The 3-question shortcut
Most "what should I eat?" spirals happen because you're choosing from everything. Shrink the list first:
- How hungry am I? Snack-hungry, normal-hungry or "could eat a horse"?
- How much effort? Sit-down restaurant, quick takeaway, or something close by?
- What mood? Comforting, fresh, adventurous, cheap or social?
Your mood answer points to one of the lists below. Pick the first idea that makes you go "ooh" — that reaction is your answer.
Comfort food
- Ramen — a big steaming bowl fixes most bad days.
- Wood-fired pizza — always a safe bet.
- Burgers and fries — especially smash burgers.
- Mac and cheese or a creamy pasta.
- Fried chicken — Korean, Southern or Portuguese-style.
Lighter & healthy-ish
- Poke bowl — fresh fish, rice and lots of veg.
- Vietnamese pho or fresh summer rolls.
- Grilled fish with salad.
- Mediterranean mezze — hummus, falafel, tabbouleh.
- Buddha or grain bowl from a salad bar.
Quick & easy
- Burrito — a full meal you can eat walking.
- Kebab or shawarma wrap.
- Bao buns.
- Sushi takeaway — no waiting for a table.
- A proper sandwich from a good deli.
Swipe through restaurants near you, alone or with friends. When everyone swipes right, dinner is decided.
Something new
- Ethiopian — share stews on injera bread, eaten with your hands.
- Georgian — try khachapuri (cheese bread) and khinkali dumplings.
- Peruvian — ceviche and lomo saltado.
- Sichuan — if you like it properly spicy.
- Korean BBQ — grill your own at the table.
Cheap eats
- Tacos — order a few different ones.
- Dumplings — great value and very filling.
- Indian thali — lots of small dishes on one plate.
- Neighbourhood "tasca" or diner — the dish of the day is usually the best deal.
- Street food market — everyone picks their own.
Great for sharing
- Tapas — order lots, try everything.
- Dim sum.
- Hot pot — a bubbling pot in the middle of the table.
- Lebanese feast — mezze followed by grills.
- Family-style Italian — big plates of pasta for the table.
Still stuck?
Try one of these tie-breakers:
- Eliminate, don't choose. Cross out the options you definitely don't want until one is left.
- Go with the closest good option. Hunger makes everything taste better.
- Swipe on what's nearby. Seeing real places with photos, ratings and prices makes deciding much faster than imagining cuisines. That's exactly what the Dinner app does — and if you're with someone, you both swipe and go wherever you match.
Eating with a partner or friends and can't agree? Read 7 ways to finally decide where to eat.
Frequently asked questions
What should I eat when I can't decide?
Narrow it down first: decide how hungry you are, how much effort you want, and what mood you're in (comfort, healthy, quick, adventurous, cheap or social). Then pick the first idea from that category that sounds good.
What is a good quick dinner idea?
Burritos, kebab wraps, bao buns, sushi takeaway or a good deli sandwich are all quick, filling options that don't need a sit-down table.
What should I eat if I want something different?
Try a cuisine you've never had, such as Ethiopian, Georgian, Peruvian, Sichuan or Korean BBQ.