one Bite, One Viral Video: How TikTok Is Feeding a New Generation of Foodies

Let’s be honest — if your food isn’t on TikTok, does it even exist anymore? TikTok has become a powerful (and strangely addictive) tool for restaurants looking to reach new audiences, especially younger customers. Whether it’s a dramatic pizza bite or that perfect cheese pull, TikTok is helping local food businesses gain fame overnight.

🍽️ Discovering Food One Swipe at a Time

The days of searching “where to eat” on Google are long gone. Now, people rely on TikTok for recommendations — from genuine reviews to spontaneous reactions and enthusiastic captions like “You have to try this!” And honestly? It works. Videos with hashtags like #FoodTok or #PerthEats go viral daily, even when they feature something as simple as someone munching on chips in the car.

And the best part? A short video showing heart-shaped pizzas or cheesy garlic bread can get hundreds of thousands of views — enough to fill a restaurant on a weekend.

📲 Why TikTok Works So Well for Food

TikTok’s algorithm is like a content matchmaker. Even users who’ve never heard of your restaurant can discover your videos. That’s a game-changer for small food businesses. You don’t need fancy cameras or a big marketing budget — just a phone and something delicious to show. Audiences love raw, unfiltered content: sizzling pans, messy cheese pulls, first bites. That’s where the magic happens.

🍕 What Slice of Italy Could Bring to TikTok

Slice of Italy already has great content on Instagram and Facebook but imagine how that same vibe would thrive on TikTok. Think slow-motion pasta-making, the moment a pizza hits the plate, or a quick “day in the life” of a campus chef. ECU students would eat it up (literally). The real momentum starts when customers begin sharing their own experiences, creating a chain reaction of engagement.

📸 User-Generated Content: Let Customers Take the Lead

One of TikTok’s greatest strengths is that your customers become your marketers. Some of the most popular videos are created by diners — from filming a first bite to reacting to that melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella moment. It feels authentic, relatable, and most of all, trustworthy. Restaurants that encourage user-generated content (UGC) often build stronger, more loyal online communities — and Slice of Italy can do the same.

Why not get creative with a fun TikTok challenge like “Rate Our Pasta” or “Best Pizza Reaction”? It’s low-cost, high-impact, and perfectly suited to student audiences.

🚀 What’s Next?

If you’re in the food business and haven’t considered TikTok, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Your future customers are already there — scrolling, saving, and tagging their next meal. And for a brand like Slice of Italy, bringing a little la dolce vita to TikTok might just be the next big move to boost visibility, drive foot traffic, and make pizza the star of the feed.

Check out Slice of Italy’s full menu here. (https://www.sliceofitaly.com.au/resources/Menu-Slice_of_Italy.pdf)

– 10671925

(Disclaimer: This content is for the sole purpose of teaching and learning at Edith Cowan University and has not been endorsed or otherwise approved by the