Getting the Most Out of Random Lunch — Tips and Hidden Features

Isn't It Just Press a Button?

Yes — the basic usage is exactly that simple. Open the app, tap the button, get a restaurant.

But a few features make the results more accurate and the experience smoother. Here's what's worth knowing.

Using the Exclude Feature

The most useful feature in Random Lunch is the exclude button.

If the restaurant that comes up isn't what you want, tap exclude. It drops out of the pool, and another one gets picked from the rest.

This feature shines when you're with a group. "We were just there." Excluded. "I don't like that place." Excluded. Keep going and eventually you land somewhere everyone can agree on.

A practical rule: limit yourself to three excludes and then commit to whatever comes up. Otherwise you'll keep going forever.

Keyword Search to Narrow the Range

When you know what type of food you want but not where, use keyword search.

Type "BBQ," "sushi," "ramen," or any category into the search bar. The app filters to that type and picks randomly from within it. You get the benefit of randomness without full chaos.

It's the sweet spot between "I'll eat anything" and "I've already decided where to go."

Kakao Maps Integration

Tapping on a selected restaurant opens it in Kakao Maps.

You can check hours, menus, photos, and reviews without switching apps. If you decide to go, directions are one tap away from the same screen.

This hand-off to Kakao Maps was one of the intentional design decisions from the start — rather than duplicating that information inside the app, lean on a platform people already trust.

Using It with Your Team

When the whole team is deciding together:

1. One person opens the app and shows the screen (or shares it on a monitor)
2. Teammates call out what to exclude: "skip that one," "been there recently"
3. After a few rounds, let the final result be the decision

Everyone participates in narrowing it down, but the final pick belongs to the app — so nobody can blame anyone else for the choice. That's the whole point.

Common Questions

Q. Why are there fewer results than I expected? Check your location permissions. The app needs "While Using the App" or "Always" access to get an accurate location.

Q. The same restaurants keep showing up. If you're in an area with fewer restaurants nearby, repetition is expected. Use the exclude feature or try adjusting the search radius if you have the distance filter set tight.

Q. Can I add my own restaurants? The current version pulls from Kakao Maps data only, so manual additions aren't supported. Any place registered on Kakao Maps will show up in search results.