How To Promote My Restaurant To Gen Z
If you’re running a restaurant in Southeast Asia and wondering how to get Gen Z through the door, you’re not alone. Born between the mid-90s and early 2010s, this generation is now shaping food trends, driving digital engagement, and influencing where their friends eat.
But here’s the catch: Gen Z doesn’t respond to traditional ads or flashy promotions. They care about value, authenticity, convenience, and whether your place looks good on Instagram or TikTok.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to make your restaurant stand out to Gen Z, based on real behavior, local trends, and proven strategies. From what they eat to how they book, this is your blueprint to connect with the generation that dines with their phone in hand.
Understand What Gen Z Really Cares About
Before you promote anything, you need to understand what Gen Z values when choosing a restaurant:
- Value for Money. Gen Z may be adventurous, but they’re also practical. A recent report shows that 65% of Gen Z in Southeast Asia look for value deals when dining out. Combo meals, shareable platters, and discounts for students often win them over.
- Ethical and Healthy Choices. Sustainability and wellness matter. This generation is leaning toward plant-based meals, eco-friendly packaging, and ingredients they can feel good about. In Southeast Asia, brands like Burger King Thailand have added plant-based menus just to meet this demand.
- Aesthetic & Experience. Food that looks good, interiors that pop, and moments worth sharing, that’s what sells. Gen Z views dining as an experience, not just a meal. They’re more likely to pick a quirky, Instagrammable spot over a traditional setup, even if the food quality is similar.
Scenario: A Gen Z diner sees a neon-lit dessert café on TikTok. It’s affordable, photogenic, and serves dairy-free matcha drinks. They go there instead of the popular bistro next door.
To attract Gen Z, focus less on promotions and more on purpose, price, and presentation.
Be on the Platforms They Use, And Speak Their Language
If you want Gen Z to notice your restaurant, you need to show up where they spend their time, and that’s TikTok, Instagram, and to some extent, YouTube Shorts.
Forget polished ads. Gen Z prefers raw, fun, and relatable content. They respond to videos that show behind-the-scenes moments, quirky food items, staff personalities, or trending audio. A casual video of your chef flipping a giant roti in slow motion may do better than a high-budget promo.
User-generated content (UGC) is even better. This generation trusts what they see from real people. Encourage your customers to tag your restaurant, leave video reviews, or take part in social media challenges. You can offer small rewards, like a free drink, for the best weekly post.
Stat to remember: 70% of Gen Z in Southeast Asia discover restaurants on TikTok. Instagram comes next, followed by YouTube.
Scenario: A noodle shop in KL invites customers to post TikToks of their spicy ramen reaction. One clip goes viral with 150K views. Within a week, the restaurant is fully booked.
Don’t spread yourself thin on every platform. Choose one or two (ideally TikTok and IG), post consistently, and speak like a friend, not a brand.
Pro Tip: Use simple captions, relevant hashtags, and trending audio. Gen Z scrolls fast, you’ve got 3 seconds to grab attention.
Make Your Restaurant Worth Sharing
Gen Z expects everything to be instant and effortless, including their dining experience. If your restaurant doesn’t feel tech-friendly, they’ll move on without a second thought.
Start with a restaurant reservation system.
This generation doesn’t want to call in, wait in line, or deal with miscommunication. A digital restaurant reservation system allows them to book a table anytime, get instant confirmation, and even receive reminders. It also reduces no-shows and keeps your operations organized.
Mobile-first, always.
Gen Z lives on their phones. From booking to payment, they want everything in a few taps. Your restaurant reservation system should be mobile-optimized, easy to access via your website or Instagram bio, and quick to use.
Support cashless and contactless payments.
In Southeast Asia, Gen Z regularly uses e-wallets like GrabPay, ShopeePay, or Touch ‘n Go. Make sure your restaurant accepts digital payments, it’s not just convenient, it signals that your brand is up to date.
Streamline the ordering experience.
QR code menus, self-order tablets, and the option to pre-order are becoming common expectations. Paired with a strong reservation system, it creates a full tech-friendly experience Gen Z loves.
Scenario: A group of Gen Z friends is planning a birthday dinner. They open your Instagram page, click the link to your restaurant reservation system, and book a table in seconds. They get a confirmation on WhatsApp, pre-order their meals, and when they arrive, everything’s ready, no waiting, no confusion, just a smooth experience from start to finish.
