Restaurant Name Generator: 390+ Ideas by Cuisine & Style

Finding the right restaurant name can feel like choosing a business partner, you'll live with this decision for years. This guide gives you 390 name ideas organized by cuisine type, service format, and brand personality, plus the trademark guidance you'll need before printing those menus.

Restaurant Name Ideas by Cuisine

These names telegraph what's on the menu before customers walk through your door. Whether you're opening an Italian trattoria or a Thai kitchen, cuisine-specific names help diners find exactly what they're craving. The positioning clarity here matters: you'll attract your target crowd faster, but you'll also commit to a culinary identity that's harder to pivot away from later.

Italian Restaurant Names

Italian concepts range from family-style red-sauce joints to Michelin-chasing fine dining. These names work whether you're serving Sunday gravy or house-made pappardelle with white truffle.

• Villa Toscana
• Osteria Luna
• Trattoria Verde
• Il Forno Rustico
• Bella Notte
• Casa di Pasta
• Sapore Italiano
• Cucina Centrale
• Piazza Roma
• Nonna's Kitchen
• Angelo's Tavola
• Mercato Fresco
• Giardino Rosso
• La Famiglia
• Vino e Olio

Mexican Restaurant Names

From regional Oaxacan mole to Tex-Mex comfort, Mexican restaurants need names that balance authenticity with accessibility. These options span street taco energy to upscale cantina sophistication.

• La Mesa Cocina
• Fuego y Sal
• Casa Madera
• Sol de Jalisco
• Tierra Caliente
• Agave Luna
• Sabor Auténtico
• El Comal
• Maíz y Miel
• Rincón Mexicano
• Costa Brava Cantina
• Poblano Kitchen
• Sierra Madre Grill
• Taquería del Sol
• Frida's Table

Chinese Restaurant Names

Chinese dining covers everything from Cantonese dim sum to Sichuan fire. These names signal regional authenticity or modern Chinese-American fusion depending on your concept.

Traditional roots:

• Golden Dragon House
• Jade Garden
• Red Lantern
• Imperial Palace
• Silk Road Kitchen

Modern approach:

• Wok & Noodle Co.
• Bamboo Bistro
• Lotus Leaf
• Zen Kitchen
• Dynasty Room

Regional nods:

• Sichuan Spice
• Canton House
• Shanghai Table
• Beijing Bowl
• Hunan Garden

Japanese Restaurant Names

Japanese concepts demand names that reflect the precision and seasonality of the cuisine. These work for sushi bars, ramen shops, izakayas, and kaiseki temples alike.

• Sakura Sushi
• Kaze
• Yuki Izakaya
• Miso Modern
• Takumi
• Shio Ramen Bar
• Nami Kitchen
• Tsuki
• Kuro Bento
• Wasabi House
• Nikkei Fusion
• Hana Grill
• Koji
• Matsu Dining
• Toro & Sake

Indian Restaurant Names

Indian restaurants can lean into royal Mughal heritage, regional specificity, or modern interpretations of classic flavors. These names span the spectrum.

Heritage style:

• Royal Saffron
• Taj Mahal Palace
• Emperor's Curry
• Maharaja Kitchen

Regional focus:

• Kerala Spice House
• Punjab Grill
• Mumbai Street Kitchen
• Bombay Bistro

Modern casual:

• Curry & Co.
• Spice Route Cafe
• Tandoor Express
• Masala Modern
• Naan Stop

Mediterranean Restaurant Names

Mediterranean dining evokes coastal freshness and olive-grove sunshine. These names work whether you're Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, or pulling from the whole region.

• Olive & Lemon
• Azure Coast
• Santorini Table
• Mezze House
• Terra Mare
• The Aegean Room
• Cypress Kitchen
• Harbor Grill
• Sunset Taverna
• Feta & Fig
• Coastal Table
• Blue Door Bistro
• Lemon Grove
• Sea Salt Kitchen
• Souvla

French Restaurant Names

French names signal sophistication and technique. Whether you're running a corner bistro or pursuing stars, these options balance elegance with approachability.

Classic bistro:

• Chez Louis
• Café Provence
• Le Petit Bistro
• Brasserie Belle
• La Table Ronde

Upscale refinement:

• Maison Lumière
• L'Atelier
• Le Jardin Noir
• Château Blanc
• Plume d'Or

Modern French:

• Zinc & Wine
• Crème Moderne
• Rouge Kitchen
• Beurre
• Fleur Bistro

BBQ & Steakhouse Names

BBQ and steakhouses need bold, confident names that promise serious meat and smoke. These span roadhouse casual to white-tablecloth chophouses.

