Restaurant ordering in Victoria: what the numbers say
Victoria grew 7.1% between 2016 and 2021, faster than the national average of 5.2%. Growth like that brings new customers every year, so it pays to collect their contact details with each direct order and build a list you own.
At about 4,723 people per km², Victoria is one of the densest places in Canada. Short delivery trips are possible, so a tight radius with a low delivery fee usually works better than a wide one. Pickup is also popular where people walk past your door.
Delivery zones across Victoria
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Victoria you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Downtown
- Chinatown (Fan Tan Alley)
- James Bay
- Fernwood
- Cook Street Village
- Oak Bay (nearby)
Local facts for Victoria restaurants
Victoria’s Chinatown, established in 1858, is the oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada and a national historic site.
Sources: Parks Canada, Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site.
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Victoria are Saanich (6 km). Distances are straight-line from the city centre. If your kitchen sits near a boundary, one Chefzi delivery zone can cover customers on both sides of the line.
Sales tax on online orders in British Columbia
Restaurant food in British Columbia carries the 5% GST. Prepared food is generally exempt from BC’s 7% PST, but alcohol sold with meals carries a 10% PST. For rebates on small purchases and the full rules, see sales tax in British Columbia.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set.
One system for Victoria restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site with no commission per order; guests order in the browser, with no app to download.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your own staff or by Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- A staff order-taking app on Google Play (App Store coming soon).
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant. Menu setup and onboarding are free, plans are month-to-month, and pricing is $17 or $35 CAD a month. See pricing.
BC and Island Health rules for Victoria restaurants
- Health operating permit: Island Health requires a permit, with an annual fee. Permits do not transfer to new owners. Applications include floor plans, the menu and food safety and sanitation plans (Island Health, food safety; BC Food Premises Regulation).
- FOODSAFE: the operator needs FOODSAFE Level 1 or equivalent, and when the operator is away a trained employee must be present (Island Health, food safety; BC Food Premises Regulation).
- Tax: restaurant meals carry 5% GST and are exempt from PST, but soft drinks carry 7% PST and liquor 10% PST. Show PST separately on receipts (BC Government, PST on food and beverages).
How Chefzi works for Victoria restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Victoria?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Do soft drinks on Victoria online orders carry PST?
Yes. Meals are PST-exempt, but soft drinks carry 7% PST and liquor 10% (BC Government). You set the rates per item in Chefzi.
Does Chefzi include a POS, loyalty and reservations in Victoria?
Yes. Chefzi includes a POS, kitchen display, table reservations and a loyalty program, alongside online ordering.
Do my customers need to download an app?
No. Customers order on your website, in the browser. The Chefzi app on Google Play is for your staff to take orders.
How much does Chefzi cost in Victoria?
$17 CAD (Cash and pickup) or $35 CAD (Card payments) per location per month. Setup is free and plans are month-to-month.