14 viral content marketing ideas made by restaurants
Good content marketing for restaurants isn't about constant promos or polished food shots (if you do that, you will be like 99% of restaurants on IG: invisible). It's about building a vibe people want to watch and follow.
The restaurants that win on socials today share stuff that feels real and human. It makes people feel like they know you before they even book a table. You'll see with the examples below
And if you're unsure what to post or still stuck with 50 followers, we can help you figure it out.
More blog posts
- Viral content ideas made by restaurants
- Viral marketing trends for restaurants in 2025
- Viral short videos made by restaurants
The Workplace Dread Hook: Turn shared anxiety into engagement
The concept is very simple: show situations everyone hates but rarely talks about (by the way it's a powerful lever we always see when studying viral content.
You start with a normal moment, then introduce the dreaded scenario that instantly changes the mood.
The psychology here is simple: shared negative experiences create strong bonds (we've seen this pattern repeat a lot among viral content pieces).
When viewers see their worst work moments on screen, they usually feel understood and want to engage, so your content goes viral.
Take this example from Sambrooks Tap that got 1.7M views: A server walks cheerfully until spotting her manager pushing tables together (signaling a large group). Her instant dread resonates with every service worker who's been there. The emotional switch from happy to horrified keeps viewers watching and drives comments like "the worst feeling."
@sambrookstaproom What do you mean there's a table of 20? #hospitality #pub #restaurant #work #funny #fyp #waitress ♬ original sound - Jo Moore
Sarcastic Wish Fulfillment: Let your staff act out customer fantasies
Here's a fun idea: show your staff doing what they WISH they could do when customers are annoying.
The trick is making it super sarcastic and exaggerated so everyone knows it's a joke.
Why does this work? Just because your viewers get to live through your servers who finally say what they're thinking. It makes them feel better about their own frustrations while having a good laugh.
It's a very classic format that works well and keeps being repeated on tiktok
Resto Meridiana nailed this with 3.7M views. When customers say "I know the owner," servers react with fake shock, dance, and type "FREEEEE" on the register. The exaggerated sarcasm lets viewers enjoy the revenge fantasy while clearly understanding it's a joke.
@restomeridiana like no one cares lol #restaurant #waiter #restaurantlife @jackcass @Vanessa Palladini ♬ original sound - Kyle & Jackie O
Hyper-Specific Triggers: Find the tiny moments that unite your industry
Here's the thing … you want to find those super specific moments that ONLY service workers understand. The more specific you get, the stronger your connection with viewers who work in restaurants.
Why? Because it makes people feel like they belong. When someone sees exactly what they've experienced, they think "finally someone gets it!".
That's what makes them comment and share.
Table 51 demonstrated this perfectly with 1M views. They captured the exact type of laugh that signals a large group will pay an expensive bill. The owner's subtle volume speaks volumes to anyone who's experienced that.
@table51mtl One bill for the win! 🙌 #restaurant #tiktok #fyp #foryoupage #restaurantlife #meetmeattable #justforfun #waiter #waiters #waiterslife #foryoupageofficial ♬ original sound - Table 51 Restaurant
Guilt Hyperbole: Turn minor mistakes into existential crises
Want to make people laugh? Take tiny service mistakes and blow them WAY out of proportion. Make the guilt so over-the-top dramatic that it becomes funny.
This works because we all beat ourselves up over small mistakes. When you make it ridiculously dramatic, you're basically giving people permission to laugh at their own perfectionism.
Inn at Harbor Shores hit 3.1M views with this concept. A server forgets ranch dressing and describes waking at 3 AM in a cold sweat, haunted by the mistake. The dramatic confession turns a tiny error into comedic content that resonates deeply with service workers who obsess over forgotten requests.
@harborshores Can I get you anything else? Apparently not. #fyp #hospitalityindustry #serverlife #serverproblems #restaurantlife #restauranttiktok #confessional #hospitalityindustry #hospitalityconfessions ♬ original sound - Inn at Harbor Shores
Blame Shift Comedy: Play with workplace power dynamics
This one's about the tension between front and back of house. Show how blame gets passed around - especially when servers get blamed for kitchen mistakes. Make it funny!
