How to Write an Effective Restaurant Slogan With 50+ Examples

There are certain taglines or slogans that immediately call to mind a particular company. For example, if someone says, “like a good neighbor,” to you, chances are good that you will either respond with “State Farm is there,” or simply think of the insurance company State Farm.

That is the power of a slogan. When well-written and used effectively, it can be something that differentiates you from other companies and keeps you at the front of customers’ minds. Some restaurant slogans are so enduring that customers remember them decades later – like Wendy’s famous tagline “Where’s the beef?” from a 1984 commercial.

Slogans aren’t just for major corporations or franchise restaurants. Smaller and medium-sized businesses can benefit from this type of branding as well. If you’re interested in developing a slogan for your restaurant, keep reading for our best tips and more than 50 examples of some of the most memorable slogans in restaurant history.

A slogan is a short, catchy phrase that can be used to draw attention to your restaurant. A good slogan highlights your brand image and is memorable. For restaurants, a slogan can help customers remember what is special about your business.

While not every restaurant will benefit from having a slogan (i.e., fine dining establishments probably won’t need one), they can be a powerful marketing tool when used correctly. A well-written slogan can help to build brand recognition and allow your restaurant to stand out from the crowd. It can also increase demand for your product, and allow you to build better relationships with your customers.

Knowing that a restaurant slogan can boost your business is one thing – coming up with one is an entirely different matter. Below, we will outline how you can come up with a restaurant slogan that can help you grow your customer base and make your restaurant more profitable. Still stuck? Consider using an online slogan generator to get ideas.

When developing any advertising or marketing campaign, the first step should always be to consider your target audience. Who are you trying to get to come to your restaurant? The answer to this question will influence the slogan that you develop, including the words that you choose.

For example, if you are aiming for a younger crowd, you may use more modern phrases or even something from pop culture. If you want to draw in families, you could emphasize the hominess of your restaurant (like Olive Garden’s “when you’re here, you’re family” slogan). Think carefully about who your customers are – and who you want them to be – when coming up with a slogan. This way, you’ll have a better chance of being successful, and reduce the odds that you will offend anyone with your word choices.

At the same time, think about the type of tone that you want to set. Some restaurants can get away with more playful slogans – like Chick-Fil-A’s “Eat Mor Chikin” tagline. If you are aiming for a more sophisticated crowd, you will probably want to stay away from anything that is too sarcastic or snappy, and focus on what makes you different.

In any given restaurant, there are a lot of stakeholders: staff, employees, other owners, or even your family members (who rarely see you on nights, weekends, and special occasions because you are always at the restaurant). They are just as invested in your restaurant’s success as you are, and may have some great ideas for a slogan.

There are a number of ways that you can get their input. You may develop a contest where customers, staff, and others vie to come up with the best slogan. You could even just send out an email or call a staff meeting to ask for ideas.

There are certain things that almost every restaurant could say about itself (whether it is true or not): that their food is great, their prices are reasonable, and their service is excellent. Avoid these generic descriptions when writing a slogan. The point of a slogan is to differentiate yourself from the crowd, so use what makes your restaurant unique or special.

Think about your restaurant’s concept or cuisine. Is there something that makes you different from other restaurants in the area? Use that idea to develop your slogan. 

For example, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain, Eat ‘n Park, is known for handing out “Smiley” cookies to kids (iced sugar cookies). Its slogan – the place for smiles – is used throughout its advertising. Because this tagline has become so well-known, Eat ‘n Park even uses it to sell merchandise.

According to experts, a good slogan can be as short as five words or less. If you find yourself with a full sentence, or more than one sentence, you probably need to trim it significantly. Remember, the point of a slogan is for customers to remember you by it – it is far less likely that they will recall a three sentence description of your business than a few memorable words.

An effective restaurant slogan should be easy to understand, simple and short. It should also be specific to your cuisine or the mission of your restaurant. If you’re struggling with this part, talk to your staff, family, and friends to see if anyone can help you make your slogan as catchy as possible!

Some restaurants – from fast food to casual joints – really got it right. These slogans are ones that millions of Americans remember. Find some inspiration with these great examples of effective restaurant slogans:

1. McDonald’s: I’m loving it.
2. Arby’s: We have the meats.
3. Papa John’s: Better ingredients. Better pizza.
4. Hoss’s: Hoss’s is hospitality.
5. Applebees: Eatin’ good in the neighborhood.
6. Subway: Eat fresh.
7. KFC: Finger lickin’ good.
8. Wendy’s: Where’s the beef?
9. Olive Garden: When you’re here, you’re family.
10. Chick-Fil-A: Eat mor chickin!
11. Quizno’s: Mmmm…toasty!
12. Jack in the Box: We don’t make it until you order it.
13. Taco Bell: Yo quiero Taco Bell.
14. Jimmy John’s: Freaky fast, freaky good.
15. Waffle House: Good food fast.
16. Burger King: Have it your way.
17. Dunkin’: America runs on Dunkin’.
18. Dairy Queen: DQ something different.
19. Taco Bell: Think outside the bun.
20. KFC: We do chicken right.
21. Hardees: Where the food’s the star.
22. Fat Burger: The last great hamburger stand.
23. Chili’s: License to grill.
24. TGI Friday’s: In here, it’s always Friday.
25. Wendy’s: It’s way better than fast food. It’s Wendy’s.
26. Dairy Queen: Hot eats, cool treats.
27. Hooters: Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.
28. Sonic: America’s drive-in.
29. El Pollo Loco: When you’re crazy for chicken.
30. A&W: Where the food’s as good as the root beer.
31. Popeyes: Love that chicken from Popeyes.
32. Chili’s: I want my baby back.
33. Schlotzsky’s: Funny name. Serious sandwich.
34. Outback Steakhouse: No rules. Just right.
35. Dunkin’ Donuts: Time to make the donuts.
36. White Castle: What you crave.
37. IHOP: Come hungry, leave happy.
38. Panera Bread: Food as it should be.
39. Cracker Barrel: Eat. Shop. Relax.
40. Little Caesars: Pizza. Pizza.
41. Five Guys: Always fresh, never frozen.
42. Burger King: The home of the Whopper.
43. Domino’s: Get the door. It’s Domino’s.
44. Taco Bell: Head for the border.
45. Wendy’s: Quality is our recipe.
46. Pizza Hut: Gather ‘round the good stuff.
47. Checkers: Little place. Big taste.
48. Long John Silver’s: We speak fish.
49. Zero’s Subs: We’re hot and on a roll.
50. Rock Bottom Brewery: Good friends. Great food. Great beer.
51. Whataburger: Just like you like it.

Several restaurants have had multiple successful slogans. You may even find that you remember more slogans for a particular restaurant. This goes to show how much a good slogan can do for your business.

Once you have decided on the slogan, the fun really begins: getting your tagline out into the community. In addition to advertising, you can boost the visibility of your slogan in a simple way: by adding it to your disposable cups, coffee sleeves, paper bags, and more.

At Budget Branders, we offer a full range of custom-branded disposable products at prices and in quantities that work for small and medium sized businesses. You won’t have to order millions of cups or blow your budget getting branded bags for take-out (so critical during COVID-19 shut-down orders!). Instead, we will give you a fair price on the products that you need most.

If you’re interested in learning more or want a quote, we are here to help. Give us a call at 888-373-4880, press the live chat button, or fill out our online contact form.