Top 10 Halloween Menu Ideas for Restaurants in 2025

Halloween has quietly become one of the UK’s most profitable seasonal events for the hospitality industry. Younger diners and families love a themed night out, and seasonal menus are an easy way to capture their attention.

By incorporating Halloween menu ideas and standout buffet options, you can boost sales and provide customers with something worth sharing long after the last pumpkin has been carved.

As Halloween gets more popular, drinks like gin, vodka, and rum see a big jump in sales. On Halloween night alone, sales of spirits rise by 28.7%, mainly because younger people are choosing them over drinks like beer or wine.

Top 10 Halloween Menu Ideas for 2025

These ideas work for everything from quick-service takeaways to full-service restaurants. Each comes with a simple description and a few presentation tips to help you bring them to life; many double up as brilliant Halloween buffet ideas if you’re hosting a party-style service.

Spooky Starters & Small Bites

1. Witch’s Brew Soup

A warming pumpkin or butternut squash soup with a hint of smoky spice. Serve in black bowls or mini cauldrons, ideal for an autumn buffet.

2. “Witch’s Fingers” Breadsticks

Breadsticks tinted with natural beetroot or spinach for a creepy green or red hue. Shape the ends into pointed “fingers” and add an almond “nail”.

3. Pumpkin Hummus & Bat-Shaped Nachos

Smooth pumpkin hummus served with nachos cut into bat shapes. Perfect for sharing platters or Halloween buffet ideas for families.

Frighteningly Good Mains  

4. Monster Burgers

Burgers served in jet-black charcoal buns with a fiery sauce. Add a slice of cheese cut into fangs or eyes for a playful finish, great for a buffet station.

5. Mummy Hot Dogs

Sausages wrapped in strips of puff pastry to look like mummies. Easy to prep in batches and a hit at any Halloween buffet.

6. Eyeball Pasta

Meatballs “staring back” at your diners from a rich tomato sauce. Use mozzarella slices and an olive centre to create the eyeball effect.

7. Bloody Beetroot Risotto

A striking deep-red risotto made with beetroot and finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a “blood” effect.

8. Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Carve faces into orange peppers and fill them with spiced rice or mince. They look like mini pumpkins, ideal for buffet platters.

Devilishly Sweet Desserts

9. Spiderweb Cupcakes

Top chocolate cupcakes with a white icing spiderweb or spun-sugar decoration. Perfect for takeaway boxes or Halloween buffet ideas where guests can help themselves.

10. Ghostly Apple Tarts

Puff-pastry tarts filled with cinnamon-spiced apple and cut into ghost shapes. Dust with icing sugar for a fun finish.

Bewitching Drinks & Bar Snacks  

If you’ve got a bar or serve cocktails, why not add:

1. Vampire Bites

Spicy chicken wings or meatballs with a “bloody” chilli glaze to nibble alongside drinks.

2. Sinister Sips

Think Black Magic Margaritas, “Vampire’s Kiss” mocktails, or a smoky Witch’s Brew cocktail served with dry ice for dramatic flair.

These also work perfectly as part of a Halloween buffet, drinks, and nibbles station.

Tips to Make Your Menu Stand Out

• Give dishes playful names - it makes the menu memorable and fun.
• Use themed plating and props - black crockery, rustic boards, or even dry ice can add instant atmosphere to sit-down meals or Halloween buffet ideas.
• Keep it seasonal and sustainable - showcase British autumn produce such as pumpkins and root vegetables.
• Offer vegan and gluten-free options - from plant-based risotto to gluten-free cupcakes, so everyone can join in.
• Create both kid-friendly and grown-up versions - for example, a non-alcoholic “Vampire’s Kiss” mocktail for families and a cocktail version for adults.

Pair Your Menu Launch with Special Promotions  

• Run “Buy One, Get One” deals on themed cocktails or desserts.
• Offer pre-booking incentives for families or group Halloween nights.
• Add double loyalty points for anyone ordering from the Halloween menu.
• Bundle dishes into a set menu or use these Halloween food ideas as part of a fixed-price package to encourage higher spend.

Make the Most of Social Media

Social media is your online stage; use it creatively to grab attention.

• Post behind-the-scenes clips of your team decorating or cooking the Halloween dishes.
• Run a best-dressed-dish competition on Instagram or TikTok.
• Encourage customers to share their photos with a Halloween hashtag for a discount on their next visit.

With 40% of diners checking a restaurant’s social feed before visiting, striking visuals and fun competitions can directly drive bookings and takeaway orders, especially when you showcase your most eye-catching Halloween buffet ideas.

Get Staff and Customers Involved

• Hold a staff fancy-dress day to make the launch even more fun.
• Let guests vote for their favourite dish using your app or website.
• Offer small prizes or discounts for those who join in; people love a bit of friendly competition.

Tech Tips from Foodhub for Business

Foodhub’s tools make running a themed menu simple:

• Use Foodhub EPOS and App Builder to promote your Halloween dishes and Halloween buffet ideas across your website and app.
• Schedule push notifications to regulars with special offers.
• Add your Halloween menu to digital boards or even run a QR code scavenger hunt for extra excitement.

This kind of tech support keeps things organised and makes marketing far less stressful.

Your Halloween Success Checklist

Before the big night, tick these off:

• Order ingredients and check stock early.
• Finalise your spooky menu names and pricing.
• Plan your social content calendar and promotion schedule.
• Prepare a few quick wins for last-minute planners, pre-made desserts, simple decor like black candles and cobwebs, or a same-day social media competition.

These steps work whether you’re planning a sit-down dinner or pulling together a selection of Halloween buffet ideas.

Final Word

Halloween 2025 is the perfect time to mix fun with profit. With these Halloween menu ideas, and a few standout buffet ideas, you can turn October into one of your busiest and most memorable months.

And with Foodhub for Business, it’s easy to update menus, send push notifications, and track your success. Book a free demo and start your free trial today to get your Halloween menu and buffet ideas live and ready to wow diners across the UK this autumn.