In 2025, customers expect to order their favorite meals on their phones—with speed, simplicity, and rewards baked in. Whether it's a quick reorder or a loyalty perk that keeps them coming back, mobile apps have become a powerful tool for independent restaurants to grow digital revenue.
The best part? You don’t need a tech team to build one. With the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, you can launch a custom mobile app that puts your brand front and center—and drives repeat business.
Learn more about the branded mobile appWhy a restaurant ordering app matters in 2025
Building an ordering app used to feel like a luxury. Now, it’s a competitive advantage.
Recent research shows:
60% of diners prefer ordering via mobile apps over traditional methods
Customers who order on a mobile app are 30% more likely to reorder*
Mobile apps see 150% more repeat customers compared to web ordering channels**
These apps aren’t just about convenience. They foster loyalty, streamline operations, and help you take back ownership of the customer relationship.
Must-have features of a great restaurant ordering app
The best restaurant ordering apps don’t just work—they work for you. Here’s what separates a good ordering app from a great one that customers rave about.
1. Seamless ordering and checkout
Customers expect simplicity. The branded mobile app built with DoorDash can reduce the ordering process to just a couple of clicks. With stored payment methods, Apple Pay, and one-tap reorder options, ordering becomes a frictionless habit.
2. Branded look and feel
Unlike generic third-party platforms, a branded app mirrors your restaurant’s identity. Think: custom fonts, colors, and imagery—all matched to your brand.
3. Loyalty and rewards built in
Loyalty customers reorder nearly 2x more often*** than non-loyalty customers. With the branded mobile app, you can get a fully integrated rewards program that works across your app, the DoorDash Marketplace, in-store, and online. Learn how to start building your restaurant loyalty program.
4. SMS and push notifications
The branded mobile app allows you to send timely reminders, special offers, and updates that drive reorders. Whether it’s a lunchtime deal or a weekend reminder, SMS and push notifications help you stay top of mind.
How to launch a restaurant ordering app in 4 easy steps
With the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, launching a professional app is straightforward—even if you’ve never built one before.
Step 1: Your app is custom-built
Our engineers build and customize your app to match your brand’s colors, fonts, and images.
Step 2: Add loyalty (optional)
If you decide to include a loyalty program, we’ll set it up for you.
Step 3: Launch & promote
We’ll supply a full launch playbook to help you drive more downloads.
Step 4: Grow adoption
Use built-in tools like the customizable email and text marketing tool to create tailored marketing campaigns that drive reorders.
Learn more about the branded mobile appCase studies: How real restaurants are growing with ordering apps
Green Tomato Grill: Turning loyalty into growth
Southern California-based Green Tomato Grill wanted to grow digital orders without compromising their in-store identity. After launching their branded mobile app, they saw a 13% increase in digital orders, and app users ordered 1.4x more often and spent 1.25x more than other channels.
"Providing a reliable customer experience has always been a top priority for us. The Mobile App made it easier for customers to order and utilize the loyalty program, which translated directly into growth for our business."
3Natives: 71% more reorders from ordering app customers
With 33 locations across Florida and Oklahoma, fast-casual brand 3Natives wanted to launch a branded mobile app to engage customers from their phones.
"We’ve seen mobile app customers reorder 71% more often than web customers, and have been impressed with the performance of the Online Ordering platform."
Ready to build a restaurant ordering app that customers actually use?
A branded mobile app helps you take your digital presence to the next level. You can increase repeat orders, build loyalty, and engage guests on your terms.
And with the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, your app comes fully built, launched, and supported—so you can focus on running your restaurant.
Get started with the DoorDash Commerce Platform*Compared to customers using web ordering channels. Based on internal DoorDash data from January 2025 to June 2025
**Based on internal DoorDash data from September 2024 to June 2025
***Based on aggregate Online Ordering data from January - July 2023 when comparing restaurants using a loyalty integration with Online Ordering compared to those who aren't.
