Loman vs. Kea: Which Restaurant Voice AI Is Better? (December 2025)

December 27, 2025

If you’re comparing AI phone systems for your restaurant, it’s likely because missed calls, rushed orders, and constant interruptions are cutting into revenue during busy shifts. Phones ring nonstop, staff juggle guests and takeout, and mistakes happen when attention is split. Loman vs Kea both offer voice AI as a solution, but they take very different approaches to how calls, orders, and payments are handled. One relies on human oversight and follow-up steps, while the other runs calls end to end through an AI-powered phone ordering solution built for restaurants. This comparison breaks down how each system performs in real service environments so you can choose the option that fits how your restaurant actually runs, from peak dinner rushes to late-night orders, without adding staff hours or changing existing workflows.

TLDR:

  • Loman takes orders autonomously with unlimited concurrent calls and instant payment processing.
  • Kea uses human oversight for some calls and sends text links for payment after the call.
  • Loman supports per-location menu customization while Kea focuses on bulk standardization.
  • Restaurants using Loman report up to 22% higher revenue from recaptured calls and upsells.
  • Loman offers 24/7 voice AI that handles orders, reservations, payments, and POS sync in under 24 hours.

What Is Kea?

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Kea is a voice AI phone system built for restaurants handling high call volumes without pulling staff off the floor. It answers calls and takes orders through an AI agent available 24/7, with some flows supported by human oversight or follow-up steps for completion.

The system integrates with restaurant POS systems to pull menu data and route completed orders into kitchen workflows. Kea's AI handles menu customizations, combo meals, and item variations common in restaurant ordering.

Kea supports payment completion through follow-up text links and assisted workflows instead of completing every transaction directly within the phone call. The goal is to reduce missed calls and eliminate phone interruptions during peak service hours.

Kea recently added Text AI, letting customers place orders via SMS instead of voice. The company targets quick-service and fast-casual restaurants managing high takeout and delivery volumes across single-location and multi-unit operations.

What Is Loman?

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We built Loman as a 24/7 voice AI phone agent that handles every call a restaurant receives. The AI takes complete pickup and delivery orders, books reservations, answers menu and policy questions, and processes payments without putting customers on hold.

Orders and reservations flow directly into a restaurant's existing POS and reservation systems through native integrations. Loman integrates with major restaurant systems including Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, Aloha, Olo, and OpenTable so tickets arrive clean and ready for the kitchen.

The system serves restaurants of all sizes across the U.S., from single-location pizza shops and fine dining establishments to multi-unit groups and national chains. Loman handles unlimited simultaneous calls and includes an upselling engine that suggests add-ons and combos to increase ticket size.

Restaurants can go live in under 24 hours after connecting their systems and importing menus. A dashboard shows live calls, transcripts, transactions, and revenue analytics so operators can track performance and adjust business hours or specials in real time.

Order Taking and Menu Handling

Both systems handle restaurant orders through AI, but their approaches to accuracy and oversight differ. Kea advertises 99.3% menu accuracy and uses a human-in-the-loop system where some calls still require manual intervention or monitoring. Configuration has been considerably reduced compared to earlier onboarding timelines.

Loman takes orders autonomously without human oversight. The system handles complex menu configurations, modifications, allergen questions, and special instructions while sending clean tickets directly to your POS. The AI knows your full menu and business rules, processing every order from greeting to payment confirmation.

The upselling engine prompts add-ons and popular combinations during the conversation to increase average ticket size. The system recognizes repeat callers and supports multiple languages for high-volume operations serving diverse communities.

If you need fully autonomous order taking without manual monitoring, especially with complex menus or multilingual customers, Loman removes the human dependency. If you prefer lighter-touch automation with human backup, Kea's hybrid model may fit your workflow.

Reservations and Payments

Kea offers Kea Pay, sending checkout links via text that support Apple Pay, Google Pay, and card autofill. This text-based method works when calls drop or customers prefer not to complete transactions by phone. Kea integrates with Olo for delivery coordination and supports reservation handling through conversational AI.

The text-link approach fits restaurants comfortable with payment completion happening after the call. For operations requiring immediate over-the-phone processing, this creates friction by adding an extra step.

