Local SEO For Restaurants—How To Rank Higher And Attract More Customers

When people are hungry, they turn to Google. It’s the number one way customers discover new restaurants and if your business isn’t showing up in the search results, you’re losing diners to competitors who are. 

Local restaurant SEO is the best way to attract new customers, and it’s easier than you think—you don’t need to be a technical expert to start seeing real results. 

With a few key optimizations, your restaurant can rank higher on Google, get noticed by people searching for places to eat, and ultimately drive more foot traffic and online orders.

In this article, you will learn:

• How to optimize your Google Business Profile to boost visibility and credibility.
• The best ways to get more customer reviews and use them to your advantage.
• How to improve your website and listings to rank higher in local searches.

But first, let’s review what local SEO is, and why it matters for your restaurant. 

1. Why Local SEO Matters for Restaurants

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which might leave you wondering, “What exactly are we optimizing?”

In simple terms, SEO is the process of improving your online presence so that Google sees your restaurant as a top choice to show people searching for a place to eat.

Local SEO helps Google recognize that your business is in a specific area, like a city or neighborhood. 

When someone types in “best pizza near me” or “brunch spots in [your city],” Google sorts through countless websites and ranks them based on relevance, credibility, and user experience.

For example, if someone searches for “best tacos in Austin,” Google will prioritize restaurants with strong local SEO—those with an optimized Google Business Profile, plenty of positive reviews, and accurate business information.

If your restaurant checks these boxes, it’s more likely to show up at the top of search results, right where hungry customers are looking.

Most restaurant searches happen with local intent, meaning people aren’t just browsing—they’re looking for a place to eat right now. Restaurants that rank higher in local search results get more foot traffic, online orders, and reservations.

And here’s the thing—your competitors are already optimizing for local search. If your restaurant isn’t showing up in top results, chances are another one is. 

Fortunately, you can take steps to improve your ranking and that first critical step is filling out your Google Business Profile.

2. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your greatest opportunity to tell Google about your business and goes a long way toward getting your restaurant ranked high in search results.

Your first step is to claim and verify your Google Business Profile. This confirms to Google that you’re the rightful owner of your restaurant, allowing you to update key details and manage your presence in search results.

If you haven’t done this yet, it should be your top priority.

Your restaurant’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be accurate and identical across your GBP profile, website, and any other online listings. Even small inconsistencies—like listing “St.” instead of “Street”—can confuse search engines and lower your ranking.

Be sure to include great photos so potential customers can get a sense of what it would be like to visit your business. 

Restaurants with appealing images get more clicks, calls, and visits than those without. Make sure to upload:

• Photos of your most popular dishes
• A clear, easy-to-read menu
• Pictures of your restaurant’s interior and exterior (this helps guests recognize it when they arrive in person)
• Staff and behind-the-scenes shots to showcase your brand personality

Consistently keep your business hours, website link, and service updated.

Nothing frustrates customers more than arriving at a restaurant only to find out it’s closed. Keep your business hours updated, especially on holidays or special occasions. 

Also, make sure your GBP includes:

• A link to your website
• A menu link 
• Service options: dine-in, takeout, delivery, curbside pickup, reservations, etc.
  • Be sure to mark your direct ordering channels as “Preferred by Business” on Google so you encourage diners to order direct, saving you commission fees.

Be sure to complete every field of your profile, even if you think it doesn’t apply to your business, each piece of information helps you rank. 

The next step is encouraging customers to leave high-quality reviews.   

3. Get More Customer Reviews and Leverage Them

Google prioritizes restaurants with frequent, positive reviews because they signal trust and quality to potential diners. 

The more authentic, high-quality reviews your restaurant receives, the more likely you are to show up in search results when people look for places to eat nearby.

How to ask for reviews without sounding pushy.

Many satisfied customers are happy to leave a review—you just need to ask at the appropriate time. Here are a few ways to encourage reviews naturally:

• Ask in person: If a guest compliments their meal, politely invite them to share their experience online.
• Follow up via email: If you collect customer contact information for reservations or online orders, send a friendly follow-up with a direct link to leave a review.
• Use signage and receipts: A simple “Loved your meal? Leave us a review on Google!” sign near the exit or on a receipt can be effective.

