How to Choose the Right Restaurant Name (+ 190 Great Ideas & Examples)

Choosing the right name for your restaurant is one of the most important branding decisions you'll face as a business owner, but coming up with restaurant names can be difficult!   

You might only need a little bit of creative inspiration to come up with an ideal name for your new restaurant business. That's why we put together this collection of restaurant name ideas. From funny and fancy restaurant names to cultural references, we've got 194 ideas to help you find the ideal fit.  

One of the first things potential consumers will see about your restaurant is its name. It's also one of the first things they'll notice when looking for a spot to eat. That means it must be eye-catching and memorable. If your restaurant's name is boring or uninspired, customers are likely to dismiss it without thinking twice.  

On the other hand, a creative and original restaurant name can help you stand out from the crowd and get attention. A nice restaurant name may also grab people's interest in your business, leading them to visit.  

In short, a smart restaurant name can make a significant difference in the success of your restaurant business.  

Here's a quick rundown of how to choose a restaurant name or start coming up with choices.   

1. Identify your restaurant's mission, vision, purpose, and core values.   
2. To get creative, use a restaurant name generator.   
3. Ask for restaurant name suggestions from your community.  
4. Be specific and utilize your location.  

1. Punderful Plates 
2. Fork in the Road Diner 
3. The Cheeky Chef 
4. Haute Dog Diner  
5. Lord of the Fries  
6. Not Your Grandpa’s Grill  
7. Vincent Van Doughnut 
8. Wok This Way 
9. Grillin' & Chillin' Cafe 
10. The Taco Trap 
11. Poultry in Motion 
12. Eat’s Funny  
13. Nosh Pit  
14. Wok and Roll  
15. Grub’s Up!  
16. Munch a Bunch  
17. Lettuce Eat  
18. Bread Pitt  
19. The Dish Dash 
20. The Funky Fork 
21. Wing It Diner 
22. Wrap-ture  
23. Kale Me Maybe  
24. Nacho Daddy  
25. Lettuce Eat Bistro   
26. Sconehenge Bakery & Café  
27. Basic B Burgers  
28. The Notorious P.I.G. BBQ  
29. Whisk Me Away 
30. Forklore 
31. Let's Taco 'Bout It 

Aside from offering outstanding food, one of the easiest ways to gain a cult following is to incorporate a pop culture reference into your brand. The name can then be used to carry out a concept throughout your restaurants. For fans of that particular piece of culture, your restaurant may become a destination spot – and a tremendous commercial boon. People are more likely to remember your restaurant's name if it is related to something they are already familiar with.  

Examples of restaurants that made cultural references are:  

1. Happy Grillmore (from the film Happy Gilmore).  
2. Lord of the Fried (from the novel Lord of the Flies).  
3. Café Jack (named after Jack Dawson from Titanic).  
4. Planet of the Crepes (from the book and film Planet of the Apes)  
5. The Codfather (from The Godfather films)  
6. Custard's Last Stand (Historical Reference)  
7. 16 Handles (from the film 16 Candles).  
8. Tequila Mockingbird (from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird). 
9. Of Rice & Men (from the book Of Mice and Men) 
10. The Hot and the Furious (from the film Fast and Furious)  
11. Filled of Dreams (from the film Field of Dreams).  
12. Earth, Wind, and Flour (by the band Earth, Wind, and Fire)  
13. Lord of the Wings (based on both the novel and the film)  
14. Eat Pray Love (a book)  
15. Frying Nemo (from the film Finding Nemo).  
16. Grillenium Falcon (from the Star Wars films).  
17. Pita Pan (based on the fable Peter Pan)   
18. The Notorious P.I.G. (referring to the late rapper Christopher Wallace)  
19. Planet of Grapes (from the film Planet of the Apes)  
20. Men At Work (the band's name)  

If pop culture references aren't your thing, what about puns? A clever play on words can help your business stand out, especially if the name relates to the food you serve. Here are a few excellent examples.  

1. 21 & Cup 
2. Let's Ketchup  
3. The Brewseum  
4. 9021PHO (Pho Restaurant)  
5. Cheesy Does It (Grilled Cheese Food Truck)  
6. Franktuary (a hot dog store situated in a former church)  
7. Lettuce Eat (Salad Restaurant)  
8. Nacho Daddy (a gourmet nacho spot)  
9. Egglectic Cafe  
10. Sun of a Bun  
11. Basic Knead Pizza  
12. Moon Wok  
13. Sea you soon  
14. Burgatory (burger restaurant with religious a theme)  
15. Unphogettable  
16. Dairy Godmother (Frozen Custard Shop)  
17. Meat U There (a Filipino restaurant)  
18. Eats Meets West  
19. Award Wieners (Hot Dog Shop)  
20. Jamaica Mi Krazy.  
21. Party Fowl (Fried Chicken Joint)  
22. Holy Mole (Mexican Restaurant)  
23. Kale Me Crazy (Healthy Food Restaurant)  
24. Thai and Mighty  
25. Brewed Awakening (Coffee Shop in Michigan)  
26. The Brewseum  

Another element to consider when selecting a restaurant name is how easy it is to say and remember. If you want to increase word-of-mouth business, it helps if people remember your name. Restaurant names that rhyme or incorporate alliteration are enjoyable to say and easy to remember.   

