TikTok Just Made Finding Your Next Dinner Spot A Whole Lot Easier

TikTok has already convinced millions of people to wait in ridiculous lines for croissants, sandwiches, and whatever else the algorithm decided was worth eating that week. Now the platform wants to make those food discoveries a little more organized with Must Eat, a new dining guide built from more than 40 million posts, reviews, and comments.

Launching first in New York City, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Must Eat organizes restaurants into two categories: Everyday Eats, for casual favorites, and Elevated Dining, for special occasions and nights when you’re willing to loosen the purse strings.

The recommendations come from TikTok’s food community, with independent restaurants and local specialties getting priority. Restaurants can’t pay their way onto the list, either. TikTok also reviews each business before publication to make sure it’s still operating and in good standing.

There’s some serious money behind all that scrolling. According to TikTok, 27 million Americans have visited an independent restaurant, café, or shop for the first time after discovering it on the platform, generating an estimated $4.7 billion in local spending.

Must Eat also builds on TikTok GO, the platform’s existing feature for discovering and booking experiences. Thanks to an OpenTable integration, diners can book participating restaurants without leaving the app.

You’ll find Must Eat through TikTok’s search bar, Local Feed, restaurant location pages, and location tags on videos.

Considering how much of today’s food culture already moves through TikTok, a dedicated restaurant guide feels like a natural progression. Though I do wonder how many neighborhood gems are about to become everybody’s favorite neighborhood gem overnight.