5 Best Restaurant Social Media Examples to Learn From

Social media is changing marketing. The restaurant industry has seen some big changes over the last 20 years. A fun social media can take your eatery from being unknown to a must-try food stop.

Recent surveys show that half of diners would try a restaurant's food based on:

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Twitter.

Social media does more than display your delicious dishes. They shape your restaurant's identity, talking with customers, and handling customer service.

Let’s highlight five top performers: 

• Best Visual Storytelling: Sweetgreen 
• Best Use of Humor: Wendy’s 
• Best User Engagement: Taco Bell 
• Best Behind-the-Scenes Content: Chipotle 
• Best at Leveraging Trends: Dunkin’ Donuts

This article will explore how restaurants use social media. We’ll also show how their social media strategies can be adapted across the industry.

Showcasing Top Social Media Performers in the Restaurant Industry 

Many restaurants have mastered social media. They have turned their online presence into a powerful brand asset.  

Here’s a look at four top performers and their restaurant social media post examples: 

• Wendy’s: Known for its sharp and humorous interactions on X (formerly Twitter). Wendy’s creates a relatable image by talking with other brands and users. The strategy works. Wendy’s has over 3.7 million followers on X, driven by viral tweets and a distinct voice.
• Taco Bell: Shines in creating community vibe on socials like Instagram and TikTok. It loves user-generated content (UGC). Customers share their Taco Bell experiences. This boosts customer loyalty, making fans feel a part of the Taco Bell story.
• Chipotle: Engages its Instagram followers with images and detailed stories about its ingredients. This method emphasizes Chipotle’s dedication to quality and openness. The approach grabs the attention of healthy diners.
• Starbucks: Uses Instagram to blend striking visuals with seasonal promotional campaigns. An example is the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte each fall. This use of content aligns with the seasons, keeping the brand relevant. Additionally, Starbucks stays authentic by featuring real customers enjoying their beverages.

Each restaurant's social media strategy enhances its brand presence and attracts followers. Partnering with restaurant influencers can boost impact by reaching larger audiences.

Why Different Strategies Suit Different Platforms

Top restaurants tailor their strategies to each social media platform to improve engagement. For example:  

• Instagram: Oxomoco is a Michelin one-starred eatery in Brooklyn. It excites its audience with a stunning feed. It shows its colorful dishes and inviting energy. This matches Instagram’s focus on aesthetics and helps the restaurant stand out.
• TikTok: Dunkin' Donuts engages TikTok's youthful users. They do this with energetic videos featuring new menu items and promotional campaigns. They often use trending sounds and challenges to boost interaction and viral content. Their approach captures the "fun" of the platform, making their content shareable.
• Facebook: The Cheesecake Factory shares menu updates, events, and customer reviews. Facebook users are ideal for reaching varied customers with photos, videos, and reviews.
• X (Twitter): Nando’s uses X to engage with customers through witty and timely content. This is like Wendy’s approach, but with their brand personality. Their quick responses and banter with followers use Twitter’s real-time communication strengths.

Practicing Visual Storytelling Excellence 

Quality photos and videos are essential for the restaurant’s social media posts. It makes the appeal of food elevated with compelling imagery. Here’s how three restaurants excel in visual storytelling: 

1. Sweetgreen uses Instagram’s visual format with images of its salads and ingredients. They showcase their menu in eye-catching ways. This matches the healthy lifestyle they promote.

2. Bad Roman uses Instagram to show its story with a playful twist on Italian cuisine. Their profile has arranged dishes set against their stylish interior. It creates a modern culinary adventure mixed with traditional flavors.

3. Eleven Madison Park uses photos on Instagram to show how its signature dishes are made. Each post shows a meal and tell the story of the detail that goes into each dish.

Takeaways from 3 Top Restaurant Social Media Accounts 

Social media offers a way to engage with customers and shape dining decisions. By analyzing top restaurant social media ideas, we:

• Learn strategies that boost interaction

• Build a following

• Convert followers into diners

1. Shake Shack's Interactive Offerings

Successful content blends many elements to maintain audience interest and encourage interaction.  

Shake Shack combines mouth-watering images of its signature dish with engaging content. It features customers' photos and stories, highlighting the moments shared around its food.

Shake Shack often includes polls or quizzes on menu preferences or new flavor ideas. This asks followers to take part in the brand’s journey. Exploring new social media post ideas can grow engagement and keep content fresh.

2. First Watch's Giveaway Genius

Social media contests can transform social media followers into actual customers. First Watch’s “Tropical Sunrise Getaway Giveaway” is a good example. It promotes a new juice blend with a unique contest offering.

These campaigns do two things at once. First, it highlights products. Second, it gives incentives to encourage visits. Another successful strategy is integrating limited-time offers (LTOs) or flash sales. This creates urgency and immediate action from followers who don't want to miss out.

3. Domino's Use of Augmented Reality

Staying ahead of the trends can help attract social media users to your restaurant’s profile. Many restaurants use Instagram Stories to connect with their audience in real time. Polls, Q&A sessions, and augmented reality (AR) filters to add a twist to their digital interactions.

Domino’s Pizza uses AR filters on Instagram to introduce new products. This interactive approach has grown user interest and boosted engagement.