In today’s delivery-first world, restaurants face more opportunity — and more competition — than ever. With just a few taps, customers can browse dozens of nearby options, so standing out matters. One of the smartest ways to do that is by optimizing your delivery menu.
By using menu data and AI insights, you can turn your menu into a true business tool — highlighting bestsellers, adjusting underperformers, and updating in real time. With DoorDash analytics and AI-powered tools, you’ll build a stronger menu, boost margins, and keep customers coming back.
How to understand your menu’s performance using data
The first step to menu optimization is knowing how yours performs today. In the DoorDash Merchant Portal, you’ll find reports that show which items sell best, when they sell, and how customers rate them.
Analytics help you streamline operations, understand customer behavior, and make smarter menu decisions that drive sales and performance. In the Merchant Portal, you can view your restaurant's data and use it to assess:
Why customers choose you over competitors
What new menu items you should test
New modifiers and menu items you can add
How do restaurant data analytics help you drive restaurant growth?
Using the restaurant data analytics in the Merchant Portal, you can make informed decisions to take your business to the next level. Here are a few ways you can transform customer insights into business growth:
Optimize your menu: Learn which menu items inspire customers to write five-star reviews and identify less-popular dishes that could be better promoted or removed altogether.
Improve your profitability: You can use menu engineering to pinpoint the items that either enhance or detract from your overall profitability.
Increase sales: Determine your restaurant's slowest days and times, then launch a marketing campaign to drive traffic to your store during those windows.
Improve the guest experience: Understand what your customers like most about your restaurant (e.g., friendly service, fun happy hours, Instagrammable dishes), then highlight those features in your marketing campaigns and delivery menu.
Armed with real menu data, you can start thinking more strategically about what deserves the spotlight — and what might need a refresh.
How to use AI tools to improve your menu
AI now automates what once took hours. DoorDash’s AI tools — like one-click description generation, instant photo approval, and smart background enhancements — help you create professional menus in minutes. The tools are available on both DoorDash Marketplace and DoorDash Commerce Platform and include:
Item description generator: Create enticing menu descriptions with one click using AI.
AI-powered camera: Capture professional-quality food photos by optimizing lighting and backgrounds, without changing the appearance of the food.
Instant photo approvals: Get automatically approved menu photos with AI-driven moderation for instant uploads.
Background enhanced menu photos: Without altering or editing the food itself, the new enhancement feature helps transform casual consumer photos into clean, professional menu photos.
You can also use generative AI — like ChatGPT — to craft menu descriptions by tone (family-friendly, witty, or upscale) or analyze sales data to predict top performers.
Other leading tools include:
Dynamic Yield: Personalizes menus across digital channels to boost order value.
eatOS: Integrates with POS systems for real-time price and menu adjustments.
By combining DoorDash and third-party AI insights, restaurants can forecast demand, A/B test prices or layouts, and deliver experiences that keep guests coming back.
By integrating these AI tools, restaurants can stay ahead of trends and deliver personalized experiences that meet evolving customer expectations. Check out more AI restaurant solutions that are available now or in the near future.
How to implement menu changes based on real-time insights
Your menu is your competitive edge — and data helps you sharpen it. According to our report on The Importance of Menu Optimization, 90% of restaurants that streamlined their delivery menus saw a positive impact on sales.
With DoorDash analytics, you can track ratings, reviews, and top-selling items to make quick updates. For example, when you run out of an item, you can temporarily deactivate it from your menu using DoorDash's POS integration, or directly through the Merchant Portal or the Business Manager App. Test seasonal or time-based ideas—like a winter soup special or late-night snacks—to uncover new revenue streams.
Customers weigh factors like ratings, popularity, and price. Use DoorDash’s data reports to see which dishes drive profit, adjust markup rates, and edit your menu prices accordingly.
Get inspired by these restaurant menu examples to learn how to stand out from competitors, attract more customers, and boost sales.
How to measure menu success and refine over time
Menu optimization isn't a one-time project — it's an ongoing strategy. DoorDash partners can log in to the Merchant Portal to view valuable customer insights and analytics on your main dashboard page. To continuously refine your menu:
Review your sales reports: check ticket size, item mix, and top sellers.
Check your operations reports: monitor wait times, accuracy, and ratings.
Compare seasonal sales: note which promotions or dishes perform by season.
Refine and repeat: test new items monthly and spotlight winners.
You can also use dashboards and alerts to stay agile and continue to adjust your menu. By consistently reviewing your menu's performance, you can create a cycle of testing, learning, and refining, leading to stronger customer loyalty and more consistent sales over time. For more tips, read our guide on using analytics to boost profits.
Stay competitive with a data-first mindset
By combining customer insights, sales patterns, and AI solutions, you can transform your menu into a dynamic tool to grow your business. Your DoorDash menu becomes a living, evolving part of your strategy, helping you stay agile and win new customers, while making loyal guests even more excited to return. Tap into DoorDash's analytics and AI-powered tools to stay agile, competitive, and customer-focused.
