Restaurants in California
Show one honest price. Keep every order's margin.
Fee rules (SB 478, SB 1524) and $16.90 wages squeeze California menus. Direct ordering adds nothing to the guest's bill; AI answers calls.
- 79,696restaurants in California
- 31,333sit-down (full-service)
- 20restaurants per 10,000 people
- #10of 51 by number of restaurants
What California owners are up against
The pressures, and how we take them off you.
- 1
Fees under a spotlight
Since July 1, 2024 California restaurants may keep mandatory fees only if clearly shown wherever prices appear (SB 478 with the SB 1524 exception).
Source · 2024-07
- 2
No tip credit allowed
California pays tipped staff the full $16.90 minimum before tips. Time spent answering phones and taking orders by hand is expensive.
Source · 2026-11-05
- 3
Delivery apps still take 15-30%
San Francisco only guarantees a 15% basic tier; elsewhere DoorDash plans run 15%, 25% or 30%. Direct orders avoid that cut.
Source · 2026-11
Lead with:Online orderingMaya, the AI phone hostReservationsKitchen display
Law watch
What’s changing for California restaurants.
SB 478 + SB 1524 (honest pricing; restaurant fee exception)
Mandatory restaurant fees allowed only if clearly and conspicuously disclosed on menus/sites; simplest path is one all-in price.
From 2024-07-01 · Source
AB 1228 fast-food minimum wage
$20/hour for covered fast-food chains (60+ locations); Fast Food Council may raise it yearly; no increase confirmed as of Nov 2026.
From 2024-04-01 · Source
San Francisco permanent delivery cap (2021, amended 2022)
Apps must offer a basic delivery tier at no more than 15%; extra marketing services can cost more.
From 2021 · Source
Los Angeles County food delivery platform ordinance (Chapter 8.46, replacing pandemic Chapter 8.203)
County moved to make unincorporated-area delivery fee rules permanent; final adoption status not confirmed.
Local minimum wages (July 1, 2026)
San Francisco $19.61, City of Los Angeles $18.42; LA and Santa Monica hotel workers $25.00.
From 2026-07-01 · Source
Wages in 2026
Minimum wage $16.90; tipped minimum $16.90. Maya answering the phone frees paid hours for cooking and serving.
For information only, not legal advice. Check the source for your city.
Markets in California
Pick your city.
- #2 San Francisco 11,199 restaurants · up to 69/sq mi
- #7 Los Angeles 29,168 restaurants · up to 10/sq mi
- #15 San Jose 4,203 restaurants · up to 3/sq mi
- #18 San Diego 6,900 restaurants · up to 2/sq mi
- #32 Sacramento 4,648 restaurants · up to 3/sq mi
- #58 Oxnard 1,555 restaurants · up to 1/sq mi
- #60 Riverside 7,737 restaurants · up to 1/sq mi
- #74 Fresno 1,772 restaurants · up to 0/sq mi
- #79 Bakersfield 1,352 restaurants · up to 0/sq mi
Does WhatsTable work for restaurants in California?
Yes. WhatsTable works for any restaurant on Clover, in any cuisine, anywhere in California. We set it up with you on a call.
What is the minimum wage for restaurant staff in California in 2026?
The state minimum wage is $16.90 and the tipped minimum is $16.90. Some cities set higher rates. Check the official source for your city.
Are delivery app fees capped in California?
In San Francisco (15% basic delivery tier must be offered). Orders on your own WhatsTable site pay no delivery-app commission; WhatsTable's fee is 5–10% of sales through it, and nothing is added to the guest's bill.
What does it cost?
There is no monthly fee, no setup fee and no contract. WhatsTable takes 5–10% of the sales that come through it. Walk-in sales cost you nothing.
Restaurant owners in California are represented by California Restaurant Association.
You cook. We’ll bring the orders, in California.
We take care of marketing and sales, so you can take care of the kitchen and good food. 20 minutes on a call.
$0 a month · No setup fee · No contract · Nothing added to your guests' bill