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Uber Eats’s 2023 Annual Cravings report has revealed the world’s most popular, most unusual, and most surprising delivery requests captured in a year on the application.

In most countries, one can get *almost, almost* anything delivered with Uber Eats – it just depends on what you’re craving.

The reports say it’s seen some “haunted hankerings”, from folks ordering steak and jelly, to those on a quest for seaweed with pasta sauce and lots in between.

Apple whiskey and lobster are some of the most frequently paired alcohol and food combinations in the US according to the food delivery app.

“Beyond lobster tail, it appears people also often pair apple whiskey with steak,” Marco Vita, senior data scientist at Uber Eats, shared with Forbes. “As the saying goes: ‘nothing tastes better than the thing you want to eat right now.’”

Vodka and ribeye were the top pairing of food and alcohol in Uber Eats’ report, followed by frozen margaritas and cheeseburgers, frozen piña coladas and chicken, as well as daiquiris and tamales.

Sounds like a party worth joining.

As for the top three most popular non-food items ordered: Scott Unscented Toilet Paper Rolls, Plan B One-Step Emergency Contraceptive, and COVID-19 Antigen Home Tests were up there on the order list. This is either an indicator that people are irresponsible and need Uber at the last minute, or they’re responsible and ordering what they need to stay safe and well – take your pick.

Okes in South Africa also went all out.

The biggest Uber Eats order in Mzansi last year totalled a stupendous R33,000 from a single user in one day. Naturally, it was for mjwals (alcohol), noted SowetanLive:

According to the annual report by the online food ordering and delivery platform, the splurge happened on Friday, October 13, where a customer had two separate orders 25 minutes apart. The big spender first put an order of about R14,000 and within 30 minutes R19,000. The two orders totalled R33,000, including tips.

Clearly, a jol was about to be had.

Then, another jaw-dropping order included a user who purchased from the same restaurant 348 times in 2023; while another ordered “at least once a day for every day of 2023”. Someone misses their mom.

One user also had 771 orders for two, while the hardest-working delivery person on the application took over 9,000 trips.

“For perspective, that’s equivalent to circling the earth more than 2.27 times or driving from Cape Town to Johannesburg and back nearly 33 times. The hours spent on the road, meanwhile, are equivalent to watching Die Hard more than 781 times,” the report further elaborated.

Surprisingly, Joburg became the new hub for vegans, overhauling the Mother City with 23% more vegan orders. But generally, the most loved local dishes on the app are pap, malva pudding, chakalaka, bunny chow, gatsbys and boerewors.

Classic.

[sources:sowetanlive&ubernews]