AI Phone Answering for Restaurants in 2025: The Top 5 Solutions (Ranked)

In 2025, phone calls are still one of the most important—and most overlooked—sales channels for restaurants. Whether it’s a missed takeout order, an unanswered reservation request, or a catering inquiry that never gets returned, dropped calls are costing restaurants thousands in lost revenue each month.

Enter: AI phone answering systems—a new generation of voice AI tools built specifically to solve this problem. These tools aren’t generic chatbots or outdated IVRs. They’re conversational, restaurant-trained, and integrated into the POS and reservation stack.

In this 2025 review, we break down the top 5 AI phone answering solutions for restaurants, comparing their features, pricing, integrations, and ideal use cases—counting down from #5 to #1.

5. Hi Auto

Best for: Drive-thru restaurants focused on voice ordering

Overview:
Hi Auto specializes in voice automation for drive-thru restaurants. Its system is hardware-compatible and designed to integrate with drive-thru speaker and screen setups.

Key Features:

• Voice-ordering AI for drive-thru lanes

• POS integration

• Customizable menus and promos

Pros:

• Optimized for noisy environments

• Cuts labor costs during peak hours

Cons:

• Drive-thru only

• Not useful for inbound phone calls

Pricing: Hardware + software package (contact for quote)

Best For: QSRs with heavy drive-thru traffic

Verdict: Best-in-class for drive-thru automation, but not a fit for phone-first restaurants.

4. SoundHound for Restaurants

Best for: Restaurants seeking a plug-and-play conversational AI experience

Overview:
SoundHound’s voice AI is designed to be embedded across industries. Their restaurant-specific solution handles basic Q&A, order taking, and call routing.

Key Features:

• General voice AI platform

• Simple integrations

• Multi-language support

Pros:

• Easy to deploy

• Solid speech recognition

• Available internationally

Cons:

• Not as deep in restaurant-specific flows

• Lacks true POS + reservation integration

• More generalized than competitors

Pricing: Varies based on use case

Best For: Restaurants in international markets or looking for simple coverage

Verdict: A decent starting point, but less tailored than leading restaurant-first players.

3. Kea.ai

Best for: Enterprise chains with call centers or franchise networks

Overview:
Kea focuses on automating phone orders at scale. It’s designed for enterprise operators and call centers, with a heavy emphasis on drive-thru and QSR workflows.

Key Features:

• Order-taking AI with call transfer fallback

• Call center integration

• Menu ingestion and price syncing

Pros:

• Handles huge call volumes

• Built for enterprise workflows

• Voice AI plus human hybrid approach

Cons:

• Feels more “call center” than “hospitality”

• Setup is complex

• Limited flexibility for independents or SMBs

Pricing: Enterprise-level pricing only (contact sales)

Best For: Franchises with internal IT teams or dedicated ops staff

Verdict: Robust and scalable, but requires enterprise infrastructure to get full value.

2. Slang.ai

Best for: Upscale restaurants focused on reservations and FAQs

Overview:
Slang.ai offers a slick voice interface that handles incoming calls for upscale dining venues. It focuses more on FAQs, hours, and reservations rather than deep ordering integration.

Key Features:

• Customizable voice

• Reservation and FAQ handling

• SMS follow-up after missed calls

• Analytics dashboard

Pros:

• Strong brand and user experience

• White-glove onboarding for fine dining

• Works well with OpenTable and Resy

Cons:

• No built-in order taking

• Limited POS integration

• Doesn’t convert as many calls to sales

Pricing: From ~$300/location/month

Best For: High-end restaurants prioritizing guest experience over phone orders

Verdict: Beautifully designed for host-style service. Less suitable for high-volume ordering.

1. Maple Voice AI

Best for: Fast-growing restaurants that want full-stack voice AI and POS integration

Overview:
Maple is purpose-built for restaurants and offers a powerful, end-to-end AI phone system. Unlike generic voice bots, Maple deeply integrates with POS systems, reservation tools, and restaurant workflows. It covers calls 24/7, sounds human, and directly converts conversations into revenue.

Key Features:

• 24/7 AI call coverage

• Menu-aware order taking

• POS integration (Toast, Square, etc.)

• Reservation handling + auto-confirmation

• Smart call summaries & analytics

• Voice tuned for hospitality tone

Pros:

• Fastest call handling in the category

• Seamless operational integration

• Outperforms staff in order accuracy

• Built-in upselling logic

Cons:

• Requires onboarding call for full setup

• Most powerful features reserved for multi-location packages

Pricing: Starts at ~$199/month/location. Scales with volume and integrations.

Best For: QSRs, fast casual, franchises, and tech-forward independents

Verdict: The most restaurant-native solution in 2025. Deep, reliable, and revenue-focused.

📊 Final Comparison Table

🧠 Conclusion: Which Voice AI Is Right for You?

In 2025, the best AI phone answering system for your restaurant depends on your volume, goals, and tech stack:

• Want to recover missed orders and integrate with your kitchen? → Go with Maple

• Focused on elevated guest experience and reservations? → Consider Slang.ai

• Managing a franchise or call center operation? → Choose Kea.ai

• Need a simple, global solution? → Try SoundHound

• Run a drive-thru-heavy QSR? → Use Hi Auto

No matter your setup, one thing is clear: AI voice is no longer optional. It’s becoming a core part of restaurant operations in 2025—and the sooner you adopt, the more calls (and revenue) you’ll capture.

→ Want help choosing the right system for your restaurant?
Talk to our team at Maple and we’ll show you what AI voice can unlock for your business.

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