Otter’s latest features for September. Update pricing for groups of items, understand menu category sales, and customize printer settings from your Otter device.

Otter Product Updates – September 4, 2024

The new product mix report for Otter POS customers lists your item categories and shows you the sales of each. Toggle between items and modifiers to see what’s driving your orders.

Understand which menu categories are driving sales

Set specific routing rules by station and fulfillment mode for all your printers right from your Otter device.

A new menu toggle in the Menus app enables you to view, create, and manage all your separate menus for any or all of your locations.

You can now update your menu items’ prices across all stores that carry them. Alternatively, segment pricing by channel or fulfillment mode to optimize profits for each.

30 Instagram Reels ideas for restaurants: The ultimate guide for 2025

Hungry diners are scrolling, double-tapping, and ordering on a whim, all because of 15-second videos that showcase sizzling entrees and behind-the-scenes restaurant magic. Welcome to 2025, where short-form video reigns supreme in the restaurant social media marketing landscape, dominating Instagram feeds and helping customers choose where – and what – to eat.

Unlike traditional posts or Instagram stories that primarily reach existing followers, restaurant Reels make regular appearances in Instagram’s Explore page, as well as the direct feeds of users who have shown interest in similar content. This can lead to notable increases in profile visits, follower growth, engagement, and most importantly, business. The more users seeing your Reels, the more reservations, foot traffic, and online orders you’re going to get. Let’s dive in!

Instagram Reels are short videos that can help your restaurant show off food, staff, and atmosphere in fun, quick ways. In 2025, Reels can be up to 90 seconds long, but restaurants usually receive more attention with videos that fall between 7-15 seconds.

Think of Reels like Instagram’s answer to popular TikTok videos. Approximately 2 billion users worldwide rely on Instagram to find new restaurants, check out a restaurant’s aesthetic/vibe, see cool food trends, or learn to make delicious dishes. The great thing about Reels is you don't need to be a professional videographer with fancy equipment to create attention-grabbing video content.

Instagram marketing has made it easy for restaurant business owners to post Reels with useful tools like:

Easy editing tools automatically suggest music or other types of trending sound to get more views

Ready-to-use templates designed specifically for emphasizing your top dishes

Special filters that make bites look even more appetizing than they already are

Automatic captions for people to enjoy your content without sound

Voice recording options that give you a chance to tell the stories behind your dishes

Interactive stickers like polls or questions so customers are more inclined to engage with you

The best part? These powerful features are incredibly simple to use. Even if you've never made a video before, you can create a professional-looking Reel in no time at all.

Why should your restaurant use Instagram Reels?

Making Instagram Reels for your restaurant isn't just about following a trend. It's about getting real benefits from the use of social media that help your business grow. Here's why restaurant Reels are a must in 2025 and beyond:

Higher algorithm priority means more people see your content

According to Socialinsider, Instagram’s algorithm gives priority to Reels over regular photo posts, pushing them out for an average reach rate of 30.81%, compared to just 13.14% for image posts. In other words, when you post a Reel of your delicious pasta dish, it gets seen by nearly 18% more potential customers than if you just posted a photo. 

Smarter audience targeting through AI-powered recommendations

Instagram now uses smart technology to show your Reels to the right people. If someone likes watching videos about pizza, and your Italian restaurant posts a pizza-making Reel, Instagram will likely show it to them – even if they don't follow you yet. The platform also prioritizes showing your content to users in nearby areas, increasing the chances of reaching potential customers who can actually visit your establishment. This location-based targeting means people in your neighborhood or city are more likely to discover and engage with your Reels, converting online viewers into in-person diners. 

New monetization options that increase your income

If you’re already making good Reels, why not use them to make some extra income? In 2025, restaurants can now earn money through their Reel content with paid partnerships and ads. To emphasize the benefits of this feature, include a link in your Instagram bio where hungry patrons can order off your menu with just one click. 

Otter's Online Ordering solution provides restaurants with their very own website, cutting out 3rd party commissions, and allowing customers to order directly from your personal URL link. 