• Smokehouse 47
• The Butcher's Block
• Iron Grill
• Pit & Fire
• Cattleman's Table
• Red Oak BBQ
• Prime & Proper
• The Stockyard
• Ember & Ash
• Hickory House
• Maverick Steakhouse
• The Chop Shop
• Sizzle & Smoke
• Ranch Road BBQ
• The Grill Room

Seafood Restaurant Names

Seafood spots benefit from maritime references and coastal freshness signals. These work for raw bars, fish houses, and upscale seafood temples.

Coastal casual:

• The Catch
• Dockside Grill
• Anchor & Oyster
• Fisherman's Table
• Saltwater Kitchen

Upscale seafood:

• Ocean Prime
• The Blue Marlin
• Tides Restaurant
• Neptune's Table
• Silver Fin

Specialty focus:

• Raw Bar & Co.
• Lobster Shack
• Oyster House
• Crab & Co.
• Daily Catch

Thai Restaurant Names

Thai restaurants balance bold flavors with approachable service. These names work whether you're doing Bangkok street food or royal Thai cuisine.

• Spicy Basil
• Bangkok Kitchen
• Lotus Thai
• Mango & Lime
• Golden Temple
• Pad Thai House
• Orchid Room
• Siam Garden
• Zen Thai Bistro
• Fire & Rice
• Thai Elephant
• Coconut Kitchen
• Lemongrass Grill
• Chili & Basil
• Thai Street Cafe

Vegan & Plant-Based Restaurant Names

Plant-based dining has moved beyond niche. These names signal your commitment without being preachy—they're inclusive enough to welcome flexitarians while staying true to your mission.

• Harvest Kitchen
• Root & Leaf
• Green Seed Cafe
• Planted
• Nourish Bowl
• The Garden Table
• Sprout & Co.
• Flora Kitchen
• Wild Greens
• Earth Plate
• Pulse Bistro
• Thrive Cafe
• The Herbivore
• Seeds & Stems
• Verdant Table

Spanish Tapas Restaurant Names

Spanish concepts thrive on conviviality and sharing plates. These names evoke Barcelona evenings and Andalusian sunshine.

Traditional Spanish:

• La Bodega
• Casa Tapas
• El Rincón
• Barrio Español
• La Taberna

Modern tapas:

• Olé Kitchen
• Tapas & Wine
• Ibérico
• Pintxo Bar
• Barcelona Bistro

Regional nods:

• Seville Table
• Valencia Room
• Basque Kitchen
• Málaga Grill
• Catalonia Cafe

American Comfort Food Restaurant Names

American comfort food needs names that feel like home. These work for diners, gastropubs, and modern takes on classic American cooking.

• Main Street Grill
• The Corner Kitchen
• Homeplate Diner
• Blue Plate Cafe
• Liberty Kitchen
• Harvest Table
• The Local
• Fork & Knife
• The Daily Grind
• Comfort & Co.
• Heartland Kitchen
• The Rusty Skillet
• Hometown Grill
• The Cozy Booth
• Stars & Stripes Diner

Restaurant Name Ideas by Format & Service Style

How you serve matters as much as what you serve. A fine dining room demands different naming than a food truck, even if they're both slinging tacos. This section helps you match your name to your service model and price point.

Cafe & Coffee Shop Names

Coffee shops are community hubs first, caffeine dealers second. These names work whether you're pouring third-wave single-origin or serving bottomless diner coffee.

Cozy traditional:

• The Daily Grind
• Morning Cup
• Roast & Toast
• Corner Cafe
• The Brew House

Modern coffee culture:

• Liquid Light
• Espresso Modern
• Bean Theory
• The Coffee Lab
• Pour Cafe

Literary & artistic:

• Chapter & Verse Cafe
• The Reading Room
• Canvas Coffee
• Inkwell Cafe
• The Writers' Nook

Fine Dining & Bistro Names

Fine dining names need elegance without pomposity. These work for tasting-menu temples and neighborhood bistros that take food seriously.

• The Velvet Room
• Maison Blanc
• Noire Table
• The Gilded Fork
• Lumière
• The Marble Room
• Celeste
• Aurum
• The Winter Garden
• Sable Bistro
• The Hidden Table
• Alchemy
• The Copper Pot
• Ember
• The Modern Table

Food Truck & Mobile Eatery Names

Food trucks need names that fit on the side panel and stick in memory. Bonus points if it hints at what you're serving without being too literal.