Why does it work? Because it shows workplace drama in a safe, funny way. Everyone knows these frustrations, but seeing them exaggerated makes them less stressful.
Paint a Pot & Pizzeria FG got 1M views using this concept. A crying server gets comforted by a chef saying "it's not your fault," then dramatically turns to accuse him instead, complete with a theatrical slap. The sudden aggressive pivot provides cathartic release for every server blamed for kitchen errors.
@paintapot.pizzeria copping the brunt of the anger for something you didnt even do 😔😔😔 #restaurantlife #serviceindustry #workhumour #comedy #hospolife #melbourne #chef #server #waiter #frontofhouse #fyp #cafe @Bianca🎧 ♬ original sound - Stitch
Customer Testing Patience: Show staff restraint under pressure
This strategy is all about showing how incredibly patient your staff are when customers push things too far. The key? Keep your employee calm while the customer gets more and more ridiculous.
People love this because they respect the self-control, and they've all been in situations where they wish they could act differently. It's satisfying to watch someone keep their cool.
CHIPSTA achieved 18.9M views with this approach. A customer exploits "just say when" by asking irrelevant questions while sauce keeps flowing. The employee's stoic patience throughout the ordeal resonates with anyone who's dealt with difficult customers.
@chipstauk Feel bad for him at this point #chipstauk #chipsta #sauceudders #smashburger #smallbusiness #smashburger #junglesauce #halalfoodslough #foodslough ♬ original sound - Chipsta
Literal Interpretation Absurdity: Take business goals to physical extremes
Here's a fun one: take what your boss says and do it in the most literal way possible. Like, REALLY literal. The crazier the interpretation, the funnier it gets.
This works because it's unexpected. People expect normal responses, so when you do something completely absurd, it catches them off guard and makes them laugh.
Red Lion Hollington hit 2.8M views with this concept. When told to "get more customers in," a server physically drags a passerby into the pub. The slapstick execution of a common management request creates humor through sheer unexpectedness.
@redlionhollington Hospitality life. When the boss says we need to get more customers in. @evebill @Evann #theplace4pies #pie #redlionhollington #derbyshire #fyp #foryoupagе #hospitalitylife #comdey #roadto10kfollowers #hospitality ♬ original sound - VanguardVWAustin
Visual Puns and Wordplay: Turn common phrases into sight gags
Here's an interesting approach that'll be easy for your restaurant. Just take everyday restaurant terms (the words and phrases you and your staff use a lot) and create visual jokes around their literal meanings. That's it! Keep it super simple so people get it quickly and share when they find it funny.
The magic is in the wordplay. Everyone loves a good pun, and when you can SEE the joke, it's even better. Plus, you don't need much context - anyone can understand these.
Miller & Carter Chester scored 2.3M views with this technique. Apologizing for being "short-staffed," they reveal literally short employees struggling to reach things. The visual payoff of the familiar excuse creates instant understanding and amusement.
@millerandcarter_chester Our bad… #hospitality #restaurant #server #bar #bartender #steak #small #fyp #waiters #waitress #wine ♬ original sound - Miller&CarterChester
Workplace Voyeurism: Show how staff react to customer drama
This one's super relatable - show your staff pretending to work while obviously listening to juicy customer drama. We all do it, so why not make content about it?
It works because everyone's nosy. We can't help but listen to drama, and seeing others do the same thing makes us feel better about our own curiosity.
Boston Pizza Charlottetown achieved 1M views with this concept. Staff members perform tasks while clearly listening to off-screen drama, showing various levels of subtle eavesdropping. The montage format keeps engagement high as viewers enjoy each person's attempt to look busy.
