In 2026, your restaurant website is your most powerful owned sales channel — where loyal customers return to order and new guests discover your story.
Consider this: 94% of diners say online reviews influence where they eat. And with 68% of diners admitting they've skipped out on a restaurant because of its website, a slow, clunky, or outdated site simply won't do.
The good news is you don't need to be a designer or SEO expert to build a site that converts. Below, you'll find 12 proven restaurant website best practices to help turn your online menu into your #1 digital sales driver.
Put key info — and an "Order Now" button — up front
First impressions matter. Within the first few seconds of landing on your restaurant's website, visitors should immediately know what you serve, where you're located, and how to order. If diners have to dig for this information, they may move on.
Build for mobile speed (and direct orders)
Mobile isn't optional — it's the new standard. Sites that load in under two seconds see significantly higher conversion rates, so you'll need to make sure you're following best practices to ensure your mobile site loads quickly.
Small tweaks to your restaurant website design can have a big impact. Compressing large images, choosing a lightweight theme or template, and simplifying your layout are small fixes that keep things fast and frictionless.
Tip: Build a mobile-friendly, speed-tested custom restaurant website with the DoorDash Commerce Platform — designed to take guests from "I'm hungry" to "order confirmed" in just a few taps.
Add a loyalty sign-up CTA above the fold
One of the key restaurant website trends in 2026 is elevating loyalty programs.
With Cross-Channel Loyalty, available with the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, you can connect loyalty signups across every ordering channel: online, on your branded mobile app, in-person, and even on DoorDash! Merchants on our Premier pricing plan get a 35% discount on Commerce Platform Pro.*
And don't bury your rewards program at the bottom of your site — feature it front and center. A simple banner that says "Join Rewards" or "Earn Points When You Order" can turn first-time visitors into highly-engaged customers.
Keep copy snackable — but SEO-smart
The last thing hungry customers want to do is read lengthy paragraphs of text after navigating to your site. Keep your website copy short, punchy, and easy to digest for higher restaurant website conversion.
Use concise, descriptive phrases optimized for local SEO like "best tacos in Austin" or "healthy lunch bowls" to help both customers and search engines understand your offerings.
Invest in real photography that builds trust
A picture is worth a thousand words — and maybe a few thousand clicks, too. According to the DoorDash Delivery Trends Report, 43% of Gen Z diners say food photos influence where they order from.
The takeaway? Lighting, angles, and image quality matter. Harsh lighting, awkward framing, or grainy shots can make even the best dishes look unappetizing. And if your photos don't do your food justice, customers may never get the chance to taste how good it really is.
If you can, borrow a high-quality camera and shoot in the morning or late afternoon when natural lighting is best. Keep your backgrounds simple so the food can shine. Not a photography pro? DoorDash partners can get a free professional photoshoot to help take their menu visuals to the next level.
For those on the Premier pricing plan, you’ll also get a $200 credit to cover additional costs like food and styling, meaning you can take advantage of this professional photoshoot at no additional cost to your business.**
Adding alt text to your photos — short, descriptive captions that help search engines understand your images (like “grilled salmon bowl, Pacific Catch”) — can boost your restaurant website’s SEO. It also makes your website accessible to guests using screen readers, improving the experience for all visitors.
Add an FAQ section for AI overviews
AI-powered search is changing how customers discover restaurants, and yours should be ready to show up where they're looking. Adding a short FAQ section can help your site appear in Google's AI Overviews and voice search results.
The DoorDash Commerce Platform automatically marks these as FAQs for search engines, helping your restaurant stand out in local search without any extra setup.
Here are a few FAQs to get you started:
"Do you offer delivery or pickup?"
"What are your most popular dishes?"
"Do you have gluten-free options?"
Build a searchable menu page (not a PDF)
Sure, PDF menus are easy to upload, but they come with a triple downside. They're not mobile- or SEO-friendly, and they're definitely not conversion-friendly.
A good restaurant website features a dedicated menu page, not just a downloadable file. Search engines can easily crawl web-based (HTML) pages, which means when people search for "fish tacos," "chicken noodle soup," or "lobster rolls near me," your menu has a much better chance of showing up.
Luckily, Online Ordering for restaurants gets you SEO-optimized, interactive menu pages that are easy to update in real time — no design skills or PDFs required.
Write menu descriptions that sell
A good dish description informs — a great one makes people hungry. Descriptive menu language draws guests in and can turn curiosity into orders.
Use your menu copy to paint a vivid picture that helps guests taste the experience before they order. Share what makes each dish special: the key ingredients, how it's prepared, and what it comes with. Sprinkle in sensory words like "crispy," "hand-rolled," or "fire-grilled" to bring the flavors to life.
Think of menu descriptions as a way to lure diners in. By providing ample details about your dishes, you can also help people with dietary restrictions or food allergies feel comfortable eating at your establishment.
Refresh your content monthly
Think of your website like your front-of-house. You wouldn't leave old specials on the board for months, right?
A routine refresh can include:
Seasonal menu updates
Updated hours or promotions
Regular updates can also improve SEO, with fresh content signaling relevance to search engines.
Showcase reviews and press badges
Before choosing where to eat, diners do their homework. According to US Foods, 83% of customers check a restaurant's menu beforehand — and half decide what to order before they even arrive.
Featuring positive reviews directly on your restaurant's website can be the extra nudge guests need to click "Order Now." Highlight glowing comments in a sidebar, display your Yelp or Google star ratings, or create a small graphic to showcase your best feedback. And if the press has shown you love — maybe a local paper crowned your pizza "Best in Portland" — show it off proudly. Showcasing social proof builds trust and helps new customers order with confidence.
Bonus: Top DoorDash Merchants earn an extra seal of approval with a Most Loved banner and badge to display on their Marketplace store page.
Integrate seamless ordering and tracking
The best restaurant websites look good and drive action. With the DoorDash Commerce Platform, you can:
Add pickup and delivery ordering directly on your site
Keep guests ordering from your direct channels
Offer real-time tracking so customers know exactly when to expect their food
The result? A smooth, effortless experience that turns first-time visitors into repeat customers.
Use smart CTAs across every page
Make it easy for diners to take the next step, no matter where they land on your site. Add fixed-position buttons like "Order Now," "Join Rewards," or "Call Now" so calls-to-action stay visible and conversions stay top of mind.
Tip: Add a Smart "Order Now" button that sends customer orders directly to your kitchen — helping you streamline operations and potentially boost sales by up to 30%.
The bottom line: strong restaurant website conversion comes from simple, thoughtful tweaks that make your site fast, clear, and inviting.
And with the DoorDash Commerce Platform, you can launch (or revamp) your own branded website with Online Ordering that's fast, simple, and commission-free**.
