Restaurant Websites With Online Ordering in Nairobi

Delivery apps have changed how Nairobi eats, and they remain useful for reaching new customers. But commissions on every order add up, and the customer relationship belongs largely to the app. A restaurant website with its own online ordering lets loyal customers order directly, often for less, while the restaurant keeps more of each sale. Here is what such a website needs.

What should a restaurant website include?

• Menu: categories, dishes, descriptions, prices and good photos, easy to update.
• Online ordering: cart, options such as sizes or extras, pickup or delivery, and payment.
• Table bookings: date, time, party size and special requests.
• Location and hours: map, directions, parking and opening times including holidays.
• Delivery information: zones, fees, minimum orders and estimated times.
• Events and private dining: enquiry forms for functions and catering.
• Contact: phone, WhatsApp and email.

How does direct online ordering work?

1. The customer chooses dishes and options and selects pickup or delivery.
2. Delivery fees are calculated by zone.
3. The customer pays through an M-Pesa STK Push prompt or card.
4. The kitchen receives the order instantly on a tablet, printer or dashboard.
5. The customer receives SMS or WhatsApp updates: received, preparing, out for delivery.

Read M-Pesa STK Push explained for the payment step.

How do direct orders compare with delivery apps?

	Delivery apps	Your own ordering
New customer reach	Strong	Depends on your marketing
Commission per order	Yes	No commission, only payment and running costs
Customer data	Largely held by the app	Yours, with consent
Branding and menu control	Limited	Full
Delivery riders	Provided	Your riders or a delivery partner

Most restaurants use both: apps for discovery, direct ordering for repeat customers. Read why restaurants need direct booking websites.

How do you encourage direct orders?

• Put your ordering link and QR code on packaging, receipts and tables.
• Offer a small loyalty reward or free delivery threshold for direct orders.
• Share your link on social media and in your Google Business Profile.
• Make reordering easy for returning customers.

Why does Google Business Profile matter for restaurants?

Many diners find restaurants through Google Maps: "restaurants near me", "nyama choma Westlands", "pizza delivery Kilimani". A complete profile with photos, menu link, hours, booking and ordering links and recent reviews is essential. Respond to reviews and keep holiday hours updated. See our Google Business Profile guide.

What makes a menu page effective?

Use real photos of your dishes, short appetising descriptions, clear prices and dietary notes such as vegetarian or contains nuts. Keep menu pages as real web text rather than PDF images, so they load quickly on phones, can be updated in minutes and can be read by search engines and AI assistants answering questions such as "where can I get vegan food in Kilimani".

What should the kitchen see?

Orders must reach the kitchen instantly and clearly. A simple dashboard or ticket printer showing new orders, items, options, delivery or pickup time and payment status prevents mistakes. Staff can mark orders as preparing or ready, which triggers customer updates automatically. Busy periods are where a clear workflow matters most.

How should delivery be handled for direct orders?

Restaurants taking their own orders need a delivery plan: in-house riders for nearby zones, a delivery partner for busier periods, or pickup only to start. Define zones with fees and estimated times, set a minimum order value for distant areas and show all of this before checkout. Track delivery times and complaints for the first few weeks, then adjust zones and fees based on real data. A reliable delivery experience is what turns a first direct order into a habit.

How do you measure success?

Compare direct orders with app orders each month, along with average order value, repeat orders and the commission saved. These numbers show whether QR codes, loyalty offers and social posts are moving customers to direct ordering.

Example: a restaurant's direct ordering launch

A Westlands restaurant adds online ordering to its website with M-Pesa checkout and zone-based delivery fees. QR codes on takeaway bags invite customers to order directly next time. Orders arrive on a kitchen tablet, and customers receive WhatsApp updates. Delivery apps still bring new customers, while repeat customers increasingly order directly.

Build your restaurant website

See our hotels and restaurants industry page, online ordering and M-Pesa integration services.