Kea AI unveils text-message ordering for restaurants

Technology

November 12, 2025

Kea AI, a provider of restaurant Voice AI, has launched Text AI, a conversational messaging feature allowing restaurant guests to interact directly with the business via text message.

Text AI brings all the capabilities of Kea’s Voice AI — including placing orders, asking menu questions and paying for meals — to a simple, two-way text conversation, according to John Merrells, chief technology officer at Kea

After powering hundreds of thousands of phone orders through its Voice AI, Kea is expanding into text to meet guests who may be unable to talk on the phone, such as those in meetings or noisy environments.

The feature rounds out Kea’s omnichannel ordering suite, offering restaurants a single system for both calls and texts tied directly to their point-of-sale system, according to a press release.

“For years, we’ve learned from how real customers interact with restaurants,” Merrells said in the release. “When people miss a call or can’t talk, they instinctively text. They don’t leave a voicemail. Text AI lets restaurants respond naturally in that same way, through friendly, on-brand messaging powered by AI.”

The Text AI system was developed after studying customer behavior, which showed many diners faced challenges completing voice transactions due to noise or lost signals. This led to the creation of Kea Pay, an instant checkout link sent by text that supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and browser credit card autofill. Text AI builds on this success by enabling full two-way text conversations with the same personalization and accuracy Kea’s Voice AI is known for.

When a guest prefers to text, they can use the same local phone number they would call for a voice order. The customer can confirm items, ask questions or add to their order via SMS text messaging. The AI’s tone can be customized to match the restaurant’s brand, and it remembers returning customers’ names and favorite orders, even supporting emoji-based ordering.

The system integrates directly with POS partners, ensuring every text order syncs with the restaurant’s workflow and kitchen ticketing in real time

In co-development with several restaurant brands, Kea observed that text conversations were highly efficient, with some guests completing their order in as few as six texts. Repeat engagement rates were exceptionally high, with less than 1% of customers opting out of text interactions.

“Once customers discovered they could simply text their favorite location to reorder, they began using it repeatedly instead of calling or ordering online,” Joel Foster, senior technical product manager at Kea AI, said in the release.

Kent Asaki, chief development officer of Rachel’s Kitchen and a Kea design partner, said Kea’s innovation over the years has been truly remarkable.

“This new Text AI, especially with the ability to reorder through personalized conversations, is a total game changer. It’s transforming how our guests connect with us,” he said in the release.

Text AI extends Kea’s mission of helping restaurants recapture missed revenue and guest engagement. By unifying voice, text, and payment restaurants can offer frictionless ordering.

“Voice AI and Text AI together turn their existing phone line into a full-service digital storefront,” Max Tilka, senior product manager for Kea AI, said in the release.

Restaurants can activate Text AI through a single setting. Once enabled, their existing Kea phone number supports both calling and texting. Restaurants may join the waitlist at www.kea.ai.

About Kea AI

Kea AI is a leading restaurant Voice AI platform founded in 2018 by CEO Adam Ahmad. Kea helps restaurants capture every call and text with intelligent ordering, menu analysis, and payment capabilities.

Integrated with more than 10 POS systems, Kea AI has powered hundreds of brands such as Rachel’s Kitchen, Pincho, Blaze Pizza, Hopdoddy and Via 313. Kea has raised $33 million from Marbruck, Xfund and Streamlined Ventures and is redefining how restaurants connect with their guests — one conversation at a time.