Ever show up to your favorite restaurant, stomach rumbling, only to be met with a line out the door? Or maybe you’re just looking for a chill spot and want to avoid the crowds. Well, guess what? Your trusty Google Maps app has a built-in superpower to help you with just that: Popular Times!
What are “Popular Times” Anyway? 
You know how Google always seems to know everything? Their Popular Times feature is another one of their clever insights. It shows you the busiest and slowest hours for a particular business, based on anonymous data from people who have visited that location. Think of it as a real-time crowd sourcing of bodies! 
How to Use This Magic for Your Meal Planning 
It’s super simple! Here’s how you can use Popular Times to snag that perfect table:
- Search for Your Spot: Open Google Maps (or just search for a restaurant on Google) and tap on the place you’re interested in.
- Scroll Down: As you scroll down the business profile, you’ll see a section labeled “Popular times.”
- Analyze the Bars: You’ll see a bar chart showing the typical crowd levels for each hour of the day, usually broken down by day of the week. Taller bars mean more people, shorter bars mean fewer.
- Plan Your Arrival: See a dip in the bars around 5 PM before the dinner rush? That’s your cue for an early bird special! Or maybe you prefer a lively atmosphere – look for the peaks!
See An Example
Here is an example of Mellow Mushroom (a 
pizza place in my hometown). It can be very busy for lunch and dinner and using data from Maps can make your life, dinner date, or night out a lot easier!
In Summary
This little trick can save you so much time and frustration. No more hangry waits! So next time you’re planning a meal out, give Popular Times a glance. Your stomach (and your friends!) will thank you. Happy exploring!
Do you use the ‘popular times’ features to find places to eat and shop? Share your insights 
below