Relish: Your Local Food Guide
2024 · Product Designer, Manager, Front-end Dev · Holberton AU (Demo Day at Canva)
Relish is designed to cater to the needs of foodies and explorers who are always on the lookout for new dining experiences.
Problem & Approach
Existing apps like Google Maps and Yelp can't filter out restaurants you've already visited. Relish solves this with a Quiz feature for first-time users (tackling the cold-start problem), a "Feeling Hungry?" button for instant suggestions, and a "Have I Been There" tracker that auto-removes visited spots from recommendations.
Building Relish
Built with React + Vite on the front end, Django and Yelp Fusion API on the back, PostgreSQL for storage, deployed on Netlify and AWS. We used MoSCoW prioritization to land an MVP and ran Scrum sprints throughout — sprint planning, stand-ups, retros — to stay flexible.
Result
A gamified, user-centric dining discovery experience — badges, awards, curated lists — that closes the gaps in current restaurant apps and connects users with local businesses.
Yichen Cao
©
Yichen Cao
2026