How to Add Online Ordering to Your Restaurant Website

Adding online ordering to your restaurant’s website can feel confusing. Do you switch on your restaurant point of sale (POS) provider’s built-in ordering, embed a third-party widget on the site you already have, or lean on a marketplace page like DoorDash?

Whichever route you take, an effective online ordering system lets diners browse a mobile menu, customize items and pay on your site (or branded page/app), with confirmed tickets flowing straight to your POS.

In this article, we’ll show the fastest way to go live with online ordering, help you choose between built-in and third-party options, outline the features that matter, and flag the operational basics that keep orders moving. We will also discuss some of the most popular options on the market, too, so read on to find out how to get your online orders moving.

How To Add Online Ordering to Your Restaurant Website in 5 Steps

1. Pick your approach (built-in vs third-party)

Decide between your site builder or POS’s native ordering (fastest go-live, fewer moving parts, tighter POS/kitchen display system (KDS) routing) or a third-party tool (e.g. ChowNow, GloriaFood) that embeds on your site and adds richer restaurant features.

Confirm fees, data ownership, delivery setup, support hours and, most importantly, POS compatibility.

2. Prepare your digital menu and rules

Finalize categories, items, prices, photos and clear descriptions. Set modifiers (required/optional, max selections), bundles, taxes by item, and time-based availability (e.g. lunch-only).

Decide how sold-out items will be hidden automatically so guests can’t order unavailable dishes.

3. Connect payments and checkout

Link your processor, enable Apple Pay/Google Pay, configure tips and any permitted surcharges, and set receipt details.

Run a $1 end-to-end test (authorize, capture, refund) to confirm that payouts, receipts and refunds reconcile correctly.

4. Configure fulfillment and sync to your POS/KDS

Set pickup and delivery hours, lead times, and order caps and minimums per time slot. Map online items to POS IDs and channels (pickup and delivery) so tickets route to the right stations or printers, and special instructions display clearly.

You also need to choose between:

• In-house drivers, offering full brand control, lower per-order cost at scale (if you can manage driver scheduling, routing, and proof-of-delivery yourself).
• On-demand dispatch (via Uber Direct, DoorDash Drive, etc.), that supplies fast coverage and surge capacity, but with per-order courier fees and less control over the handoff.

Many operators run a hybrid system, such as in-house within a close radius and dispatch for outer zones or overflow. Again, place a few test orders and verify they land in the kitchen where you expect, and that deliveries are made as you would like.

5. Publish and link everywhere

Add a prominent “Order Online” button to your homepage header, hero and footer, and deep-link to the menu.

Update your Google Business Profile “Order” link and add action buttons in Instagram, Facebook and any other social channels, so guests can order directly from places they already visit.

Recommended next steps to run smoothly

Beyond those five core steps, there are additional measures you can take to ensure that adding online ordering to your restaurant’s repertoire is a seamless process. Here are a few:

• Train the team and set simple operating procedures: Brief front-of-house and back-of-house staff on quote times and handoff. Assign an expediter to verify bags before pickup. Use a short bagging checklist (receipt, utensils, sauces, tamper seal).
• Check the mobile journey: From homepage to paid order in around 90 seconds is a good goal to have. Verify speed, closed-hours messaging, promo codes, loyalty login and confirmation emails/SMS.
• Monitor and fine tune: In the first 30 days, track on-time percentages, average prep time, accuracy and redo rate, refunds, average order value, and cart abandonment. Adjust lead times, throttling and menu placement based on what converts.
• Keep availability accurate: Use inventory links or a quick toggle so sold-out items disappear from the online menu in real time.
• Have a fallback: Set a one-click pause message for outages and a phone-order backup. Maintain a printer-routing plan in case the KDS or Wi-Fi fails.

Built-In Website Ecommerce vs Third-Party Ordering Service

As stated in our five-step guide above, a key first decision you’ll need to make for your business is whether you opt to have built-in tools to use, via your website or POS, or you bolt on an extra.

Let’s compare built-in ordering and third-party integrations so you can understand the pros and cons of each option.

Other things to assess when picking an online ordering system

• Data and refunds: Export orders/customers. Confirm partial/line-item refunds map back to POS.
• Sync and out-of-stock: How often the menu sync runs. How sold-out items are handled automatically.
• Support and downtime: Is there weekend and evening cover? What is the printer/KDS fallback and pause messaging?

Which should you choose?

➡️ Choose built-in/POS-native if your priority is operational control (live menu sync, KDS routing, inventory out-of-stock and staff coordination).

This aligns with findings in our Food & Beverage Report 2025, which show that businesses are leaning into a “core stack” that includes POS, inventory management, KDS and scheduling tools to reduce errors and protect margins more closely.

➡️ Choose a third-party tool if you want fast, low-friction setup, broader delivery/courier choices or stronger marketing autonomy, without replatforming your POS or site.

Commission-free direct-ordering models (e.g. ChowNow) and free-to-start options (e.g. GloriaFood) can be cost-effective, especially for single-location or seasonal concepts.

What Does My Restaurant Need in Place To Begin Taking Online Orders?

Adding online ordering only works if the backend can absorb it smoothly. Use this checklist to make sure your POS, kitchen flow and team are ready before you switch the “Order Online” button on.

1) Menu, POS and availability in sync

• Mirror the website menu in your POS (items, prices, modifiers, taxes and fees) and create separate pickup and delivery channels for clean reporting.
• Assign a weekly menu-sync owner (general manager or kitchen manager) to approve changes and keep versions aligned.
• Keep availability accurate automatically by enabling real-time out-of-stock hiding, setting time-based items (e.g. lunch-only) and establishing holiday hours/blackouts in advance.

2) Kitchen routing and fulfillment controls

• Route tickets correctly via KDS/printers by station. Turn on an expo view and make sure allergens/special instructions print clearly.
• Control throughput by setting lead times by daypart, slot caps (throttling), scheduled orders, and pickup and delivery windows so the line isn’t overwhelmed.

3) Payments, taxes, tips and refunds that reconcile

• Align tender types and tax profiles for pickup versus delivery. Configure tip prompts that fit takeout/curbside.
• Run a $1 end-to-end test (authorize, capture, refund) and confirm receipts and reports map back to the right POS tickets.
• Pre-configure partial refunds/comp flows so managers can resolve issues in under a minute.

4) Hardware, labeling and network basics

• Kitchen: KDS or reliable printers per station; Label printer for itemized bag stickers.
• Front: Curbside phone/SMS device. Dedicated pickup shelf with clear zones.
• Connectivity: Stable Wi-Fi, battery backups for router/printers and a wired fallback where possible.

5) Staffing and simple standard operating procedures for online orders

• Give someone ownership of online tickets (a make-line or station lead) and schedule to digital peaks.
• Standardize handoff with a bagging checklist (receipt, utensils, sauces, hot/cold separation, tamper seal) and an expo check before pickup.
• Define delivery/curbside flow including where drivers wait, who calls orders and a quick script for car-side handoff.

6) Guest communications, compliance and downtime plan

• Reduce calls with clear communications, including order status by SMS/email, closed-hours messaging and pickup instructions (parking, door, shelf location).
• Cover edge cases, including ID checks for alcohol, surfacing allergen info online and on tickets, and document cancellations and modifications.
• Have fallbacks in place, like a one-click pause with a friendly message and phone-order backup and printer-only routing if KDS/Wi-Fi fails. Have a short post-mortem checklist after any incident.

Optional Enhancements: QR Table Ordering and Branded App

QR table ordering and a branded app are nice-to-haves, but not required for launch. Both can lift throughput and repeat purchase, but they’re best when your POS, kitchen flow, and staffing are already solid.

QR table ordering

What it is: Guests scan a QR at the table, browse a mobile menu and place orders (and often pay) without waiting for a server.

• Where it usually lives: Frequently part of a POS-native stack (smoother ticket routing, table mapping and checks). Many third-party ordering tools also offer QR modules you can embed on your site.
• When it shines: High-volume fast-casual, patios, beer gardens and bars where guests reorder drinks/snacks. Venues with staff shortages during peak windows.
• How to launch: Generate per-table QR codes tied to table numbers in POS. Enable item-level modifiers and “reorder” prompts. Choose order-only or order-and-pay at table.
• Ops considerations: Make sure KDS/printer tickets include table number and seat info. Set expo checks so bags/rounds are verified before running. Configure throttling to prevent bursts from large parties.
• Service model: Train servers to stay consultative (greetings, upsell cues, allergy checks) so that QR ordering supplements, rather than replaces, hospitality. Require staff approval for age-restricted items if needed.
• Data and marketing: Capture emails/phone (with consent) for order status and remarketing. Prompt guests to create an account after their first order for faster reordering.
• Cost notes: Often included in POS plans. Third-party QR modules may be a low monthly add-on. Factor in label/QR printing and table signage.

Branded mobile app

What it is: A native iOS/Android app (or high-quality web app) with saved payment, past orders and push notifications for offers.

