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

DoorDash is launching a new AI-powered social app designed to help users quickly find local restaurants. The app, called Spicyis initially available in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York.

With the app, DoorDash is going beyond food delivery and entering 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 scroll through TikTok when looking for a new place to eat.

Once people open the app and log in with their DoorDash accounts, they can ask an AI chatbot for personalized recommendations based on what they’re looking for. In one Instagram promo postthe company shared that users can type in prompts like: “A quiet dinner in Williamsburg that’s actually good for introverts” to find specific recommendations. Users will also see suggestions such as ‘Brunch spots good for groups’ and ‘Romantic dinner with a vintage feel’.

DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang wrote in a X message that the app collects information from DoorDash, Google Maps, TikTok and more to “curate the internet’s best suggestions.”

The app also learns your tastes to find out what you like 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 community,” a DoorDash spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. “We’re testing an app called Zesty to make it easier to discover great restaurants, coffee shops, bars and more nearby through personalized searches and social media sharing. We’re excited to learn from early testers as we continue to shape what local discovery can look like.”

News of the app’s launch was first reported by Bloomberg.

Of course, some people might not want to download a whole new app to find new restaurants when they could just use Google. People who have already integrated AI into their daily lives 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 attempt to expand beyond delivery services, as the company launched features earlier this year that allow customers make reservations for a personal dinner and earn rewards in the store.