Deciding on fast food restaurant names demands strategic preparations to ensure that the choice you make represents your business well.
When you think of it, a restaurant name is seen everywhere, from the menu to all your marketing materials. So, it’s a critical stage that needs your attention.
Understanding your brand identity is crucial for taking the first step in brainstorming; then there’s structure, use of puns and wordplays, and checking the name availability.
To encapsulate it, your overall operations should reflect the quality of your name. Having restaurant technologies like a smart QR code menu ordering system is definitely a plus.
Take a look at this comprehensive guide to help you pick a name that best suits your business.
How’s the fast food industry doing?
Before choosing a restaurant name for your fast-food service, you might consider its status in the industry.
This is to help you gauge whether it’s a jackpot or not. Take a look at these numbers:
- Global market size
Fortune Business Insight cited the global fast food market’s size in 2020 as about $862 billion, with a significant growth of $972.74 billion the following year.
The report added that the industry will see a 6.05 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by 2028, which is about 1,467.04 billion.
The increased demand for convenience food, grab-and-go snacks, and premade meals has steadily expanded the market.
- Consumption
The Drive Research 2023 report highlighted that two in three people consume fast food once a week, about 65 percent of the population. On average, people spend $148 on fast food each month.
Additionally, a survey has highlighted some generational differences among consumers. Millennials eat fast food most of the time. Specifically, 54 percent eat it a few times a week, with 23 percent consuming it daily.
These findings suggest that the fast food industry’s profit projections are seen as positive, and expansions toward them are expected.
7 strategic ways to pick the best fast food restaurant names
You’re probably in the middle of business planning and brainstorming about restaurant names you will use.
To help you in your selection, here are a few things to consider:
Understand your brand identity
When naming your fast-food restaurant, it is essential that you understand your restaurant branding identity.
This will help you define what your business stands for and how you want your customers to perceive it.
For example, if your restaurant emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, your name should reflect those qualities. If you focus on fun, affordability, and family-friendly dining, you should convey a welcoming vibe.
Understanding your business’s identity ensures that your fast food chain aligns with the concept you’re after, creating a lasting impression that attracts and connects with your customers.
Keep it short and memorable
A concise name is easier for your customers to recall, share, and recognize, especially in this congested industry.
Names like Chipotle or KFC are quick to remember and spell and fit seamlessly on signage and packaging.
Having a shorter name also tends to be more visually appealing and leaves a stronger impression in food advertisements and social media.
So, focus on creating something punchy, distinctive, and relevant to your brand that will stick in the minds of your target audience.
Make it fun and engaging
Making your brand more approachable and memorable involves how your name appeals to your customers.
Playful names for fast food restaurants like Waffle House or Mooyah evoke curiosity and a sense of joy, which are key to attracting a wide audience, especially families and younger diners.
Consider using puns, rhymes, or quirky combinations of words to add a touch of humor or creativity.
Reflect on the menu or cuisine
Make your name reflect your menu. This makes it more appealing and accessible to your target audience.
A descriptive name, like Pizza Planet or Noodle Nation, highlights your specialty and sets clear expectations.
You can also incorporate key ingredients, cooking styles, or cultural references into the name, such as Taco Fiesta or Spice Bowl, to create an authentic connection with your target audience.
Check for availability
A unique name ensures you avoid any legal issues and helps you establish a strong brand identity.
Start by searching online to see if any fast-casual restaurants are already using the fast-food name.
Use trademark databases, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or regional equivalents, to verify that your desired name isn’t registered.
In addition to that, check the domain availability and secure matching handles on social media platforms to establish a consistent online presence.
Test your fast food restaurant names to a focused group
Once the availability is checked, test it with a small group to gather valuable feedback.
Assemble a group that reflects your ideal customers: families, young adults, or food enthusiasts. Present the shortlist of name options you have.
Ask for their impressions and preferences with each name option. Pay attention to how easy they are to pronounce, remember, and spell and whether they align with the concept you’re going for.
This process will help you identify potential issues and refine your options to be more effective.
Avoid overused trends
While keeping up with trends can help you stay fresh and in tune with the growing market, it’s important not to overuse them.
Names that rely on clichés, such as adding “ -Licious,” “ Express,” or “Fusion” indiscriminately, can make your restaurant feel generic and may fail to capture attention.
Instead, focus on originality and authenticity that draws inspiration from your restaurant themes and concept, menu, or values.
