Building a strong restaurant email list is one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers, encourage repeat visits, and boost direct sales. Unlike social media algorithms and other promotion channels, email gives you a direct line to diners who already know and love your food.
In this post, we’ll break down how restaurants can grow and use their email lists to drive loyalty and long-term revenue.
What is a restaurant email list?
A restaurant email list is a collection of customer email addresses gathered from people who place orders through your direct ordering channels. With email marketing and a strong list, you control when and how you reach customers, making it a powerful way to share specials, loyalty rewards, reorder reminders, and more.
Why having a restaurant email list matters
Building and maintaining a strong restaurant email list helps your business grow in five key ways:
Direct communication with customers: Send targeted messages that land directly in diners’ inboxes.
Customer loyalty: Personalized messages and offers can help build stronger connections, making diners more likely to choose you again.
High ROI: According to Litmus, for every $1 a company spends on email, the majority see a return of $10 to $36, making it a cost-effective growth channel. Developing and expanding your restaurant email list can help you scale the ROI of your email marketing efforts.
Data ownership: For modern restaurants, data is power. The more information you have about your customers, the more you can segment messaging to capture their attention with relevant, timely emails.
Increased order frequency: According to a DoorDash study, restaurants using automated email campaigns through the DoorDash Commerce Platform saw an average 15% boost in repeat orders among both new and returning customers.*
How to grow your restaurant email list
Here are proven strategies to grow and use your email list effectively:
Collect emails automatically through direct ordering
When customers order directly from your website or branded mobile app, their information (including email addresses) can be collected automatically. This eliminates manual work and ensures you have up-to-date contacts for marketing.
Gather email addresses in-store
When customers visit your brick-and-mortar location, you have their undivided attention. Use this time to encourage them to sign up for your restaurant email list by including QR codes on your menu, receipts, and more.
Lead with value
Encourage customers to join your email list by showing them the value of the messages you intend to send. When a customer signs up for your restaurant's email list, they should feel confident that, in exchange for their data, they will receive exclusive offers, discounts, loyalty rewards, and more.
Optimize your website and social media profiles
Make sure guests can easily sign up for your restaurant's email list when they visit your branded website or social media profiles. Customers who are on your site or social media profiles are engaged with your brand, making them a prime audience to promote your email program to.
Send engaging, relevant emails
The better your email program, the more likely customers are to forward your messages to friends and family, which in turn can lead to more email sign-ups! Take time to write custom emails that really resonate with your audience, and if you don't have enough time, rely on automated sends to keep subscribers engaged.
Automated email marketing available through the DoorDash Commerce Platform targets different customer milestones, like a reorder series to drive repeat orders and a winback series to re-engage inactive customers. Once the campaigns are set, you can sit back and relax.
Restaurant email list building best practices
Follow these best practices as you build out your restaurant email list:
Never buy a list: Every subscriber should choose to hear from you. It’s not only about following the law — it’s about building trust. When people sign up on their own, they’re far more likely to open your emails and eventually place an order.
Include an unsubscribe link in marketing emails: Legally, you are required to include an unsubscribe link in your emails so subscribers that are no longer interested in your sends can opt out. While it can be disappointing to see your email list shrink, unsubscribes are actually a good thing. Making it easy for customers to self-select themselves out of your mailings can boost open and engagement rates.
Plus, in addition to being illegal, omitting an unsubscribe button can cause subscribers to mark your messages as spam—which over time can make it harder for messages to make it into inboxes.Select the right technology partner: The technology you choose matters — the right partner can save you time, increase customer engagement, ensure your campaigns look professional and are legally compliant, and help you scale your email program as your list grows.
If you want an email marketing solution that does all of that and is built specifically for restaurants, consider the DoorDash Commerce platform.
Get a Commerce Platform demoHow the DoorDash Commerce Platform helps with restaurant email list building
The DoorDash Commerce Platform brings the technology behind millions of DoorDash orders directly to your restaurant. It gives you the tools to grow your restaurant email list, increase direct sales, and build loyalty — without needing advanced marketing expertise.
With three plan options, you can choose the right level for your business:
Starter: Launch quickly with commission-free online ordering, a branded website, and an Order with Google integration.
Boost: Turn more visitors into repeat customers with automated email marketing, customizable website pop-ups, and loyalty integrations.
Pro: Deepen customer relationships with a branded mobile app, cross-channel loyalty, and customizable email and text marketing campaigns.
Turning your restaurant email list into lasting loyalty
A well-built restaurant email list isn’t just about sending promotions — it’s about creating consistent, meaningful connections with your diners. By sharing updates, personalized offers, and reminders at the right moments, you can transform one-time visitors into loyal regulars who return again and again.
The key is choosing the right tools and strategy: grow your list with care, segment it thoughtfully, and use automation to keep your brand top of mind without adding more work to your plate. With the right technology partner, like the DoorDash Commerce Platform, you can streamline campaigns, boost repeat orders, and strengthen long-term customer relationships.
Get started today and put your restaurant email list to work for you — turning everyday updates into lasting customer loyalty.
Get a Commerce Platform demo*Based on internal DoorDash data from March 2024 through March 2025
