> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://trailblazer.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# NaijaTaste for restaurants and food vendors

> How NaijaTaste ranks restaurants from Google Places data — the signals we read, why there is no paid placement, and four steps to improve your discoverability.

If you run a restaurant, buka, food truck, or any food business in Nigeria, this section explains how NaijaTaste affects your discoverability.

## How your restaurant appears in results

NaijaTaste pulls restaurant data from **Google Places in real time**. If your business is listed on Google Maps with a correct address, phone number, and opening hours, it is eligible to appear in recommendations across every NaijaTaste channel:

* The web app (chat mode and form mode)
* WhatsApp recommendations
* API integrations built by developers

We do not charge for listings. We do not offer paid placement. A buka with authentic high-quality food and strong customer signals can rank above a larger competitor.

## What the ranking model looks at

| Signal                 | Why it matters                                             |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Star rating**        | Higher ratings rank higher, all else equal                 |
| **Review count**       | More reviews = more reliable signal                        |
| **Price level**        | Must match the user's price sensitivity                    |
| **Open status**        | Closed restaurants are deprioritised in real-time searches |
| **Location proximity** | Closer to search area or GPS location ranks higher         |
| **Food type match**    | Your cuisine category must match the user's search         |

## How to improve your ranking

<Steps>
  <Step title="Complete your Google Business Profile">
    Name, address, phone, opening hours, cuisine category, and photos. Missing fields reduce ranking confidence. Manage at [business.google.com](https://business.google.com).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Accumulate honest reviews">
    Ask satisfied customers to leave Google reviews. Review count and quality are the strongest signals we read.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep hours accurate">
    Restaurants showing as open when closed get penalised on return visits. Update hours for Ramadan, public holidays, and temporary closures.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tag your cuisine correctly">
    List the dishes you're known for using terms Nigerians search: "jollof rice", "egusi", "suya", "amala", "pepper soup" — not just "Nigerian cuisine".
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What we don't do

* We do not accept payment for placement
* We do not allow restaurants to manipulate their own ranking
* We do not create fake reviews or fabricate restaurant data

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Get discovered" icon="arrow-right" href="/vendors/get-discovered">
    Step-by-step guide to optimising your Google profile for NaijaTaste visibility.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Review signals" icon="star" href="/vendors/review-signals">
    How customer reviews translate into ranking signals on NaijaTaste.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>