The short answer
This charge is from ChowNow, an online ordering platform that local restaurants use to process pickup and delivery orders without paying high third-party commission fees.
What is ChowNow?
A charge listed as CHOWNOW ONLINE ORDER on your bank or credit card statement comes from ChowNow, Inc., an online ordering system that independent restaurants use to process pickup and takeout orders. Instead of relying on delivery marketplaces, many local eateries embed ChowNow directly into their websites and mobile apps. When you place a food order through one of these partner websites, the transaction clears through the platform's payment processor, meaning the charge shows up as ChowNow instead of the individual restaurant's name.
This line item commonly appears after you order takeout or delivery from a local pizzeria or neighborhood cafe. Unlike third-party apps that take high commissions from the restaurant, ChowNow charges food businesses a flat monthly software fee. Because the merchant uses ChowNow's payment processing backend, your credit card statement records ChowNow, Inc. or CHOWNOW ONLINE ORDER as the billing merchant of record, which often confuses customers looking for the specific restaurant they visited.
If you do not recall ordering takeout recently, search your email inbox for receipts from eat.chownow.com or orders@chownow.com. The digital receipt lists the exact restaurant name and order total. If another household member placed the order using a shared card, the timestamp on your statement usually matches meal hours. If no one in your household recognizes the purchase and you cannot find a matching receipt, contact ChowNow diner support through their website at https://www.chownow.com or call your card issuer to report an unauthorized transaction.
Why was I charged?
- You placed a food order on a local restaurant's website that uses ChowNow's checkout system.
- You used the ChowNow app to discover and order from independent restaurants nearby.
How to identify the restaurant
- Search your email inbox Look for emails from 'ChowNow' or 'eat.chownow.com' to find the digital receipt, which will list the specific restaurant you ordered from.
- Check the ChowNow app If you have the ChowNow app installed, your order history will show all recent transactions.
- Review pending charges If a ChowNow order was canceled or failed, the pending authorization may take 1-3 business days to drop off your statement.
Why did ChowNow, Inc. charge my card or bank account?
Charges from ChowNow, Inc. under statement descriptor "CHOWNOW ONLINE ORDER" usually correspond to authorized direct purchases, digital orders, or recurring membership renewals.
How do I cancel future charges or dispute an error with ChowNow, Inc.?
Log in to your ChowNow, Inc. account portal at https://www.chownow.com to cancel your subscription or request an order adjustment.
Independent reference — not affiliated with ChowNow. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- ChowNow Homepage https://www.chownow.com
- ChowNow Diners Support https://eat.chownow.com
Reviewed Aug 31, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges