7 food copywriting rules I wish someone told me before I wrote my first menu 🧵
1/
Most food copy doesn't fail because the writer is bad.
It fails because nobody told them the rules.
Here are 7 I learned the hard way. Save this. 👇
2/
Rule 1: Never use the word "delicious."
It means nothing. Everyone's food is delicious.
Your job is to make me FEEL the delicious — not announce it.
"Smoky, slow-roasted, fall-off-the-bone" > "delicious chicken"
Every. Single. Time.
3/
Rule 2: Technique signals quality.
"Grilled chicken" = school cafeteria.
"Chicken grilled over open flame for 20 minutes" = restaurant worth the Uber.
One extra line. Completely different price point in the reader's mind.
4/
Rule 3: Cut "served with."
It's a waiter's shorthand, not copy.
"Lamb served with mashed potatoes"
vs.
"Slow-braised lamb rested on hand-whipped potato — rich, buttery, built for a Tuesday you want to forget."
Feel the difference?
5/
Rule 4: Sell the feeling, not the food.
Nobody orders egusi soup.
They order Sunday afternoon at their mother's house.
Find the emotion behind the dish. Lead with that.
The ingredients are just proof.
6/
Rule 5: Specificity = credibility.
"Fresh ingredients" → weak.
"Market-sourced tomatoes, stone-ground crayfish, slow-reduced for 3 hours" → I believe you AND I'm hungry.
Vague copy sounds like a lie.
Specific copy sounds like a chef who cares
7/
Rule 6: Your first sentence must earn the second.
If your menu opens with "Welcome to our restaurant, where we serve quality food made with love" —
You've already lost them.
Open with the food. Open with hunger. Open mid-thought.
8/
Rule 7: Read it out loud.
If you stumble reading your own menu copy — your customer stumbles ordering it.
Smooth copy = confident orders = higher spend.
Rough copy = hesitation = "I'll just have the burger."
9/
That's 7 rules.
The restaurants and food brands that apply these?
They don't just sound better.
They sell more.
I write food copy from Lagos for clients in the US, UK, and Canada.
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@AFCAMDEN Skelly moves sometimes like Partey but needed to develop especially on excessive use of strength.
I hope he has the chance to develop in the midfield.
Just one thing is sure, he won't make the line up against Athletico Madrid champions league semi final.
Good design gets likes.
Smart design gets customers.
Calling on designers out there, rate this but don't be harsh.
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NDC Obi Kwankwaso Monday