Enhanced engagement features to attract more customers

2025 has made Reels a lot more fun with the introduction of interactive features like polls, questions, and buttons for viewers to click. Instead of just watching your content, potential customers can now actually engage with your restaurant and build a relationship. And with visual content driving up to 88% of modern-day purchases, you’re almost guaranteed to boost your bottom line.

Short-form videos dominate the Instagram space

The numbers prove it – Reels get more attention than photos or longer videos and are the missing piece to a strong Instagram account. Restaurant Reels mean you can now:

Announce new menu items or upcoming events

Give a sneak peek at what happens in the kitchen

Advertise the fun atmosphere of your restaurant

In the food business, it’s critical that you make your social media content look as appetizing as possible, and the ambience more inviting than your competition. Reels let you capture not just how your food looks, but how it sizzles and steams against the background of your vibey kitchen. This creates a more complete picture of the dining experience you offer, enticing viewers to visit your restaurant and try it themselves! 

30 free Instagram Reels ideas for your restaurant

Looking for fresh content ideas that don’t require a professional film crew? Drawing on years of experience helping hundreds of restaurants upgrade their operations and attract more diners, the team at Otter has compiled a collection of 30 Instagram Reels ideas specifically designed for restaurants. Each suggestion below is easy to create, engaging for viewers, and perfectly showcases everything that makes your menu a must-try!

Viewers love getting a glimpse into spaces they don't normally see, like your kitchen! Use immersive video effects to give your social media followers a behind-the-scenes experience, fostering curiosity and a feeling of trust.

Food prep videos will always be top performers on Instagram. The best part? They’re super easy to put together. Just set up your phone on a stable surface, record the cooking process from prep to plate, and speed it up! 

Show viewers how to make simplified versions of your chef’s signature recipes. Not only does this position your chef as an expert, tutorials are valuable and easy to share, and are sure to make your now-potential-customers feel hungry!

Excited to show off the latest dish you’ve developed? A Reel is the perfect opportunity to unveil the latest addition to your menu. Instead of sending out an email or advertisement, create a virtual event that your customers can attend from anywhere! Make sure to include elements of anticipation, surprise, and exclusivity to make viewers truly feel like insiders.

Testimonials are one of the best ways to reach new customers. With an Instagram Reel, you can show off clips of real customers sharing what they love about your food. Authentic reactions are more convincing than any marketing claim you could make.

Check out one of Otter’s testimonial Reels for inspiration.

Establish a deeper bond with your viewers by virtually introducing them to the real people who work at your restaurant. Highlight the personalities behind your restaurant with quick, fun staff features and impromptu interviews.

Display the vibrant colors and textures of seasonal produce before they become menu items. If you source ingredients from a local farmers market, include some insight into your shopping experience. Not only does this highlight your commitment to freshness, it gets viewers feeling hungry for the final product.

A great way to position your restaurant as authentic is by sharing quick demonstrations of cooking techniques. Specialized methods capture Instagram’s attention, so focus things most viewers won’t do at home by flambéing or hand-pulling noodles. Reel addicts love sharing these types of skill-based videos with their friends. 

Who doesn’t love a good pairing? Reach a wider audience than you would in-house with virtual guides where you match your top menu items with their complementary beverages. These educational videos add value while subtly encouraging customers to spend more.

Capture the unique atmosphere of your space and invite new customers to dine in by filming a few moving shots that showcase lighting and design. Helping viewers "feel" your restaurant's vibe before visiting increases their comfort and interest.

Sure, pretty plates make better Instagram photos, and better Instagram photos mean more patrons walking through the door. Instead of relying on existing customers to show off your most beautiful dishes, why not capture the artistry behind the plating itself? The transformation from a dish’s most basic components to its final presentation is consistently engaging.

Feature community-driven food challenges that encourage engagement and participation. For example, incorporate a spice challenge and invite customers to try your spiciest dish on camera. Post quick clips of these brave participants trying the challenge, their reactions, and success stories.

Highlight your eco-friendly initiatives like composting or reduced packaging. You can even go so far as to show them your compost routine! Today's diners increasingly make choices based on values, making this content both ethical and strategic.

