Laid-off developer builds crowdsourced map of meals under $10 across 15 US cities

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A developer recently laid off after 18 years built CheapFoodMap, a crowdsourced platform listing affordable meals priced under $10 at local, non-franchise restaurants. The project was inspired by a South Korean student-used tool called 거지맵 (Beggar's Map), which helps people find cheap eats in their area. Currently covering 15 US cities with around 1,200 meal listings, the map has the densest coverage in Dallas, Texas, where the creator is based. Seed data was sourced from Google Reviews, filtered for ratings of 4.2 stars or higher with at least 500 reviews, and verified for sub-$10 pricing. The developer is seeking public feedback on keeping price data accurate and fresh amid ongoing food inflation.

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