DISH DETECTIVE
Find a recipe from a food photo with Dish Detective
Dish Detective helps you find a recipe to recreate a dish from a photo. Add what you remember about the ingredients, flavors, or cooking method, with optional restaurant or menu context. SavaPlate suggests recipe matches and explains the clues behind them. It does not guarantee a restaurant’s original or secret recipe.
By the SavaPlate team · Updated September 23, 2026
How it works
Start with the dish
Choose a clear food photo from your library or take one in the app. A useful photo shows the dish and its visible ingredients.
Add the clues you remember
Describe the sauce, texture, ingredients, or how the food was cooked. Add restaurant or menu details if you have them. Refine the clues as you explore.
Review a suggested match
Read the explanation behind a recipe suggestion, check its ingredients and method, and save a match you want to try. Treat approximations as starting points.
What to know before you start
Can a photo reveal a restaurant’s exact recipe?
No. A photo cannot reliably reveal hidden ingredients, exact quantities, allergens, or a kitchen’s methods. Dish Detective offers suggested matches or approximations, not proof of the original recipe.
Do I need to know the restaurant?
No. Restaurant and menu information are optional. A photo and what you remember about the dish can help you begin.
Is Dish Detective included in my membership?
Dish Detective is included with Sous Chef and Head Chef, subject to monthly processing limits. Check the current allowances in the app before subscribing.
Can I use a match to decide whether a dish is allergy-safe?
No. Do not use a photo-based match to establish ingredients or allergen safety. Confirm with the restaurant or original recipe source and review any substitutions yourself.
