NAICS Code for Restaurants
There is no single NAICS code for “restaurants.” Most restaurants fall under one of two primary NAICS codes: 722511 (Full-Service Restaurants) or 722513 (Limited-Service Restaurants).
A simple way to choose: full-service typically means table service with customers usually paying after dining, while limited-service typically means customers order/pay before eating (counter service, fast food, takeout, or delivery-first).
Quick restaurant type → NAICS code reference
Use this as a fast starting point. If a restaurant fits multiple categories, choose the code that best matches the primary service model.
| If you run a… | Start with… | Key indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Fine dining / upscale restaurant | 722511 | Table service, seated dining, pay after meal |
| Casual sit-down restaurant | 722511 | Waitstaff / table service is primary |
| Fast food restaurant | 722513 | Order/pay first, counter service |
| Fast-casual (counter service) | 722513 | Order at counter, limited/no waitstaff |
| Pizza delivery / takeout-first | 722513 | Primarily takeout/delivery |
| Coffee shop / beverage bar (counter service) | 722513 | Order/pay first, counter pickup |
| Food truck / mobile vendor | 722330 | Mobile food service |
| Cafeteria / buffet | 722514 | Self-serve or cafeteria line |
| Snack / nonalcoholic beverage bar (ice cream, juice, coffee kiosk) | 722515 | Snacks/drinks as the primary offering |
How to choose the correct NAICS code for a restaurant
Quick rule: match the code to how the restaurant primarily serves customers.
Restaurant classification decision tree
Use this quick visual guide when you’re unsure between full-service and limited-service.
Path A: Customers usually pay AFTER dining
Seated dining, table service, waitstaff, check paid at the end.
→ NAICS 722511 (Full-Service Restaurants)
Examples: fine dining, casual sit-down, table-service pizza restaurants.
Path B: Customers order/pay BEFORE eating
Counter service, fast food, takeout, delivery-first.
→ NAICS 722513 (Limited-Service Restaurants)
Examples: fast food, fast-casual, delivery/takeout-first concepts.
Mixed model (dine-in + takeout/delivery)?
Choose the code that represents your primary revenue and service method. If table service is the primary model → 722511. If counter service/takeout/delivery is primary → 722513.
⚠️ Common mistake: “We do dine-in AND delivery”
Many restaurants offer both. Classify by the primary service model (largest share of revenue/activity), not the existence of delivery. Table service primary → 722511. Takeout/delivery/counter primary → 722513.
⚠️ Pizza restaurants: not all the same
A sit-down pizza restaurant with table service is often 722511. A takeout/delivery-first pizza concept is often 722513. Choose based on how customers are primarily served.
⚠️ Ghost kitchens / virtual restaurants
Delivery-only concepts with no dine-in seating are typically 722513, since customers generally order/pay before receiving food.
Primary NAICS codes for restaurants
NAICS 722511 – Full-Service Restaurants
Common for sit-down dining where patrons are seated, served by waitstaff, and typically pay after the meal.
- Fine dining and casual dine-in restaurants
- Table-service restaurants with dine-in as the primary model
- Dine-in restaurants that also offer takeout/delivery (when table service remains primary)
Confirm details on the code page: NAICS 722511.
NAICS 722513 – Limited-Service Restaurants
Common for fast food, counter service, takeout, and delivery-focused restaurants where customers typically order and pay before eating.
- Fast-food restaurants
- Counter-service restaurants
- Takeout-first and delivery-first concepts
- Ghost kitchens / delivery-only concepts
Confirm details on the code page: NAICS 722513.
Common restaurant types and the NAICS code used
What is the NAICS code for fast food restaurants?
Fast food is typically 722513 (limited-service).
What is the NAICS code for pizza restaurants?
Pizza can be 722513 (counter/takeout/delivery-first) or
722511 (primarily dine-in with table service).
What is the NAICS code for coffee shops?
Many coffee shops operate as limited-service and often align to 722513, but snack/drink-first concepts may also be researched under
722515.
Restaurant examples by type (expanded)
View 30+ restaurant examples and where they usually map
Examples commonly aligned to NAICS 722511 (Full-Service)
- Fine dining restaurants with table service
- Casual sit-down restaurants with waitstaff
- Steakhouses with table service
- Seafood restaurants with table service
- Full-service ethnic restaurants (sit-down)
- Pizza restaurants with table service as primary
- Dine-in restaurants where delivery is secondary to table service
Examples commonly aligned to NAICS 722513 (Limited-Service)
- Fast food restaurants (order/pay first)
- Fast-casual counter-service restaurants
- Takeout-first restaurants
- Delivery-first pizza concepts
- Sandwich shops with counter service
- Counter-service breakfast/lunch concepts
- Ghost kitchens / virtual brands (delivery-only)
Other food-service codes often researched with “restaurant”
- 722330 – Mobile Food Services (food trucks, mobile vendors)
- 722514 – Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets (buffets, cafeterias)
- 722515 – Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (ice cream shops, juice bars, beverage bars)
Reminder: Use the “primary service model” (table service vs order/pay first) when deciding between 722511 and 722513.
How restaurants use NAICS codes
Common use cases for restaurant NAICS codes:
- Business registration: used for business licenses, EIN applications, and banking/vendor onboarding.
- SBA programs: size standards and eligibility for certain programs can be tied to NAICS classification.
- Industry research: benchmarking performance against similar restaurant categories and service models.
- Market analysis: identifying competitors and mapping restaurant density by geography.
- Insurance & permits: underwriting, health department workflows, and operational compliance contexts.
Related NAICS codes (commonly researched alongside restaurants)
These codes are often searched with “restaurant” but may describe related activities (suppliers, services, or organizations) rather than restaurants themselves.
View related (non-restaurant) NAICS codes
Associations & services
Equipment, furniture, construction
FAQ
- Is there one NAICS code for all restaurants?
No. Most restaurants are classified as 722511 (full-service) or 722513 (limited-service). - What NAICS code is used for fine dining restaurants?
Fine dining is commonly classified under 722511 – Full-Service Restaurants. - What NAICS code is used for fast food restaurants?
Fast food is commonly classified under 722513 – Limited-Service Restaurants. - What if a restaurant does both dine-in and takeout?
Choose the code that best matches the restaurant’s primary service model (table service vs order/pay first). - What NAICS code is used for food trucks?
Food trucks and mobile vendors are commonly classified under 722330 – Mobile Food Services.
Next steps
Start with the two primary restaurant codes, then confirm the best fit by reviewing the definition on the linked NAICS code pages.
Citation
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