DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered app that transforms how you discover new restaurants

DoorDash rolls out Zesty, an AI social app for discovering new restaurants | TechCrunch

DoorDash is launching a new AI-powered social app that's designed to help users quickly find local restaurants. The app, called Zesty, is initially available in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York. With the app, DoorDash is branching out beyond food delivery and stepping into the social and discovery space. The idea behind the app is to get rid of the need to read a bunch of different reviews, look up different menus, or browse TikTok when looking for a new place to eat. Once people open up the app and sign in with their DoorDash accounts, they can ask an AI chatbot for personalized recommendations based on what they're looking for. In an Instagram promo post, the company shared that users can type prompts like, "A low-key dinner in Williamsburg that's actually good for introverts" to find specific recommendations. Users will also see suggested prompts, such as "Brunch spots good for groups," and "Romantic dinner with a vintage feel." DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang wrote in an X post that the app aggregates info across DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok, and more to "curate the best suggestions from the web." The app also learns your tastes to figure out what you do and don't like. Once you come across a recommendation you're interested in, you can save it and share it with others. Users can view and share photos and comments about restaurants they've visited, discover content from others, and follow people just like on any social network. "At DoorDash, we're always looking for new ways to help people connect with the best of their communities," a DoorDash spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. "We're piloting an app called Zesty to make it easier to discover great nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and more through personalized search and social sharing. We're excited to learn from early testers as we keep shaping what local discovery can look like." News of the app's launch was first reported by Bloomberg. Of course, some people may not want to download a whole new app to find new restaurants when they could simply use Google. For people who have already embedded AI into their daily lives, they may already be using services like ChatGPT and Gemini to discover new restaurants. However, the app could be a welcome launch for people who want to be part of a social network that's all about discovering new restaurants. The launch of the new app marks DoorDash's latest effort to branch beyond delivery services, as the company earlier this year launched features that allow customers to make reservations for in-person dining and earn in-store rewards.

DoorDash's new app uses AI to help you discover new restaurants

Everyone is jumping on the AI bandwagon and DoorDash isn't about to be left behind. The food delivery giant has launched Zesty, a new AI-powered social app that aims to make discovering new restaurants easier. The app's main purpose is to cut out all the legwork involved in finding new places to try. Instead of spending hours scrolling through reviews on Google, checking menus, or hunting for popular spots on social media, users can simply chat with Zesty's AI chatbot to get personalized recommendations based on their cravings. Recommended Videos An Instagram promo of the app shows how users can use natural language prompts like, "A low-key dinner in Williamsburg that's actually good for introverts" to receive tailored suggestions. Users can also choose from a range of sample prompts to kick off discovery. The chatbot also learns from user interactions, refining its recommendations over time. In an X post, DoorDash cofounder Andy Fang revealed that Zesty aggregates information from DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok, and more to curate recommendations. These appear as cards in a carousel over a map view, which users can tap to see key details like the address and operating hours, popular dishes, and what most people tend to order. Users can also bookmark and share recommendations. Google's Gemini already does something similar While DoorDash's new app looks promising, it could face stiff competition from Google's Gemini, which recently received an upgrade introducing similar card-style results for nearby restaurant searches. When I tried the same sample prompt shown in Zesty's promo video in Gemini, I received comparable recommendations, with each restaurant's card featuring a concise review summary alongside sections like "Tips from reviewers," "People love to order," and "People go here for." Gemini also has an edge in scope and availability. Its discovery feature extends beyond restaurants and is already available to a wide audiences, while Zesty is currently limited to iOS users in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York. A broader rollout could help level the playing field, but DoorDash hasn't confirmed any expansion plans yet.

How Zesty uses AI to find your next meal

DoorDash launched Zesty, an AI-powered social app, in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York to help users discover local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. Users sign in with DoorDash accounts and query an AI chatbot for personalized recommendations. The app addresses the process of finding new places to eat by eliminating the need to read multiple reviews, examine various menus, or browse platforms like TikTok. Zesty provides quick access to curated suggestions tailored to specific preferences expressed through user prompts. DoorDash shared an example in an Instagram promo post where a user types, "A low‑key dinner in Williamsburg that's actually good for introverts," to receive targeted venue options in that neighborhood. The interface also displays suggested prompts to guide users, including "Brunch spots good for groups" for larger gatherings and "Romantic dinner with a vintage feel" for date-night atmospheres. DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang detailed the app's data aggregation in an X post, stating that Zesty pulls information across DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok, and additional sources to curate the best suggestions from the web. This multi-source approach compiles diverse data points into coherent recommendations. Zesty tracks user interactions to learn individual tastes over time, identifying preferences and dislikes based on saved items and feedback. When users encounter a appealing recommendation, they can save it directly within the app for later reference and share it with contacts via integrated sharing tools. The app incorporates social networking elements, allowing users to view photos uploaded by others about visited restaurants and post their own images along with comments detailing experiences. Users discover content created by fellow community members and follow individuals whose tastes align with theirs, replicating dynamics found on established social platforms. A DoorDash spokesperson provided context to TechCrunch, saying, "At DoorDash, we're always looking for new ways to help people connect with the best of their communities." The spokesperson continued, "We're piloting an app called Zesty to make it easier to discover great nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and more through personalized search and social sharing. We're excited to learn from early testers as we keep shaping what local discovery can look like." Bloomberg first reported the launch of Zesty. Individuals seeking restaurant discoveries often turn to Google for mapping and review integration. Those accustomed to AI assistance in daily routines use services like ChatGPT and Gemini to generate venue suggestions based on descriptive queries. This rollout follows DoorDash's earlier expansions this year, which introduced features enabling customers to make reservations for in-person dining directly through the platform. The company also implemented in-store rewards, allowing users to earn points redeemable at physical locations beyond delivery services.

