Best EPOS Systems for Chinese Takeaways UK 2026 Quick Answer
The best EPOS system for a Chinese takeaway is one that can bring counter, telephone, collection, website and delivery-platform orders into one manageable workflow.
The main buying priorities are:
fast order entry
menu modifiers
collection and delivery timing
Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats integration
kitchen printers or KDS
card and cash payments
online ordering
stock and ingredient visibility
customer/order history
Takeaway type Providers to compare first
Small counter + collection takeaway
Square, SumUp, Epos Now
Busy delivery-led takeaway
Epos Now, Lightspeed, Square + delivery integration
Takeaway using several delivery apps
Epos Now/systems with order aggregation
Food-led takeaway needing strong kitchen workflow
Epos Now, Lightspeed, TouchBistro
Multi-site takeaway group
Lightspeed, Epos Now, Zonal
Our view: for most Chinese takeaways, the biggest EPOS improvement is not a prettier till.
It is turning: phone orders + counter orders + website orders + delivery apps
into: one order queue → one kitchen workflow → one set of reports.
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How Do We Work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, pricing data and UK business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience.
Reviewed by: James Ward – Telecoms Specialist, 12+ years’ experience.
Last Updated: September 2026
Key Takeaways
Chinese takeaway EPOS should be chosen around order flow, not just card payments.
Delivery-platform integration can remove the need to re-enter Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats orders manually.
Epos Now currently supports delivery-platform orders flowing directly into POS and then to a kitchen display or printer.
A KDS is useful for high-volume kitchens but is not essential for every takeaway.
Square Restaurants currently offers a £0/month Free plan and £69/month Plus plan.
Square KDS can be added separately or is included without an additional KDS software charge on Restaurants Plus.
Online ordering and delivery integrations may have additional software or third-party costs.
Card-processing costs can exceed the EPOS subscription for busy takeaways.
Phone orders remain important, so staff should be able to enter and amend orders quickly.
The best setup should distinguish collection, delivery and counter orders clearly in the kitchen.
What Is a Chinese Takeaway EPOS System? A Chinese takeaway EPOS system manages orders, payments and operational information across different sales channels and depending on the setup, it can manage:
walk-in orders
telephone orders
collection orders
website orders
Just Eat orders
Deliveroo orders
Uber Eats orders
cash payments
card payments
kitchen tickets
stock
customers
sales reports
Our View: Chinese Takeaway EPOS Is Really an Order-Management Problem The biggest operational problem for many takeaways is having orders arriving through several places at once.
For example:
staff member takes a telephone order
two customers are ordering at the counter
Just Eat sends an order
Deliveroo sends another order
an online collection order arrives
If each channel needs a different tablet, printer or manual entry process, mistakes become more likely.
The EPOS system should reduce that fragmentation.
Best EPOS Systems for Chinese Takeaways UK 2026
Provider Best for Why compare it
Epos Now Delivery-heavy takeaways
Takeaway-specific POS, delivery aggregation and KDS
Square Restaurants Small and growing takeaways
£0 software option, online ordering and broad integrations
Lightspeed Restaurant Busy food businesses
Hospitality workflow, reporting and integrations
TouchBistro Food-led / more complex operations
Restaurant-focused ordering and kitchen workflows
SumUp POS Small simple takeaways
Low-cost payments and POS options
Zonal Multi-site takeaway groups
Central control and hospitality ecosystem
Epos Now for Chinese Takeaways Epos Now has one of the clearest takeaway-specific propositions and their current takeaway system supports:
POS
card payments
inventory
online ordering
delivery integrations
kitchen display
sales reporting
Epos Now Delivery
Epos Now Delivery currently supports orders from platforms including:
Just Eat
Deliveroo
Uber Eats
Orders can be:
received from the delivery platform
sent directly to EPOS
sent to a kitchen display or printed as a docket
This removes the need for staff to manually type the same delivery order into the till.
Our View
This is one of the most valuable EPOS features for a delivery-heavy takeaway.
The benefit is not simply “having Deliveroo integration”.
It is: fewer tablets → less rekeying → fewer missed orders → clearer kitchen workflow.
See our Epos Now review .
Epos Now + Foodhub Epos Now also currently integrates with Foodhub .
Foodhub orders can move directly into the Epos Now POS so kitchen staff can start preparing them without staff re-entering the order.
