Restaurant Success Story: 300% More Orders
How a traditional restaurant tripled its online orders with a modern, fast website optimized for mobile devices.
Results achieved: 300% increase in online orders, 12x faster website, 60% more mobile customers within 6 months.
Meet El Huancaíno: A traditional restaurant with modern challenges
El Huancaíno has been serving authentic Peruvian cuisine for over 15 years. Located in downtown, they built a loyal customer base through word-of-mouth and excellent food.
But when the pandemic hit, they faced a new reality: customers wanted to order online, and their old website wasn't cutting it.
The problems they faced
Their old website:
- • Took 8+ seconds to load on mobile
- • Menu was a PDF file that customers couldn't read on phones
- • No online ordering system
- • Phone number was hard to find
- • Not mobile-friendly (60% of their traffic was mobile)
- • Frequent crashes during dinner rush
"Customers were calling to complain they couldn't see our menu on their phones. We were losing orders every day."
— María Rodríguez, Owner of El Huancaíno
The transformation process
Phase 1: Understanding the customer journey
Before designing anything, we spent time understanding how customers actually used the restaurant's website:
- Discovery: Usually through Google searches like "Peruvian food near me"
- Menu browsing: Customers wanted to see prices and dishes quickly
- Ordering: Most preferred WhatsApp or phone orders over complex apps
- Information: Hours, location, and contact info needed to be prominent
Phase 2: Mobile-first design
Since 60% of their visitors used mobile devices, we designed for phones first, then adapted for desktop.
Mobile optimization included:
- • Large, thumb-friendly buttons
- • Easy-to-read menu with prices
- • One-tap WhatsApp ordering
- • Click-to-call phone number
- • Fast-loading images
- • Simple navigation
Performance improvements:
- • Loading time: 8s → 0.7s
- • Image optimization: 5MB → 50KB
- • No more crashes
- • Works offline (basic info)
- • Progressive loading
- • CDN deployment
Phase 3: Streamlined ordering process
Instead of building a complex ordering system, we created a simple flow that matched how customers actually preferred to order:
New ordering flow:
- 1. Browse menu with clear photos and prices
- 2. Click "Order via WhatsApp" button
- 3. Pre-filled message opens in WhatsApp
- 4. Customer adds details and sends
- 5. Restaurant confirms order and delivery time
This felt natural to customers and required no training for staff.
The results: Numbers that matter
Technical improvements
Business impact
6-month results:
Key factors that drove success
1. Mobile-first approach
Recognizing that most customers browse menus on their phones while deciding what to order was crucial. The old site was unusable on mobile; the new one was optimized for it.
2. Speed as a feature
When customers are hungry, they don't want to wait for a website to load. Going from 8 seconds to 0.7 seconds eliminated the main friction point.
3. Simplified ordering
Instead of forcing customers to learn a new app or system, we met them where they already were: WhatsApp.
4. Visual menu design
High-quality photos of dishes with clear pricing made decision-making easier. The old PDF menu was replaced with an interactive, visual experience.
💡 Lesson learned:
Technology should make things easier, not more complicated. The best solutions often feel obvious once implemented.
Customer feedback
"Finally I can see the menu on my phone! The old site was impossible to use. Now ordering is so easy."
— Regular customer via Google review
"The WhatsApp ordering is genius. I can order while walking to the restaurant and it's ready when I arrive."
— Customer feedback via WhatsApp
Challenges and how we solved them
Challenge 1: Staff training
Solution: The new system required no training. Orders still came via WhatsApp, which staff already used.
Challenge 2: Managing increased orders
Solution: We helped implement a simple order management system using WhatsApp Business features.
Challenge 3: Photo quality
Solution: We provided photography guidelines and helped shoot initial menu photos. The owner now maintains quality using our simple checklist.
What other restaurants can learn
- Mobile isn't optional: Most food searches happen on phones
- Speed matters more than features: A fast, simple site beats a slow, complex one
- Meet customers where they are: Use familiar tools like WhatsApp rather than forcing new apps
- Visual menus sell more: Photos of food significantly increase orders
- Simple wins: The easiest path to order is the one customers will use
Ready to transform your restaurant's online presence?
Let's discuss how we can help your restaurant achieve similar results with a modern, mobile-optimized website.
Start Your Restaurant ProjectThe ongoing relationship
Six months later, El Huancaíno continues to thrive online. Our free maintenance service means they can update their menu, hours, and specials without worrying about costs or technical issues.
They've since expanded to delivery apps, but their website remains the primary driver of direct orders—which means higher profit margins and better customer relationships.
Conclusion: Small changes, big impact
El Huancaíno's success wasn't about revolutionary technology or massive investment. It was about understanding their customers' needs and removing friction from the ordering process.
Key takeaways:
- Mobile optimization isn't optional for restaurants
- Speed and simplicity beat complexity every time
- Work with customer habits, don't try to change them
- Visual presentation directly impacts sales
- The right technology makes operations easier, not harder
Every restaurant is different, but the principles remain the same: make it easy for customers to find you, see your menu, and place orders. The technology should be invisible—the food should be the star.