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Yelp, who? 4 ways Google Maps can help you find your next meal – and order it
There’s more to Google Maps’ dining tools than reviews and directions - and a few are worth a look before your next night out.
Google continues to update Google Maps for uses beyond simple navigation, with AI-powered features that help you find places to eat and even order food. It’s basically been giving you more reasons to not use other apps such as Yelp and instead make Maps your first stop when deciding what’s for dinner.
Also: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: One is much better
Now, Google is revealing more ways Maps can help you find a new favorite dining spot, satisfy a late-night craving, or get a better sense of a restaurant before you book a table or head out to eat.
In August, Google announced that Ask Maps, its Gemini-powered chat tool, could understand conversational prompts to help you find restaurants with the food you want and place an order via Toast.
At the time of the announcement, Toast was the only official named Google partner, but now users can also place orders via Square and Uber Eats.
Also: Use Gemini for free? You’ll soon be limited to its weakest AI model
Google Maps’ Explore tab can help you find restaurants near you that are trending with other Maps users. I find that the restaurants on the trending tab in and around Atlanta are the ones I’ve seen in recent viral videos on Instagram or TikTok.
Once you pull up a restaurant in Maps, the Know Before You Go tab highlights important information other users have contributed in their Google reviews. I usually find information about a dress code or menu restrictions here.
Most importantly, when I’m looking for a new spot in Atlanta, I check this section to see what other users say about a restaurant’s parking situation (or lack thereof), which is highly useful.