Those who love doing things at the last-minute will enjoy all these effortless food-finding apps. These apps do much more than just list nearby restaurants. Some only show food that falls into a specific niche, like burritos, whereas others use emerging technology like chatbots to help conflicted diners make a choice. No matter the tech powering these apps they all have one thing in common, and that's making the world's hardest choice (where to eat) easier.
The great thing about these effortless food-finding apps is that they don't just help locate restaurants. There is an app for finding food trucks and another one for locating wild fruit. One even links up users with restaurants offering free promotional food and drinks. Tech and food truly are a potent combination, as these effortless food-finding apps prove.
16 Effortless Food-Finding Apps
From Restaurant Recommendation Bots to Crowdsourced Fruit-Finding:
Michael Hines — Mar 31, 2017 — Tech
18
Free Food-Finding Apps
The Vittl App Helps You Score Free Food and Drinks From Local Restaurants
17
Digital Dining Decision Apps
'ClickDishes' Lets You Browse Restaurants Near You to Find Great Food
16
Emotional Meal Apps
This Facial Recognition App Utilizes Mood Mapping to Make Food Suggestions
15
Fast Food Social Apps
Taco Bell Explore is a Puzzle Game That's Activated with Keywords & Hashtags
14
Photo-Based Restaurant Locators
The Munchee App Lets Users Search and Review Individual Dishes
13
Personalized Menu Apps
The 'Edible' App Locates Meals Based on Diet or Allergy Restrictions
12
Food Truck-Finding Apps
The Pedro App Helps You Find Food Trucks In Montreal
11
Crowdsourced Food-Finding Apps
'Gopher' Shows You Places the Best Places Nearby to Grab Food
10
Crowdsourced Menu-Ranking Apps
This App Lets People Vote For Favorite Dishes In Restaurants
9
Ethnic Restaurant-Finding Apps
The 'Ethnic Eats' App Connects Users to Nearby Eateries
8
Halal Food-Finding Apps
This App Helps Muslims In Europe Find Halal Food Outlets
7
Dining Discovery Apps
The Updated OpenTable Reservation App Helps You Discover New Food Spots
6
Barista-Locating Apps
Coffee Shot Connects Users to an At Home Barista for a Custom Cup of Coffee
5
Visual Food-Finding Apps
This App Uses Photos of Dishes to Help You Select a Restaurant
4
Review-Eliminating Restaurant Apps
The 'Taste' App Has Locals Pick Favorites Rather Than Reviewing
3
Food Discovery Apps
The 'Gigamunch' App Enables Users to Make and/or Share a Homemade Meal
2
Burrito-Locating Apps
The 'My Burrito Finder' App Helps Users Located the Nearest Burrito Shop
1
Restaurant-Finding AI Bots
The 'Ozlo' Chatbot Provides Users with the Best Food Options
Related Ideas
Restaurant Concierge Apps
The Ritual App Makes Everyday Purchases Easy and Extraordinary
VR Taco Promotions
Taco Bell is Setting Up an Immersive VR Arcade to Kick Off Its Latest Promotion
Smart Home Coffee Roasters
The Ikawa Home Coffee Roaster Has Smartphone Connectivity
Fried Chicken Cellphone Cases
The Meerkat Fried Smartphone Shell Features a 3D Piece of Food
Takeout Treat Cartons
This Ice Cream To Go Packaging Concept Serves Up Sweet Convenience
Takeout Meal Delivery Drones
Just Eat Delivered an Inaugural Takeaway Meal in Greenwich
Fast Food Vacation Experiences
Taco Bell Let Fans Stay in One of Its Restaurants as a SteakCation
eCommerce Chatbot Programs
'Mr. Chatbot' Supports eCommerce Companies with Sophisticated Chatbots
Halal Confectionery Stores
'Blossom & Bean' Sells Halal Marshmallows and Gummy Candy
Cocktail-Sharing Chatbots
Absolut's Facebook Messenger Chatbot Treats Users to a Free Drink
Free Food-Finding Apps
The Vittl App Helps You Score Free Food and Drinks From Local Restaurants