Create engagement and get useful market research on the foods your followers want to see on your menu. Use Instagram's poll feature to invite your target audience to vote potential new items, building anticipation for the inevitable reveal and promoting your restaurant in a fun way.

Share professional kitchen hacks that viewers can use in their own cooking, from chopping techniques to best ways to store leftovers. These types of offerings position your restaurant as helpful and authoritative while providing genuine value for your customers.

Allow followers to connect with your restaurant by showing the day-to-day operations, from staff lunch breaks to crisis management. This authentic content humanizes your brand and satisfies natural curiosity about what happens behind closed doors.

Do you regularly use AI to optimize your menu offerings? The world loves a tech-savvy small business, so don’t be afraid to highlight the ways you use technology to enhance your dishes. You’ll appeal to innovation-minded diners while showing off your bold creativity.

Pro tip: You can generate 13% more revenue with Otter’s AI Marketing solution–allowing you to easily run ads on top delivery apps.

Evoke viewer emotion by sharing your restaurant’s founding story or by inviting viewers to take part in a milestone anniversary using brief yet profound clips. Personal narratives create sentimental connections that transform customers into loyal supporters.

Let people subtly know that your restaurant is ready to host their next big event by documenting your event prep process. From sourcing ingredients to plating for dozens, film every private event, holiday, or special dining experience you host. Clips like these build anticipation and show your ability to create memorable occasions.

Create first-person perspective videos showing what a customer can expect when dining at your restaurant. Film the journey of a hungry diner from entrance to empty plate, reducing any anxiety diners might have about coming in for the first time.

Reels that feature fun, charismatic bartenders creating signature drinks with flair are guaranteed to grab your ideal client’s attention. Cocktail videos perform exceptionally well, especially when they showcase dramatic techniques.

Explain how your restaurant interprets current food trends, like fusion cuisine or butter boards, with your unique perspective. These position your brand as contemporary and knowledgeable about the culinary landscape, while simultaneously intriguing your foodie followers.

Holidays are a great way to boost reservations. Use Reels to promote your restaurant’s seasonal offerings and create some urgency around limited-time items. This, combined with an increase in holiday spirit, can significantly drive bookings, like it did for Otter client Logan’s Candies.

Highlight whatever innovative tech you use to improve the dining experience, from kitchen equipment to kiosk ordering systems like Otter’s. Tech-focused content attracts forward-thinking diners interested in novel experiences.

Demonstrate creative uses for typically discarded food parts or preservation methods that you use, even better if they’re tips that viewers can follow at home. With so many environmentally conscious diners out there, you can appeal to a wide audience while highlighting your restaurant's resourcefulness.

Are there any unique insights you could share about the cultural significance or history behind your restaurant’s menu? Educational content, like this Reel from Otter client Tamales Vely, performs notably well on Instagram and positions your restaurant as culturally respectful. 

If you’ve got a trophy case of awards or a list of accolades your restaurant has received, let your viewers know! Recognition videos build credibility and give you an opportunity to publicly thank your team and customers.

The change of season is an excellent time to produce eye-catching content. With Reels, you can include dynamic transitions that show old menu items being swapped out by new seasonal dishes. These create anticipation and highlight your restaurant’s commitment to the freshest ingredients.

Invite customers to participate in a branded challenge. Consider quirky competitions like “build your own burger” or “name that pasta”, encouraging participants to film and share their final product while tagging your restaurant. User-generated content significantly extends your reach beyond your follower base.

Document limited-time collaborations with guest chefs from different culinary backgrounds. Showcase the creative process of two chefs combining their unique styles to create special menu items that are only available for a short time. With Reels like this, you’ll create a sense of urgency and excitement amongst your viewers. 

How to make a Reel on Instagram for your restaurant

The best part about making a Reel? Fancy equipment is not required! Here is a simple step-by-step guide to creating eye-catching short video content and trending reels with just your smartphone.

Go to your restaurant's Instagram account and tap the "+" sign at the top right corner. Select "Reel" from the menu.

The following two options will help you create an endless stream of different types of reels.

Record directly: Tap and hold the round button to record clips.

Use existing videos: Tap the square icon to choose videos you've already saved to your phone.

