Google Maps Launches Fan-Favorite Dining List and Expands AI Ordering

The list covers Atlanta, Chicago, London, Melbourne, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, Santiago, Seattle and Tokyo. Android Authority reported that Google built the list from Maps reviews, ratings and directions, using a year of activity from Maps users to identify the foods and restaurants that broke through in 2026. The reported trends range from froyo in New York to dosa in Seattle and hojicha in London.

ZDNet reported that the list also shows how social media can influence global food trends. Cheeseburgers, an American staple, had a 216% increase in trending interest in Tokyo over the past year. Michelada, a Mexican beer cocktail, rose 78% in Santiago, Chile. Ube, a purple yam native to Southeast Asia used in desserts, saw a 75% spike in Melbourne, Australia. The list compiles trends among Maps users in the 10 cities, according to ZDNet.

Google Maps already offers weekly dining lists in its Explore tab, sorting restaurants into Trending, Gems and Top collections, Android Authority reported. The new annual list expands that approach. ZDNet reported that the Explore tab can help users find restaurants near them that are trending with other Maps users. Once a user opens a restaurant in Maps, the Know Before You Go section highlights information other users have contributed in Google reviews, such as dress codes, menu restrictions and parking conditions, ZDNet said.

Google is also pushing conversational ordering. In August, Google announced that Ask Maps, its Gemini-powered chat tool, could understand conversational prompts to help users find restaurants with the food they want and place an order via Toast, ZDNet reported. At the time, Toast was the only officially named Google partner, but users can now also place orders via Square and Uber Eats, according to ZDNet. Android Authority reported that Google is highlighting its existing weekly dining lists, Ask Maps restaurant discovery, delivery integrations and know-before-you-go tips.

The new list also categorizes the top spots where Maps users search for directions within a specific city, divided by meals, beverages and sweet treats, ZDNet reported. In Atlanta, restaurants in Midtown along the city's tree-lined Beltline trail or in busy city centers dominate the top meal spots, according to the report. Every city on the list shows the most popular places users go to celebrate an occasion, catch a vibe and get value, ZDNet said.

ZDNet reported that Google continues to update Maps for uses beyond simple navigation, with AI-powered features that help users find places to eat and order food. The company has been giving users more reasons to use Maps instead of other apps such as Yelp when deciding where to eat, the report said. The latest updates also include deeper Gemini integration with Maps, according to ZDNet. Android Authority described the list as Google Maps' own take on the Michelin Guide, with Maps users as the star.