60+ Food Survey Questions for Customer Feedback and Research

Many restaurants struggle to improve their food or service, not because they lack effort, but because they rely heavily on scattered feedback or assumptions rather than using structured tools like food survey questions to guide their decisions.

While scattered feedback and assumptions may occasionally lead to small successes, the process is often slow, and decisions without clear direction can easily miss the mark.

Relying on guesswork is risky in an industry that demands precision. You might occasionally ask customers face-to-face, but is that enough? Or is it time to adopt a more systematic approach to understanding your guests through well-designed food surveys?

If so, we’ve compiled 64 carefully crafted food questions for surveys covering every key aspect of every meal experience. Plus, we’ll walk you through the steps to build your own food survey form using a form QR code.

Food survey questions for every area of improvement

The questions you should ask in a food survey should be directly related to the food service and the customer experience. Focus on areas that help you understand customer satisfaction and uncover possibilities for improvement.  Here are some dining questions you can use as inspiration for your surveys.  

Food quality & taste

• How would you rate the overall taste of your meal?
• Was the food served at the right temperature?
• Did the ingredients taste fresh?
• Was the food visually appealing?
• Was your meal flavorful and well-seasoned?
• Did the food meet your satisfaction based on the menu description?
• Were the portion sizes appropriate?
• How would you compare the taste of our food to other restaurants you’ve visited?
• Did any item stand out as exceptionally good or bad?

Menu variety & dietary preferences

• How satisfied are you with the variety of items on the menu?
• Are there enough options for your dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.)?
• Did you find the menu easy to understand and navigate?
• Are there any specific dishes or cuisines you’d like us to add?
• Do you feel the menu caters to different age groups/preferences?
• Were the ingredients and allergens clearly marked?
• How frequently would you like the menu to be updated?

Service & staff interaction

• How would you rate the friendliness of our staff?
• Were you greeted promptly upon arrival?
• Did the staff seem knowledgeable about the menu?
• Was your order taken accurately?
• Were your questions or concerns addressed professionally?
• Did the staff check in with you during your meal?
• Were you thanked or acknowledged when you left?
• How comfortable did the staff make you feel during your visit?

Ambiance & dining experience

• How would you rate the overall ambiance of the restaurant?
• Was the music appropriate and at a comfortable volume?
• Did the lighting contribute positively to your experience?
• Was the seating comfortable?
• How clean and inviting did the dining area feel?
• Was the temperature of the dining area comfortable?
• How likely are you to dine in again based on the atmosphere?
• Did the environment match the restaurant’s theme or branding?

Pricing & value for money

• Do you feel the food was worth the price you paid?
• How would you rate the portion size relative to the cost?
• Were there any menu items you found to be overpriced?
• Were there good value or budget-friendly options available?
• Would you consider our restaurant affordable, moderately priced, or expensive?
• Would you return based on the value received for the price?

Hygiene & cleanliness

• How would you rate the cleanliness of the dining area?
• Were the restrooms clean and well-maintained?
• Did the staff appear to follow hygiene protocols?
• Were tables and surfaces cleaned promptly?
• Did you notice any cleanliness issues that concerned you?
• How confident do you feel about the hygiene standards of our kitchen?

Speed of service

• How long did you wait to be seated?
• How long did it take for your food to arrive after ordering?
• Was the wait time reasonable for the type of food ordered?
• Did you experience any delays or forgotten items?
• How satisfied were you with the pacing of your meal?
• Would faster service improve your dining experience?

Beverage & drink options

• Were you satisfied with the selection of beverages?
• Were alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available?
• How would you rate the quality of the drinks?
• Were specialty or seasonal drinks offered?
• Did your drink arrive in a timely manner?
• Was the drink menu clearly labeled and easy to understand?
• Did you find the prices of beverages fair?

Technology & convenience

• Was online ordering, delivery, or the menu access form easy to use?
• Did you find our mobile app or website user-friendly?
• Was payment (cashless or digital) convenient and secure?
• Did you use any loyalty or rewards features?
• Were QR menus or digital menus easy to navigate?
• How helpful was technology in enhancing your experience?
• Would you like more tech-driven services (e.g., order-at-table, digital check-ins)?

Tips for writing food questions for surveys

Knowing the right type of food survey question isn’t enough; you must craft the audience feedback form clearly, concisely, and engagingly. Below are essential tips on how to write a food survey. 

1. Open-ended vs. closed-ended questions

Before you begin writing the form questions, deciding between open-ended and closed-ended questions is important. 

Open-ended questions allow respondents to reply in detail and provide qualitative insights. On the other hand, close-ended questions don’t give people the same chance to explain since they have to pick from set answers like ‘I’m satisfied,’ ‘I agree,’ or ‘I don’t agree.’

Both types of questions have their upsides, and closed-ended ones make it easier to gather data and get straightforward feedback. But relying only on them isn’t always the best move. The choice should depend on the type of customer feedback you want to collect. 

Open-ended questions are the best option if you’re looking for deeper insights. Closed-ended questions should always be used for simple feedback. 

2. Questions that encourage honest feedback

Another important tip for food surveys is to include questions that encourage feedback. This is possible when we avoid overly technical questions. For instance, questions like “How would you evaluate the efficacy of our staff communication and management?” may confuse respondents and build hesitations. 

Instead, ask simple questions like, “How satisfied are you with our staff communication and management skills?” 

Clear, simple questions help respondents understand quickly, which makes them more likely to provide thoughtful answers. 

3. Keeping questions focused on one topic

Always stick to one topic while writing a food survey question. Combining multiple topics in a question can confuse readers and lead to inaccurate and incomplete answers. 

For instance, instead of asking, ‘How do you feel about our customer service and food quality?‘ break it into two separate questions: 

• How do you feel about our customer service? 
• Do you like the quality of our food? 

This shows clarity and allows respondents to provide honest and accurate feedback. 

4. Ensuring questions are easy to answer

Avoid incorporating questions that are difficult to answer for respondents. Focus on creating simple and, most importantly, relevant questions to the topic and customer experience. 

Rather than asking, “What is the exact nutritional value of the last meal you’re at?” you can pose the question: “Was your last meal healthy, moderately healthy, or unhealthy?“

Such an approach to dining survey questions helps respondents answer quickly and confidently without feeling overwhelmed by the complexity. 

5. Concise and simple questions 

Once you’ve crafted the questions for the survey form, make sure they’re simple and concise. Users don’t like complex language or long sentences, as they mostly lead to confusion, which results in a high-form abandonment rate. This, in turn, prevents you from collecting valuable qualitative data you need to make informed decisions. 

6. Testing your questions for clarity

Finally, test your questions for clarity before using them in a retail survey form or an online feedback form. To do this, ask a small group of people from your target audience and request them to fill out the form. 

Focus on the respondents as they fill out the form. Look for any confusion or frustration on their faces. This will help you understand how comfortable they are with the questions. 

Improve your food service with polished survey questions

Leveling up your restaurant’s food and service starts with one key thing: real insight. Guesswork and random feedback won’t cut it. By asking the right food survey questions, you’ll get honest, useful input that helps you tweak your menu, make your guests happy, and grow your business on purpose, not by accident.

But it’s not just about asking the right questions; it’s also about how you present them. A polished survey, shared through easy tools like QR code forms, will likely engage people and give you solid feedback.

So don’t just serve food, start a conversation. Include your customers in your upgrades to make things even better. Give it a go and create a smooth, fun experience they’ll actually enjoy

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