Pro Tip: Be aware of the way the light enhances your product. Film food near windows during daylight hours for the most appetizing results. Scroll the accounts of restaurants you admire for Reel inspiration!

3. Enhance your Reel to engage more viewers

Now that you've uploaded your video to Instagram, it's time to enhance it to draw the attention of more viewers. Try the following beginner-friendly tricks to bring your Reel from good to outstanding:

AI-assisted auto-editing that helps arrange your clips perfectly

Templates for restaurants with pre-set transitions, clever captions, and effects

Automated captions & voiceovers to make your Reels accessible to everyone

Effects that highlight dishes in an appetizing way

Pro Tip: Add trending audio to help get more visibility - tap the music note to add the most popular melodies.

Tap "Preview" to watch your Reel and make final adjustments. Then add:

Adding your location and tagging your restaurant will significantly improve your ability to be discovered locally, so don’t skip these two critical steps.

Tap "Share to Reels" to post right away, or save it to your drafts folder to post during peak hours.

Pro Tip: Respond to comments within the first hour to boost engagement signals!

Following these steps will help your restaurant's Reels reach hungry customers who are ready to eat!

What is the best time to post Instagram Reels for restaurants in 2025?

The best times to post Reels vary based on your specific audience, which you can find under your ‘Insights’ on Instagram. However, in 2025, peak engagement times for restaurants tend to be:

Weekdays: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (lunch) & 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (dinner rush).

Weekends: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (brunch) & 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Since these are busier times for restaurants, you can always schedule out Reels in advance so you’re not posting in real-time but still gaining the benefits of being active on social.

How long should an Instagram Reel be in 2025?

The ideal Reel length in 2025 is 7-15 seconds to guarantee maximum engagement. However, Instagram now supports up to 90 seconds, so longer videos can convey good storytelling or compelling tutorials. The key is to capture attention in the first 3 seconds and maintain interest throughout the entire Reel.

Can Instagram Reels help my restaurant attract local customers?

Appearing in "Near You" recommendations, a new feature for 2025 

Encouraging user-generated content from local customers who tag your restaurant

Restaurants that consistently use location tags in Reels have a higher chance of new customers discovering them through localized Reels.

How can I measure the success of my Instagram Reels?

Use Instagram's built-in analytics and metrics to track:

Views & watch time (higher engagement = better ranking)

Shares & saves (indicate valuable content)

Follower growth (shows impact on brand awareness)

Click-through rate (CTR) on links (if using Reels ads)

Look for patterns in your highest-performing Reels to understand what content resonates best with your audience, then create more similar content.

FAQs about Instagram Reels for restaurants

In the race for food truck success, a strong suite of POS solutions puts your business in the fast lane. Check out Otter’s top food truck POS systems for 2025 in this new blog post, and shift your mobile restaurant’s profit up a gear.

5 Best Food Truck POS Systems of 2025

For a food truck business, a strong point-of-sale (POS) system is just as important as a high-powered engine. POS hardware is essential for payment processing, managing menu items, ensuring order accuracy, and more – especially when your eatery is on the road. With so many hardware options to choose from, though, finding the right POS suite isn’t an easy task. To help you understand what POS features and systems matter most for food truck owners, we’ve put together this list of the best food truck POS systems on the market today. 

Unlike sit-down restaurants, food truck owners have to deal with the responsibilities of constant mobility, which makes manual pricing, invoicing, and inventory management a major challenge. Without the real-time support provided by a strong set of POS software, keeping wait times low and profitability high isn’t always feasible. That’s why restaurant POS systems are critical to food trucks – having access to immediate cloud-based services and automation simplifies the checkout process and speeds up sales reporting, so you’re never losing time or revenue. 

By adopting a powerful POS platform, your food truck gains access to a variety of customizable, user-friendly order solutions, keeping productivity and profit high wherever you go. Modern POS technology also grants your truck the ability to access new sources of revenue, like online ordering and loyalty programs, maximizing your income on every order sold. Use the following list to determine the best POS system for your food truck, and start earning more wherever the road takes you.

How do we evaluate POS systems for food trucks?

