On our latest NEWS today Google Maps not only wants to give you directions to a restaurant, it also wants to help you decide what to eat when you get there.
The search giant on Thursday announced a new feature for its Maps app that surfaces names, photos and descriptions of dishes that are posted most by Google Maps contributors — volunteers who provide the company with information about local businesses.
If you’re in a foreign country and don’t speak the language, the app will translate the description to your own language. The feature is launching on Google’s Android phones now and coming to iPhones in “coming months.”
The feature puts Google Maps in more direct competition with Yelp, which has a similar popular dishes feature. Google also said earlier this month it’s bringing food ordering to Maps, search and its Google Assistant software by partnering with delivery services including DoorDash and Postmates.
The effort is part of a push to make Maps about more than just navigation. Last year, Google announced features to make the app more social, such as a “for you” tab that offers tailored recommendations and a “match score” to tell you how much you might like a restaurant or business.
Google has also been bringing dining features to its Lens tool, which uses your phone’s camera to overlay digital images on real world images. On Tuesday, the search giant launched a tool that highlights the most popular dish on a menu by pointing your phone at it. The feature relies on data from Google Maps.
