Top 20 restaurant marketing campaigns

 

When it comes to the hospitality industry, creativity doesn’t stop at the kitchen-it extends to the way restaurants tell their story and connect with their audience! Restaurant marketing is the secret ingredient that helps new products and dishes stand out from the competition and persuade customers to try them out. To capture attention and stay top-of-mind, famous brands use various clever techniques such as mocking competitors or leveraging trends and cultural perceptions. Surely, the most successful ads are the ones that spark strong emotions whether that’s laughter, passion or admiration in order to create a lasting connection between the brand and its customers.

In this blog post, we’re diving into the top 20 restaurant marketing campaigns that have wowed the world. From iconic television commercials to funny billboards, these campaigns had a drastic impact on people’s perceptions and turned diners into superfans. They are proof of how powerful marketing can be in building demand and brand loyalty. Use them to fuel your next big idea and take your restaurant's storytelling to the next level!

 

👉 Don't forget to check our guide for the best 50 restaurant marketing tools.

1. Burger King - The Not Big Macs

Burger King trolls McDonald’s for losing its Big Mac trademark in the EU as part of its own lawsuit against the Irish chain Supermac’s.

 

2. KFC - FCK

In February 2018, KFC faced a crisis in the UK when a supply chain failure led to widespread chicken shortages and the temporary closure of numerous outlets. The fast-food chain responded with a bold and humorous apology ad that rearranged its logo to spell "FCK" effectively transforming a potential PR disaster into a celebrated example of crisis management.

 

3. Pizza Hut – Official Sponsor of Dominoes

PizzaHut created this great stunt to tease Domino’s Pizza by becoming the official sponsor of the 2024 World Championship Domino Tournament.

 

4. Subway – Subway in the Sky

Want to celebrate how far you’ve come over the last few years? Why not take a giant blimp and turn it into a flying restaurant?

 

5. Chick-Fil-A – Eat Mor Chikin

A funny billboard advertisement from Chik-Fil-A that first appeared in 1995. The phrase kicked off the most recognized advertising campaign in the brand’s history.

 

6. Burger King – Birthdays Should Be Happy

Burger King’s print campaign playfully targeted McDonald’s by promoting "clown-free" birthday parties.

 

7. Pop Eyes - Popeyes

The campaign highlights the iconic "eye-popping" reaction of chicken lovers to Popeyes' generous, Cajun-spiced chicken, renowned for its 12-hour marination and bold flavor.

 

8. Friends & Brgrs

Friends & Brgrs, founded on friendship, offers locally sourced burgers and captures its brand essence in a simple but powerful visual.

 

9. KFC – Finger Lickin’ Good

KFC temporarily paused its iconic "Finger Lickin' Good" slogan during the COVID-19 pandemic due to hygiene concerns by altering its packaging.

 

10. Pizza Hut - Foosball Pizza Box

Pizza Hut’s ‘12th Player Club’ campaign introduces the Foosball Pizza Box which combines football fun and great pizza.

 

11. Nandos - Hot Peri-Peri

This Nando’s ad turns up the heat: Extra Hot Peri-Peri Sauce that leaves a mark—literally!

 

12. Pizzaria da Vinci - Italy 

Pizzeria da Vinci blends authentic Italian pizza with art in its creative visuals.

 

13. KFC - Hot & Spicy

One of the most iconic KFC campaigns featuring numerous visuals that replace fire with the brand’s famous fried chickens.

 

14. Burger King - Moldy Whopper

Douglas MacArthur's famous quote, “You are remembered for the rules you break,” perfectly applies to this bold Burger King ad. While it’s a standard marketing rule to avoid showing rotten food in advertisements, Burger King broke the norm to take aim at their rival, McDonald’s, proudly showcasing that their Whopper contains no preservatives—allowing it to mold naturally.

 

15. Donatos - Newscaster, Steaming pizza, Model

This smart billboard campaign, titled "Newscaster, Steaming Pizza, Model," was launched in the United States in August 2016 by Donatos.

 

16. Domino’s - Paving for pizza

Dominos paved bad roads in 50 states to prevent good pizza from getting destroyed during delivery.

 

17. McDonald’s - TableBag

McDonald's introduced the "TableBag," a 100% recyclable take-out box that doubles as a portable eating table, during Milan Design Week, to address limited dining space for the event's large crowd.

 

18. Chipotle’s "Roll" Ads

Chipotle grabs attention with a playful advertisement that highlights its signature burritos with humour.

 

19. Waffle Factory - The Waffle Bed

To celebrate International Waffle Day, Waffle Factory unveiled a life-sized, waffle-inspired bed resembling their Banana Split waffle, complete with toppings, blending creativity and comfort to honor their Belgian dessert legacy.

 

20. Pizza Hut - The Leaning Tower of Pizza

Pizza Hut’s ‘Leaning Tower of Pizza’ campaign cleverly pays tribute to Italy, making it a memorable marketing masterpiece.