Zomato is preparing to introduce a new feature called “Mehmaan Mode” that will hide food prices while guests browse menus and select dishes on the app. The feature is intended to make it more comfortable for hosts to pass their phones around during group orders, allowing friends and relatives to choose food without worrying about how much each item costs.
The idea was suggested by LinkedIn user Ayushmaan Agarwalla. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal responded that the company would roll it out during the week.
How Mehmaan Mode Is Expected to Work
The proposed feature would let a host temporarily hide menu prices before handing their phone to guests. Guests could browse restaurant menus and add dishes to the order without seeing individual prices.
Once everyone has made their selections, the host would take the phone back and complete the payment. The feature is aimed at avoiding the hesitation some guests may feel when choosing food at someone else’s expense.
Feature Suggested for Group Orders
Agarwalla said he had increasingly noticed people passing their phones around so guests could choose what they wanted. He suggested that hiding prices could make the process easier, particularly during the festive season when friends and relatives gather at home.
His proposal was framed around removing the awkwardness that can arise when guests see the cost of a dish before adding it to a shared order.
Deepinder Goyal Says Feature Is Coming
Goyal responded to the suggestion on LinkedIn, thanking Agarwalla and saying the feature would be rolled out that week.
Zomato has not yet shared detailed information about how Mehmaan Mode will be activated, whether it will be available to all users at launch, or whether hosts will be able to set a spending limit before passing the phone around.
A Small Change for a Familiar Social Situation
Mehmaan Mode is designed to address a specific moment in group food ordering: letting guests choose freely while someone else is paying. The idea has drawn attention because it connects a simple app setting with a familiar aspect of hosting and hospitality.
The feature’s practical impact will depend on how Zomato implements it, including whether prices remain hidden throughout menu browsing and how the host reviews the final order before paying.
