The 12 best platforms to list your restaurant

In a time where 8 out of 10 people choose their restaurant online, It is essential to optimize the referencing of your restaurant to attract customers with digital marketing. And that starts with platforms and directories !

Platforms and directories are highly relevant when it comes to restaurant referencing . In a country where over 80% of customers search online before choosing a restaurant, your local SEO strategy matters more than ever. Being visible on the right platforms and directories will not only boosts your ranking but also builds trust and drives direct traffic. This direct traffic = potential clients!

You can find different types of directories for different purposes and different target audiences. Some reservation directories are regularly used by clients for direct acquisition, while other less-used secondary directories serve as content aggregators. Finally, directories such as The Yellow Pages, with historical weight, add value to your restaurant in the eyes of Google. At Malou's, we list our clients on more than 60 international platforms to maximize their impact and build trust.

Listing your restaurant on as many directories as possible will send positive signals to Google's algorithm: "this is a legitimate place, active, local, and trustworthy." However, it is absolutely essential that all the information (opening hours, address, attributes) is consistent on all platforms and updated regularly."

Make sure you update your info (mark it in your calendar), especially when opening hours may change (holidays, etc.) An agregating tool like Malou will allow you to change all your info on all platforms instantly (one click).

👉 Ready for your all your locations to rank #1 on Google? Here's the 12 most relevant and effective platforms to promote your restaurant!

1. Google Business Profile: the importance of local SEO

For every restaurant search made by an internet user, Google suggests the most relevant results according to their criteria and location. The first page of results includes 3 establishments located on a map, the coveted “Local 3-Pack” , followed by a series of links deemed relevant by Google. Appearing in this top 3 can triple your visibility and conversions by driving direct actions: calls, clicks, directions.

To achieve this, you must first create your Google listing if it does not exist and regularly enrich it with quality content. Share Google posts, add photos, menus, respond to customer reviews, etc.

Appearing in the top results of Google equivalents: Bing Places and Yahoo Local, also strengthens the visibility of your establishment.

Setup: You can import all your info from Google Business Profile to Bing in one click. As Bing still powers over 6% of US search volume, especially among Windows users and Edge browser, it can be strategic.

2. Yelp: the most influential review platform in the US

Yelp has proven to be THE strategic space to reference restaurants and other locations. Dominant in urban centers and with mobile users, Yelp powers discovery for millions of users and powers dozens of other apps, from in-car navigation systems to Citymapper with data from Yelp (restaurant information, customer reviews). Therefore, appearing on Yelp is strategic to reference yourself on multiple platforms. Bonus: Yelp reviews are also indexed by Google.

2. TripAdvisor: The Number One Travel Site for tourists and travelers

The platform has recorded over 1 billion reviews. Tripadvisor allows users to refine their search with criteria such as neighborhood, type of food, price range, specific dietary restrictions, etc. Perfect to match user intent and, therefore, for SEO!

TripAdvisor pages often outrank individual restaurant websites

The application uses Geolocation to suggest nearby establishments to users. The more complete an establishment's listing (images, description, attributes, significant number of reviews, comments with responses, etc.), The more the TripAdvisor algorithm pushes the establishment among the top search results. Ideal for attracting tourists, groups, and international diners.

Referencing and being visible on TripAdvisor are very useful because the Site's pages appear at the top of search results on search engines. When a user based in New York searches for an Indian restaurant, the links to TripAdvisor and The Fork entitled “The best Indian restaurants in New York” Appear under the 3 results from Google Maps. Being at the top of these specific rankings helps you gain customers.

The most effective way is to appear even higher among the top 3 results suggested by Google. Although TripAdvisor offers undeniable visibility, Its booking system remains connected to The Fork, which comes with a commission.

3. Instagram (and Instagram Maps): “the place to be,” the essential food network

With over 1.4 billion active users each month and 100 million posts per day, the success of Instagram is no longer in doubt. This social network is now essential to maximize the online visibility of your locations, especially when it comes to food trends and restaurants. Every month, The hashtag #food counts over 250 million posts on Instagram.

In a nutshell: Instagram has become a discovery engine for food lovers

To increase the visibility of your pages on Instagram and generate traffic to your locations, it must first be attractive. How? With regular, quality content that is specific to your brand. Some rules still need to be respected on Instagram to get the most out of it.

And recently, Instagram released A new feature: Instagram Maps, which is even more interesting for your restaurant. It's like Google Maps for Instagram! From the “Places” tab, users now have access to an interactive map where they can discover restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, etc. in the vicinity of their search location. From this map, users can directly access your Instagram page, as well as the content shared by your customers. This adds a whole new layer of SEO potential through location-tagged content.

