Feeling hungry or just in a new area and want to check what interesting restaurant options are nearby? Check out these restaurant finder app options for Android that can help you quickly find a place to eat that suits your taste and preferences.
Good to know: looking to stay healthy after enjoying a good meal? Take a look at the best workout and wellness mobile apps.
Content
- 1. Google Maps
- 2. Yelp
- 3. TripAdvisor
- 4. Restaurant Guru
- 5. OpenTable
- 6. HappyCow
- 7. Local Food Delivery App
1. Google Maps
Price: Free
Google Maps is an incredibly useful tool for finding dining options when navigating unfamiliar locations. It can show nearby restaurants in the viewable area on the map. This feature is not tied to your current location. If I am planning to visit Amsterdam this weekend, I can check out the restaurants in the neighborhoods I will be in by navigating to Amsterdam on the map.
I just need to press on the Restaurant button at the top when viewing the location I want. All the eateries in the area complete with ratings will pop up on the map.
To find more information about each place, tap on their names. You can view opening hours, addresses, images, and even the menu in some cases. In addition, you can read other users’ comments to decide whether you should visit this particular restaurant.
Tip: learn how to quickly send money to your friend who paid the check using a Venmo QR code.
2. Yelp
Price: Free
Yelp is another popular option when it comes to finding the best restaurants in town. Not only does it do food, but it also covers finding all kinds of businesses, including auto repair, movers, and cleaners.
Yelp uses your location to show restaurants in the area. At the same time, you can search for specific restaurants, such as burgers, Korean, or Indian, if you’re craving a particular dish or cuisine. There are many additional filters you can apply as well, such as Good for Kids, Open Now, and more.
I love that there’s a Surprise Me option, in case you’re not exactly sure where you want to eat, which is something that often happens to me. Restaurant listings come complete with a menu; opening hours, website, phone info; images, and sometimes even the option to make a reservation or order. Of course, you can also read the reviews that Yelp is famous for.
3. TripAdvisor
Price: Free
TripAdvisor is a well-known app that offers travel inspiration and an option to book trips. Not surprisingly, you can also use this app when you need to find ideas for where to eat next.
This app picks up your location and offers a separate Looking for something nearby section, where you can check out what’s around you. Restaurant listings include all the usual info you’d expect, such as opening hours, menu, and reviews, as well as images. What I love about this app is that it also lists information detailing how to get there.
If you’re planning a holiday, TripAdvisor lets you check the local eatery options before you get there. This helps you arrive at the location with your homework already done – you’ll know all the dining-out options.
4. Restaurant Guru
Price: Free
Restaurant Guru is another useful restaurant finding app that can help you discover new cool places to eat. Right off the bat, it uses your location to showcase the best restaurants in your area.
Of course, you can refine your search by choosing specific categories, such as Pizza, Fast Food, or Seafood. What I like about this app in particular is that it helps you discover local dishes. If you’re in a new country or craving something in particular, don’t hesitate to explore the Dishes tab.
With Restaurant Guru, you can also search in locations where you are not currently, which is a bonus. If you’re really hungry and want to grab something now, the Best nearby tab should provide the solution. Restaurant listings include all the information you need and more, including average prices and keywords often mentioned in reviews.
FYI: check out how to share your location on Android and easily meet up with friends for a quick bite.
5. OpenTable
Price: Free
As an introvert, I don’t particularly like to call in reservations, so I prefer to use OpenTable when I want to ensure a spot at my chosen food place.
You can search for dining spots at your location or in other areas as well. The reservation option is super convenient, allowing you to choose the time you’d like to arrive at the restaurant. Entries include all the information you need about the eating establishment, including menu and reviews.
Another feature I find really useful is that you can explore areas in the city you are in. For instance, if you’d like to have dinner in the San Giovanni Piazza in Florence, you can check for available options.
6. HappyCow
Price: Free
I am not actually a vegetarian, but I do like to try vegetarian options, as I’m looking to eat less meat. I am a big fan of tofu and veggie spreads, such as cashew paste. HappyCow is a restaurant finder app that shows you all the vegan or vegetarian eateries in your area, as well as places that feature vegetarian options. These restaurants would be good, too, for those with dietary restrictions.
The app also lets you search in other locations and see vegetarian hotspots in the area you’ll be visiting. If you come across any good food spot that is not on the map, you can add it.
Perhaps a big draw of HappyCow is that it also features a community section that allows you to interact with fellow vegetarian/vegan diners and share stories and tips. Each restaurant listing features reviews, as well as pictures, and details regarding open hours, as well as socials.
7. Local Food Delivery App
Price: Free
You can also use your preferred delivery app, such as Deliveroo or Uber Eats, to discover new local restaurants. However, some might not have physical locations. Start by adding your address to see the food places that are nearby. I’m using Bolt Food in this example.
The app lets me search in different categories, including New on Bolt Food, Italian, Fast-food, and more. Each restaurant listing features a More info button to view details about the restaurant’s physical location.
View the address and opening hours, or contact the place. You can also check the overall rating, but individual reviews are not available like they are in other restaurant finder apps in this list.
After your meal, learn about other essential Android apps, or take a nice walk using one of these pedometer or step counter apps. If you wish to recreate the dish you’ve just eaten at home, look through these apps that will help you learn how to cook.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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