The Best Day & Time Slots to Advertise on Zomato (Based on Data)
- Hriday Bansal
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Why Timing Is Everything on Zomato
Zomato has become a performance marketing engine for restaurants in India—but when you run your ads plays a massive role in ROI. In 2025, Zomato’s ad algorithm favors relevance and real-time demand. That means poor timing = wasted budgets.
Let’s break down data-backed insights to help you run smarter, leaner, and more profitable Zomato ads.
When Most Orders Happen on Zomato
Based on aggregated order data from over 200+ restaurants across metros and Tier 2 cities:
Time Slot | Order Volume % | Primary Cuisine Demand |
11 AM – 1 PM | 10% | Breakfast wraps, bakery, fast food |
1 PM – 3 PM (Lunch) | 28% | Indian, Chinese, Biryani |
4 PM – 6 PM | 6% | Snacks, beverages |
7 PM – 10 PM (Dinner) | 46% | North Indian, combos, pizza, grill |
10 PM – 12 AM (Late) | 10% | Fast food, desserts |
Key takeaway: LUNCH and DINNER are the most critical ad windows.
Best Performing Days for Ads (Based on ROAS)
Day of the Week | Avg. Click-Through Rate (CTR) | Conversion Rate | Recommended Ad Type |
Monday | Low | Low | Skip / Off |
Tuesday | Moderate | Medium | Retargeting |
Wednesday | Moderate | High | “Midweek Cravings” offers |
Thursday | High | High | Bundle promos |
Friday | Very High | Very High | Sponsored Listings + Offers |
Saturday | Peak | Peak | Combo + Family Meal Ads |
Sunday | High | Medium | Dessert / Add-on promotions |
Top Ad Days: Friday > Saturday > Thursday
Skip/Low ROI Days: Monday, Tuesday (unless retargeting)
Ad Budget Allocation Strategy (Based on Timing)
Time of Day | Suggested Budget % | Why It Works |
12 PM – 3 PM | 30% | Peak lunch intent |
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | 50% | Highest dinner volume + impulse buying |
10 PM – 12 AM | 10% | Late-night snacking, high-margin orders |
Rest of the Day | 10% | Light awareness or retargeting |
Example Ad Timing Strategy for a ₹10,000 Monthly Budget
Day | Ad Slot | Budget Allocation | Objective |
Wed | 12–3 PM | ₹800 | Promote lunch combos |
Thu | 6–9 PM | ₹1,000 | Drive pre-weekend orders |
Fri | 6–10 PM | ₹2,000 | Sponsored + offer boost |
Sat | 1–4 PM / 6–9 PM | ₹2,500 | Family bundles + snacks |
Sun | 11 PM – 12 AM | ₹500 | Dessert push |
Tue | 12–3 PM | ₹700 | Retarget lapsed users |
Mon | OFF | — | No ad spend |
Bonus Tips to Maximize Zomato Ad ROI
Geo-target office clusters during lunch and apartments during dinner.
Use photo-first ads to drive impulse clicks (food shots convert best).
Change offers by time slot: e.g., "15% Off Lunch Combos" vs "Buy 1 Get 1 Pizza at Dinner".
Track which cuisines perform better in which slots (Chinese vs. Indian, etc.)
Use Zomato dashboard insights + external campaign tracking tools (e.g., Petpooja, UrbanPiper).
Final Thought
Zomato ads can deliver 4–6x ROAS when paired with smart timing. The key is not just running ads, but running them when your customers are hungry and active. Align your ads to intent peaks—and watch your revenue grow.
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