• Rolling Tacos
• The Street Cart
• Wheels & Meals
• Mobile Munchies
• Truck Stop Grill
• On the Go Kitchen
• The Roaming Fork
• Dash & Dine
• Street Bites
• The Hungry Wheels
• Curbside Kitchen
• The Food Van
• Quick Bite Express
• The Moving Feast
• Street Eats Co.

Fast Food & Quick Service Names

Fast-casual and QSR brands need names that promise speed and consistency. These work whether you're building a chain or opening your first location.

Speed emphasis:

• Rapid Bites
• Quick Serve Co.
• Express Kitchen
• Fast Fire Grill
• Speedy Spuds

Value positioning:

• Dollar Deli
• Budget Bites
• Value Meal Co.
• The Hungry Deal
• Pocket Eats

Quality fast-casual:

• Fresh Fast Kitchen
• The Quick Table
• Modern Meal Co.
• Speed & Quality
• Fast Craft Kitchen

Brunch & Breakfast Spot Names

Brunch spots need names that suggest morning sunshine and bottomless mimosas. These work for classic diners and Instagram-worthy brunch destinations alike.

• Sunrise Cafe
• The Early Bird
• Morning Table
• First Light Kitchen
• Daybreak Diner
• The Brunch Spot
• Maple & Eggs
• Golden Hour Cafe
• The Griddle House
• Sunday Morning Kitchen
• Biscuit & Jam
• Wake Up Cafe
• The Breakfast Club
• Rise & Shine Diner
• The Morning Nest

Restaurant Names by Style & Personality

Sometimes brand personality trumps cuisine type. A funny pizza joint and a funny sushi bar might share more DNA than two serious Italian restaurants. These style-based names work across cuisine categories.

Funny & Punny Restaurant Names

Humor generates word-of-mouth, but there's a fine line between clever and corny. These pun-based names work best for casual concepts where fun is part of the brand promise.

Food puns that land:

• Thyme for Dinner
• Holy Guacamole
• Wok This Way
• Lettuce Eat
• The Codfather

Pop culture plays:

• Game of Scones
• Lord of the Fries
• Pita Pan
• Planet of the Crepes
• Nacho Average Taco

Playful wordplay:

• Souperb
• Eggs-cellent Cafe
• The Rolling Scone
• Grill Me Maybe
• Pasta La Vista

Fancy & Upscale Restaurant Names

Upscale dining needs names that whisper rather than shout. These sophisticated options work across cuisine types when you're positioning at the premium end.

• Noir
• The Velvet Hour
• Opaline
• Maison Éclat
• Ember & Ash
• The Silver Table
• Luna Noire
• The Gilded Room
• Onyx
• Le Blanc
• The Amber House
• Twilight Table
• The Marble Lounge
• Château Modern
• The Ivory Room

Modern & Trendy Restaurant Names

Modern names signal contemporary thinking and urban appeal. These work for concepts targeting younger demographics who value Instagram-ability as much as food quality.

Minimalist modern:

• Nex
• Slate
• Mono
• Flux Kitchen
• The Grid

Urban contemporary:

• District Kitchen
• Metro Eats
• The Urban Table
• City Plate
• Downtown Dining

Tech-inspired:

• Beta Kitchen
• Algorithm Cafe
• The Debug Bar
• Stack Restaurant
• Cache Bistro

Timeless & Classic Restaurant Names

Some names never go out of style. These traditional options suggest established reliability, they'll make sense in 20 years just like they do today.

• The Heritage House
• Grand Tavern
• The Classic Table
• Tradition Kitchen
• The Old World Bistro
• Legacy Grill
• The Manor House
• Cornerstone Cafe
• Foundation Kitchen
• The Vintage Room
• Homestead Restaurant
• The Standard Grill
• Main & Market
• The Original Table
• Established 20XX

Clever & Creative Restaurant Names

Clever names reward a second look—they've got layers that unfold over time. These work for concepts where intelligence and cultural awareness are part of the brand identity.

• Fork & Philosophy
• The Plate Theory
• Quantum Kitchen
• The Dining Hypothesis
• Elements Table
• The Culinary Lab
• Syntax Bistro
• Logic & Lemon
• The Method Kitchen
• Reason & Spice
• The Equation Table
• Algorithm & Apple
• Theory Cafe
• The Practice Kitchen
• Concept Restaurant

Cute & Whimsical Restaurant Names

Cute names create instant warmth and neighborhood charm. These work for family-friendly concepts, cafes, and brunch spots where cozy is more important than cool.

