Restaurant SEO Basics: Getting Found on Google

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is how you get your restaurant to appear when someone searches on Google. Good SEO means free, targeted traffic from people actively looking for what you offer.

The basics aren't complicated. Most restaurants fail at SEO not because it's hard, but because they never start.

Local SEO vs. Traditional SEO

For restaurants, local SEO matters most. You're not trying to rank globally - you're trying to rank for people near you searching for food.

Local Search Examples

• "Thai restaurant Brisbane"
• "Best pizza near me"
• "Restaurants open now"
• "Italian food CBD"
• "Brunch spots Southbank"

These searches have high intent - people are ready to eat, now. Ranking for these terms puts you directly in front of hungry customers.

The Foundation: Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important factor in local SEO. We covered this in depth in our Google Maps ranking guide.

Quick recap of essentials:

✓ Claim and verify your profile
✓ Complete every section (100%)
✓ Choose the right primary category
✓ Add high-quality photos
✓ Collect and respond to reviews
✓ Post updates regularly

Keyword Research for Restaurants

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google. Your job is to identify the right ones and use them strategically.

Types of Restaurant Keywords

Cuisine + Location: "Thai restaurant Melbourne" or "Mexican food Sydney"
Dish + Location: "Pad Thai Brisbane" or "Wood-fired pizza Perth"
Occasion + Location: "Birthday dinner Brisbane" or "Romantic restaurant Melbourne"
Near Me Keywords: "Restaurants near me" or "Food near me" (location determined automatically)
Feature Keywords: "BYO restaurant Sydney" or "Vegan friendly Melbourne"

Free Keyword Research Tools

• Google Autocomplete: Start typing and see what Google suggests
• Google "People Also Ask": Shows related questions people search
• Google Keyword Planner: Free with a Google Ads account
• Ubersuggest: Free tier available for basic research

Pro Tip: Competitor Research

Search for your top competitors and see what keywords appear in their page titles and descriptions. They've probably already done keyword research - learn from it.

On-Page SEO Essentials

On-page SEO is optimizing the pages of your website. Here's what matters most:

Title Tags

The title tag appears in Google search results as the clickable headline. It's the most important on-page factor.

✓ Include your main keyword near the beginning
✓ Include your location
✓ Include your restaurant name
✓ Keep under 60 characters

Good Title Examples

✓ "Authentic Thai Restaurant in Brisbane CBD | Siam House"
✓ "Wood-Fired Pizza Melbourne | Tony's Pizzeria"
✓ "Best Brunch Sydney - Cafe Bloom | Surry Hills"

Meta Descriptions

The description appears below the title in search results. It doesn't directly affect rankings but influences click-through rate.

✓ Summarize what makes you special
✓ Include a call to action
✓ Mention location
✓ Keep under 160 characters

Heading Structure

Use proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content:

• H1: One per page, main topic (your restaurant name or page purpose)
• H2: Major sections (Menu, About, Location)
• H3: Subsections within H2s (Appetizers, Mains, Desserts under Menu)

Content Optimization

Include relevant keywords naturally in your content:

• Your homepage should mention your cuisine type and location
• Your menu page should have actual text (not just a PDF)
• About page should tell your story and include local references
• Contact page should have your full address, phone, and embedded map

Technical SEO Basics

Technical SEO ensures Google can properly crawl and understand your site.

Site Speed

Slow sites rank lower and lose customers. Test at PageSpeed Insights.

• Compress images (use WebP format)
• Use a fast hosting provider
• Minimize plugins and scripts
• Consider a CDN (Content Delivery Network)

Mobile-Friendly Design

Google uses mobile-first indexing - your mobile site matters more than desktop.

• Responsive design that adapts to all screen sizes
• Tap-friendly buttons (44px minimum)
• Readable text without zooming
• No horizontal scrolling

HTTPS Security

Your site should use HTTPS (secure connection). This is a ranking factor and also builds trust with customers, especially for online ordering.

Schema Markup

Schema markup helps Google understand your business. For restaurants, use:

• LocalBusiness / Restaurant: Name, address, phone, hours
• Menu: Your menu items (helps with "dish + location" searches)
• Review: Aggregate review data

Basic Restaurant Schema

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "Your Restaurant Name",
  "image": "https://yoursite.com/photo.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "Brisbane",
    "addressRegion": "QLD",
    "postalCode": "4000"
  },
  "telephone": "+61-7-1234-5678",
  "servesCuisine": "Thai",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "openingHours": "Mo-Su 11:00-22:00"
}

Content Strategy for Restaurants

Creating content helps you rank for more keywords and establish expertise. Here's what works for restaurants:

Essential Pages

• Homepage: Clear intro, cuisine type, location, unique selling points
• Menu page: HTML menu (not just PDF), organized by category
• About page: Your story, chef background, philosophy
• Contact/Location page: Address, hours, map, parking info
• Reservations/Ordering page: Clear CTAs for bookings or orders

Blog Content Ideas

A blog can help you rank for long-tail keywords and build authority:

• Recipes or cooking tips related to your cuisine
• Behind-the-scenes stories (ingredient sourcing, chef profiles)
• Local food guides (even if you mention competitors, you rank for the keyword)
• Event coverage and announcements
• Seasonal menu highlights

Link Building for Restaurants

Links from other websites signal authority to Google. For restaurants, focus on:

• Local directories: Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yellow Pages, Zomato
• Food bloggers: Invite them for a review (free meal for coverage)
• Local press: Pitch story angles to local publications
• Suppliers: Ask vendors to link to you as a customer
• Local events: Sponsor or participate in community events

NAP Consistency

NAP = Name, Address, Phone number. Google cross-references your NAP across the web. Inconsistencies hurt rankings.

• Use the exact same format everywhere
• "123 Main Street" and "123 Main St" are different to Google
• Include the same phone number format
• Update all listings if you move or change numbers

Quick SEO Audit Checklist

✓ Google Business Profile claimed and 100% complete
✓ Website has unique title tags on each page
✓ Meta descriptions written for key pages
✓ Menu is HTML text (not just PDF)
✓ Address and phone on every page (footer is fine)
✓ Site loads in under 3 seconds
✓ Site is mobile-friendly
✓ HTTPS enabled
✓ Restaurant schema markup added
✓ NAP consistent across all directories

Get a Free SEO Audit

DishROI builds SEO-optimized restaurant websites with proper technical setup, schema markup, and content strategy built in.

Get Your Free Audit

The Bottom Line

Restaurant SEO isn't about gaming the system - it's about making it easy for Google to understand and recommend your business. Focus on the fundamentals: complete your Google Business Profile, optimize your website basics, and ensure consistency across the web.

SEO is a long game. Changes today might take 3-6 months to show results. But once you start ranking, you get free, targeted traffic from people actively looking to eat at a restaurant like yours. That's the best marketing there is.

Start with your Google Business Profile. That's the highest-impact, lowest-effort win. Then work through the website optimizations systematically. Small improvements compound over time.