As experts in the restaurant POS system space, the Otter team understands that mobile eateries have different sets of needs to traditional sit-down businesses. We’ve evaluated every POS platform on this list for ease-of-use, customer support, pricing (upfront costs + processing fees), flexibility, integrations, and additional features. Across the following list, you’ll also find our recommendations for the needs of large and small businesses, as well as general evaluations of each POS platform’s providers to keep you fully informed. 


When selecting a piece of POS technology – especially in the food truck business – keep in mind you’re committing to an ecosystem that includes both physical, real-world hardware (card readers, receipt printers, iPhone/Android-like mobile POS tools) and software (apps, programs, and internet-enabled services). No food truck has unlimited space, so seeking all-in-one technology is particularly important. We’ve taken these unique demands into account when evaluating these POS systems to make your decision process easier.

The 5 Best POS Systems for Food Trucks in 2025

The Otter POS system is an all-in-one mission control platform for food truck and mobile dining businesses of any size or type. Otter’s variety of first-party apps help to eliminate the need for redundant add-on hardware and optimize your food truck’s speed. With over 100 integrations for third-party apps, Otter POS is also extremely customizable, always keeping your team in control. A range of additional features provides options for SMS notifications, AI Marketing, contactless payments, etc. 

All-in-one software that consolidates everything you need to run your business into one screen

Speed-focused POS functionality that makes training staff on the software easy and user friendly

Seamless software updates, ensuring stability and preventing accessibility issues while also constantly being improved with new features

Otter is the first POS designed with native integrations to encompass all your restaurant apps and needs in one system.

Multi-location capabilities that centralize and allow for you to easily edit menus, make sales, and more across locations with one platform

Platform focuses on digital services, with few tools for physical menus. 

Some additional online and offline processing fees required (on a per-order basis)

Currently not for full service restaurants due to lack of table management features


Pricing: POS features range from $19/mo (with 3.19% + 15¢ per order) to $59/mo (with 2.99% + 30¢ per order). Various add-ons are available from $10/ to $99/month. Learn more here. 


Recommendation: As an all-in-one POS system, the Otter platform is ideal for food truck owners of any size looking to maximize their revenue without the need for excessive hardware. The platform is built for constant efficiency, and a high level of customization lets food truck owners decide which features are best for their personal needs. Full transparency throughout Otter’s pricing structure also helps users manage their revenue effectively, keeping profit high on every order sold. Otter is recommended for all mobile eateries looking to grow and succeed!

The Square POS platform is one of the most popular and recognizable pieces of payment processing software on the market today, and is used by food truck owners and customers alike. With Square’s dedication to cross-industry flexibility, your team can be sure that the tools they receive are well-tested and developed by a company with a strong track record of supporting small businesses. Square hardware is also known for a high level of integration support, making it popular even with clients of competing POS suites. 

Strong first-party support – Square is a recognized brand worldwide

Significant customization and integration options, maintaining client control 

Free pricing options, helping smaller businesses reduce unnecessary costs

Online and offline modes, eliminating the need for a constant internet connection

Extensive customer support resources, including multi-language help documentation

High monthly fees for non-free options, preventing maximized order revenue

Poor feature support geared towards the unique needs of food truck businesses

Limited hardware options, typically necessitating additional order technology

Frequent UI changes and redesigns, harming long-term accessibility

Focus on contact-heavy customer payments, potentially impairing service speed


Pricing: Base price ranges from $0/month (with 2.65% fee per transaction) to over $35/month (with 3.4% + 15¢ fees per transaction). Higher-tier quote pricing is available upon request. 


Recommendation: The Square POS platform is usually considered the industry standard for efficient payment processing. As a POS suite with a large, cross-industry client base, though, keep in mind that Square’s functionality is not specifically-designed with food trucks in mind, which can limit functionality for mobile restaurateurs (and eaters). Square POS makes a good piece of add-on order equipment, but for a primary order processing environment, look elsewhere. 