• The Cozy Spoon
• Buttercup Kitchen
• The Little Nest
• Sugar & Sprinkle
• Honey Bee Cafe
• The Happy Plate
• Cuddle Cafe
• Whiskers Kitchen
• The Tiny Table
• Snuggle Bistro
• Petal & Plate
• The Sweet Nook
• Pudding Place
• The Giggle Grill
• Dandelion Diner

One-Word Minimalist Restaurant Names

Single-word names pack punch through simplicity. They're logo-friendly, domain-easy, and memorable if you choose the right word.

• Harvest
• Ember
• Slate
• Flora
• Salt
• Copper
• Ash
• Stone
• Timber
• Sage
• Iron
• Honey
• Olive
• Pearl
• Cedar

Location-Based Restaurant Names

Naming after your location roots you in the community from day one. This strategy works whether you're using your street, neighborhood, or a local landmark.

Street names:

• Fifth Avenue Bistro
• Elm Street Kitchen
• Market & Main
• Broadway Grill
• Park Place Cafe

Directional:

• North Kitchen
• South Table
• Eastside Eatery
• West End Dining
• The Corner at 5th

Neighborhood identity:

• The District Table
• Village Kitchen
• Heights Bistro
• The Junction Restaurant
• Harbor House

How to Choose Your Restaurant Name

You've got options now, but picking the right one requires strategy. The restaurant industry will add 200,000 jobs in 2025 according to the National Restaurant Association, which means more competition for customer attention. Here's how to pick a name that works on day one and still makes sense in year ten.

Run the Phone Order Test

Call a friend and pretend to take a reservation using your top name choices. Can they spell it back correctly? Will customers searching on Google type it right the first time? “Trattoria Bella Vista” passes. “Kreative Kitchn” fails. Phone clarity matters because most reservations still happen over the phone or through typed searches, and misspellings lose you bookings.

Map Your Menu Evolution for 5 Years

You're opening with wood-fired pizza, but what happens when you want to add a killer pasta program? Or brunch? Or a full bar? “Johnny's Coal-Fired Pizza” locks you in. “Johnny's Kitchen” gives you room. Think about menu flexibility now, not when you're printing new menus. If there's even a 30% chance you'll expand beyond your opening concept, choose the broader name.

Test How It Sounds in Recommendations

Restaurants live or die by word-of-mouth. Sit at a bar and imagine someone telling their friend “You've got to try [your name]” out loud. Does it roll off naturally? Does it need explanation? “Let's grab dinner at Salt” works. “Let's go to that place, you know, the one with the weird spelling” doesn't. Your name should be recommendation-ready without a business card.

Match the Name to Your Price Point

Your name sets price expectations before customers see a menu. “The Gilded Table” signals $40+ entrees. “Main Street Grill” signals $15-20. Mismatched expectations create problems. People walk in, see prices, walk out. Be honest about where you'll price, then choose a name that telegraphs that tier. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, restaurant margins are tight enough without confusing your target demographic.

Name Availability & Trademark Requirements for Restaurant Businesses

Loving a name isn't enough if someone already owns it. The restaurant industry is projected to hit $1.5 trillion in sales in 2025, according to the National Restaurant Association's annual report, which means there's a lot of competition for good names. Here's how to make sure yours is actually yours.

State Business Name vs Federal Trademark

Most restaurant owners confuse these two. Registering your business name with the state lets you operate legally in that state, nothing more. A federal trademark gives you nationwide brand protection under Nice Class 43, which covers restaurant services. Can two restaurants in different states use the same name? Technically yes, if neither has federal trademark protection. But if one files federal, the other might need to rebrand. That's expensive and embarrassing, especially after you've printed 5,000 menus.

Conducting a Trademark Search

Start with the USPTO's TESS database at uspto.gov. Search for your exact name and close variations. Then check your state's business registry. Google the name plus “restaurant” to catch common law uses that might not show up in official databases. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks food services data showing how competitive this industry is, you don't want to enter it with a name that's already claimed.

Special Considerations for Restaurant Names

Descriptive names like “Best Burgers” make weak trademarks. The USPTO prefers names that don't literally describe what you sell. Surname marks require five years of continuous use before they gain strong protection. If you're naming your restaurant “Chen's Kitchen,” understand you're playing the long game on trademark strength. Foreign language names? Search the English translation too. “Café Délicieux” and “Delicious Café” might conflict. Also, if you're selling packaged goods, that's a separate trademark filing.

Restaurant Name Generator FAQ

These questions cover what the earlier sections didn't: the practical details that come up when you're actually filling out paperwork.