DoorDash has announced the launch of a new suite of AI-powered tools designed to revolutionize how restaurants manage their online presence, particularly in terms of visual presentation and menu optimization. These tools are intended to improve the customer ordering experience while providing restaurant partners with easy-to-use technology that enhances their digital operations without compromising authenticity.
With the rapid growth of online food ordering, restaurants are under increasing pressure to present their menus in the most compelling way possible. DoorDash’s latest innovations directly address this need, offering practical solutions that simplify time-consuming tasks like writing menu descriptions, capturing high-quality food photos, and maintaining consistent, professional-looking visuals across digital platforms.
According to DoorDash, the newly introduced tools are now available on both its flagship Marketplace and first-party products such as Online Ordering. Each feature is designed to streamline workflow for restaurant operators and increase engagement from customers browsing menus.
Key Features of DoorDash’s New AI Toolkit
The new AI suite includes the following:
- AI-Powered Item Description Generator: With just a single click, restaurant owners can now generate appetizing, descriptive, and professionally written menu descriptions. This tool uses artificial intelligence to analyze the name and visual presentation of a dish to produce a description that both informs and entices customers.
- AI-Enhanced Camera for Food Photography: This in-app camera solution allows restaurants to take high-quality food photos using smart technology that automatically adjusts lighting, backgrounds, and framing—without altering the actual appearance of the dish. It ensures the photo remains true to life while looking polished and appealing.
- Instant Photo Approval with AI Moderation: Once a photo is taken, DoorDash’s automated system will instantly assess it against its content guidelines. Photos that meet the required standards are approved within a minute, helping restaurants upload new images quickly and efficiently.
- Background Enhancement for Menu Photos: This tool transforms casual or user-generated photos into professional-grade visuals by enhancing lighting, re-plating the food, and modifying the background. Importantly, these enhancements leave the food itself unchanged, maintaining authenticity while improving presentation.
Arpit Dhariwal, Head of Product for Merchant Acquisition & Growth at DoorDash, emphasized the company’s commitment to making technology work for restaurants, not against them.
Making Menu Descriptions a Breeze
One of the most time-consuming tasks for restaurant owners is writing menu descriptions that are not only accurate but also engaging. A good description can sway a potential customer to try something new or order a higher-priced item. With DoorDash’s new item description generator, merchants can instantly create detailed, enticing write-ups for each dish using simple inputs like the item name and a photo.
The tool is integrated into both the DoorDash Business Manager App and the Merchant Portal, allowing easy access for all partner restaurants.
Steve Rezvani, Owner of Driftwood Deli & Market, shared his experience using the tool:
Professional Food Photos with Just a Smartphone
In the online food world, presentation is everything. Research shows that 38% of customers rely on food photos when deciding where to order from, and restaurants with item photos have seen a 44% increase in monthly sales. That’s why DoorDash has introduced its AI-powered camera feature, available directly through the Business Manager App.
The AI camera offers real-time feedback on how to position the dish, adjust lighting, and crop images for maximum impact. The system uses advanced computer vision technology to ensure that every image captures the dish’s essence while elevating its visual appeal.
Unlike many other tools that apply filters or retouching that may alter the food’s appearance, DoorDash’s solution is built to preserve the integrity of the dish while enhancing the surrounding elements.
Instant Photo Approvals and Visual Enhancements
Uploading and getting menu photos approved used to be a slow process, but DoorDash’s AI moderation system is speeding things up dramatically. Now, once a merchant uploads a new photo, the system automatically checks whether the image meets DoorDash’s visual standards. If it does, it gets approved and published—often within just one minute.
In addition to faster approval, DoorDash now provides subtle background enhancements to user-submitted photos. This includes fine-tuning lighting, cleaning up backgrounds, or digitally re-plating food in a way that improves aesthetics but keeps the food untouched. The result is a polished, professional photo that still feels authentic and true to the restaurant’s brand.
A Seamless Blend of Innovation and Authenticity
All of these updates reflect DoorDash’s broader mission to support its restaurant partners with innovative tools that don’t sacrifice authenticity. Instead of relying on generic stock photos or time-consuming manual editing, restaurants can now showcase their food more effectively with minimal effort.
For customers, this means a more seamless browsing and ordering experience, with clear, visually engaging menus that reflect what they’ll actually receive. For restaurant owners, it’s a chance to free up time, increase sales, and stand out in a competitive marketplace.
With AI becoming an integral part of how food businesses operate online, DoorDash is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation—offering smarter, faster, and more accessible tools to help restaurants thrive in the digital age.
