Zomato tests ‘match score’ over restaurant ratings; CEO Deepinder Goyal says ‘we're loving it’

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal wants to change how people find restaurants on the app. Instead of using regular ratings, Zomato is testing a new “match score” system. This score will suggest restaurants based on a person’s food preferences rather than overall public reviews. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Goyal explained the idea. He said that since everyone has different tastes, it doesn’t make sense to rely on the same ratings.
He further added that this system removes bias from general reviews and helps users discover restaurants that better suit their tastes. He also asked for feedback, wondering if people would prefer personalized match scores or stick with traditional ratings.
We all have different tastes in food—so why rely on the same restaurant ratings?
Internally, at Zomato, we have been trying out personalised “match scores” instead of traditional restaurant ratings, and we're loving it.
Match score reduces bias from mass opinions that might not match your taste. As a result, we’re discovering more relevant restaurants than ever before.
But we’d love to hear from you! Would you prefer match scores tailored to your preferences or stick with traditional ratings? Let us know in the replies! 👇

Goyal’s post received mixed reactions. Some users liked it, saying it could improve their dining experience. Others were concerned that relying too much on algorithms might lead to biased recommendations or favor certain restaurants.
Commenting on the post, one user said “That sounds like a brilliant idea, Deepinder! I’m always frustrated when a highly-rated restaurant just doesn’t align with my personal tastes. Personalized match scores could definitely help me discover hidden gems that I might otherwise miss. I'm all for it!” Another user said “This is a game changer (if it works), taste is very subjective and having profiles to match is the best way to know if you'll like it. I have gone to many highly rated places and wondered- why this place?”.
Others raised concern stating “The problem with match score is over reliance on Algorithm and control of the corporation. You might not do it today, but tomorrow you can take advertising money and match more. Good for marketing but bad for new entrants. Have both at disposal to the customer.”