Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about your food destiny.
🔮 What is The Hangry Variable?
It's an AI-powered food recommendation engine that reads your vibe — your mood, energy, aesthetic preferences, and chaotic inputs — and tells you exactly what to eat. You can get recipes to cook at home or find nearby restaurants.
🧠 How does the AI work?
You answer a few quirky questions about your current vibe. Our AI analyzes your answers, cross-references food culture, cuisine styles, and flavor profiles to generate personalized recommendations. It uses Google Gemini for the brain and Google Maps for restaurant discovery.
📍 Do I need to share my location?
Only if you want restaurant recommendations! In "Let's Eat" mode, your location helps us find nearby restaurants. In "Cook It" mode, no location is needed at all. Your location is never stored.
💾 Is my data stored?
Nope! All session data lives in server memory and is automatically deleted after 30 minutes. Shared links expire after 72 hours. There is no database, no accounts, and no tracking cookies. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
🎲 What are "re-rolls"?
Each session gives you 3 "vibes" — meaning 3 chances to generate recommendations. If you don't like your first result, hit re-roll for fresh suggestions. Once you've used all 3, refresh the page for new questions and a new session.
🍳 Can I get full recipes?
Yes! In "Cook It" mode, each recommendation has a "Show Full Recipe" button that generates a complete step-by-step recipe with ingredients, equipment, cook times, and pro tips.
👥 Can I use it for a group?
Not yet — but it's on our radar! For now, you can share your results with friends and let them get their own recommendations. Compare results and pick a winner.
🥗 Can I set dietary restrictions?
Absolutely. You can select from Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Halal, Kosher, and Nut-free — and the AI will respect your choices in all recommendations.
💰 Is it free?
Yes, The Hangry Variable is completely free to use. No sign-ups, no credit cards, no hidden fees.
🐛 I found a bug or have feedback!
We'd love to hear from you! Send us a note at contact@thehangryvariable.com or use our feedback form (opens in new tab).
🤝 Who built this?
The Hangry Variable was built as a side project by a food-obsessed developer who was tired of the "I don't know, what do you want?" dinner standoff. Built with FastAPI, Google Gemini, and Google Maps.