15 Instagram Reels Trends That Local Restaurants Can Use to Increase Foot Traffic (2025 Edition)

Social Media is no longer an optional tool for marketing local brands, it’s essential. At Brand Capture, we work with local restaurants in Washington DC, Baltimore, and Boston, so we have posted hundreds of Instagram Reels and TikTok content promoting restaurants, bars, and local quick bite spots.

Here are 15 Instagram Reels and TikTok trends that can help local restaurants increase foot traffic and bring in new customers! Most of these can be made with b-roll and just adding a hook. All examples linked are from our clients.

1. “If it were a crime to sell the best food in [location]”.
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BAFQ9uOxJVhttps://www.instagram.com/share/BAFQ9uOxJV

2. “Just something to take the edge off"
   Example: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj2WoDsx/https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj2WoDsx/

3. “The Best X in [location]”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BAGmEq8nwA

4. “When the customer likes what you made them”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/_6lyhxmWh

5. “Don’t you want to judge me just a little bit”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/_adMtZYV3

6. “Saying I support a local business every day” sounds a lot better than “I’m addicted to X”
   Example: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj27REJG/

7. “What do you guys like to do for fun?”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/_xGeqBeKF

8. “From Our Kitchen To Your Plate”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BAHX0OuNO9

9. “Trying to drink more water…”
   Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/_9NfPeU-y

10. “Foodie Bucket List:”
    Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BAJ2PQC1CD

11. “I needed this”
    Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BASNv-N2lq

12. “Phone Eats First”
    Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/_6WAb4TjT

13. “A glimpse into our restaurant”
    Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BALOID68W1

14. “I always walk past, I wonder what’s inside”
    Example: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj27m8EP/

15. “The person that sent you this wants to go to X with you”

    Example: https://www.instagram.com/share/BATeJwPcO-

Don’t want to have to worry about creating this content yourself and you’re a local business in Washington DC, Boston, or Baltimore?