Eloquent query for filter with multiple params from url (Some parameters may not be specified)

I am new for Eloquent Query Builder and I have some questions:

Goal: Create a query that will get me recipes that match the specified parameters from selectors:

1. Dish Category
2. Dish Subcategory
3. Cuisine
4. Menu

important nuance: in selectors you can't select a subcategory without first selecting a category (dependent dropdown logic using livewire).

After selecting parameters in selectors URL looks like this:

http://127.0.0.1:8000/recipes?dish_category=2&dish_subcategory=37&cuisine=1&menu=1

Problem:

• I noticed that I can still remove the category id in the url and leave only the subcategory: http://127.0.0.1:8000/recipes?dish_category=&dish_subcategory=37&cuisine=1&menu=1

• How to achieve behavior where a user can only enter, for example, "cuisine" in selector, and the query selects recipes that match only that parameter?

Code:

Currently I have this code, it shows me correct data, but I am not sure it is a proper way for filtering data using URL parameters:

        $recipes = Recipe::with('user', 'cuisine')
            ->where('dish_category_id', $request->query('dish_category'))
            ->orWhere('dish_subcategory_id', $request->query('dish_subcategory'))
            ->orWhere('cuisine_id', $request->query('cuisine'))
            ->orWhere('menu_id', $request->query('menu'))
            ->get();

        dd($recipes);

and dd($recipes) shows me this:

Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Collection {#1085 ▼ // app\Http\Controllers\RecipeController.php:26
  #items: array:2 [▼
    0 => 
App\Models
\
Recipe {#1116 ▶}
    1 => 
App\Models
\
Recipe {#1082 ▶}
  ]
  #escapeWhenCastingToString: false
}

(2 recipes found with the parameters specified by the user, also, if the user, for example, enters only the parameter Category: Broth, then the same result is obtained)

Conclusion:

The current code works, but I need it not only to work, but also to be written correctly, also I need to take into account the Problems described above

Would be grateful for advices and help.

---

EDIT 01:

I have tried approach with when() method:

        $recipes = DB::table('recipes')
            ->when($dish_category, function ($query, $dish_category){
                $query->where('dish_category_id', $dish_category);
            })
            ->when($dish_subcategory, function ($query, $dish_subcategory){
                $query->where('dish_subcategory_id', $dish_subcategory);
            })
            ->when($cuisine, function ($query, $cuisine){
                $query->where('cuisine_id', $cuisine);
            })
            ->when($menu, function ($query, $menu){
                $query->where('menu_id', $menu);
            })
            ->get();

it works, but I am still able to paste dish_subcategory_id in the URL (I am not sure it is a good behaviour when I don't allow user select dish_subcategory without dish_category in selectors)