Our View
This is particularly relevant to takeaways that want to develop their own direct-ordering channel alongside aggregator platforms.
Epos Now Kitchen Display System
Epos Now currently offers a KDS that can display orders coming from:
EPOS
digital ordering
delivery platforms
Current KDS functionality includes:
new-order alerts
updated-order alerts
multiple kitchen stations
order grouping
timers
delivery / takeaway order identification
allergy and customisation information
Current published pricing includes:
KDS software only: £19/monthKDS screen + software: £49/month with no upfront hardware cost
Other packages are also available.
Our View: KDS vs Kitchen Printer A KDS is not automatically better.
A printer could be enough if:
order volume is moderate
there is one preparation area
staff already work effectively from tickets
A KDS becomes more valuable if:
order volume is high
orders arrive from several channels
there are several prep stations
staff need order timers
order amendments are common
Square for Chinese Takeaways Square Restaurants currently offers:
Free: £0/month + processingPlus: £69/month per location + processingPremium: custom pricing for eligible larger businesses
Its current UK in-person processing rate is:
1.75%
and UK online-card payments currently cost:
1.4% + 25p.
Square Restaurants Free
The free tier includes core restaurant functions such as:
order management
menus
open bills
multiple devices
multiple locations
online ordering
Our View on Square
Square is probably the strongest starting comparison for a small takeaway that wants low software commitment.
It becomes less obviously cheapest as:
card turnover grows
delivery-integration costs are added
KDS and other software are added
See our Square EPOS review .
Square Delivery Integrations Square supports third-party order-management integrations that can bring delivery orders into the Square Restaurants environment.
Current examples include:
These can connect external ordering and delivery platforms with Square POS.
Our View
Always ask:
which delivery platforms are supported?
does it require middleware?
what does that middleware cost?
do menu changes sync both ways?
“Integrates with Deliveroo” does not always mean “included for free”.
Square KDS Square KDS provides digital kitchen tickets on compatible Android hardware.
Current pricing includes:
KDS standalone: £15 + VAT/month per deviceRestaurants Plus: unlimited KDS software devices included per location
Square also currently sells a 21.5-inch kitchen display screen for £549 + VAT.
Our View
A takeaway considering Restaurants Plus should factor the included KDS software into the comparison rather than looking only at the £69 software subscription.
Lightspeed for Chinese Takeaways Lightspeed is worth comparing where the takeaway has more complex hospitality requirements.
It is particularly relevant to businesses needing:
strong restaurant workflows
multi-channel orders
inventory
reporting
integrations
multiple locations
Our View
For a simple single-site takeaway, Lightspeed may provide more depth than is necessary.
For a busy food business with:
several sales channels
high order volume
strong reporting requirements
it deserves comparison.
See our Lightspeed review .
TouchBistro for Chinese Takeaways TouchBistro is primarily a restaurant-focused platform and is most relevant where the takeaway also has:
eat-in customers
tables
more complex kitchen workflow
Our View
A pure delivery-and-collection takeaway may get better value from a platform more focused on takeaway order aggregation.
See our TouchBistro review .
SumUp for Chinese Takeaways SumUp can be a good low-cost starting option where the business mainly needs:
counter ordering
card payments
simple reporting
It becomes less obvious as the best fit when:
several delivery platforms need integrating
complex kitchen routing is required
the business has multiple locations
See our SumUp POS review .
What Does a Chinese Takeaway EPOS System Cost? There is no useful single £30-£100 monthly price range because systems are now sold in very different ways.
A takeaway might choose:
£0/month POS software
paid restaurant software
a hardware bundle
separate KDS software
delivery-integration software
payment processing
Current Cost Examples
Product Current example
Square Restaurants Free
£0/month + processing
Square Restaurants Plus
£69/month/location
Square KDS standalone
£15 + VAT/month/device
Epos Now KDS software
£19/month
Epos Now KDS screen + software
£49/month
Epos Now takeaway hardware bundle
Current promotional pricing from £299
Promotions and provider pricing can change. Check current terms before purchase.
Our View: Compare the Full Order Stack Do not compare only:
EPOS subscription A vs EPOS subscription B.
Add:
software
hardware
card processing
KDS
delivery aggregation
online ordering
support
to find the real cost.
Card Processing Costs for Takeaways For busy takeaways, payment fees can cost considerably more than the EPOS subscription.