Toast POS’s hardware is often seen in traditional restaurant businesses, and the platform has developed a firm following of owners across various cuisines and eatery types. Though much less common in food truck businesses than in sit-down establishments, the feature set of Toast POS still provides value to teams seeking an extensive list of first-party order features. Recently, the Toast platform has also introduced new mobile ordering hardware, further strengthening flexibility in kitchens with limited space. 

Large array of restaurant features for order processing, menu management, etc. 

Heavy hardware diversity – handheld order tools, tabletop POS terminals, etc. 

Steady relationships with third-party delivery platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.)

Significant options for offline features & dedicated support options

Solutions are designed for sit-down restaurants, not food trucks, harming flexibility

Offline functionality requires some additional fees, impairing profit on certain orders

Exclusivity commitment required for usage, preventing revenue diversification

Issues often reported with customer support – help resources can be vague

Limited cloud-based functionality can prevent rapid usage of order and sales data


Pricing: Core Toast POS features are available from $69/month. Additional features are provided on a custom pricing model, and are exclusively quote-based. 


Recommendation: While the Toast POS suite is often considered a strong choice for sit-down restaurants, food truck owners may find its functionality lacking in a few key areas. Toast’s hardware is quite powerful, but it’s known for demanding significant counter space and mid-service attention, which are clear obstacles in a mobile dining environment. Additionally, Toast’s quote-based pricing model may be difficult for food truck owners to contend with.

A long-time player in the restaurant POS industry, Revel’s order processing tools have had over a decade of continuous development, and are fittingly full-featured and stable. The company prides itself on a high level of flexibility in both services provided and order payment models, aiming for a broad, general range of clients. Food truck owners that use the Revel platform can expect a wide range of features to cover common restaurant necessities, and can provide their eaters with loyalty programs and digital promotions. 

Brand-wide focus on payment and hardware flexibility, heightening customization

Variety of in-house hardware options to choose from, eliminating redundant add-on tech

Heavy customer engagement features, encouraging repeat orders

Open platform API, letting business owners add new functionality to POS software

Designed for speed and efficiency in various environments, including food trucks

Poor customer support options – no 24/7 helpline, and help documentation is limited

Vague, quote-based pricing model, preventing long-term profitability planning

Limited third-party integrations, with few options for high-profile delivery apps

API customization requires significant programming knowledge and time investment

Lacking brand trust across the restaurant industry from business owners and eaters


Pricing: All Revel POS pricing is quote-based. Completion of a free platform demo is required prior to pricing being provided. 


Recommendation: Revel POS is a familiar name in the restaurant industry. The company prides itself on high flexibility and a large amount of eater engagement tools, and offers various POS features to meet common needs of restaurant owners. Food truck operators will likely be driven away by the brand’s quote-based pricing model, though, and with few support resources, the platform can’t be as easily relied upon as its competitors. 

A recent entrant to the digital restaurant space, Korona POS has garnered excitement from a number of notable industry publications over the past year. Currently aimed mostly towards small businesses, of which food trucks are included, the Korona POS platform displays combined functionality for various POS-specific needs. As a fast-growing company, the Korona team has also been noted for their extensive customer support activities, and clients of the platform can enjoy 24/7 one-on-one support and hands-on demo opportunities. 

High level of client support and interaction

An array of POS features for order processing, customer loyalty, etc. 

Physical hardware and promotional items (gift cards, etc.) available for client usage

Diverse collection of multi-location order tools, supporting client growth and development

Advanced POS tools for loss reporting, order analytics, eCommerce options, etc. 

Client base currently focuses on small and scaling businesses over established brands

Feature list is entirely order-focused, with no tools for menu or brand management

Certain parts of the system are still under continuous development, preventing stability

Pricing is vague and quote-based, with little information on upfront or processing fees

Steep learning curve required for first-party POS software and hardware


Pricing: Korona POS pricing is entirely quote-based. Personalized demos and free trial sessions are available upon request. 


Recommendation: The Korona POS platform has seen plenty of buzz in the modern restaurant industry, and is poised to become a major POS competitor over the next few years. Certain food truck owners may be swayed towards this platform based on high client engagement and support resources, along with various order management tools. Be sure to keep long-term scalability in mind, though – as a still-developing restaurant tech brand, Korona POS is liable to change as it grows, which may require a shift in your own business’s planning going forward. 