Vegetarian Fast Food Guides
Taco Bell Created a Guide to Showcase Its AVA-Certified Food Options
Special Effect Selfie Apps
LINE's 'egg - Action Selfie Cam' Enhances Photos with Masks and Effects
Meal-Ordering Bots
The 'OrderNow' Bot Takes Food Orders Via Kik Messenger
Local Food Delivery Services
'Waitr' Delivers Local Meals from Premium Restaurants and More
All-Natural Halal Cosmetics
Amara Cosmetics Caters to Muslim Consumers Looking for Natural Makeup
Emoji-Decoding Challenges
GE is Launching #EmojiScience on Facebook Messenger
In-Store Pizza Pick-Up Stations
Little Caesars' Pizza Portal is a Place to Grab Mobile Orders
Doubly Caffeinated Coffee
Double Strength Coffee is Designed for Developers
Smile-Activated Candy Dispensers
Hershey's Interactive 'Smile Sampler' Trades a Grin for a Treat
Reciprocal Recipe Apps
The Food52 App is Like Instagram For Recipes
Chatbot Finance Apps
'Abe' Offers Finance Tracking Capabilities Through Real-Time Chat
Urban Food Truck Finders
This Useful Interactive Map Gives People Easy Access to Food Trucks
Chicken-Based Chips
Taco Bell's New Crispy Chicken Chips Put a Creative Twist on Chicken Tenders
AI Calorie-Counting Apps
The AVA Platform Uses Image Recognition to Estimate a Meal's Nutrition
Prepaid Coffee Plans
DripApp Saves Caffeine Addicts Money While Supporting Local Businesses
On-Demand Coffee Coolers
'Apex Anywhere' is a Vending Machine That Produces Custom Coffee Orders
Baseball-Inspired Taco Promotions
Taco Bell is Celebrating the 2016 World Series with Free Tacos
Indulgently Topped Restaurant Menus
The Applebee's 'Topped & Loaded' Menu Upgrades Favorites
Fast Food Taco Salads
Wendy's New Taco Salad Brings a Taste of Mexican Cuisine to the Chain's Menu
Restaurant Supplier Apps
BlueCart for Buyers Lets Restaurants Streamline Their Ordering Process
Wedding-Specific Photo Apps
The WedPics App Helps Wedding Parties Collect Their Guest's Photos
Mobile Coffee Deliveries
Lyft Teams with Starbucks to Give Offices a Caffeinated Afternoon Treat
Restaurant Inspection Apps
This App Allows Users to View Tennessee Restaurant Inspection Scores
Emotion-Recognizing Advertising Platforms
Virool's Video Ad Tracking Software Monitors Reactions
Time-Saving Social Apps
'Spontime' Encourages Smarter Interactions for More Face-to-Face Time
On-Demand Delivery Platforms
'ParcelPal' Crowdsources Couriers to Deliver in One Hour or Less
P2P Dining Apps
'BonAppetour' is Like Airbnb, but for Dining with Others
Dining Experience Apps
The Reserve App Handles Everything From Restaurant Reservations to Payment
Effortless Reservation Services
Zomato's 'Book' Improves Restaurant Table Reservation Services
Meaty Fast Food Taquitos
Taco Bell is Bringing Back Rolled Chicken Tacos as a New Snacking Option
Facial Recognition Menu Boards
KFC's Smart Restaurant Tech Suggests Food by Looking at Guests
Community-Based Food Apps
This Food Startup Helps Neighbors Share Meals with One Another
Customizable Chat Bots
'BOTTR' Helps Anyone Build a Custom Bot for Automating Conversations
Premium Cuisine Providers
'FooDrool' Offers Food Home Delivery from High-End Partners
Food-Enhancing Photography Apps
The 'Foodie' App Offers Over 20 Filters to Increase Image Quality
Alcohol-Free Hotels
This Dubai Hotel Seeks to Incorporate Halal Culture into Each Guest's Visit
Designated Driver Apps
The Driverseat App Helps You Instantly Recruit Someone to Drive You Home
Restaurant App Expansions
A Planned Zomato Expansion is Fueled by a Successful Round of Funding
Discount Dining Clubs
This Subscription Service Offers Discounts at Local Restaurants
Cash-Conscious Messenger Bots