@boston.pizza.char Customer drama is our connection to the outsude world 🤝 #restauranttiktok #restaurant #restaurantlife #bostonpizzacanada ♬ I MADE A REALLY POPULAR SOUND follow me aha - will haskett
Training Incompetence: Expose systemic workplace failures
Ever been asked to train someone when you had no idea what you were doing? That's this content! Show the awkwardness of untrained people training newbies.
This is funny because it's painfully real. Everyone's been thrown into teaching without preparation, so they cringe and laugh at the same time.
Ipperwash Beach Club got 1M views demonstrating this. An employee uncertainly trains someone while clearly having no idea what they're doing. The rambling audio perfectly syncs with hesitant actions, creating painful recognition for anyone thrown into teaching without preparation.
@ipperwash.beach.c Practice makes perfect, right? #backofhouse #restaurant #workinginhospitality #restaurantlife #linecooklife #trainee #newhires #complimentstothechef #canada ♬ original sound - Hernandez Injury Law
Emotional Vulnerability: Share authentic small business struggles
Sometimes, being real about your struggles is the most powerful content. Show the genuine challenges of running a small restaurant - the disappointments, the empty tables, the stress.
People connect with real emotion. When they see authentic struggle, especially from family businesses, they want to help. They'll share and even visit your place.
Nico's Restaurant Utah achieved massive virality (13.8M views) showing a dad excited to open, then sitting alone in an empty restaurant. The stark contrast between hope and disappointment triggered overwhelming support, with viewers actively visiting the restaurant after seeing the video.
@nicosrestaurantut he looks so stressed😭😭 if you live in utah, make sure to check out my dad's restaurant sometime! It's called Nico's Restaurant 😁😁 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #viral #sad #restaurant #smallbusiness #relatable #mexican #mexicantiktok #mexicanrestaurant #utah ♬ sonido original - felicidad 24/7
Competence Shock: Subvert training expectations
Here's a twist - set up a typical training scene, then surprise everyone when the new employee is actually amazing at their job. Nobody expects competence from a trainee!
Why it works? People love being surprised. They expect newbies to mess up, so when they see real skill instead, it's satisfying and memorable.
Moran's restaurant hit 7M views with this concept. A trainer explains to a new employee who then casually carries three plates with professional ease. The "Someone cooked here" audio emphasizes the unexpected skill level, creating admiration and entertainment.
@moransrestaurant Someone has cooked here! #hospitality #relatable ♬ Stream Breaking Bad now on Netflix - Sony Pictures Television
Customer Confusion Comedy: Capitalize on dining mishaps
Customers make funny mistakes sometimes - like trying to eat the decorative items. Instead of making them feel bad, turn it into gentle humor that everyone can enjoy.
This works because we've all been confused at restaurants. Seeing others make similar mistakes makes us feel better about our own awkward moments.
Hiro Japanese Restaurant captured 5.4M views showing a customer trying to eat a compressed napkin thinking it's food. The server's gentle correction and the customer's embarrassed laugh create wholesome content that's funny without being mean-spirited.
@hirojapaneserestaurant Dine with us at Hiro Japanese Restaurant. 📍Baskerville Avenue, kololo 📞+256 742 517 521 to make your reservation today. #hirojapaneserestaurant #funny #restauranthumor #fyp #sushi ♬ Anxiety - Doechii
Staff Escape Fantasy: Act out leaving work early
Show what every employee dreams of - literally running away when asked to stay late. Make it dramatic and funny!
This taps into the universal desire for work-life balance. Everyone fantasizes about just leaving, so seeing someone actually do it (even as a joke) is super satisfying.
Bobo's Cafe achieved 7.2M views showing an employee fleeing when the closer doesn't show up. The frantic escape through the kitchen and out the back captures every worker's dream of avoiding unexpected overtime, making it highly relatable and shareable.
@boboscafe "Its just another 2 more hours" #customerservice #restaurant #closingshift #closingtime #openingshift #resteraunttiktok #resterauntlife ♬ Nobody - Mitski
More blog posts
- Viral content ideas made by restaurants
- Viral marketing trends for restaurants in 2025
- Viral short videos made by restaurants