If you care about local SEO for restaurants, this is a must-read.

In a recent live webinar, Beyond Menu’s PJ Pan sat down with Ashley Do from Google to break down exactly how local restaurants can improve their visibility on Google, show up in the Map Pack, and turn search traffic into paying customers.

This article recaps the most valuable takeaways from that session—giving you a clear, actionable playbook to start improving your restaurant’s Google presence today.

Want to watch, instead of read? Check out the video below.

Local restaurant SEO is how nearby diners find you on Google Search and Maps. Think of it as your digital storefront—if it’s neglected, diners will walk right past it online just like they would in real life.

“As restaurant owners, your priority is your physical business—the food and the experience,” said Ashley Do, Partnerships Manager at Google. “But your digital storefront matters just as much. Google is where diners are searching—and where you need to be found.”

When a customer searches “dumplings near me” or “late-night Korean BBQ,” Google uses local signals to determine who shows up first—and who doesn’t show up at all.

And the stats are clear:

• 73% of diners choose from the top 5 listings on Google Maps
• People are 32% more likely to click on a menu with a dish photo (Google internal data)
• Businesses with complete GBPs get 7x clicks (Google internal data)

You don’t need to be a marketing expert to rise in search rankings—you just need to focus on the right things and do them consistently.

“The restaurants that win,” said PJ Pan, Head of Success at Beyond Menu, “are the ones who keep their listings alive—fresh photos, updated menus, weekly posts, and reviews that get answered. It’s not magic. It’s just local SEO done right.”

Below are the seven core tactics shared during the webinar, backed by real data—and real results.

This is your foundation. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) tells diners who you are, what you serve, when you’re open, and how to order.

“A complete profile isn’t just helpful,” Ashley explained. “It’s critical. Users search in all kinds of ways—by cuisine, dish, price, dietary need. If your listing doesn’t have that info, you won’t show up.”

What to include:

• Hours (including holidays)
• Online ordering link
• Menu (structured or linked)
• Photos of your dishes, interior, and team
• Keywords in your business description (like “Sichuan noodles,” “vegan options”)
• Service attributes (e.g., dine-in, takeout, delivery)

“Google has become much more visual,” Ashley emphasized. “Photos help diners decide faster—and they help you show up more often.”

Stats don’t lie:

• Businesses with photos get 35% more clicks through to their websites

• Diners are 83% more likely to order when they see dish photos

• Menu items with photos get 32% more clicks (Google internal data)

If you’re not a pro photographer, don’t worry. Beyond Menu’s PlatePerfect™ tool lets you snap photos on your phone and auto-enhance them—sharpening lighting and clarity for Google’s standards.

It also syncs your updated photos across your GBP, your online ordering site, and the Beyond Menu marketplace. “Especially in Chinese cuisine,” PJ noted, “names like ‘Ants Climbing a Tree’ don’t mean much to diners who didn’t grow up eating them. But show a glossy photo of spicy noodles? That dish speaks for itself.”

Reviews aren’t just for social proof—they’re a major signal for SEO ranking.“94% of diners are influenced by online reviews,” Ashley shared. “And 53% expect a response to a negative review within one week.”

Beyond Menu helps you:

• Collect reviews using QR codes, table tents, and tap-to-review cards

• Automate follow-up emails after online orders

• Flag negative reviews for your attention

• Suggest AI-generated responses so you can reply faster (and better)

“We make it easy to build reviews into your routine,” PJ explained. “You stay focused on the food—we’ll help you get the credit.”

Regular updates tell Google that your business is active and trustworthy. Think of your GBP like a mini social feed for diners and search algorithms.

“Google rewards activity,” PJ said. “New photos, fresh posts, seasonal offers—these updates keep your listing alive and help you stay top-of-mind.”

Post things like:

• New dishes
• Limited-time specials
• Event promos (like a Mother’s Day buffet)
• Behind-the-scenes staff shoutouts

If you’re short on time, Beyond Menu’s Owner App provides weekly post prompts—some even auto-fill based on your menu and location.

Your menu is more than a PDF—it’s searchable data.

“84% of people look up a menu before they decide where to eat,” Ashley said. “And 43% of final decisions happen after someone views a menu.”

Google can index individual menu items if your menu is structured (versus just uploaded as a photo or link). This helps your restaurant show up when people search for dishes—not just restaurants.

“If someone searches ‘vegan ramen near me,’” Ashley explained, “Google will match that query to the structured data in your profile—if it exists.”

Beyond Menu helps restaurants keep structured menus synced across Google, their website, and delivery platforms in real time.

“We’ve seen cases where scammers or ex-employees hijack a restaurant’s listing,” PJ warned. “It can take days to fix—if it gets fixed at all.”

That can lead to:

• Lost revenue
• Incorrect hours or menus
• Website links being replaced with 3rd-party delivery apps

To stay protected:

• Make sure you are the primary verified owner
• Remove old staff from your profile’s access
• Never share passwords or PINs—even if someone says they’re “from Google”

Beyond Menu account managers can help manage and secure your profile while ensuring you retain full ownership.

“Your Google listing might show links to DoorDash or Grubhub,” Ashley noted. “But you can now set your own ordering site as the preferred provider.”

This small but powerful change:

• Labels your link as “Preferred by Business”
• Encourages diners to order direct
• Helps you avoid 15–30% commission fees
• Keeps the customer relationship in your hands—not a third party’s

• Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
• Add 5+ dish photos and keep them updated
• Collect and respond to reviews
• Post weekly specials or updates
• Structure your menu for dish-based search
• Review your listing permissions and protect access
• Set your direct ordering link as preferred

• You didn’t open a restaurant to become an SEO expert. But in today’s world, showing up online is just as important as showing up in the kitchen.

  That’s why Beyond Menu exists.

  We help independent restaurants:

• Rank higher on Google
• Collect more reviews and boost visibility
• Post engaging updates (without extra work)
• Sync menus and photos across platforms
• Avoid costly third-party commissions
• Own the customer relationship from search to order

“The businesses that succeed,” Ashley reminded us, “are the ones that show up—online and off.”