Example
Monthly card turnover:
£30,000
At a 1.75% card-present processing rate:
£525/month
That is far more than a £20, £50 or £70 software subscription.
Compare EPOS and card processing together.
See our Card Processing Fees guide .
1. Delivery-App Integration This is one of the most important features for delivery-led takeaways.
Ask whether the system can connect:
Just Eat
Uber Eats
Deliveroo
Foodhub
your own website
Most Important Question
Do orders enter EPOS automatically?
If staff still have to copy an order from one tablet into another till, much of the integration benefit is lost.
2. Phone Orders Delivery apps may be growing, but telephone orders still matter for many established local takeaways.
The EPOS system should make it quick to:
enter an order
select delivery or collection
amend items
enter customer notes
set collection/delivery times
take card or record cash payment
Our View: Test a Real Phone Order in the Demo
Ask the provider to enter: Chicken chow mein, no onion, egg fried rice, sweet & sour chicken, extra sauce, collection at 7:30pm.
Then change one item – if that workflow is slow in a quiet demo, it will be worse during Friday-night service.
3. Menu Modifiers Chinese takeaway menus can have many:
sizes
protein choices
sauces
rice/noodle combinations
extras
special requests
The POS should allow modifiers without turning each variation into a completely separate product.
4. Collection vs Delivery The kitchen needs to identify:
counter order
collection
delivery
delivery platform
required time
clearly – this is particularly important when several orders have similar customer names or menu items.
5. Kitchen Display System A KDS can provide:
digital tickets
timers
new-order alerts
order modifications
delivery-source information
separate prep stations
Our View A KDS is worth considering when paper tickets stop being easy to manage and it should solve a capacity problem rather than simply add another screen.
6. Kitchen Printers Printers remain a perfectly valid option.
They can be:
for lower-volume takeaways, some systems can route different products to different printers.
7. Online Ordering Your own direct-ordering channel can reduce reliance on marketplace apps.
An integrated website order should ideally:
enter EPOS automatically
update stock
reach the kitchen
appear in the same reporting
Our View: Direct Ordering Is Strategically Important Third-party delivery marketplaces provide reach.
Your own ordering channel can give you more direct control over:
customer relationship
menu
promotions
ordering journey
A good EPOS system should make it possible to operate both.
8. Stock & Ingredients Chinese takeaway inventory can involve:
meat
rice
noodles
vegetables
sauces
packaging
drinks
Ask whether stock is tracked:
by finished menu item
by ingredient
or both
Our View
“Inventory management” does not automatically mean recipe-level ingredient control.
If ingredient usage matters, see it working before buying.
9. Menu Availability Useful systems can help prevent staff selling products that are unavailable.
This becomes more important if menu availability also needs to update across:
counter POS
website
delivery channels
10. Cash & Card Payments Chinese takeaways may still receive a mixture of:
cash
in-person card
online pre-payment
telephone card payment
delivery-platform payment
EPOS reporting should clearly reconcile these different payment routes.
11. Customer Records & Loyalty Repeat business is particularly important to local takeaways.
Useful features may include:
customer history
loyalty
offers
direct marketing
But customer information must be handled in line with UK data-protection requirements.
12. Reporting Useful takeaway reports include:
sales by channel
sales by day/time
best-selling dishes
delivery vs collection
payment type
discounts
refunds
average order value
Our View: Channel Profitability Matters A takeaway should ideally be able to distinguish sales coming from:
counter
direct website
Just Eat
Deliveroo
Uber Eats
Revenue alone does not tell you which channel is most valuable after commissions and promotions.
13. Offline & Broadband Resilience Ask what happens if:
broadband fails
a delivery integration goes offline
the cloud POS loses connection
Can staff still:
enter orders?
print tickets?
take payments?
POS offline functionality and payment offline functionality are separate things.
See our Business Broadband comparison .
Best EPOS by Chinese Takeaway Type Small Collection-Focused Takeaway
Compare:
Prioritise:
fast order entry
cash/card payments
simple kitchen printing
Busy Delivery Takeaway
Compare:
Epos Now
Lightspeed
Square with delivery integration
Prioritise:
delivery aggregation
KDS
timed orders
channel reporting
Takeaway With Own Website
Prioritise:
EPOS sync
menu sync
collection slots
online payments
kitchen routing
Multi-Site Chinese Takeaway
Compare:
Lightspeed
Epos Now
Zonal
Prioritise:
central menu control
site reporting
pricing
staff permissions
multi-location ordering
What to Ask During an EPOS Demo
Enter a complex phone order with modifiers.
