How an App for Restaurant Ordering Can Transform Your Business

Launching an app for restaurant ordering may seem daunting. From coding new features to encouraging customers to download your restaurant app, it can feel overwhelming. But let's face it, with 71% of guests wanting to interact with restaurants on their phones, ignoring the growing demand for mobile-first experiences isn't an option.

Keep reading to learn why launching an app for restaurant ordering may be simpler than you think and how getting your app up and running can transform your business into a modern, money-making machine.

Why you need an app for restaurant ordering

75% of people use mobile apps to order food, and customers who order on a mobile app are 30% more likely to reorder.* With numbers like that, it's no surprise that restaurants are turning to mobile apps to meet diners where they are—on their phones.

Here are just a few ways an app for restaurant ordering helps you stand out:

Convenience: Make it easy to order anytime

An app for restaurant ordering allows your guests to order when and how they want, with no waiting, no calls, and no access to a desktop computer necessary. With a branded mobile app built with the DoorDash Commerce Platform, customers can browse your menu, customize their order, and complete their purchase all within a few taps.

Better yet, they can schedule orders for later, save favorite items, and reorder past meals with a few clicks. This is especially helpful for busy professionals, families with routine orders, or customers who want to plan ahead. You reduce friction and boost satisfaction with every interaction.

Scheduled ordering also allows your kitchen to manage prep and delivery timing more effectively, which can improve both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

In short, a convenient ordering experience keeps your restaurant top of mind and makes it easier for customers to return again and again.

Explore the branded mobile app

Speed: Faster checkouts, fewer drop-offs

Nothing kills a digital order like a clunky checkout process. Your app should be fast, intuitive, and streamlined. The branded mobile app offers just that. Saved payment methods (including Apple Pay and Google Pay), stored delivery addresses, and autofill options make checkout lightning-fast.

This speed matters. A complicated checkout flow can deter nearly one in five consumers from completing their purchase.

With a branded mobile app, which is built using the same technology that powers Marketplace, you can cut down on those delays. Customers who download your app can go from "I’m hungry" to "order placed" in minutes. It’s the same level of ease they expect from major chains, now available for your independent or growing restaurant.

Engagement: Stay top of mind with your best customers

Once someone downloads your app, you have a direct line to their phone, a powerful tool for increasing order frequency. Push notifications are one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers.

Whether it’s a limited-time deal, a special menu item, or a reward reminder, push notifications help you drive urgency and keep your restaurant top of mind. You can send:

Time-sensitive promos ("20% off lunch today only!")
Loyalty updates ("You’re 1 order away from your next reward!")
Seasonal menu drops ("New fall flavors just launched")

Brand visibility: Own your look, your app, your customers

The branded mobile app puts your name, colors, and photos front and center in the App Store, Google Play, and on your customers' phone screens. Every interaction feels like an extension of your physical restaurant, reinforcing your identity with each order.

And when customers search for your restaurant in the app store, they find you. That kind of visibility is essential in a competitive digital landscape. Plus, 33% of businesses say brand consistency can help them increase revenue by 20% or more, which means infusing your app with your branding not only looks great but can also positively impact your bottom line.

App features that improve the guest experience

One-click reordering

Repeat customers don’t want to scroll through a menu each time. With the branded mobile app, customers see their most recent orders and can order again instantly from a reorder carousel, cutting friction and boosting conversion.

Cross-channel loyalty

With the DoorDash Commerce Platform, customers can join a cross-channel loyalty program that rewards them for orders placed on DoorDash, in-store, online, and, of course, on your restaurant ordering app.

Remind guests when they’re close to earning a free item
Let them redeem offers directly in the app

Optimized checkout flow

A streamlined checkout flow makes it easy for customers to place orders quickly, improving the customer experience and your bottom line.

What you get with DoorDash’s branded mobile app

DoorDash’s branded mobile app is available through the Pro Package of the DoorDash Commerce Platform. It’s a fully customizable native app for both iOS and Android, built by DoorDash engineers but completely branded to your business.

Here's what it includes:

Your logo, brand colors, and images
Commission-free ordering (2.9% + $0.30 processing fee per order)
Full menu integration with Online Ordering
Real-time data on customer behavior, top items, and ordering trends

It’s all managed in your Merchant Portal, making it easy to keep everything consistent across your site, app, and marketing.

Explore the branded mobile app

Real branded mobile app results from real restaurants

Many restaurants already use the branded mobile app to grow their direct sales and loyalty base:

Bowls of Rice set up their branded mobile app in just two calls with the DoorDash team.
3Natives observed that customers place orders 71% more often when using their mobile app than those who order through the website.
Green Tomato Grill launched a mobile app and saw a 13% increase in digital order volume.

These numbers highlight how powerful an app for restaurant mobile ordering can be when it aligns with your brand and business goals.