route orders it should never have accepted. Most restaurants want one from each.

## What to skip on day one

- **A native mobile app.** $500+/month; rarely pays back before you have strong repeat volume. Mobile web is fine to launch.
- **POS Pro.** POS Lite is free; upgrade only when in-person counter volume is real.
- **Loyalty / subscription apps.** Great once retention is proven — noise before that.
- **Two delivery apps.** They fight over checkout fields and show customers double pickers. One scheduling app, period.

Day one is theme + modifiers + kitchen hours + delivery + order rules. Everything else can wait 60 days.

## Where to go next

- **Start here** — [how to start a food delivery business on Shopify](/blog/how-to-start-a-food-delivery-business-shopify) walks the whole setup end to end.
- **Keep the margin** — [own Shopify store vs. food-delivery marketplaces](/blog/shopify-store-vs-food-delivery-marketplaces).
- **Delivery-only** — [run a ghost kitchen on Shopify](/blog/shopify-ghost-kitchen-guide).
- **Local delivery specifics** — [local delivery for a Shopify food store](/blog/shopify-food-store-local-delivery-guide).
- **The rules layer** — start with [OrderRules free](/pricing) for kitchen hours, minimums, capacity, and cutoffs.