After Nalini Unagar's Viral Zomato Post, Shop Owner Reveals Why Same Price Online & In-Store Isn’t Possible

Nalini Unagar recently triggered a widespread discussion online after highlighting a sharp price difference between food ordered through a delivery app and the bill at a restaurant. In her post, she compared the cost of the same meal ordered on Zomato with the price charged directly by a Chinese food outlet. While her post drew a response from Zomato, it also prompted several restaurant and bakery owners to share their side of the issue.One such response came from an X user identified as @Geekytamizha_, who claimed to run a dessert shop that is listed on both Zomato and Swiggy. The user explained that maintaining the same pricing for dine-in or takeaway orders and app-based deliveries is not feasible. According to them, customers looking for identical

prices should consider visiting the restaurant and picking up the food themselves.Explaining the cost structure, the user wrote, “I run a desert shop, we are available on zomato and Swiggy. For 12 orders Customer item total is ₹4,047. We gave discount which is already ₹562 (100% restaurants bare this from their pocket) Then zomato charges 24% commission + 18% gst on this 24% commission + they charge ₹15 delivery fee for orders at 4-6km and ₹35 delivery fee on orders above 6km delivery + gst on this.”The user further added that commissions and delivery fees are not the only expenses involved. They noted that restaurants also need to spend money on in-app advertising to stay visible and attract customers. “This is not all you need to run ads in zomato to get orders. We end up spending minimum ₹1,000 per week. After factoring in all this we loose almost 50%.”Tagging Nalini Unagar in the post, the user concluded, “@NalinisKitchen if you need the same price in the restaurant and as well on zomato, that isn’t going to be possible. Better go to restaurant and pickup the food for yourself. If you want convenience, you have to bear the charges.”

What Nalini Unagar’s Post SaidEarlier, taking to X, Nalini Unagar had shared screenshots comparing the price of the same food item ordered via Zomato and purchased directly from a Chinese food outlet. Expressing her frustration, she wrote, “Dear Zomato, the actual price of my order is ₹320, but on Zomato it’s ₹655. Even after applying discounts, I still have to pay ₹550. This price difference is absolutely insane. Customers are being blatantly overcharged.”Along with her statement, Unagar posted an image showing a smartphone screen displaying the Zomato order total of ₹655 placed next to the restaurant’s takeaway bill, which listed the same order at ₹320. The stark comparison quickly went viral and drew significant attention on social media.Zomato RespondsThe viral post also received a reply from the official Zomato Care handle. Responding to Unagar, the company stated, “Hi Nalini, the prices on our platform are determined solely by our restaurant partners, as Zomato acts only as an intermediary between customers and restaurants. That said, we’ll certainly relay your feedback to the restaurant partner and request them to look into it. Feel free to reach out to us for any further queries. We’re here to help.”The exchange has since fueled a broader conversation online about food delivery pricing, platform commissions, and the true cost of convenience for customers and restaurant owners alike.