Ready to rank your restaurant on Google? Great food alone isn’t enough if no one can find you. And no, being listed on DoorDash won’t fix it. That just hides you behind a paywall and eats into your profits. If you want to grow online, there’s one place you have to dominate: Google.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to climb the rankings, attract more diners, and turn your Google Business Profile into your most powerful marketing tool.
Why Google Beats Delivery Apps—Every Time
Google Search Drives More Orders Than Delivery Apps Ever Will
Here’s why:
86% of people search Google before deciding where to eat.
And most of them never scroll past the first few results.
Meanwhile, third-party delivery apps charge 15–30% commission and still bury your restaurant under dozens of others . Worse, they own your customer’s data, experience, and loyalty.
If you want to keep your customers—and your profit—you need to get found where they’re searching: on Google.
The Real Way to Rank Your Restaurant on Google
“I Have a Website” Isn’t a Google Strategy
Many owners think: “I already have a website. Isn’t that enough?”
The answer is: not if your site isn’t optimized for Google search. A basic website without search-friendly structure, photos, reviews, or clear location info is like opening a restaurant with no sign out front.
Your Google Business Profile Is More Important Than Your Website
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your online storefront.
Google uses it to decide who shows up when someone searches “dumplings near me.”
If your GBP is incomplete, outdated, or inactive, Google assumes:
-
You’re closed
-
You’re not trustworthy
-
Or you’re not worth showing to hungry diners
Lucky Bowl: A Case Study on How to Rank Your Restaurant on Google
From Invisible on Google to In-Demand
When Hau Mei Yang opened Lucky Bowl in Utah, she brought years of restaurant experience from Fu Zhou, China—but little digital visibility in the U.S. Despite amazing food, Lucky Bowl struggled to stand out online.
That changed when she partnered with Beyond Menu.
Small Changes on Google Lead to Big Results
With Beyond Menu’s Booster Pack, Lucky Bowl went from hidden gem to local favorite—climbing Google search rankings and becoming the go-to spot for Chinese takeout in their area.
Here’s what changed:
- Started collecting Google reviews with easy-to-use QR cards
- Replied to every customer review—fast and effortlessly
- Refreshed her Google listing with mouthwatering photos and timely posts
The result?
✅ 92% jump in online traffic
✅ 4.9-star average rating
✅ 2x more orders during what’s usually the slowest season
“The Booster Pack helped with tasks I didn’t have time for.” — Hau Mei Yang, Owner of Lucky Bowl
Google Business Profile: The Real Way to Rank Your Restaurant on Google
From Invisible on Google to In-Demand
Here’s your step-by-step checklist to rank higher and attract more customers:
Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
Make sure you have full access so you can manage updates, reviews, and insights.
Upload High-Quality Food Photos That Google Loves
- Listings with 5+ photos get 10x more visibility
- Don’t use blurry, dim lighting—use PhotoAssist or PlatePerfect to enhance them with AI
- Show your best dishes, not just the restaurant front
Get More Restaurant Reviews Every Week
- Reviews are the biggest signal Google uses to rank you
- Add review QR codes to your receipts, bags, or table tents
- Use prompts in your ordering flow to nudge happy customers
Respond to Every Review to Boost Local SEO
Engagement tells Google you’re active. Bonus: diners trust responsive owners.
Post Weekly Offers and Updates to Your Google Profile
- Google lets you publish promos and announcements
- These boost activity—and help you stand out from nearby competitors
Fix Your Menu: No PDFs, Just Search-Friendly Listings
- Make sure your menu is readable by search engines
- Structured, image-rich listings work best
- Bonus tip: Menu items with photos sell 2x more than those without
Link to Your Own Online Ordering Site, Not Delivery Apps
- Not a third-party app
- Google wants a direct path—and so do your diners
- You’ll keep the sale and the customer
Your Ticket to More Orders is to Rank Your Restaurant on Google
Own Your Google Profile, Own Your Customer’s Journey
Your success doesn’t live in an app that takes 30% of your earnings. It lives on a map—on your Google profile—where diners search, scroll, and decide.
When you understand how to rank your restaurant on Google, you stop hoping for orders… and start attracting them.
What If You Don’t Have Time to Rank Your Restaurant on Google?
Keeping Menu Information Consistent Everywhere
Let’s be real—most restaurant owners don’t. That’s where we come in.
At Beyond Menu, we built tools to take this off your plate:
- Booster Pack: Helps you get more Google traffic with smarter reviews, updates, and posts
- PlatePerfect / PhotoAssist: Makes every photo Google-worthy without hiring a pro
- Reputation Management: Simplifies how you ask for reviews, respond to them, and show up with confidence
We do more than just tell you what to do. We help you every step of the way.
