What are the Features of a Restaurant App? Don’t Miss These 

In 2025, restaurant ordering apps have changed the way we enjoy dining, making it easier than ever to get delicious food. With just a few taps, customers can order from their favorite restaurants without leaving home or the office. But to truly improve this experience, you need a well-designed food delivery app. 

According to Statista, revenue in the online food delivery market is projected to reach US$1.39tn in 2025. 

The right features can streamline the entire process, from placing an order to timely delivery. If you’re building a restaurant app for your business, it’s vital to include relevant features that not only meet customer needs but also boost your profits. 

To help you succeed, we’ve compiled a list of essential features that can make your app great and exceed your customers’ expectations. 

Let’s explore. 

Top 10 Features of a Restaurant App for Customers 

The standout features will help your app shine in a competitive market. Focus on implementing the ones that contribute to a successful online food ordering system. 

Here are some essential features that a restaurant app should offer to improve the customer experience. 

1. Push Notifications

Push notifications are a powerful tool that helps customers get instant offers, updates, and other information on their mobile phone or email. Through this feature, customers get engaged, which will lead to a boost in restaurant sales during slow times, increase customer engagement, and build loyalty.

Unlike emails, which tend to be lengthy and may not capture customers’ attention when they are busy, push notifications are concise and include a clear call to action. 

The personalized notifications can result in a 4x increase in open rates and a 27% higher click-through rate compared to generic messages. 

2. Table Reservations

One of the standout features of a restaurant app is its table booking system. This feature helps customers to reserve tables at their favorite dining spots using their smartphones or computers.

With this feature, users can quickly find out which venues have open tables for their preferred date and time, eliminating the stress of last-minute reservations. 

Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a family gathering, or a celebratory outing with friends, the app ensures that securing a table is just a few taps away. 

3. Feedback and Reviews

Feedback systems are important for communication between customers and restaurants. They allow people to share their thoughts about the service and food. Customers can share their experiences, which helps future diners make better choices.

For example, if many people mention slow service, the restaurant can fix it. Positive reviews can also be shown in the app, helping new customers trust the restaurant and try popular dishes.

4. Loyalty Programs 

Loyalty programs encourage repeat visits by rewarding customers for their spending. With each order, customers earn points that can be exchanged for discounts or free items. This makes dining more enjoyable and encourages customers to come back again and again. 

5. Payment Integration 

Payment integration is another great feature that allows customers to pay for their orders securely using a variety of methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

This makes the payment process quicker and more convenient for everyone. Plus, restaurants benefit too, gaining real-time order updates and valuable data insights.

6. Order Tracking 

About 90% of customers prefer to track their delivery orders. 

A restaurant app’s order tracking feature allows customers to monitor the progress of their food orders from when they’re being prepared to when they’re delivered. This makes it easier for customers by giving them updates on their order status, estimated delivery times, and sometimes even the driver’s location.

7. In-App Chat Support 

In-app chat support is essential for restaurant apps. It offers a quick and direct way for customers to get answers to their questions. This not only simplifies problem-solving but also builds trust and loyalty among diners.

With in-app chat, customers can reach out to the restaurant staff instantly. This fast communication makes your dining experience much smoother and helps you avoid any potential disappointments.

8. Social Media Integration 

Integrating social media into a restaurant app is an amazing feature. It allows food lovers to easily share their delicious meals on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 

Snapping a mouthwatering photo of your favorite dish and posting it with just a few taps is easy now. This not only showcases the restaurant’s culinary delights but also engages with friends and family, making them eager to join you next time. 

Furthermore, sharing photos can create excitement about the restaurant and attract new customers who see the posts. Also, many restaurants feature customer photos on their social media, creating a vibrant online presence that enhances their brand. 

9. Multilingual Support 

Multilingual menus provide customers with the ability to view menus in their preferred language, making the dining experience more enjoyable and personalized.