What makes Otter POS valuable for food truck owners?

The food truck industry may be a subset of the greater restaurant world, but mobile eateries have their own unique demands that a good POS system needs to meet for success. Unlike every other platform featured here, Otter POS has a proven track record in maximizing speed, efficiency, and profit in the food truck space. Our all-in-one suite of POS solutions simplifies order, menu, and brand management activities throughout your entire business, strengthening revenue and profit on every sale. 


Don’t take our word for it, though! Here’s what a few of the food truck businesses we serve have to say about Otter POS:


“In a food truck, everything has to be fast. So [Otter] makes it fast, but it’s at the quality of a sit-down meal. We’re equipped to go.” 


"It's truly designed to make restaurant life easier. I've even signed up for new delivery platforms and recently created my own online ordering app. Otter makes it simple, so why not?”


“Partnering with Otter has helped us decrease missed and duplicate orders, and make fewer errors overall. With Otter, it almost feels like we’re living a pre-tablet life. It’s great!”


For more on Otter’s mobile dining expertise, see our guides to the most profitable food truck items, the most valuable digital tools for food trucks, and the best cities to park your eatery next.

Do food truck owners have different POS requirements than sit-down restaurateurs do?

Yes! Food truck owners should keep their businesses’ unique kitchen and service requirements at the forefront of every POS-related decision they make. Be sure that you’re always choosing a POS solution that cuts down on counter space and eliminates obstacles to fast, efficient service. 


Can my food truck use a traditional restaurant POS system?

It depends on that POS suite’s level of flexibility. Ask your provider about features like an offline mode (when wireless internet access is limited), additional hardware requirements, and compatibility with any third-party restaurant software you’re looking to use often. 


As a food truck owner, what POS pricing model is preferable for my business?

Food trucks typically have a higher order-to-service-time ratio than traditional restaurants do, and your POS system’s costs should account for that. Generally speaking, you’ll want to look for POS technologies with lower processing fees to maximize value on every order. 


Does my food truck’s POS system really need cloud-based functionality?

Yes! Cloud-based, internet-enabled order solutions help you gain critical sales and operating data without the need for constant software monitoring. Using the information gathered by secure POS tools, you can make informed decisions about your business’s operations. 


What questions should I be asking my POS system provider before making a purchase?

Most POS providers will be interested in a one-on-one discussion with you before a financial commitment to their platform is made. During this discussion, consider asking the following questions to make sure this provider’s platform is right for your food truck:

What upfront and recurring processing fees can I expect to pay for this system?

Can you tell me more about your platform’s first-party functionality and services?

How well does your POS software integrate with other third-party restaurant tools?

What makes your POS suite specifically valuable for food truck owners?

Ordering channels

Otter Point of Sale

Kiosk

QR Ordering

Online Ordering

Order management

Order Manager

Kitchen Display

Order Handoffs

Unified operations

Menus and 86ing

Guest engagement & growth

Loyalty

Marketing

Virtual Brands

Intelligence & reporting

Live Alerts

Otter Go™ mobile app

Financials

Disputes & Refunds

Analytics

Fast casual

Bakery

Cafe

Food truck

Food Court

Pizzeria

Enterprise restaurants

Help center

Blog

Local food trends

Become a partner

Product demos

Product release notes

Point of Sale

Delivery Partners

Direct to Consumer

Couriers

Staff Managment

Virtual Brands

Inventory Management

Gift Cards

Products

Ordering channels

Otter Point of Sale

Kiosk

QR Ordering

Online Ordering

Order management

Order Manager

Kitchen Display

Order Handoffs

Unified operations

Menus and 86ing

Guest engagement & growth

Loyalty

Marketing

Virtual Brands

Intelligence & reporting

Live Alerts

Otter Go™ mobile app

Financials

Disputes & Refunds

Analytics

Restaurant Types

Fast casual

Bakery

Cafe

Food truck

Food Court

Pizzeria

Enterprise restaurants

Resources

Help center

Blog

Local food trends

Become a partner

Product demos

Product release notes

Integrations