Change an item after it has been entered.
Show a Just Eat order arriving.
Show a Deliveroo order arriving at the same time.
Show how the kitchen knows which channel each order came from.
Show collection and delivery times.
Mark one dish unavailable.
Show whether that updates online channels.
Refund one item.
Show sales split by ordering channel.
Show what happens if broadband fails.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
Which delivery platforms integrate?
Is the integration direct or via middleware?
What does the middleware cost?
Do orders auto-accept?
Can menus sync across channels?
Can stock availability sync?
Does the KDS cost extra?
How many kitchen screens can we use?
What printer hardware is required?
What are the card-processing fees?
Does online ordering cost extra?
What contract term applies?
What support is available on Friday and Saturday evenings?
Common Chinese Takeaway EPOS Mistakes
choosing a generic retail till
buying based only on software price
not checking delivery-platform integration
assuming an integration is free
manually re-entering delivery orders
buying a KDS when a printer would work
failing to test modifiers
not separating delivery and collection orders
ignoring card-processing costs
not testing internet-failure scenarios
Our Verdict: What Is the Best EPOS for a Chinese Takeaway? The best Chinese takeaway EPOS system is the one that controls the whole order journey rather than simply taking payment at the counter.
Our starting recommendations are:
Small simple takeaway: Square, SumUp or Epos NowDelivery-heavy takeaway: Epos Now deserves a strong shortlistBusy high-volume operation: Epos Now, Lightspeed or Square RestaurantsFood-led/complex kitchen: Lightspeed, Epos Now or TouchBistroMulti-site takeaway group: Lightspeed, Epos Now or Zonal
The seven areas we would prioritise are:
order-entry speed
delivery-app integration
menu modifiers
kitchen workflow
online ordering
payment costs
total annual cost
If staff still need to copy orders between tablets, tills and handwritten tickets, the EPOS system is not solving the main takeaway problem.
Compare Chinese Takeaway EPOS Systems
Frequently Asked Questions What is the best EPOS system for a Chinese takeaway?
Epos Now is particularly strong for delivery-heavy takeaways because it supports takeaway POS, delivery aggregation and kitchen displays. Square is a strong low-cost comparison, while Lightspeed deserves consideration for more complex operations.
How much does Chinese takeaway EPOS cost?
There is no single typical monthly price. Square Restaurants starts at £0/month, while advanced restaurant software, KDS, delivery integrations, hardware and payment processing can add additional costs.
Does EPOS integrate with Just Eat?
Yes, some systems do. Epos Now currently supports Just Eat through its delivery-ordering solution, with orders flowing into POS and then to a kitchen display or printer.
Can EPOS integrate with Deliveroo and Uber Eats?
Yes. Platforms such as Epos Now support Deliveroo and Uber Eats, while other EPOS providers can connect them directly or through third-party order-management software.
Do Chinese takeaways need a KDS?
Not always. A KDS can be useful for high-volume, multi-channel kitchens, while a lower-volume takeaway may work perfectly well with kitchen printers.
How much does an Epos Now KDS cost?
Epos Now currently publishes a software-only KDS option at £19/month and a screen-plus-software option at £49/month, with other packages available.
How much is Square Restaurants?
Square Restaurants Free currently costs £0/month plus processing fees, while Plus costs £69/month per location.
Can Square integrate with delivery apps?
Yes. Square supports restaurant order-management integrations such as Deliverect and Cuboh, which can connect third-party delivery orders with Square.
Can EPOS handle phone orders?
Yes. A suitable takeaway system should allow staff to enter phone orders, add notes and modifiers, choose delivery or collection and set required times.
Can takeaway EPOS manage cash and card payments?
Yes. Most takeaway systems can track cash, integrated card payments and prepaid online orders within the overall sales reporting.
Can EPOS help reduce takeaway order mistakes?
It can reduce manual rekeying and improve order visibility, especially where online orders flow directly into POS and kitchen systems. It cannot eliminate every preparation or staff error.
What should I compare before choosing?
Compare delivery integrations, menu workflow, kitchen routing, card-processing fees, online ordering, support, contract terms and total annual cost.
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
