Restaurant Image SEO: How to Get Your Food Photos Found on Google

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Food photos drive restaurant decisions. Studies show that 75% of people research restaurants online before visiting, and 90% say photos influence their choice. Getting your food photos to appear in Google Images and Google Maps can directly increase covers.

Food Photo Alt Text Examples

Dish	Alt Text
Burger	Smash burger with aged cheddar, caramelised onions and house sauce on brioche bun
Pasta	House-made tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and truffle cream sauce, La Trattoria Bristol
Sushi platter	12-piece mixed nigiri platter with salmon, tuna and prawn at Sakura Birmingham
Dessert	Dark chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream and honeycomb
Cocktail	Classic Negroni with Campari, gin and sweet vermouth over ice with orange peel

Restaurant Image Categories to Optimise

Menu dishes: Every item on the menu should have a photo with alt text
Interior photos: Dining room, bar, private dining areas
Exterior: Street frontage, entrance, signage
Team photos: Chef, front of house — builds personality
Events: Private dining, celebrations, seasonal events

Google Business Profile for Restaurants

Google Business Profile photos for restaurants are especially important because they appear directly in Google Maps and Google Search. Upload high-quality photos in all categories: Food, Interior, Exterior, Team. Encourage diners to upload their own photos — user-generated photos often rank highly in Maps.

Recipe Schema for Restaurant Websites

If your restaurant publishes recipes (as a content marketing strategy), add Recipe schema to those pages including a high-quality food image. This can earn rich results in Google with the food photo shown prominently.

For your menu photos: Use our free alt text generator to create descriptive, appealing alt text for every dish photo. The AI identifies dish components accurately for effective alt text.

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