NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
DoorDash wants to help you decide where to eat, not just how to deliver food. The company launched Zesty, a new AI-powered social app designed to find local restaurants faster and easier.
Zesty is currently undergoing public testing in the San Francisco Bay Area. New York. Instead of scrolling through endless reviews, menus, and social media videos, the app allows you to ask an AI chatbot for recommendations in simple language.
Think of it as a digital concierge for food discovery.
Subscribe to my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, breaking security alerts, and exclusive offers straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
How Zesti works
Once you open Zesty and log into your DoorDash account, everything will seem familiar and simple. You see nearby restaurants and a chat box where you can enter exactly what you want. DoorDash says users can set prompts like:
The app combines AI search and social media search, showing photos, comments and saved places shared by other visitors. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
HOW RESTAURANT RESERVATION PLATFORM OPENTABLE tracks customers' eating habits
- A low-key dinner in Williamsburg that's perfect for introverts.
- Brunch spots suitable for groups
- Romantic dinner in vintage style
Then A.I. supervises recommendations pulling information from data from DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok, Reddit and other sources. The goal, according to DoorDash co-founder Andy Fung, is to bring the best deals from around the internet into one place. Each recommendation includes context, such as ratings, social media activity, and where the suggestion came from. DoorDash says the results do not imply sponsorship or paid placement.
A social network built around food
Zesty also adds a social layer. Users can post photos, leave comments, follow other visitors, and share saved places with friends. If you find a restaurant that looks promising, you can bookmark it for later or send it to someone who plans to dine with you. This makes Zesty feel less like a search engine and more like a social network focused on food. It's designed for people who like to discover places based on other people's experiences, not just star ratings. For DoorDash, this is a clear shift toward community-led discovery.
Why DoorDash created Zesty
DoorDash wants to remove friction from the decision-making process. Instead of bouncing between Google, TikTok, Yelp, and delivery apps, Zesty aims to bring everything together into one guided experience. This approach also fits a broader trend. More people are already using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to plan meals and travel. Zesty strives to offer the same convenience while focusing on local and social issues.
Zesty allows users to ask for restaurant recommendations in natural language instead of scrolling through endless reviews and menus. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
“At DoorDash, we're always looking for new ways to help people connect with the best in their communities,” a company spokesperson told CyberGuy. “We're testing an app called Zesty to make it easier to find great nearby restaurants, cafes, bars, etc. through personalized searches and social sharing. Zesty is currently in public beta in San Francisco and New York, and we're excited to learn from early testers as we continue to shape what local discovery can look like.”
Of course, Zesti faces a difficult climb. Many users already use Google Maps or existing social apps to find restaurants. Some may be reluctant to download another separate app, even if it promises better recommendations. However, Zesty may appeal to users who enjoy discovering food as a social activity. For them, a dedicated network built around local restaurants may be more useful than general search results. DoorDash seems ready to test this idea and see how users react. For now, the company is focused on getting people to use the app, learning what works, and improving the matching engine. Once this experience feels right, Zesty will expand to more cities.
Would YOU eat at a restaurant run by AI?
Part of DoorDash's larger expansion plan
Zesty is not an isolated experiment. This fits into DoorDash's broader business beyond food delivery. Earlier this year, DoorDash introduced in-store in-person table reservations and rewards features. The company also continues to invest heavily in automation and Logistics driven by artificial intelligence.
A few months ago, we reported on another major innovation from DoorDash: Dot, a fast new autonomous delivery robot. Dot is designed for short, local trips and runs on an AI-powered delivery platform that decides whether the order should be processed by a Dasher, a robot, or another method. Together, Zesty and Dot show how DoorDash is trying to empower local commerce, from discovery to delivery.
What does this mean for you
If you like trying new restaurants, Zesty can save you time and eliminate decision fatigue. Instead of reading dozens of reviews, you can ask exactly what you need and get curated deals instantly. For casual visitors, the app may seem unnecessary if Google is already working fine. For foodies who like to share finds and follow others with similar tastes, Zesty can be a useful daily tool. It also signals where local openings may be headed. AI-powered recommendations coupled with social proof could soon replace traditional review hunting.
Take my test: how safe is yours? online security?
Do you think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to find out what your digital habits are. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you'll get personalized information about what you're doing right and what needs improvement. Take my test here: Cyberguy.com.
Zesty is currently in beta testing in San Francisco and New York as DoorDash tests and refines its personalized matching experience. (iStock)
Kurt's key takeaways
Zesty shows how DoorDash is experimenting with how people choose where to eat, not just how food is delivered. By combining artificial intelligence search and social sharing, the company is testing a more conversational and community-driven approach to local discovery. Whether Zesty becomes indispensable or remains niche will depend on how well it provides meaningful recommendations. However, it underscores DoorDash's growing commitment to shaping more aspects of our daily local lives.
Would you trust an AI-powered social app to choose your next favorite restaurant, or would you still prefer to find places the old-fashioned way? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Subscribe to my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, breaking security alerts, and exclusive offers straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
Copyright CyberGuy.com 2025. All rights reserved.