The key is to make leaving a review easy and effortless for your guests.

Where to respond to reviews (and why it matters).

Responding to reviews—both good and bad—boosts your local SEO and shows potential diners that you value customers and their feedback. 

Google favors businesses that actively respond to reviews, so make it a part of your daily routine to check and reply on:

• Google Business Profile (Most important for local SEO)
• Yelp, TripAdvisor, and OpenTable (Popular for restaurant reviews)
• Facebook and other social platforms (Where diners may leave feedback)

How you respond to reviews matters and that includes the occasional negative review.

Handling negative reviews professionally.

A bad review isn’t the end of the world—but ignoring it or responding poorly can have dire consequences and hurt your rankings and reputation.

Follow these steps:

• Stay calm and professional: Don’t take it personally or argue.
• Acknowledge the issue and apologize (if necessary): Even if you disagree, show empathy.
  • “We’re sorry to hear your experience wasn’t what you expected.”
• Offer a solution (if appropriate): Invite the customer to contact you directly so you can make it right.
  • “We’d love the chance to make things better. Please reach out to us at [email] so we can discuss this further.”
• Keep it short and move on: Other customers will see your response, so handle it professionally and avoid back-and-forth arguments.

By handling reviews thoughtfully, you build trust with potential customers and send strong engagement signals to Google—both of which help your restaurant rank higher in search results. 

To learn more about collecting reviews, check out our article on How to Get More Google Restaurant Reviews. 

4. Local Keyword Optimization

Keywords are the foundation of local SEO. When diners search for a place to eat, they use specific phrases like:

• “Best tacos in [city]” or 
• “Italian restaurant near me.”

By incorporating these terms into your restaurant’s online content, you help search engines connect your business with potential customers.

Research Keywords Diners Actually Use

To figure out the best keywords for your restaurant, you have to think like your customers. What would they type into Google to find a restaurant like yours?

Some common examples are:

• Cuisine-based searches: “best sushi in [city],” “authentic Thai food near me”
• Dish-specific searches: “best cheeseburger in [city],” “vegan pizza near me”
• Experience-based searches: “romantic dinner spot in [city],” “brunch with outdoor seating”

You can also use free keyword research tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or simply type a phrase into Google and see what autocomplete suggestions appear.

Where to place keywords for maximum impact. 

Once you’ve identified the right keywords, strategic placement is key. Here’s where to include them:

• Website pages: Add keywords naturally to your homepage, menu page, and about page.
• Meta descriptions: These are the short snippets that appear in Google search results. A well-written meta description with local keywords can improve click-through rates.
• Google Business Profile (GBP): Your GBP listing should include relevant keywords in the business description, services, and menu items.
• Headings and Meta titles: Google gives extra weight to text in headings, so include relevant keywords in headers and subheaders where it makes sense.

Avoid keyword stuffing—focus on natural, helpful content.

Keyword stuffing happens when someone tries to incorporate too many keywords into their online assets like their website or GPB. 

Instead of repeating phrases like “best pizza in Miami” over and over, write content that sounds natural and helpful.

Good example: “Looking for delicious New York-style pizza in Miami? Our hand-tossed, wood-fired pies have been a local favorite for over 10 years.”

Bad example: “Best pizza in Miami. If you want Miami’s best pizza, come try our Miami pizza today.”

It’s more important to use local keywords naturally—Google will recognize them no matter where they appear, so there’s no need to stress about how many times you’ve used them.

5. Build Local Citations and Keep NAP Consistent

A local citation is any online mention of your restaurant’s name, address, and phone number (NAP). These citations appear on directory websites, social media platforms, business listings, and even local news articles.

Google uses them to confirm that your business is legitimate and active—the more accurate and consistent your citations are, the better your restaurant will rank in local search results.

Accurate citations help:

• Improve your search rankings by reinforcing your business’s legitimacy
• Increase your restaurant’s visibility across multiple platforms
• Make it easier for customers to find you on trusted sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor

Key directories where your restaurant should be listed.

