Project Overview
Hokkaido is a popular Japanese restaurant in Norwood, Johannesburg. They are well-known for great food, a warm atmosphere, and a loyal customer base.
Before working with Control Alt Consult, Hokkaido didn't actually have a website at all.
They were doing really well through their Google Business Profile and delivery platforms like Uber Eats and Mr D, but they had no central online home of their own. No branded space to showcase the experience, no way to control customer journeys, and no long-term visibility beyond third-party platforms.
Our goal was to change that.
We built Hokkaido's very first website. A modern, high-impact restaurant website designed to strengthen their brand, attract local diners through Google search, and convert visitors into real bookings and enquiries.
The Challenge
While Hokkaido was already successful offline and on delivery apps, relying only on third-party platforms comes with limits.
Customers could find them on Google and order food, but:
- There was no branded online presence
- No place to showcase the restaurant experience properly
- No SEO foundation to attract organic website traffic
- No direct booking or enquiry funnel
- No long-term digital asset they fully owned
In short, Hokkaido was visible, but not digitally established.
The challenge wasn't fixing a bad website.
It was building a strong one from scratch and doing it right from day one.
The Strategy
We approached the project with a growth mindset.
Instead of just creating a nice-looking website, we built a digital foundation that would:
- Complement their strong Google presence
- Support long-term search visibility
- Reduce reliance on third-party platforms
- Turn online interest into direct customers
The focus was on mobile-first design, strong visuals, simple navigation, and proper SEO structure so the site could grow naturally in Google over time.
Design & User Experience
The new website puts the dining experience front and centre.
Bold imagery shows off the food, the atmosphere, and the brand personality immediately. The menu is clean, fast, and easy to browse on any device. Key actions like booking, calling, and getting directions are always within easy reach.
The visual style draws inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, from deep tones and warm accents, to modern minimalism, creating a premium look that matches the quality of the restaurant.
Everything was designed to feel intuitive, quick, and enjoyable.
The Technical Foundation
Behind the scenes, we built the website to be fast, search-friendly, and future-proof.
That included:
- Mobile-first performance optimisation
- Proper SEO structure for Google discovery
- Local business and restaurant data integration
- Clean page architecture for long-term growth
This ensures Hokkaido's new website doesn't just exist, but is positioned to keep attracting customers organically.
Results & Business Impact
With the launch of their first-ever website, Hokkaido now has:
- A strong branded online presence they fully own
- A new traffic channel beyond delivery platforms
- Better visibility in local search results
- Direct customer enquiries and bookings
- A professional digital storefront that reflects their real-world reputation
Instead of relying only on third-party apps, Hokkaido now has a digital asset working for them every day.
The Bigger Picture
This project shows how powerful a well-built website can be, even for businesses already doing well on platforms like Uber Eats and Mr D.
By creating a strong online home backed by SEO and smart design, Hokkaido has added a new growth engine to their business.
And that's exactly what we aim to do for every client at Control Alt Consult:
Build digital systems that don't just look good, but actively grow the business.