For example, a tourist in Spain can read the menu in English, while locals can see it in Spanish, with dishes that match their tastes. This friendly approach helps bring in more customers and ensures that no one feels excluded. 

10. Personalized Experience

The location-based feature offers a personalized customer experience. Users receive timely notifications about exclusive discounts or promotions when they are near a restaurant. 

Moreover, the app allows users to easily locate the nearest branch of their favorite restaurant chain. It makes it convenient to place orders or visit in person. 

For example, DoorDash uses real-time data to deliver personalized suggestions based on customer behavior, time of day, and trending dishes. 

In 2023, DoorDash reported that its recommendation engine contributed to a 25% increase in order conversions, especially during peak hours. The company uses machine learning to tailor menus for each user, which improves user retention and average basket size.

Must-Have Features of a Restaurant App for Business Owners 

Both customers and business owners can benefit from restaurant apps. These applications serve as great tools for any food business.

Here are some essential features that should be included in a restaurant app. 

1. Menu Management 

A menu management feature in a restaurant app is essential for food business owners. It minimizes human error, eliminating issues like forgotten updates, miskeyed orders, and missing items. 

From this feature, you can get these perks:

• Efficient Menu Planning: Easily create, design, and update menus to reflect seasonal offerings or special promotions.
• Allergen and Dietary Information: Clearly label allergens and dietary options, enhancing customer safety and satisfaction.
• Sales Data Insights: Analyze sales trends to identify popular dishes and optimize menu offerings for profitability.
• Streamlined Operations: Simplify order processing and reduce errors, leading to faster service.

2. Order Management 

The order management feature streamlines the process of receiving, processing, and fulfilling orders. Food businesses can efficiently track inventory levels, manage customer expectations, and enhance communication across teams.

By automating repetitive tasks, teams can focus on other important tasks, by building relationships with customers and driving growth. 

3. Delivery Management

The delivery management feature of a restaurant app helps track orders from the moment they are placed until they reach the customer. It ensures timely deliveries by assigning drivers and optimizing routes. Customers can also see real-time updates on their order status.

4. Feedback Management

It enables restaurants to respond to customer reviews. This feature collects ratings and comments, helping the restaurant understand customer satisfaction. This feedback is essential for improving services and making necessary changes based on customer suggestions.

5. Location-Based Services

One of the most common frustrations in food delivery is dealing with incorrect or unclear addresses, which often leads to confusion and delayed orders. To tackle this issue, the restaurant app incorporates advanced geolocation features that improve the user experience in several ways:

• Auto-Detection of Location: Users can easily allow the app to automatically detect their current location, ensuring that their orders are sent to the correct address without the hassle of manual entry.
  
• Manual Location Pinpointing: For added accuracy, customers have the option to manually select their exact location on an interactive map, minimizing the chances of errors during the ordering process

Benefits of Having a Restaurant App

Look at the table below and understand the benefits that a restaurant app provides to customers and food businesses. 

For Customers 

For Restaurants 

FAQs

1. What are the features of a food delivery app?

Below are the main features of a food delivery app. 

• Order placement 
• Secure online payments
• Order tracking
• Customer support 
• Search and browsing 

2. How do food apps work?

Below is the workflow of the food apps. 

• Customers download the food app.
• Create an account. 
• Browse different restaurants and cuisines.
• Add items to the cart and place an order. 
• Select the payment method.
• The restaurant receives the order notification and starts preparing the food. 
• Delivery drivers pick the food for delivery. 
• Customers receive the food and rate their experience, and provide reviews.

3. How much does it cost to develop a restaurant app?

Developing a restaurant app costs between $10,000 and $100,000, depending on complexity, features, and the platforms targeted. Custom features and regional development rates can influence the total cost.

About the author

Hudaibia Khalid

Copywriter & Marketing Assistant

Hudaibia Khalid is the creative force behind the blog—a maestro of words and ideas. Her distinctive style not only imparts wisdom but also leaves an indelible mark, transforming each post into a captivating journey through her unique perspective on the world.

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