5.18.2026
Nearly a decade ago, Popmenu launched a menu revolution in the restaurant industry with a visually bold, interactive, mobile-first experience that significantly boosts traffic and orders. Now, Popmenu is doing it again with groundbreaking technology that brings dishes to life like never before and reflects how guests prefer to consume digital content today. The company is providing a sneak peek at the technology, which is set to release this summer, in its booth (#6257) at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this week.
Popmenu’s new menu experience pairs its signature SEO/AEO-driven technology that helps restaurants rank high in Google and AI searches with stunning, social reel-style visuals that ignite appetites and drive more orders. Restaurant operators can build the vibe they want and stand out from competitors and third-party marketplaces by:
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Showcasing a highlights reel with enticing videos of featured dishes, loyalty rewards, the restaurant’s story, an incentive to leave a review, and more.
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Providing all the information guests need to choose a dish: photos/videos, reviews posted through their website and Google, allergens, and nutritional information.
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Promoting events, specials and more through a menu ads reel.
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Answering guests’ questions with an AI assistant.
“We’re giving consumers what they want: the sizzle, the texture, the experience,” said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, think of what a video is worth when it comes to attracting guests.”
According to a nationwide Popmenu survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 and older, 82% are more likely to choose restaurants with online menus that feature photos and reviews compared to those with text-only menus. The same percentage are more likely to order a dish with a video compared to one with just a photo.
“This is one of the most competitive markets we’ve seen in recent history,” Sweeney continued. “With consumers tightening their belts and dining out less, restaurants have to try twice as hard to earn every order. That means showing up prominently on digital channels and making it easy for guests to choose them again and again. Our new menu experience was built to do just that.”
On average, consumers spend $90 a week on restaurants, down from $115 in June 2025. Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) say they are reducing their spend on restaurants this year.
Popmenu’s AI-powered solutions are designed to help restaurants of all sizes win business at every step of the guest journey—from the moment they start searching for a place to eat online to when they order and decide whether to return. This includes everything from custom websites, direct online ordering, and automated, personalized marketing to AI phone answering, waitlisting and reservations, and a consumer app. Popmenu also offers the most native integrations for online ordering, delivery and reputation management.