1. ZestZing Kitchen 
2. MunchMate Diner 
3. SavorySpot 
4. Pig 'n' Pancake  
5. Late Night Dine Right.  
6. Chops and Hops  
7. Pies & Thighs  
8. Backyard Bowls  
9. Mellow Mushroom  
10. Wicked Wok  
11. Slice of Spice  
12. Pie In The Sky  
13. Chop and Hops  
14. Yummy in the tummy  
15. Catchy Restaurant Names  
16. ChowChampion Café 
17. YumYard 
18. Savory Symphony  
19. TasteTrove Eatery 
20. PalatePalooza 
21. CrispCrave Café 
22. Morsel Muse  
23. Tantalize Tavern  
24. Palate Parade  
25. Bite Bright  
26. Flavor Fiesta  
27. Sizzle & Sip  
28. Tasteful Tapestry  
29. DineDesign  
30. SavorStudio  
31. NibbleNook 
32. FlavorField Bistro 
33. GrubGrove 

1. Seaside Sizzle 
2. Tide & Table Seafood House 
3. Seabreeze Bistro 
4. Salt & Scale Seafood Kitchen 
5. The Nautical Noshery 
6. Fin & Flounder Feast 
7. Deep Dive Dining.  
8. Siren's Suppers  
9. Mariner's Menu  
10. Oceanic Ovation  
11. Pescatarian Palace 
12. Seafarer's Supper Club 
13. Neptune's Noshing  
14. Aquatic Appetite
15. Oyster Oasis  
16. Coral Café  
17. Blue Bay Bites  
18. Tidal Tastes 
19. Pescatarian Palace  
20. Coral Cove Cuisine 
21. Anchors Away Eatery 
22. Shellfish Shanty 
23. Catch of the Tide 
24. Maritime Munchies  
25. Poseidon’s Plate  
26. Surf ‘n Turf Tavern  
27. Lagoon Lounge  
28. Coastal Crave  
29. Wave’s Wharf  
30. Harbor Haven  

Bakery Names  

These bakery names are so cute, they'll have your customers lining up around the block!  

1. CinnaMan’s Café   
2. The Uprising Craft Bakery  
3. Frosty Favorites 
4. Bunnie Cakes  
5. Sans Gluten Bakery  
6. Mad batter bakers  
7. George’s Ginger Emporium 
8. A Dash of Sweet Bakery  
9. Crumbl Cookies  
10. Mindy’s Muffins  
11. Prairie Boy Bread  
12. Butter Galore  
13. Flour Child Bakery & Café 
14. Bakeology Café & Bakery  

Get in touch with our ultimate handbook on starting a successful bakery business in 2024.  

1. Crust Culture 
2. Mamma Mia's Pizzeria 
3. Dough Daze Pizzeria 
4. Pizza Pantheon 
5. The Saucy Slice 
6. Crispy Crust Cafe 
7. Pizza Planet 
8. Dough Divinity 
9. Pie Panorama 
10. Pizza Picasso 
11. The Rustic Crust 
12. Pinnacle Pizzeria  
13. A Pizza Napoletana  
14. The Sassy Slice  
15. Pomo  
16. Escape to Italy Pizzeria.  
17. Brick Fire Tavern  
18. Cheese Please Pizza  
19. Cindy’s Cucina  
20. La Leggenda Pizzeria  
21. Mozza Heaven Pizza  
22. Flour House  

Also, check out our latest blog on 100 top pizza captions for social media post Instagram. 

1. QuickBite Express 
2. Speedy Eats 
3. Rapid Munchies 
4. FastFuel Diner 
5. The Crystal Table  
6. The Mountain Chef  
7. ZoomZest Fast Food 
8. QuickCrave Cafe 
9. SnapSnack Shack 
10. The Central Garden  
11. The Glass Duke  
12. The Pink Faire  
13. SwiftBite Bistro 
14. TurboTaste Fast Food 
15. RapidGrill 
16. RushRations 
17. BlazeBite Burgers 
18. The Sweet Bistro  
19. Nightowl  
20. ExpressEats Eatery 
21. ZippyZing Fast Food 
22. SwiftSavor Snacks 
23. Accelerate Bites 
24. On-the-Go Grill 

1. The Sushi Bar  
2. Sushi Time  
3. Rolling Sushi  
4. All You Can Eat Sushi  
5. Samurai Sushi  
6. Geisha Sushi  
7. Maki Mania
8. Nori Nirvana 
9. Roll Rhapsody 
10. Umami Universe 
11. Sushi Saga 
12. Nigiri Nook 
13. Bamboo Bites 
14. Sushi Skyline 
15. Dragon Roll Delight 
16. Sushi Samurai 
17. Ninja Sushi  
18. Sumo Sushi  
19. Emperor's Table  
20. Shogun's Palace  
21. Tokyo Sushi  
22. Osaka Sushi  
23. Kyoto Sushi  
24. Jiro Dreams of Sushi  
25. Nobu  
26. Matsuhisa  
27. Urasawa  
28. Tsunami Tastes 
29. Seaweed Serenity 
30. Bento Bliss Sushi House 

These are only a few ideas to help you get started on coming up with the right restaurant name. Remember to be creative and have fun with it!