Loman processes reservations and payments within the same phone interaction. The system books and confirms reservations 24/7, syncing directly to OpenTable and other reservation systems. Credit card information is taken securely over the phone through direct POS integration, letting customers pay instantly without leaving the call or waiting for a text link.

This reduces payment abandonment risk by completing transactions during the call. Loman works best for restaurants wanting frictionless, immediate payment processing during calls, especially those with high reservation volumes or customers who prefer single-step transactions.

POS Integrations and Multi-Location Support

Kea scales to 50+ locations with bulk editing that applies brand-wide changes across all stores in two clicks. The system integrates with Toast, Square, Clover, and Olo, with pricing starting at $450 per month for unlimited calls.

This works for large franchise operations with standardized menus. If every store serves identical items at the same hours, bulk configuration keeps operations consistent.

Multi-unit groups with per-store menu variations face constraints. Regional specials, location-specific hours, or varying offerings require workarounds because Kea is optimized for standardized menus across locations.

Loman handles both centralized control and location-specific customization. Each location gets its own phone number, hours, holidays, and menu overrides while analytics roll up across all stores. You can manage regional specials, seasonal items, or time zone differences without breaking the brand-wide structure.

Call Handling, Concurrency, and Edge Cases

Kea connects to POS systems and sends orders to the kitchen KDS, managing standard ordering workflows. The system handles multiple calls, though specific concurrency limits aren't publicly disclosed.

Loman handles unlimited simultaneous calls without hold times or capacity limits. Every customer gets through during peak hours. The AI quotes wait times, provides directions, and handles routine questions.

When edge cases arise, the system detects caller intent and routes intelligently. It either handles the request, transfers to a live line with context, captures voicemail with transcripts, or sends messages for follow-up. The dashboard shows live calls, transcripts, transactions, and outcomes in real time.

Why Loman Is the Better Choice

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Kea offers voice and text AI for restaurants managing phone orders with POS integrations and text-based payment links. The system works for operations comfortable with bulk standardization and hybrid human oversight.

Loman is a complete, autonomous voice AI for restaurants. The system combines 24/7 answering, full order taking, OpenTable reservation sync, immediate over-the-phone payments, unlimited call handling, built-in upselling, and multilingual support without requiring human intervention.

Deep integrations with Toast, Square, Clover, Aloha, Olo, and OpenTable send orders and reservations directly into your workflow. Per-location customization lets you manage store-specific menus, hours, and specials while maintaining centralized control. Most restaurants go live in under 24 hours.

Operators using Loman report up to 22% higher revenue from recaptured calls and smart upsells.

FAQs

How do I decide between Loman and Kea for my restaurant?

Choose Loman if you need fully autonomous order taking, immediate over-the-phone payments, and per-location menu customization across multiple stores. Kea fits better if you prefer a hybrid model with human oversight and are comfortable with text-based payment links sent after calls.

What's the main difference in how each system handles payments?

Loman processes credit card payments directly over the phone through POS integration, completing transactions during the call. Kea sends text links for payment after the call ends, which adds a step but supports Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Which system is best for multi-location restaurants with different menus per store?

Loman handles per-location menu variations, hours, and regional specials while rolling up analytics across all stores. Kea excels at bulk standardization across 50+ locations but works best when every store serves identical menus at the same hours.

Can Loman handle unlimited calls during peak dinner rush without hold times?

Yes, Loman handles unlimited simultaneous calls without capacity limits or busy signals. Every customer gets through immediately, and the AI quotes wait times and routes edge cases when needed.

How long does it take to get either system up and running?

Loman goes live in under 24 hours after connecting your POS and importing menus. Kea’s configuration time has been considerably reduced compared to earlier onboarding timelines.

Final thoughts on restaurant AI phone systems

This AI phone system comparison between Loman vs Kea comes down to how much control and completion you want from every call. Kea combines voice AI with human review and post-call payment links, which can work for teams comfortable with follow-ups and standardized flows. Loman takes a different path by handling calls start to finish, completing orders, reservations, and payments during the conversation. Restaurants get 24/7 coverage, built-in upselling, and location-level customization without adding staff or changing daily routines. Setup happens quickly, results show up immediately, and missed calls stop turning into missed revenue. For operators who want calls fully handled without extra steps, an AI phone ordering system like Loman aligns with how restaurants actually take orders and serve guests every day.

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