TikTok For Restaurants: What You Need To Know

TikTok For Restaurants
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Article contributed by David “Rev” Ciancio


What is the biggest site on the internet? Would your guess be Google? If so, you would be right… prior to December of 2021. According to data from Cloudflare, Google was taken down by TikTok, a video based social network.

Most people who aren’t addicted to the endless scroll of short form videos think the platform is all about dancing and goofy memes. While there is certainly more than enough of that to go around, the platform has really started to be an incredible way for all kinds of businesses to creatively attract and engage their customers, including restaurants.

TikTok restaurant special
TikTok restaurant special

While major restaurant chains have already started to create content on the TikTok network, smaller and independent restaurants who have embraced the format are finding that it’s a lot easier to drive business than Facebook or Instagram.

  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • RATIONAL USA
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Imperial Dade
  • McKee Foodservice
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • RAK Porcelain
  • Texas Pete
  • Atosa USA
  • Day & Nite
  • Red Gold Sacramento

Stories are happening all over the place how just one video caused a major shift in the revenue for a restaurant. This isn’t a fluke. It’s deliberate and you have the right plan, you too can harness the power of TikTok.

The problem with Tiktok for Restaurants is that brands are trying to treat it like Instagram, creating content that has traditionally worked on that network. However, it doesn’t work. TikTok is about capturing attention and holding it. People aren’t following brands for the products or services, they want the stories and the characters.

This now means that restaurant marketers have to be video editors ,script writers, storytellers, comedians and directors. If you don’t know what you are doing or have the right plan in place, it’s going to get really hard. Because of this, brands are choosing to not even use the platform. Yet, those who have dug in are seeing incredible results.

Now is the time, while the network is young, while the algorithm is still wild and the platform has not become overrun with ads like other social networks, while you can get ahead of the pack, to start creating content and figuring out what works.

Also read: Your 2024 Marketing Checklist: 9 Strategies to Boost Your Brand in the New Year

The 3 most important things to keep in mind when building your TikTok for Restaurants plan:

  1. Consistency: Showing up is more than half the battle. Try to post every day, if not twice a day. A 15 second video is not hard to do.
  2. Add value: You have to give your guests a reason to be on your feed. This can be entertainment, story telling, why you do what you do, how you do what you do, gratuitous food displays, interviews with employees, customer reviews,
  3. Brand:  What is the voice, vibe and style of your content? When you know who you are and how to present, it will help you to be much more consistent. Try a couple different things out and see which one resonates with your guests. You don’t have to figure it out on the first post or even in the first 30 posts!

Keeping these things in mind will set the foundation you need to building a strong community for your restaurant brand on TikTok.

Rev Ciancio TikTok for Restaurants Book
Rev Ciancio TikTok for Restaurants Book

Want to learn more? Would you like a step-by step guide that shows you exactly what you need to do so there is no more guesswork?

Get my new ebook and training TikTok For Restaurants-What You Need to Know.

This 20-page TikTok strategy guide for restaurants is the EXACT step-by-step process that your restaurant brand needs to do to get started on TikTok, build a strategy that works and create engaging content that works on the platform.

It’s a complete walk through of everything you need to know. After finishing this eBook guide you will have a full understanding on:

  • How Tiktok works and how to take advantage of it
  • How to build a long term plan for success
  • How to figure out what is working with other restaurants and how to model it
  • What type of account you need to use
  • How to create the perfect bio
  • Best practices for content including how to create content, when to post, the best time to post … everything you need to know
  • Examples of how to do all of this
  • A perfect plan for hashtags
  • Engagement tips and tricks
  • Proven pro-tips that you won’t find anywhere else
  • How to build a strong digital brand that lasts!

This book was created to show you what your restaurant brand needs to do to get started on TikTok, how to build a strategy that works and how to create engaging content that works on the platform. Get the ebook now!!

Take a moment to digest and then reach out to me with any questions at rev@restaurantsgrow.com. Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram and let me know. I’d like to hear and if I share it, I’ll give you credit! Make it a great tasty day!


David Rev Ciancio

David “Rev” Ciancio is a former New York City bar owner and knows exactly how hard it is to operate and brand a hospitality business.

He is now a hospitality marketing consultant, customer and technology evangelist with more than 20 years experience in B2B digital marketing and business development, specializing in hospitality marketing, content, local SEO, reputation management and influencer marketing.

He helps technology companies, brands and restaurants to acquire and retain customers. Rev is known as an “expert burger taster,” pens hospitality and marketing tips on his Instagram @revciancio, as well as his LinkedIn Profile. He believes that Pizza is a religion.

  • McKee Foodservice
  • Day & Nite
  • Imperial Dade
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Texas Pete
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • RATIONAL USA
  • Atosa USA
  • RAK Porcelain
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado