How takeaways get found on Google matters more than most owners realise. Every order that comes through Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats costs a commission — typically 20–35% of the order value. Every order that comes directly through your website or phone costs nothing. The takeaway that builds direct Google visibility keeps significantly more revenue from every order it takes.
How Customers Search for a Takeaway
Takeaway searches are immediate, hungry, and cuisine-specific:
- "Takeaway near me" — broad, triggered by hunger right now
- "Chinese takeaway [your town]" — cuisine-specific, strong intent
- "Pizza delivery [your area]" — combining cuisine and delivery mode
- "Indian takeaway [your town]" — brand loyalty to cuisine, choosing between options
- "Best kebab [your area]" — late-night, competitive, review-driven
- "Halal takeaway [city]" — dietary requirement, filters choice significantly
Cuisine-specific searches convert at very high rates. A customer searching "Chinese takeaway [your town]" knows exactly what they want — they're choosing between you and the two other results. Win that search and the order is almost always yours.
Your Google Business Profile: Menu, Hours, Cuisine
For a takeaway, the Google Business Profile is the primary decision-making tool. Customers often order without visiting your website at all:
- Menu added: Google allows you to add a menu directly to your profile. Even a partial menu — popular dishes, prices — significantly increases enquiries from customers deciding between options.
- Opening hours accurate: Including late-night and weekend hours. Wrong hours mean missed orders from customers checking before they call.
- Cuisine type and attributes: Set your cuisine correctly. Add halal, vegetarian options, vegan options as attributes if applicable — these filter searches directly to your profile.
- Ordering link: Link to your own ordering system or website rather than defaulting to platform links. Every direct order saves you the commission.
- Photos: Your most popular dishes, plated attractively. Customers ordering takeaway buy with their eyes before they buy with their appetite.
Your Website: Menu, Direct Ordering, Collection and Delivery
A website that takes direct orders is the most financially impactful thing an independent takeaway can build:
- Full menu with prices: Every dish, described clearly, with accurate prices. Customers who can see the full menu and total before they call or order online are more decisive and place fewer abandoned orders.
- Direct ordering system: Square, GloriaFood, or a similar commission-free platform. Even capturing 20% of your orders directly pays for a website many times over.
- Delivery area and minimum order: Every postcode or area you deliver to listed clearly. Customers outside your area need to know immediately — customers inside it need reassurance you cover their street.
- Collection discount: If you offer a discount for collection orders, make it prominent. Customers who'd normally use a platform will order directly for a 10% saving.
We build free websites for takeaways — menu, direct ordering, delivery area — delivered in seven days, no invoice.
Ranking Against the Delivery Platforms
Just Eat and Deliveroo rank strongly for generic takeaway searches — but individual restaurant pages on those platforms rarely rank for cuisine-specific local searches. "Chinese takeaway [your town]" is a search where an optimised Google Business Profile and a simple website consistently outrank the aggregators.
The aggregators compete for the generic search. You win the cuisine-specific search — and the customers who find you directly cost you nothing in commission.
Google Reviews: Volume and Recency Win Orders
Takeaway customers read reviews quickly and make fast decisions. Review volume and recency matter more than detailed content:
- "Arrives hot, exactly as ordered — reliable every time"
- "Best [cuisine] in [town] — we order every week"
- "Large portions, great value — always fresh"
- "Quick delivery, food still piping hot"
Ask for a Google review with every delivery bag — a small insert card or a message with the order confirmation. Volume of recent reviews is the single biggest trust signal for first-time customers choosing between options.
Start This Week
- Get a website with your menu and a direct ordering link. We build them free for takeaways.
- Add your menu to your Google Business Profile — even 10 popular dishes makes a significant difference.
- Set your cuisine type and dietary attributes (halal, vegan, vegetarian) on your profile.
- Add your delivery area to your website — every postcode you cover.
- Ask your next 20 customers for a Google review — insert a card with every order.
Someone in your area is hungry right now and is deciding where to order from. Make sure they find you directly — not through a platform taking 30% of your order. When they see your menu, your reviews, and your delivery area, the order comes to you.