Chat with Monty Frugal Through Facebook Messenger to Track Expenses
3D-Printing Search Engines
3Dprintler is a Platform for Scouting Local 3D-Printing Services
Charcoal-Infused Burger Buns
McDonald’s New Spicy Korean Burger Boasts a Pair of Charcoal Buns
Pizza Loyalty Programs
Pizza Hut's 'Hut Rewards' Delivers Customers Dollar-for-Dollar Rewards
Ethical Eatery Apps
The Greenease App Lists Sustainable Restaurants for Eco-Conscious Consumers
Local Group Dining Apps
The OverAhead Kinetic Farm, Inc. Platform Accommodates Parties
Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverages
This Malt-Based Beer is Specially Designed for Muslim Consumers
Emoji-Friendly Chatbots
The Whole Foods Chatbot on Facebook Messenger Helps Users Find Recipes
Vehicle Owner Assistants
The Infiniti Personal Assistant Service Gives Drivers 24/7 Coverage
Smart Banking Bots
Kasisto's Personal Finance Bots Use Conversational AI That's Truly Intelligent
Lifestyle-Specific Food Apps
This Food Discovery Platform Relies on Social Data to Inform Users
Automated Office Lunch Apps
Forkable's AI Orders Office Lunches Without Anyone Lifting a Finger
Talkative Recipe Apps
The 'Napkin' App Talks Users Through Recipes
Big Data Sales Apps
Red Ant Uses IBM Watson to Better Inform Retail Employees
School Selection Services
InstiChoose Helps Parents Discover and Choose Schools For Their Children
Sonically Seasoned Dining
This Campaign Documents the Nature of Sony's Multi-Room Audio
Mobile-Seeking Deliveries
Phone Address Makes a Handset a Home Base for Receiving Ordered Goods
Halal Sparkling Wine
This Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine is Made in Accordance with Islamic Law
Rewarding Mexican Restaurant Apps
The TJ Rewards App Helps Taco John's Customers Earn Free Food
Portable Nacho Packets
Taco Bell's New Walking Nachos are Designed for Easy Transport
Connective Footwear Retail App
The Skechers App Bridges the Gap Between Physical and Online Stores
Collaborative Photo-Sharing Apps
This App Helps Families Share Photos from Special Occasions
Ethnic Restaurant-Finding Apps
The 'Ethnic Eats' App Connects Users to Nearby Eateries
Svelte Activity Trackers
The Garmin Vivofit 3 Coaches You Towards Your Fitness Goals
Chef-Curated Food Apps
Find. Eat. Drink. Lets Users Drink and Dine Like the Pros
Halal Food-Finding Apps
This App Helps Muslims In Europe Find Halal Food Outlets
Speedy Coffee Apps
The Starbucks Mobile App Lets Users Skip the Line for Their Customized Drink
Dining Discovery Apps
The Updated OpenTable Reservation App Helps You Discover New Food Spots
Rewarding Donut-Ordering Apps
The Dunkin' Donuts App Now Supports On-the-Go Ordering Nationwide
Pictorial Menu Apps
The MenuMe App Converts Restaurant Menu Text into Real Pictures of Food
Comprehensive Chinese Food Deliveries
Panda Express Encourages Orders For Large Groups
Transformative Dining Apps
The maegan App is the Most Efficient Way to Order Food In Toronto
TV Show Chatbots
Fans Can Interact with Their Favorite Silicon Valley Characters Via the Luka App
Eid-Themed Hotel Packages
The Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt Caters to Luxury-Loving Muslim Travelers
Surplus Produce Apps
'Farmsquare' Connects Consumers with Growers Who Have Extra Stock
eCommerce Food Deliveries
Amazon Restaurants Enables Food Ordering for London Prime Subscribers
AIDS Awareness Apps
The Positive Project App Uses Selfies to Fight HIV Stigma
Mobile Food Payment Services
The OpenTable App Now Offers Wireless Payment for Android Users
Quality-Pushing Restaurant Apps
The Zomato App Aids Food Delivery and Encourages Good Service
Oyster Bar-Locating Apps
