114
36%
30
Market Overview
30 different cuisine types compete across just 114 restaurants in St. John's — more variety than most people expect from a metro of 215,000. Pizza leads the field with 15 locations, followed by Chinese (10) and Indian (7). Together, those three categories account for roughly 28% of all restaurants. American, sushi, and Asian hold the middle ground at 5-6 each, while Italian and chicken operations number only 3 apiece.
The broader food scene adds more pressure. Fast food outlets (84) outnumber restaurants, and the full dining ecosystem includes 43 cafés, 25 pubs, and 23 bars. For restaurant operators, competition doesn't just come from other sit-down spots — it comes from a deep bench of quick-service alternatives that are faster and often cheaper.
The biggest gap in St. John's: only 41 of 114 restaurants — 36% — have a website. That leaves 73 operators invisible to anyone searching online before they head out. Established names like Chinched Bistro, The Keg, and Sushi Island have web presences, but the majority haven't followed suit. For any operator looking to pull ahead, digital visibility is the single easiest competitive advantage available in this market.
Top Types in St Johns
What Customers in St Johns Care About
Fresh seafood on the menu
St. John's sits on the Atlantic coast, and customers expect locally sourced fish and seafood as a baseline — not as a special feature.
Menus you can find online
With only 36% of St. John's restaurants having a website, the ones that post menus and hours online win the first round of decision-making before anyone picks up the phone.
Easy downtown access
Much of the restaurant scene concentrates in the downtown core, and customers factor in parking and walkability when deciding where to eat on a Friday night.
Variety for mixed groups
With 30 cuisine types available across the city, St. John's diners know they have options and expect menus that work for different dietary preferences at the same table.
Generous portions at fair prices
In a market this size, word of mouth travels fast, and customers pay close attention to whether portions justify what's on the cheque.
Restaurants operating in St Johns
A sample of real restaurants in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| Peaceful Loft | Asian |
| Bamboo Garden | Restaurant |
| Bagel Cafe | Restaurant |
| Sun Sushi & Bubbled Tea | Japanese |
| Get Stuffed | Restaurant |
| Smitty's | Pancake |
| Portobello's Restaurant | Restaurant |
| New Moon Restaurant | Chinese |
| Jungle Jim's | Restaurant |
| Jasmine's Restaurant | Restaurant |
| East Side Mario's | Italian |
| PJ Billington's | Regional |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Restaurants Owners in St Johns
Get your menu online — most competitors haven't
73 restaurants in St. John's have no website at all. Simply having a site with your menu, hours, and location puts you ahead of nearly two-thirds of your competition. Customers check online before choosing where to eat — if they can't find you, they'll find someone else.
Avoid the pizza and Chinese pile-up
With 15 pizza spots and 10 Chinese restaurants, those categories are crowded. If you're entering the market, a less represented cuisine — Italian or chicken operations number just 3 each — faces far less direct competition for the same customers.
Differentiate from the 84 fast food outlets
Fast food outnumber sit-down restaurants in St. John's. To justify the time and cost of a sit-down meal, your restaurant needs to offer something a drive-through can't — better ingredients, atmosphere, or a menu worth lingering over.
Competition Snapshot
With 114 restaurants and 84 fast food outlets serving a metro of 215,000, St. John's food market is active but uneven. Pizza (15 locations) and Chinese (10) are crowded categories, while Italian and chicken operators number just 3 each. The standout opportunity is digital: 64% of restaurants have no website, meaning operators who invest in online presence can capture customers competitors are leaving behind. Standing out takes a clear culinary niche, strong local reputation, and basic digital visibility — three things many current operators still lack.
Other Industries in St Johns
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