To boost your local SEO, your restaurant should be listed on all major business directories. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Google Business Profile (Essential for ranking in Google Search and Maps)
• Yelp (Popular for customer reviews and restaurant discovery)
• TripAdvisor (A go-to for tourists and travelers)
• OpenTable (Great for restaurants that accept reservations)
• Facebook-Meta (Many customers check restaurant details here)
• Apple Maps (Used by iPhone users looking for restaurants)
• Bing Places for Business (Helps with visibility in Microsoft’s search engine)
• Zomato and Foursquare (Additional directories that can help with exposure)

How to check for and fix inconsistent business listings.

Google and other search engines want to see consistent business information across the web. If your restaurant’s name, address, or phone number varies between listings, it can hurt your SEO rankings.

Even small differences—like using “Ave.” on one listing and “Avenue” on another—can create confusion.

Here’s how to check and fix inconsistencies:

1. Google Your Restaurant Name: Look at your listings on different websites and note any discrepancies.
2. Use a Citation Checker Tool: Free tools like Moz Local, BrightLocal, or Yext can scan the web for incorrect citations.
3. Manually Update Listings: Log into each directory and update your NAP details to match your official restaurant information.
4. Monitor Regularly: Keep an eye on your listings over time, especially if your business moves or changes phone numbers.

It might feel like nitpicking to be this detailed about your restaurant’s online information, but taking the time to comb through these sites can mean the difference between ranking high or losing the position to a competitor.

6. Improve your website for Local SEO

Google sees your restaurant’s website as the central hub of your business. Even if your Google Business Profile (GBP) and citations are optimized, a poorly designed website can hold you back. 

A well-optimized website helps search engines understand where your restaurant is located, what you offer, and why you’re relevant to local diners. 

Here’s how to make sure your website supports your local SEO efforts.

Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and fast loading.

Most people searching for restaurants use their phones, so your website needs to be mobile-friendly. 

If diners land on your site and it’s hard to navigate, slow to load, or requires too much zooming and scrolling, they’ll leave—and Google takes that as a bad sign.

To improve mobile usability:

• Use a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes.
• Make sure buttons and menus are easy to tap on a phone.
• Compress images and minimize unnecessary code to improve loading speed (Google favors fast websites).

If you’d like help with your website, ChowNow builds mobile-friendly, fast loading restaurant websites with built-in SEO tools. 

Boost SEO by integrating Direct Online Ordering on your website.

A steady flow of visitors to your website signals to Google that your restaurant is relevant and valuable, which can help improve your local search rankings. 

One of the best ways to drive consistent website traffic is by offering direct online ordering. 

When customers place orders through your website instead of third-party platforms, they return more often, engage with your brand directly, and help strengthen your site’s SEO.

Adding a direct online ordering system, like ChowNow, keeps customers on your website instead of redirecting them to third-party delivery apps. 

This not only increases your organic traffic but also improves user experience, another key ranking factor for Google. 

The easier it is for customers to navigate your site and place an order, the more likely they are to return—and frequent visits can reinforce your SEO authority.

Write local-focused blog content.

If you really want to differentiate your business, start a blog that focuses on what’s happening in your local community.

It’s not often that restaurants do this, so if you’re having trouble getting into those top few spots, a blog could be the deciding factor for Google to push your business to the top. 

Some great blog ideas include:

• “Top 5 [Cuisine] Spots in [City]” (include your restaurant and others to create a useful list)
• “The Best Cocktails to Try in [City]” (highlight unique drinks on your menu)
• “How We Source Ingredients from Local [City] Farmers” (showcase your commitment to local sourcing)
• “Holiday Dining Guide: Where to Eat in [City]”

This type of content helps establish your restaurant as a local authority, increases brand awareness, and boosts your rankings for location-based searches.

Make Local SEO a Priority and Watch Your Restaurant Grow

Local SEO is a powerful way to reach more customers, and the best part? Almost all of these strategies are free, so you don’t have to wait or set aside a budget to start seeing results.

Contact ChowNow if you’d like a restaurant website with built-in SEO tools and a direct online ordering system to help your business rank higher, attract more customers, and increase profits.