• Where it usually lives: More commonly provided by third-party direct-ordering platforms (they package the app, ordering and loyalty). Some POS-native stacks offer branded web apps or partner-built native apps.
• When it shines: Concepts with frequent repeat orders (coffee, pizza, bowls), multi-location brands, loyalty-driven programs, and communities where a “one-tap reorder” is valuable.
• How to launch: Reuse your online menu, enable saved cards and “order again” from history, integrate loyalty so points/rewards apply seamlessly, and add deep links from email/social/QR to specific items or offers.
• Ops considerations: Keep pricing and availability in lockstep with POS, coordinate promos across your app/website/in-store, and plan a simple release cadence so features and menus don’t drift.
• Adoption strategy: Promote app-only perks (earn faster, exclusive bundles) and place QR codes to download on receipts, table tents and pickup shelves. Run a modest first-order app incentive.
• Cost notes: Expect a monthly subscription (and app-store enrollment if fully native). ROI depends on repeat frequency and loyalty uplift — pilot with your highest-frequency store first.

What Online Ordering Platforms Do US Restaurants Use?

Discussions of features and types of online food ordering platforms can feel a little opaque without clear examples. Here are some of the most popular options in the US food and beverage landscape.

POS-native – Best if you already run the vendor’s POS

As stated, POS-made options are a great choice if your POS provider offers them. Here are two popular POS in the F&B industry that do.

Toast Online Ordering: Deep, kitchen-first integration

What it is: Direct online ordering tightly integrated with Toast POS/KDS. Supports Order with Google so menus, hours and quote times flow to Google in real time.

Why choose it: Minimal double-entry, strong ticket routing and throughput control at the pass. One vendor for POS, online ordering and KDS. Compared with third-party tools, it’s less flexible if you’re not on Toast, but integration depth is hard to match.

Square Online (for Restaurants): Fast to launch, strong delivery ties

What it is: Square’s website/ordering with live menu and item availability synced to marketplaces, and with native integrations to Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Why choose it: Quick go-live on an existing Square stack. Easier multi-channel delivery without middleware. Compared with Toast, Square leans more on partner delivery networks. Compared with third-party widgets, the POS/menu sync is deeper.

Direct-ordering services – Best for commission-free, brand-controlled sales

If you already have a website and want to take orders directly without paying high marketplace fees, these platforms are ideal. They integrate easily into your existing site, let customers order from you directly and help you own your customer data, unlike third-party delivery marketplaces.

ChowNow: Commission-free direct ordering and marketing

What it is: Branded, commission-free ordering for your site with built-in marketing and Order with Google integration.

Why choose it: Keep diners on your domain and own the data. Compared with POS-native options, setup is POS-agnostic. Compared with marketplace storefronts, you keep commissions off direct orders.

DoorDash Storefront: Your site and DoorDash delivery backbone

What it is: Commission-free online ordering pages branded to your restaurant, Order with Google support, promo tools and live order tracking with DoorDash’s logistics.

Why choose it: Easy path to delivery without marketplace commissions on direct orders. Compared with ChowNow, you gain native DoorDash delivery/ops features. Compared with POS-native stacks, you may trade some POS/KDS depth for delivery reach.

Website-first platforms – Best if you also need a stronger site

These options work best if your restaurant website needs a design refresh and stronger marketing tools alongside online ordering. They combine a website builder, ecommerce engine and guest-engagement features (like loyalty and upsells) under one system, so your digital storefront feels consistent, from menu to checkout.

BentoBox: Restaurant websites and commission-free ordering

What it is: A marketing and commerce platform with commission-free ordering on your site, designed to encourage higher-value sales (cross-sell/upsell, group orders).

Why choose it: Strongest when you also want to overhaul the website/brand and centralize menu content. Compared with POS-native options, web and marketing tools are richer. Compared with lightweight widgets, scale and merchandising are stronger.

Flipdish: Branded site/app, loyalty, upsells and kiosks

What it is: Direct ordering with a branded website and app, loyalty/retention tools, automated upsell, and optional self-service kiosks.

Why choose it: Best when you want app-level engagement and in-store kiosks under one vendor. Compared with BentoBox, Flipdish emphasizes native apps and kiosks. Compared with POS-native, it’s more marketing-forward than kitchen-deep.

Lightweight widget – Best for fast, low-cost setup

For small operators or pop-ups that just need a quick, low-cost way to take orders online, lightweight widgets are perfect. You simply embed a menu and checkout button into your existing website — no replatforming required. They’re fast to launch and easy to maintain, though typically lighter on POS and marketing integrations.

GloriaFood: Free website widget and pre-ordering

What it is: A free online ordering widget (“See Menu & Order”) you add to your existing site. Supports delivery/takeaway, pre-orders, and basic marketing, with paid add-ons as needed.

Why choose it: Fastest path to “order online” without replatforming. Compared with POS-native tools, expect lighter POS/KDS depth. Compared with ChowNow and BentoBox, it’s the lowest-cost entry with the leanest feature set.

Which Food Ordering Platform Should I Pick For My Restaurant?

If all these potential options have left you undecided, here’s a table comparing their key strengths, to simplify your choice.