You’ve posted a photo you were quite happy with. Maybe the lighting was right, the food looked spot on, and you even spent time writing a decent caption. Then came the hashtags… and you sort of guessed your way through them.
#food
#restaurant
#yum
Post goes live. You check back later. Not much has changed. It’s a bit annoying, because you know your food is good. You know people would like it if they actually saw it.
That’s where most restaurant owners get stuck. Not because social media “doesn’t work”, but because the hashtag side of things is treated like an afterthought.
A proper hashtag strategy for restaurants doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to make sense. Once it does, you start seeing small shifts. More reach. More local people finding you. A few more clicks to your online food ordering system.
Nothing dramatic overnight. But steady progress.
What Are Hashtags & How They Work
At its simplest, a hashtag is just a way to label your content. You add them to a post, and platforms like Instagram or TikTok use them to decide where your content should show up.
But here’s the part that actually matters to you. When someone searches something like “#LondonEats” or “#ManchesterTakeaway”, they’re not casually browsing. Most of the time, they’re deciding what to eat or where to go.
So if your post appears there, you’re not interrupting them. You’re showing up at the right moment. That’s why a thoughtful restaurant hashtag strategy in the UK can quietly bring in new customers without you having to constantly run ads.
What platforms are really looking for
It’s not just about adding keywords anymore. Platforms pay attention to:
- Whether your hashtags actually match your content
- How people react to your post
- How consistent you are over time
So if you’re throwing in random hashtags, it usually backfires. Your post just ends up in the wrong places, and people scroll past.
Types of Hashtags Restaurants Should Use
This is where things usually get messy. Either people use way too many hashtags, or they stick to the same five forever. You don’t need either. You just need a mix that does different jobs.
Location-Based Hashtags
If you rely on local customers, this is where you start. Because someone in Leeds isn’t going to travel to London for a takeaway.
Simple examples:
- #LeedsFood
- #EastLondonEats
- #BristolTakeaway
These help your content show up in front of people who can actually order from you or walk through your door.
What this looks like in real life:
A small takeaway adds #EastLondonTakeaway to most of their posts. After a few weeks, they start seeing more local followers. Then a few more orders through their restaurant ordering system.
Small tip:
Try combining location and food type.
- #LondonIndianFood
- #GlasgowBrunch
That’s where things start to feel more relevant.
Niche / Cuisine Hashtags
Now you narrow it down. You’re not trying to reach everyone. You’re trying to reach people who already like your kind of food.
Examples:
- #IndianTakeawayUK
- #HalalFoodLondon
- #VeganCafeUK
These tend to work better because they match intent.
Common mistake:
Using very broad hashtags like #food or #dinner. There’s just too much competition there. Your post disappears almost instantly. If you focus on the best hashtags for restaurants in the UK that match your menu, you increase your chances of being seen.
Branded Hashtags
This one takes a bit of patience, but it’s worth doing.
Create your own hashtag. Something tied to your restaurant name.
For example:
- #[YourRestaurantName]
- #[YourRestaurantName]Kitchen
Encourage customers to use it when they post about your food. Over time, you’ll have a small collection of real customer posts. That builds trust in a way your own content can’t.
Trending Hashtags
You’ve seen these around.
- #FoodieFriday
- #SundayRoast
They can give your post a small push, but only if they actually fit what you’re posting. If you’re forcing it, people can tell. And they scroll past.
Engagement Hashtags
These are more general, but still useful.
Examples:
- #FoodstagramUK
- #InstaFoodUK
- #UKFoodies
They help your content reach people who spend time liking and commenting on food posts. Just don’t rely on them alone. They work better when paired with location and niche hashtags.
How to Find the Best Hashtags for Your Restaurant
This doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming.
Start with other restaurants
Have a look at places near you that get good engagement. What are they using? Which posts seem to do well? You’re not copying. You’re just getting a sense of what works.
Use the search bar
Type in something like “London brunch” on Instagram. You’ll start seeing related hashtags, how many posts they have, and what kinds of content appear. That gives you a rough idea of where you fit.
Mix things up
Don’t rely only on huge hashtags.
A better mix looks like this:
- A few big ones for reach
- Some medium ones for visibility
- A couple of smaller ones where you can actually stand out
Keep adjusting
Some hashtags will work better than others. After a while, you’ll notice patterns. Which ones bring views. Which ones don’t do much. That’s how you slowly improve your social media hashtags for restaurants without overthinking it.
Platform-Specific Hashtag Strategy
Different platforms behave differently. You don’t need to reinvent everything, but small tweaks help.
This is still the main platform for hashtags. You don’t need to go overboard. Around 8 to 15 relevant hashtags are usually enough.
Example:
A burger place in London might use:
- #LondonBurgers
- #StreetFoodLondon
- #BurgerLoversUK
That’s a clean, simple restaurant Instagram hashtag setup.
One thing to keep in mind:
Try not to use the exact same hashtags every time. It can limit your reach.
TikTok
TikTok works a bit differently. Content matters more than hashtags here. Still, hashtags help the platform understand your video.
Stick to 3 to 6:
- #UKFoodTok
- #LondonEats
- #RestaurantLife
If the video connects, hashtags will support it.
Hashtags aren’t as powerful here, but they’re not useless either.
Use a few:
- Location-based
- Branded
Facebook tends to work better when you’re linking directly to offers or your online food ordering system.
This one is often ignored, but it can bring steady traffic over time. Pinterest works more like a search engine. So your hashtags should match what people are searching for:
- #DinnerIdeasUK
- #RestaurantMarketingHashtags
Posts here can keep bringing traffic long after you’ve published them.
FAQ
1. How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?
Around 8 to 15 is a good range. Focus on relevance rather than quantity.
2. What are the best hashtags for restaurants UK?
A mix of location, cuisine, and engagement hashtags works well. For example, #LondonEats, #UKFoodScene, and niche-specific tags.
3. Should I reuse the same hashtags every time?
Better not to. Rotating them helps you reach different audiences.
4. Do hashtags actually bring in customers?
They can, especially when they help local people find you at the right moment.
5. Are hashtags still useful in 2026?
Yes, but they need to be relevant. Random hashtags won’t do much anymore.
6. Can hashtags help increase online orders?
Yes. They can bring targeted traffic to your page, which can lead to more clicks on your online food ordering system.