'Pearl' is a Seafood App Created Specifically to Find the Best Oysters
Crumbled Cookie Brownies
Mrs. Freshley's and OREO are Introducing an OREO Brownie
Personalized Office Catering Apps
'Chewse' Lets Offices Order Tailored Lunches in Seconds
Review-Eliminating Restaurant Apps
The 'Taste' App Has Locals Pick Favorites Rather Than Reviewing
Coffee Search Apps
The 'Time to Coffee' App Speeds Up the Hunt for Coffee in New York City
GPS Map Art
Canadian Artist Setphen Lund Creates GPS Art with the Strava App
Food Discovery Apps
The 'Gigamunch' App Enables Users to Make and/or Share a Homemade Meal
Emoji-Ordering Pizza Apps
Domino's Australia Now Lets Consumers Order Simply Using the Pizza Emoji
Munchies-Locating Apps
This Eating App Pairs Local Food Spots with Different Strains of Marijuana
Classifying Eater Apps
The FoodProfiler Mobile Platform Tracks The Types of Food Consumers Eat
NFC Food Payments
Flypay Uses an App and a NFC/QR Sticker to Simplify Restaurant Payments
Donut Delivery Services
This Popular Chain is Set to Offer Delivery and Curbside Pickup
Equalizing Bill-Splitting Apps
The 'Equipay' App Splits Bills According to Race and Gender
Neural Emoji Apps
Dango Chooses Emojis By Tapping Into Your Neural Networks
Culinary Blogger Apps
Online Chef Deliciously Ella Shares Her Recipes in a Portable App Platform
Takeout Loyalty Programs
The Pei Wei My Wei Dining Rewards Program is Ideal for Frequent Foodies
Airport Restaurant Apps
The Grab App Allows Passengers to Order Food From Airport Restaurants
Check-Splitting Delivery Apps
Foodler Makes It Easier to Order Delivery with Friends
Upscale Dining Reward Apps
The LUX Customer Rewards App Targets Affluent Consumers
Beer-Locating Apps
The BeerMenus App Alerts Users When Their Favorite Beer is on Tap Nearby
Layered Taco Combinations
The New Double Stacked Tacos Feature Both a Hard Shell and Soft Tortilla
Streamlined Payment Apps
The New PayPal App Features An Elegant Interface and Color Scheme
School Cafeteria Menu Apps
This App Lets Parents Monitor Children's Cafeteria Consumption
Hilarious Radio Clip Apps
The Ticket Drops App Lets You Whip Out Audio Clips From 'The Talk' Radio
Cocktail Bar Apps
The PDT App Brings the 'Please Don't Tell' Experience to Your Home
On-Demand Takeout Apps
The Seamless App Makes Finding Restaurants and Food Orders Easy
Chef Recommendation Apps
This New App Tell You Where Chefs Dine When They Go Out to Eat
Crowdsourced Veterinary Apps
LifeLearn's Sofie App Uses IBM Watson to Enhance Animal Care
Halal Streaming Services
Deen TV is a Halal Entertainment Channel for Muslim Viewers
Ambitious Celebrity Commercials
Apple's New 'Siri' Ad Shows That 'The Rock' Can Do Anything
Product-Tracking Retail Apps
The New Home Depot App Helps Holiday Shoppers Find Items in Stores
Randomized Restaurant Apps
The Hangry Website Helps Users Find a Nearby Place to Dine
Halal Food Banks
This Specialty Food Bank Caters to Canada's Muslim Community
Personalized Eatery Recommendation Apps
The Spot Platform Provides Food Suggestions from Friends
Fennel Popcorn Snacks
Ten Acre Makes Popcorn Flavored Like Fennel and Lemon
Highway-Highlighting Apps
This App Helps Commuters Navigate Services Along the Indian Highway
AI Butler Apps
Laiye Helps People Fulfill Tasks with a Human or Artificially Intelligent Assistant
Political Convention Chatbots
Buzzfeed Created Buzzbot to Track News at the RNC
Toast-Donut Hybrids
IHOP Introduced a Trio of Sweet and Savory 'French-Toasted Donuts'
Streamlined Home Inspection APps
The Domain App Takes the Hassle Out Of Home Inspections
Taxi-Aggregating Apps
The Instago App Aggregates Car, Two-Wheeler and Rickshaw Services