Zomato is about to hide the prices from your guests

Zomato is gearing up to launch a feature called Mehmaan Mode that lets users hide food prices while browsing the menu. Founder Deepinder Goyal has said it will roll out this week.

The idea came from a LinkedIn post. A user named Ayushmaan Agarwalla tagged Goyal and asked for a dedicated mehmaan mode, especially during festival seasons, that temporarily hides price tags. The feature would let hosts pass their phones around so guests can choose dishes without hesitation.

Anyone who has hosted a group order knows the problem. The phone goes around the table, someone scrolls past a plate that costs more than their own lunch, and suddenly the whole table is doing mental maths instead of ordering. The host is the one paying, and the guests are the ones nervous about it.

Goyal responded to the post directly. “Thanks for the suggestion. Shipping it this week,” he wrote.

“Thanks for the suggestion. Shipping it this week.”

That single reply turned a suggestion into a product commitment. Agarwalla argued the feature matters more now because phones are frequently handed over for group orders. Once the selections are made, the host can take the device back and complete the payment.

What Zomato has not said yet

The company has not revealed how users will activate the feature. It has also not said whether it will initially be available to all users or only to some. Those details remain unclear, and the official rollout will likely answer them.

The feature targets a specific pain point rather than adding a flashy new function. It does not change what restaurants charge or how orders are placed. It only changes what the person holding the phone can see while others choose.

The bigger Zomato picture

The Mehmaan Mode news arrives alongside Zomato’s membership offering in India. Zomato Gold membership starts at Rs. 99, and pricing varies by plan and location. The one year plan is priced at Rs. 999.

Gold users get free delivery on orders above Rs. 99 from restaurants located within 7 km. They are also eligible for additional discounts of up to 30 percent. Hiding prices from guests and offering discounts to members may seem like opposite ideas, but both aim at the same customer: the person footing the bill.

Why this one got attention

A feature this small often spreads quickly because nearly everyone has lived through the moment it fixes. Group ordering on food apps has always carried an unspoken etiquette problem. Guests either order cheaply to be polite or order freely and feel guilty afterward. Neither outcome makes the meal better.

If Zomato delivers on the promise this week, the change will be easy to understand and easy to use. If the company keeps the activation method vague, expect more questions from users who want to know exactly how the mode works before their next dinner with friends.

For now, the facts are simple. Zomato plans to launch Mehmaan Mode this week. It was proposed by a LinkedIn user. Goyal has committed to shipping it. The rest is still on the way.