Show HN: CheapFoodMap – A map of good meals under $10
A new site, CheapFoodMap, crowdsources a map of meals under $10, aiming to help people find affordable, well-reviewed local food instead of defaulting to fast-food chains. Early users like the concept but highlight challenges: the service is currently U.S.-only, the definition of a “meal” versus a snack is blurry, and $10 has very different value depending on city and country. Commenters suggest better filters (meal size, diet, region, happy hour), international and currency support, and ways for restaurants to participate without undermining trust, while the creator considers naming, UX, and data-quality improvements.
Concept & Overall Reception
- Many commenters like the idea of a crowdsourced map of good meals under $10, some comparing it to GasBuddy for food.
- Others question whether $10 is still meaningful in expensive cities and note that inflation will erode the fixed threshold.
- Several say Google Maps with “$” filter can surface cheap food, but others argue this mostly yields chains and misses “hidden gem” specials.
Defining “Meal,” “Good,” and Value
- Strong recurring concern: many listings are snacks or single items (e.g., one taco, spring rolls, coffee) rather than full meals.
- Suggestions:
- Require users to classify entries as “meal” vs “snack/appetizer.”
- Provide explicit guidance or filters (calorie minimum, inclusion of sides/drink, lunch vs dinner).
- “Good” is tentatively defined using Google review score and minimum review count, but this may exclude smaller towns.
- Taxes, tips, and whether a drink is included complicate the “under $10” claim, especially in the US.
Geographic Scope
- Many requests for international support: EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Germany, Slovenia, etc.
- Users also want more granularity within large metros (neighborhoods / regions) and better location-centered search without sharing precise location.
Data Quality, Participation & Trust
- Current seeding from online menus introduces snack-like or borderline entries; pruning and better rules are planned.
- Gamification with “acorns” is praised as a way to keep prices current.
- Some suggest involving restaurants directly: verifying prices, adding coupons, menus, and time-based deals.
- There are concerns about businesses misreporting competitors’ prices, based on analogous experiences elsewhere.
UX, Features & Technical Feedback
- Users report slow loads, address lookup failures, magic link issues, and map focus resetting.
- Requested features include:
- Filters for meal size, dietary restrictions, cuisine, cheaper-than-$10 tiers, and negative filters (exclude cuisines).
- Happy-hour and time-limited deals.
- Better map interaction (bounding boxes, clearer clustering, ability to add grocery delis and food inside non-restaurant venues).
- International currencies and local purchasing-power adjustments.
- Some propose adjacent features: recipe generation from clicked items, cooking-at-home options, and a health/nutrition-focused “real food” filter.