Overly trendy names may also age poorly, while distinctive, thoughtfully chosen, unique restaurant name ideas help to build a lasting identity.
Top 35+ examples of unique names for fast food restaurants
If you’re still struggling with your brainstorming, we rescue you with a list of examples you can adapt or benchmark.
General themes
- QuickFix Kitchen
- Speedy Chow
- Rapid Bites
- Crav’ n’ Go
- Dash Diner
- Zip Eats
- Nom Nom Stop
- Swift Snacks
Playful and fun
- Snacc Shack
- Grease Lightning
- Burger Buzz
- Chick Click
- Fry-Fi
- Taco About It
- Wrap City
- Pizza Sprint
- Pasta Rocket
- Bun Intended
Modern and trendy
- Urban Grub Hub
- Snackery
- Flavor Frenzy
- Crave Culture
- Sizzle & Serve
- Bite Society
- Feast Fleet
- Epic Bites Co.
- Crunch Hub
Niche and thematic
- Click & Run (Chicken-focused)
- Patty Paradise (Burgers)
- Spud Sprint (Potato-themed)
- The Noodle Nest (Noodles)
- Slice & Dash (Pizza)
- Roll Out Kitchen (Wraps)
- Sea & Snack (Seafood-focused)
- Vegan Vroom (Plant-based fast food)
Tips on how you should market your restaurant name
Getting your brand name noticed is another thing. Here are some helpful tips you can consider to make your marketing efforts implemented efficiently:
Establish a strong online presence
Digital marketing has undoubtedly taken over the industry, as everyone is on the internet today.
Maximizing social media is a smart starting point. Set up business accounts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
Share engaging posts about your dishes, behind-the-scenes content, specials, events, and customer stories. This content strategy will introduce your business to your target audience.
Ensure you respond to comments, messages, and reviews to build relationships with your followers.
Design a memorable logo
Start with a simple yet striking design that resonates well with your restaurant.
Use colors and fonts that evoke your desired mood, whether warm and cozy for a family diner, bold and edgy for a modern eatery, or elegant for a fine dining experience.
Incorporate unique imagery or icons that make your logo recognizable, such as utensils, food elements, or cultural motifs.
Ensure its scalability so the logo looks great on everything from signage to social media profiles.
Leverage word-of-mouth marketing
Creating unique experiences naturally encourages your customers to share your brand with others.
Start with exceptional food – it could include premade meals or a customizable menu, service, and ambiance to exceed expectations and encourage organic recommendations.
Engage with your community by hosting events, partnering with local businesses, or participating in charity efforts, which can generate buzz.
You can also collaborate with influencers and food bloggers to amplify your reach and make your restaurant a topic of conversation.
Integrate a digital menu ordering system into your fast food service
Once you’ve captured the interest of your target audience with your name, it’s time to hook them up with the quality service you’ll provide.
Advancing your operations using a digital QR code menu ordering system, like MENU TIGER, allows you to give the exact customer service quality, from ordering to paying processes.
This smart software is filled with features and solutions that will surely help create a unique workflow.
Want to know what are those? Here’s a list of what it offers:
- Smart online menu with QR code
Present your menu with high-quality images and vivid descriptions, accessible through a digital menu QR code tech.
This innovative way of ordering allows customers to order without waiting in line or calling your waitstaff.
With just a scan using their mobile phones, they can easily complete their transactions.
- Restaurant marketing tools
Having the right restaurant marketing tools is what you need to implement your marketing initiatives effectively.
MENU TIGER not only improves the order-taking processes but also extends to how well you will promote your restaurant.
Here, you can build your own website without the hassle of coding; just input the information, and the technology does the rest.
You can also set up your promotions on your website for better reach and visibility.
- Payment integrations
MENU TIGER also has various integrations, such as Stripe, PayPal, and the latest addition, Adyen.
You can cater to various customers without having trouble with their payments.
Puns, picks, and profits: Make the best out of your fast food name
With a congested market, you need to step up and make the best fast food restaurant names, ensuring you stay up to the game.
You need to fully grasp brand identity, its availability, and even the length of your name choice.
But it does not end there. It follows through your overall operations and services, reflecting the quality of the restaurant name.
That’s what digital restaurant menu QR code software like MENU TIGER is designed for. It provides you with the necessary tools to ensure your customers feel the quality from the moment they see your restaurant.
It’s a click away from learning more about this feature-riched technology.
Grab your laptop, visit the website, and create an account, as this is set to serve your restaurant well.
