Restaurant Photo SEO: Alt Text and File Names That Help (Without Keyword Spam)

TL;DR

• Alt text is for clarity and accessibility first.
• Use descriptive, human language, not keyword stuffing.
• File names and consistent structure make your library usable, too.

What alt text should do

Alt text should answer: "What is this image showing?"

Good alt text for restaurants:

• names the dish
• adds a distinguishing detail when needed (style, key ingredient)
• avoids repetitive "best restaurant in city" keyword spam

Examples:

• "Smash burger with melted cheese and pickles on a toasted bun"
• "Chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and cilantro garnish"

File names: keep them readable

Use dish-first file names:

• smash-burger.webp
• chicken-tikka-masala.webp

If you have multiple locations or versions, add:

• location code
• version number
• date stamp

Don’t overdo it

Avoid:

• stuffing city names into every image
• repeating the same phrase on every photo
• writing alt text that doesn’t match what’s in the image

The practical win

When your images are consistent and accurately labeled, you ship updates faster and your menu is easier for both customers and search engines to understand.

Your menu deserves better photos

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