Last updated: 30 October 2026
Quick answer: Zomato Mehmaan Mode is an upcoming feature that hides food prices on the menu. A host can hand their phone to guests so they can pick dishes without seeing what anything costs. The host then takes the phone back to pay. The idea came from a LinkedIn user, Ayushmaan Agarwalla. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal replied that it would ship “this week” (comment made on 29 October 2026). Zomato has not yet said how to turn it on or whether every user will get it at once.
What is Zomato Mehmaan Mode?
“Mehmaan” means guest in Hindi. The mode is for a familiar Indian situation: you are hosting friends or family, you order food on your phone, and you pass the phone around so everyone can choose. Many guests hesitate to pick an expensive dish when they can see the price. Mehmaan Mode temporarily hides price tags while guests browse, so they can choose freely.
How Mehmaan Mode is expected to work
- The host turns on Mehmaan Mode in the Zomato app.
- Menu prices disappear while guests browse and add dishes to the cart.
- The host takes the phone back, sees the full bill and completes payment.
This is based on the original suggestion. Zomato has not yet confirmed where the toggle will be, whether it works on the website as well as the app, or whether it will roll out to everyone at once. We will update this article when the feature goes live.
How the idea came about
Ayushmaan Agarwalla posted on LinkedIn, tagging Goyal, that Zomato needs a dedicated “mehmaan mode”, especially for the festive season. His reasoning: phones are often passed around for group orders, and hiding prices would remove the awkwardness for guests. Goyal replied in the comments, thanking him and saying, “Shipping it this week.”
It’s not the first time a social-media suggestion has quickly become a feature in this group of companies. Blinkit famously started adding free coriander to vegetable orders in 2024 after a user’s post on X.
Why this feature matters
- Festive timing: Diwali and wedding season mean more hosting and more group orders.
- Cultural fit: in Indian hospitality, guests often avoid ordering costly dishes out of politeness. Hiding prices removes that pressure.
- Quick response: going from a LinkedIn post to a promised launch in days shows how fast food-delivery apps now act on user feedback.
Questions Zomato still needs to answer
- How do you switch it on and off, and can a guest turn it off and see prices?
- Will discounts, delivery fees and taxes stay hidden until checkout?
- Will it be available to all users, or start with Zomato Gold members?
- Will it work with Zomato’s group-ordering features?
Frequently asked questions
What is Mehmaan Mode on Zomato?
Mehmaan Mode is an upcoming Zomato feature that hides menu prices, so guests can choose food on the host’s phone without seeing what each dish costs.
Is Zomato Mehmaan Mode live?
Not yet confirmed. On 29 October 2026, Deepinder Goyal said the feature would ship that week. Zomato has not announced a rollout date or activation steps.
Who suggested Zomato Mehmaan Mode?
LinkedIn user Ayushmaan Agarwalla suggested it in a post tagging Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, who agreed to build it.
How do I turn on Mehmaan Mode in Zomato?
Zomato has not shared the steps yet. Once it rolls out, update the Zomato app and look for the option before you hand your phone to guests. We will add exact steps here when it’s live.
Sources
Gadgets 360 (feature description and Goyal’s reply), NewsBytes (the LinkedIn suggestion and earlier user-suggested features) and Storyboard18.
Featured image: GlobeTrendNews, using a photo by Garrett Ziegler via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).