DoorDash Debuts Zesty, an AI Social App for Restaurant Discovery | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The standalone platform now in public beta in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area uses conversational artificial intelligence and social signals to help users traverse the crowded world of restaurant options without traditional searching or manual review-reading. The launch this week arrives at a moment when consumer habits around digital discovery are rapidly shifting. Data from PYMNTS Intelligence suggests roughly 30 million U.S. consumers have abandoned traditional search in favor of AI-driven, outcome-oriented interactions where the expectation is immediate, tailored answers rather than lists of links. Zesty represents a deliberate push by DoorDash to reposition itself beyond the logistics of food delivery. Instead of filtering restaurants through menus, ratings or scattered user reviews, the app synthesizes user inputs, often across platforms into curated recommendations. As TechCrunch reported, users might ask for a "low-key dinner in Williamsburg good for introverts," or "brunch spots near me good for groups," and receive options tailored to their preferences. In its current form, Zesty also incorporates social and community signals. Users can share photos and notes from past visits, follow other diners with shared tastes, and browse social feeds of local experiences. This blending of AI and social cues reflects a belief that organic social content, not static star ratings alone, drives discovery. DoorDash Co-Founder Andy Fang announced the app on social media, emphasizing its purpose to help users "connect with the best of their communities." The app now aggregates information from DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok and other sources to curate suggestions from across the web. That framing, however, raises a central question about Zesty's value proposition. While aggregation can reduce friction, it is not inherently differentiated. Platforms such as Yelp already combine reviews, photos and location data, while newer apps like Beli focus on social-first food discovery built around personal networks. What Zesty adds, at least in theory, is conversational AI as the organizing layer. The app does not simply surface content; it interprets intent and narrows options in response to a prompt. Whether that is enough to meaningfully change consumer behavior or simply reframes existing content through a chatbot interface remains an open question. Notably, Zesty does not currently support bookings or reservations. Unlike platforms such as OpenTable or Resy, users cannot secure a table or complete a dining plan inside the app. Zesty is also a standalone app rather than an extension of the core DoorDash marketplace. That separation suggests DoorDash is testing discovery as its own surface, even though adding booking or fulfillment buttons would be a natural progression. Karen Webster, CEO of PYMNTS, says that discovery no longer starts with search but with prompts. PYMNTS Intelligence found that roughly 11% of U.S. consumers have replaced traditional search with AI tools that deliver direct answers. These Prompt Economy Pros, as she describes them, expect outcomes, not links. That shift makes discovery a competitive moat. DoorDash enters that layer with a rare advantage: years of order history, taste signals and real spending data. Zesty is a bet that pairing those signals with conversation will be a winning combination. Zesty also fits into DoorDash's broader push beyond delivery. Earlier this year, the company launched Going Out, a product aimed at helping consumers discover and plan in-person dining experiences. Taken together, these initiatives suggest DoorDash is building toward a more expansive local commerce strategy that spans inspiration, discovery and fulfillment, even if those elements remain separated across products today.

DoorDash launches AI-powered food discovery app Zesty By Investing.com

Investing.com -- DoorDash Inc. is testing a new artificial intelligence-powered app called Zesty designed to help users discover local restaurants. The standalone app is currently available for public testing in San Francisco and New York, according to DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang, who announced the launch on X on Monday. Zesty functions as a food discovery platform that allows users to search for dining options in ways similar to interacting with a concierge. The app aggregates information from multiple sources including DoorDash, Google Maps, and TikTok to provide restaurant recommendations. "Today, we're excited to launch Zesty, a new food discovery app to help you find the best local places," Fang wrote in his announcement. The new app represents an expansion beyond DoorDash's core food-delivery service, potentially broadening the company's reach in the food service market. Fang indicated the company is seeking user feedback during this initial testing phase in the two major metropolitan markets. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.