Social Media Ideas for Austin Restaurants
- Simon Carandang
- Dec 1, 2025
- 4 min read
Austin’s restaurant scene is one of the most competitive in the country. From food trucks on East 6th to upscale dining downtown and cozy family spots in South Lamar, every business is fighting for attention—and customers are discovering new places almost entirely through social media.
This means your restaurant needs strong, creative, and consistent social media content if you want to stand out in a city overflowing with options.
Below are the best social media ideas for Austin restaurants that not only help you grow followers, but also drive real foot traffic, repeat customers, and long-term brand loyalty.
Behind-the-Scenes Kitchen Content
Austin diners don’t just want to eat—they want an experience. Showing what happens behind the scenes brings your audience closer to your food and your story.
1. Show Your Kitchen in Action
People love watching:
Fresh tortillas being made
Brisket hitting the smoker
Dumplings being folded
Ingredients sizzling on the grill
Drinks being shaken or poured
Short clips like these perform extremely well on Reels and TikTok.
2. “Chef’s Special of the Week” Videos
Let your chef introduce a new menu item or feature. Austin customers appreciate creativity and personality in the kitchen.
3. Staff Spotlights
Highlight:
Your cooks
Prep team
Baristas
Bartenders
Long-time employees
Austin locals love supporting restaurants with heart and authenticity.
4. Recipe Teasers
Don’t reveal your full recipes—but show:
A spice mix
A marinade
The plating process
A signature drizzle or sauce swirl
The goal is to make viewers think: “I need to try that.”
5. Morning Prep Routines
Post early morning clips of:
Dough rising
Baristas dialing in espresso
Veggies being chopped
Brisket going into the smoker at 5 AM
This content builds trust and shows you care about quality.
Location-Based Hashtags
Austin is a hyper-local city, and using location hashtags is essential for discoverability.
1. Use Austin-Specific Hashtags
Some of the best include:
These hashtags help you show up in searches for locals and tourists looking for food recommendations.
2. Neighborhood Hashtags
Use the hashtags relevant to your area:
People search for restaurants close to where they live, work, or hang out.
3. Event Hashtags
Certain events bring massive traffic:
Restaurants that tap into event hashtags see noticeable increases in reach.
4. Geo-Tag Every Post
Always tag:
Your restaurant location
Austin, Texas
Popular nearby landmarks
Your posts and Reels will then appear in Austin discovery feeds.
Influencer Tastings
Austin has one of the strongest food influencer communities in the U.S. From micro-creators to big-name food pages, influencer marketing works exceptionally well for restaurants here.
1. Invite Local Austin Food Influencers
Great categories include:
ATX food bloggers
TikTok food reviewers
Local Instagram foodies
YouTubers covering Austin eats
Even small creators with 3k–20k followers often bring more conversions than major influencers.
2. Host a Tasting Event
Invite 5–10 Austin influencers for:
Menu tasting
Cocktail sampling
New dish previews
They’ll create reels, photos, and stories that generate huge buzz.
3. Offer Influencer Specials
Example ideas:
An exclusive off-menu item
A discount for their followers
A collaboration meal
This builds hype and makes people feel included.
4. Partner With Micro-Influencers Regularly
Micro-creators tend to:
Respond faster
Charge less
Have more authentic engagement
They are especially effective for new restaurants or food trucks.
5. Track Influencer ROI
Measure:
New followers
Website traffic
Reservations
Order spikes
Foot traffic increases
Influencer marketing in Austin can deliver massive returns if done correctly.
UGC & Guest Photos
UGC—user-generated content—is one of the most powerful forms of marketing for Austin restaurants.
People trust real customer photos more than anything brands create. And in Austin, where restaurants are social hubs, UGC is central to building community.
1. Create “Instagram” Moments
Design spots in your restaurant like:
A neon sign
A mural wall
A unique plate presentation
A drink that smokes, steams, or glows
A colorful dessert
Austin customers love taking photos—and you want your restaurant to be the photo destination.
2. Repost Guest Content
Repost:
Stories
Reels
TikToks
Photos
Tag the customer and thank them for visiting. More customers will post about you.
3. Create a Branded Hashtag
Example:
Encourage customers to tag you.
4. Run UGC Contests
Offer a reward for:
Best photo of the month
Best couple’s night photo
Best brunch post
Most creative food shot
This boosts participation and makes your customers your marketers.
5. Feature Customer Reviews
Turn them into:
Graphic posts
Reels with voiceovers
Slideshow highlights
Social proof drives dining decisions—especially for Austin foodies.
Seasonal Promotions
Austin is a city full of festivals, weather shifts, holidays, and local culture. Seasonal promotions help align your restaurant with what’s happening around the city.
1. SXSW Specials
During SXSW:
Offer themed menu items
Extend hours
Partner with traveling influencers
Create a SXSW-only cocktail or dish
Tourists search for “best places to eat during SXSW”—make sure you show up.
2. ACL Festival Menus
Create festival-friendly items like:
Quick bites
Grab-and-go meals
Portable drinks
ACL brings a huge wave of hungry visitors.
3. Summer Patio Content
Austin summers = outdoor dining.
Post:
Cold drinks
Refrescantes
Summer bowls
Frozen margaritas
Patio vibes
These perform extremely well on Instagram.
4. Fall & Winter Comfort Foods
Highlight:
Soups
Hot bowls
Homemade desserts
Warm cocktails
Austin locals love cozy seasonal dishes when cooler weather hits.
5. UT Game Day Promotions
Game day specials are a goldmine:
Wings
Beer deals
Tailgate packs
Orange-themed drinks
Tag:
This draws students and alumni.
6. Holiday-Themed Posts
For:
Valentine’s Day
Christmas
New Year’s Eve
Mother’s Day
Thanksgiving
Easter Brunch
Seasonal menus perform extremely well online.
Final Thoughts
The Austin food scene is packed with incredible restaurants, food trucks, bars, and cafés—so standing out requires more than just good food. You need a strong, creative, and consistent social media presence that speaks to the heart of Austin culture.
By posting behind-the-scenes content, using location-based hashtags, partnering with influencers, leveraging UGC, and creating seasonal promotions, your restaurant can build a loyal community and attract a steady stream of customers.
If you're an Austin restaurant looking for social media help, we can create high-performing content, manage your pages, and drive real results that bring people through your doors.
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