Strategy tip: Encourage customers to tag your restaurant’s location on Instagram and reshare UGC (user-generated content) weekly.

4. Facebook: the social network that has become a beneficial sponsorship tool

48 million: that's the number of Facebook users. It is therefore an essential tool that, if well mastered, can attract many customers to a restaurant and then retain them. Having a business page contributes to search engine rankings, appears on Google, and allows local customers to check hours, menus, and reviews.

But today, Facebook has a real asset that sets it apart from other social networks: promotional campaigns. Facebook's sponsorship tool is incredibly powerful, allowing you to make your restaurant known to a very specific target audience. its Meta Business Suite lets you run hyper-targeted ads by geography, behavior, and interests.

Launching campaigns, even with small budgets, is enough to gain new customers.

Little tip: having a Facebook Page will allow you to add your location's name and address on Instagram's post.

6. Foursquare: the directory based on recommendation powering location data across the web

Foursquare may have lost a little visibility these days, it's still a B2B location data powerhouse. Apps like Uber, Twitter, Snapchat, and Apple Maps pull place data from Foursquare. A listing here ensures your restaurant is visible across a large ecosystem. Users still exchange their recommendations for places, which is useful for tracking foot traffic and intent analytics.

7. Apple Maps / Apple Business Connect : essential for iPhone users and Siri search

With over 50% of US smartphone users on iOS, Apple Maps is the default search tool for millions of diners. Apple’s new “Business Connect” dashboard allows restaurant owners to claim and customize their listings, similar to Google Business Profile. It also feeds Siri, Safari search, and native Maps. Be sure to share mobile-optimized info.

8. OpenTable : the #1 reservation platform in the US

With millions of bookings per month, OpenTable is a direct line to customers ready to book now. Because it combines reservation engine + SEO, OpenTable also has a strong domain authority — restaurant pages often appear on Google's first page, especially for queries like “best X restaurants” or "best restaurant in X".

Opentable integrates with Google & social media for direct bookings and show reviews, photos, menus, and special offers. Offering time-based promos on it is ideal to boost bookings and visibility.

9. Michelin Guide: a prestige directory

This French Professional guide allows you to find the best tables in the desired city. Contrary to popular belief, it lists establishments of all ranges, with special offers for those who book on the site. Users can also leave reviews. It's a good option to attract European tourists and benefit from its seniority.

10. Timeout: The Other Trendy Urban Guide

Timeout offers “the essential outings and culture” of restaurants, bars, bars, exhibitions, shows etc. New York or Los Angeles. The content is not exclusively dedicated to gastronomy, but a Rich section focuses on restaurants, tea rooms, pastry shops and bars. Referencing your restaurant there results in significant visibility among hip targets.

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11. Specialized directories to reach Vegan, Halal, and Kosher Audiences in the US

Does your restaurant care about a specific clientele or culture? Do you care to younger generations, vegetarian, vegan, halal, or kosher customers? These customers search for their restaurants on specific directories that are in line with their “specific diet.”

Listing your restaurant on specialized directories doesn’t just support ethical and inclusive marketing — it’s also a smart SEO move. You’ll increase your local footprint, reach underserved audiences, and strengthen your restaurant’s online authority

The Infatuation is increasingly popular with younger urban audiences.

HappyCow is the world’s leading platform for vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly restaurants. Highly trusted and widely used, it is well-ranked on Google, especially for long-tail searches (e.g. "vegan sushi NYC").

Zabihah is the #1 halal restaurant directory in the US, a must-have listing highly trusted within the Muslim community.

YeahThatsKosher is more niche, but frequently consulted by kosher consumers in NYC, Miami, and Los Angeles. It can secure strong search rankings for queries like “kosher restaurant + [city]".

12. Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub : delivery directories

Do you offer delivery? Delivery and click-and-collect are no longer an innovation in themselves. These services have managed to establish themselves in consumers' habits and have become a part of daily life. The rise of delivery platforms increases the visibility of restaurants that join them. However, the popularity of these applications directly pits all types of listed establishments against each other in competition. To win delivery customers, you must appear effectively on the main players in the sector such as UberEATS.

Do you want to reach tourists?

To make yourself known to a foreign clientele, you must first ensure the presence of your restaurant where tourists do their research. Europeans use TheFork,  Chinese use Djanping, or Korean on Mango Plate.