Loyalty programs should go digital too.
Gen Z isn’t carrying around punch cards. Offer point tracking through apps, birthday treats via email, and gamified perks for repeat visits.
Scenario: A Gen Z customer finds your café on IG, books instantly through your restaurant reservation system, scans a QR code to order, pays with an e-wallet, and earns loyalty points, without speaking to a single staff member.
The smoother and more digital your process, the more Gen Z will love it, and return for more.
Collaborate With The Right Creators, Not Just Big Influencers
Big-name influencers aren’t always the answer, especially for Gen Z. What works better? Micro-creators or KOL who feel relatable and local.
Gen Z trusts people they see as real. Instead of polished ads from celebrities, they’d rather watch casual food reviews, honest reactions, or unfiltered vlogs. That’s where partnering with campus ambassadors, TikTok foodies, or niche Instagram creators makes a big difference.
You don’t need a huge budget. Offer them a free tasting, limited-time collab menu, or the chance to go behind the scenes. Let them create content in their own tone, raw, funny, or quirky, because that’s what Gen Z connects with.
Scenario: A Thai fusion café partners with a student YouTuber known for “under RM20 food hunts.” His video reviewing their spicy tom yum tacos gets 85k views and fills the café for two weekends straight.
The takeaway? Collaborate with creators who genuinely align with your brand. When it feels authentic, Gen Z pays attention, and shows up.
Turn Gen Z Into Co-Creators of Your Brand
Gen Z doesn’t just want to eat at your restaurant, they want to be part of it. Give them ways to contribute, and they’ll help build your brand for you.
Let them vote on new menu items via Instagram Stories. Run a design contest for your next cup sleeve or wall mural. Feature their reviews or food photos on your official feed.
This generation loves feeling heard. When they’re involved, they become loyal, not just customers, but advocates.
Scenario: A café runs a “Design Our Next Menu Cover” contest for art students. The winner’s design is printed for a month, and both the artist and the café get tons of attention online.
Empower Gen Z to shape your brand’s story. It’s a simple move that builds connection, trust, and content all at once.
Conclusion
Promoting your restaurant to Gen Z isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about understanding what matters to them and building around that. They care about authenticity, digital convenience, fair pricing, and experiences they can share. If your restaurant checks those boxes, they won’t just come, they’ll bring their friends, post about it, and come back again.
Start by showing up where they are: on TikTok, Instagram, and mobile. Create content that feels real, not rehearsed. Make your space and food camera-ready, and give them something fun to post. Then, support the experience with tools that make their life easier, digital payments, loyalty perks, and most importantly, a smooth reservation flow.
That’s where a reliable restaurant reservation system makes a difference. With platforms like KlikNRoll, you can automate bookings, reduce no-shows, and offer Gen Z the seamless service they expect, from the moment they click “book” to the second they pay the bill.
This generation is fast-moving and experience-first. If you meet them where they are, with tech and taste in balance, they’ll become your loudest advocates.
Hey there! I’m Jeffrey Hau, and my journey in the digital world started after I wrapped up my psychology degree at UCLA. Imagine coming back to the bustling streets of Hong Kong from the tech haven of Silicon Valley – it was a whirlwind of inspiration! Seeing how social media platforms were evolving at breakneck speed and realizing the limitations of traditional advertising in this digital age, I decided to dive in.
In 2012, I laid the foundation of Prizm Group. From our humble beginnings, we’ve now blossomed into a global powerhouse with a team of over 200 passionate professionals. Our HQ is right here in Hong Kong, and we’ve spread our wings to SG, AU, NZ, JP, and China.
As a digital problem solver, our team found that several industries are in need of reservation systems, especially for F&B, Hotels, Beauty, and Medical sectors. Our digital magicians started crafting reservation systems tailored to cater to these specific needs. We extended our expertise to e-commerce, voucher management systems, and campaign management systems, combining them into KlikNRoll – an all-in-one solution. We deep dive into various industries, understanding their unique challenges and developing innovative solutions.
We’re not just a company; we’re your dedicated partners in transforming how you navigate the digital landscape. Our passion lies in providing businesses with intuitive and tailored solutions using KlikNRoll’s powerful capabilities.
Ready to embark on this exciting digital adventure with us? Let’s make your brand stand out in the digital jungle!
