What Are the Best Hashtags for Restaurant Marketing on Instagram?
A story of two restaurants
Imagine two burger restaurants, across the street, opposite each other. Both sling juicy burgers. Both prices are about the same. Both post mouth-watering photos on Instagram almost every day.
Fast-forward six months. One joint is buzzing with energy. Lines out the door. The other is trying gimmicky “Buy One Get One” deals just to keep tables half full.
The crazy part? It wasn’t the food. It wasn’t service. Not even location.
It was a hashtag.
One owner treated them like a marketing tool. The other just threw them in at random, like tossing salt over their shoulder for luck.
And if you’ve ever posted a gorgeous food shot that barely got any traction, you know how that feels. Hashtags are often the missing piece.
Why Hashtags Matter for Restaurants and Franchises
Think of hashtags as Instagram’s map system. Without them, your post just floats in space. With them, the platform knows who should see your taco photo or where to send your burger reel.
Done right, hashtags don’t just boost likes—they bring you face-to-face with people who are hungry right now and looking for their next meal.
For restaurants running on tight margins, that matters. For franchises competing across cities, it’s even bigger. Hashtags can:
- Fill seats during off-peak hours
- Highlight specials and loyalty perks
- Put your local store on the radar of new diners
- Build brand-wide recognition across multiple markets
Hashtags Work Because People Don’t Just “Look for Food”
Nobody scrolls Instagram thinking, “I need a restaurant.” They’re hunting for a mood—Friday night pizza, a cozy coffee stop, or a fun brunch with friends.
Hashtags trigger those moments. #FridayNightPizza isn’t just a tag—it’s a nudge. #CoffeeFirst doesn’t just describe coffee—it sparks an emotion.
That’s the real psychology. Your food plus the right hashtag equals a post that makes people hungry enough to visit.
5 Hashtag Strategies That Actually Deliver
1. Mix Big Reach With Local Roots
Pair a few big ones (#Foodie, #RestaurantMarketing) with specific city tags (#DenverEats, #HoustonTacos).
📌 A brunch café in Chicago leaned into #ChiTownBrunch and #ChicagoEats instead of generic foodie tags. Within two months, engagement jumped by almost 30%.
2. Use Weekly “Event” Tags
Taco Tuesday, Wine Wednesday, Sunday Brunch. People already search for these. You just need to show up in the stream.
3. Own a Branded Hashtag
Start something like #BurgerNationRewards or #SushiClubVIP. Encourage customers to post with it. It’s free marketing and builds community at the same time.
4. Tie Hashtags to Rewards
#FreeFriesFriday isn’t just cute—it’s powerful when tied to your POS loyalty program.
👉 PAYS POS users running reward campaigns through Instagram saw repeat visits climb between 15–20%
5. Ride Seasonal and Event Waves
#ValentinesDinner, #SuperBowlSnacks, #SummerBBQSeason. These aren’t just food moments—they’re cultural events your menu can tap into.
The ROI: Real Numbers, Not Fluff
- Local hashtags boost engagement by about 24%.
- Branded hashtags encourage 40% more customer-generated content.
- Loyalty-tied hashtags bring repeat visits up by nearly 20%.
That’s not vanity metrics—that’s money in the register.
Mistakes Restaurants Make With Hashtags
- ❌ Dumping 30 random hashtags in a post with no thought
- ❌ Copy-pasting the same set every time
- ❌ Skipping local hashtags (missing your real audience)
- ❌ Using vague, generic tags like #Love or #InstaGood
- ❌ Forgetting to update hashtags for seasons, holidays, or new campaigns
Why PAYS POS Makes Hashtags Pay Off
Bringing customers in is step one. Keeping them happy at checkout is step two. That’s where PAYS POS makes the difference.
Here’s how we stack up against the big guys:
- 0% Processing Fees with dual pricing (goodbye monthly losses)
- POS Loyalty Programs tied directly to your campaigns
- Franchise Dashboards so owners see ROI across multiple stores
- Easy Integrations with Door Dash, payroll, HR, and more
What’s Coming Next in 2025
Hashtags aren’t standing still. Here’s what’s on the horizon:
- AI-powered tools will suggest hashtags based on your actual menu and photos
- Geofenced Instagram promos will connect hashtags with in-store traffic
- POS dashboards (already in PAYS POS) will track sales from hashtag-driven campaigns
Restaurants that combine hashtags with POS data are the ones that will thrive.
Wrapping It Up
Hashtags cost nothing. But ignoring them could cost you thousands in lost customers.
If you’re serious about turning Instagram into actual revenue, pair smart hashtag strategy with a POS that tracks and proves ROI. That’s how you fill tables, boost ticket size, and keep customers coming back.
Think Payments. Think PAYS
FAQs
Utilize a combination of hashtags: broad tags such as #Foodie, localized tags like #HoustonEats, and a distinctive, branded tag for your specific restaurant or franchise.
10–15 that actually fit. More than that starts to look spammy.
Yes. Restaurants using targeted hashtags see engagement rise about 25% and repeat visits improve close to 20%.
Keep a few core branded ones consistent, but let each location mix in its own city-specific tags.
PAYS POS connects your hashtag-driven campaigns with real loyalty data, offers 0% processing fees, and gives franchise-wide reporting—all in one platform.
