The Ultimate Guide to Local SEO for Restaurants

Want your business to show up first when people search "best tacos near me"? Welcome to the power of local SEO.

In 2025, when 8 out of 10 customers choose their next meal online, it’s not just important — it’s mission-critical that your restaurant appears in the right place at the right time.

👉 This article will walk you through what local SEO means for restaurants, how it works, and how you can master it — whether you run a single location or a national group with 100 sites.

What is Local SEO for Restaurants?

Let’s start with what is SEO. 

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization – the art and science of making information appear on the top results of Google and other search engines. Usually, website pages. 

Local SEO is more specific to locations. When someone types “library near me” or “where to eat in Soho,” SEO is what determines which businesses will show up first, usually a top 3 on Google Maps – the coveted “Local 3-Pack”.

Local SEO ensures your business:

• Appears on Google Maps;
• Ranks first in search results;
• Gets seen before your competitors.

Why Local SEO Is a Revenue Engine for Restaurants

According to Google, 54% to 59% of all clicks go to the top 3 search results.

If your restaurant appears in positions 4 through 10, you’re invisible on the internet. Meaning, people don’t and won’t find your business organically.

Local SEO is how your future customers will find you. That includes:

• Locals searching from home;
• Tourists and locals searching on-the-go;
• Corporate lunch planners, event bookers, and more.

And it matters even more for groups and franchises. Why? Because each location has its own local footprint. Visibility needs to be granular, not just corporate. 

If your restaurant appears in position 1, the flow of online users who will see your business (and will more likely click on it) represents potential customers. That’s why local SEO is a powerful customer acquisition channel.

Whether you run a single bakery or manage dozens of restaurant locations, mastering SEO means being found by the right people at the right time, turning searches into real visits, and driving consistent customer traffic.

👉 So, how can you get there? 

A successful local SEO strategy is a mix of best practices and consistency. It builds over time – and gets stronger, just like muscle 💪

8 Steps to Maximize Your Restaurant’s Local SEO

1. Claim & Optimize Your Google Business Profile

This is basically your homepage for local SEO. Make sure it’s:

• Claimed & verified;
• Fully filled out with correct info (hours, menu, location, photos);
• Updated regularly (especially for holidays or closures).

The tricky part is manually updating multiple locations on a regular basis. Tools like the MalouApp let you update all locations in one click, on Google Business Profile and on +60 other registries. 

2. Identify High-Intent Keywords

Don’t guess! Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find what people are actually searching:

• "Italian restaurant NYC" is searched 10x more than "trattoria NYC"
• Local intent matters: "gluten-free brunch SoHo" beats "healthy brunch"

Target keywords that combine offer + location.

For groups or franchises, make sure you cover multiple locations. 

💡The Malou tip: Select around 10 top keywords with a mix of low and high volumes. Why? High volumes are harder to compete with and will take time. Lower volumes (or long-tail keywords) are easier and will help you get there. 

3. Keep All Info Consistent

Inconsistencies kill rankings. 

Why? Google’s algorithm wants to make sure online users find the right information at the right time.

Inconsistent info sends a negative message: “his business isn’t active nor reliable.”  

Make sure your hours, phone number/s, address, menu, website URL, and images are all up to date and identical across your listing platforms like Google, Yelp, Resy, Apple Maps, etc.

4. Respond to Every Review

Review signals are a huge part of local SEO for two main reasons:

• Google prioritizes active, responsive businesses
• Responding to reviews will allow you to add targeted keywords and improve you SEO.

Reply to:

• Positive reviews by saying thanks and asking them to come again soon.
• Negative reviews apologizing for their experience and that you acknowledge their feedback
• Neutral reviews (ask for details)

Power tip: make sure you drop subtle keywords in your replies (e.g. "Thanks for loving our rooftop cocktails in downtown Austin!")

5. Post Regular Content (on Google too)

Did you know you can post updates directly on your Google Business Profile? 

What are Google Posts? Google Posts appear right below your reviews and help boost relevance.They are not highly visible to users but they are great for SEO : 

• They have a clickable link that can be redirected to their reservation page or menu or instagram
• They allow you to add photos
• They are a great way to add keywords on the caption

Post weekly with:

• Menu updates
• Events or specials
• Seasonal promotions
• Customer photos

6. Get Listed on High-Authority Platforms and Directories

This part is crucial! We dedicated a complete guide to the top 14 platforms to list your restaurant. Each listing boosts your credibility with search engines.

Focus mainly on:

• Google Business Profile
• Yelp
• TripAdvisor
• Facebook
• OpenTable
• Resy

You can also reference your locations on other directories:

• Apple Maps
• Bing Places

Each one is a signal to Google: this business is real, trusted, and active.

7. Encourage More Reviews (The Smart Way)

Install QR codes at checkout, on receipts or on the toilet walls. Use Wi-Fi login screens to prompt reviews. Train staff to say: "If you loved it, we’d love your review!"

More reviews = more trust = higher rankings

What we do at Malou: provide our clients with Boosters (QR codes & totems). If you are a group, you can attribute a totem to each member of your staff or to each location and  make them compete for prices. 

8. Track, Improve, Post, Repeat

SEO isn’t one-and-done! Use tools (like Google Search Console or Malou) to:

• Monitor rankings for each location
• See which keywords bring traffic
• Adjust listings & content monthly

Make sure you post content regularly. Consistency is key! 

Conclusion: Make your business top-of-mind with local SEO

In 2025, if you’re not showing up on Google, you’re losing customers. Period.

According to the James Beard Foundation, social media is the primary channel for engagement but it’s not enough on its own. Local SEO is what bridges that gap and it guides people to decide where to eat. And for hospitality groups, the stakes are even higher. Every location you manage is a digital storefront — and each one needs to show up, stand out, and convert.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be an SEO guru to get real results.
With the right tools, a bit of consistency, and a strategy tailored to your business, local SEO can become one of your most powerful (and profitable) acquisition channels.

At Malou, we help multi-location restaurants boost visibility, manage their reputation, and drive more regulars - effortlessly.

If you're looking to boost visibility, own your local market, and free up your team’s time, we’re here to help. Call us at +1 (917) 528 3521 to speak to one of our experts for a free online audit!