How to make a QR code menu for your restaurant

How a QR menu works

The important detail is that the link should stay the same while the menu behind it changes. Then you can update a price or remove a sold out dish without reprinting a single table card.

1. Your menu lives at a web address, a link anyone can open without an app or an account.
2. You turn that link into a QR code with any QR code generator.
3. You print the code on table cards, stickers, the door or the bill folder.
4. Guests point their phone camera at it and the menu opens in their browser.

Use a real phone page, not a PDF

Many places point their QR code at a PDF of the printed menu. It works, but guests then pinch and zoom around an A4 page on a small screen, and a large PDF can be slow on weak mobile data.

A menu made for phones is easier: one column, readable text, section links at the top so guests can jump to desserts, and prices next to each dish. It also loads quickly and works in any phone browser.

• One column, large enough text to read without zooming.
• Sections listed at the top so guests can jump around.
• The same marks as your printed menu, such as veg, egg, vegan and spicy, with a legend.
• Add-ons and allergens under the dish, not hidden behind a tap.

Design the QR table card

The code needs a little room and a clear reason to scan it. Print it at least 2 to 3 cm wide on a table card, with a plain light background around it and dark modules. Avoid placing it over a busy photo or on a glossy surface that catches overhead light.

Add a short line such as scan for the menu, and if you have Wi-Fi for guests, put that on the same card. A 4 × 6 inch table tent with the code on the front and a few best sellers on the back works well.

Keep print and phone in step

The most common problem with QR menus is drift. The printed menu says one price, the phone menu says another, and staff end up apologising. The fix is to keep one list of dishes and produce both from it.

Before you print the code, test it on two or three different phones, including an older one, over mobile data rather than your Wi-Fi.

Should you still have a printed menu?

For most places, yes. Some guests prefer paper, some phones are low on battery, and older guests often find a printed menu easier. A QR menu works best alongside a printed one, as a convenience, not a replacement. It is also handy for sharing your menu on WhatsApp or Instagram before guests arrive.

Phone menus in Platebill

Every menu in Platebill has a phone view set from the same dishes as your print layouts. On the free plan you can preview it on your own device. With Pro, you publish it and get a link guests can open with no app and no account. Guests always see your latest saved menu, so the link on your printed QR code keeps working as you edit. You can stop sharing at any time, and guests who open the link then see that the menu is not available.

Platebill gives you the link, and you can turn it into a QR code with the generator of your choice.