Grounded in self-determination theory, this study examines how fulfilling customers’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness influences their intention to write restaurant reviews. It further examines the mediation of consumer brand passion between A-C-R need satisfaction and review-writing intention. Using a convenience sample of 322 participants, the hypotheses were tested in a restaurant setting. The findings reveal that among the three psychological needs, relatedness has the strongest effect on brand passion, followed by autonomy and competence. Additionally, the study confirms a significant and positive indirect effect of A-C-R need satisfaction on review-writing intention through brand passion. These insights offer practical guidance for restaurant brand managers, highlighting that meeting customers’ psychological needs can cultivate brand passion and motivate them to share their experiences through reviews.