What is a QR menu and how do you make one?
A QR menu is a digital menu that opens in the browser when a guest scans the square code on the table or door with their phone camera. No app download is needed; the menu opens as a web page. Cafés, restaurants, patisseries and bars use it to replace or complement the printed menu.
In this guide we explain what a QR menu is for, how to create one step by step, what to look for when choosing a QR menu service, and the costs involved.
What is a QR menu for?
With a printed menu, when a price changes or an item runs out, you have to reprint the menu, correct it by hand, or have the waiter explain at every table. With a digital menu, changes are made in the panel and the guest sees the up-to-date menu the next time they scan.
- Up-to-date prices: A price change doesn't require reprinting.
- Sold-out items: Items that run out are marked on the menu, so guests don't find out after ordering.
- Photos and descriptions: Guests choose by seeing the dish, and questions about portions and ingredients drop.
- Allergen information: Allergens such as gluten, milk and peanuts appear on the product card.
- Foreign languages: In tourist areas, the English menu opens with the same code.
- Calls from the table: Guests can call the waiter or ask for the bill from the menu.
How to make a QR menu, step by step
- Plan your menu structure. Decide on categories such as breakfast, starters, mains, desserts, and hot and cold drinks. If you need a separate drinks menu or a branch menu, plan for it from the start.
- Prepare product information. For each product, write the name, a short description, the price and any portion options (small or large, single or double). Check allergens together with the kitchen.
- Take the photos. Clear phone photos taken in daylight on a plain background are enough. Not every product needs a photo; start with your best sellers.
- Enter the menu in the panel. Choose your logo, cover image and colour; add categories and products. Fill in details such as opening hours, address and Wi-Fi.
- Create table codes. Giving each table its own code tells you which table a waiter call comes from. A single code will also open the menu, but without table information.
- Print the table cards. Print the codes on table cards, stickers or stands. Make sure the code is large enough to scan easily and doesn't reflect under bright light.
- Test it. Scan the code at a few tables with different phones; check that the menu opens quickly and the prices are correct.
What to look for when choosing a QR menu
| Criterion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No app required | Guests don't want to download an app; the menu should open straight in the browser when scanned with the camera. |
| Loading speed | A guest on mobile data should see the menu within a few seconds; heavy pages put people off. |
| Instant updates | Price and sold-out changes should be made in the panel and appear immediately. |
| Allergens and labels | Allergen groups and labels such as vegan, vegetarian and spicy cut down on guests' questions. |
| Language options | If you have foreign guests, the menu should be available in English. |
| Per-table codes | Waiter calls and table ordering need to know which table it is. |
| Protection against misuse | There should be rules against someone photographing the table code and sending fake calls from outside. |
| Pricing | Check in advance how the fee changes as the number of tables, menus or branches grows. |
Calling the waiter and ordering from the table
A QR menu doesn't have to be just a menu page. Guests can use the button at the bottom of the menu to call the waiter or ask for the bill; the call appears in the staff panel with a sound alert. No more tables waiting with a raised hand at busy times. In Menübulut, fake calls are limited by rules such as opening hours, waiting time and an hourly limit per table; when staff open a table, calls are accepted only from that table.
The next step is ordering from the table. The waiter takes the order on a phone or tablet and it goes to the kitchen display; the status updates as the kitchen prepares it, and the waiter sees which items are ready to serve. Businesses that wish can also let guests order from the menu. This setup reduces paper order slips and trips to the kitchen; it's a good idea to plan a short trial period so staff can get used to it. In Menübulut this comes with the separately sold Orders and Kitchen add-on.
What a QR menu costs
QR menu services are mostly sold as monthly or yearly subscriptions. When comparing prices, look beyond the plan price and ask these questions too:
- Is there a limit on the number of tables or QR codes?
- Which plan includes features such as the English menu, waiter calls and statistics?
- Is a ready-made template provided for table cards, and is printing up to you?
- Is there an extra charge for several menus or branches?
- Do the prices include VAT?
For example, Menübulut plans range from ₺990 to ₺3,490 in one annual payment (excl. VAT). Details are on the Menübulut plans page. The price of the Orders and Kitchen add-on is set by quote for your business.
Common mistakes
- Updating the price on the menu but forgetting the till price. Change both on the same day.
- Only putting the code on the door. A code that isn't on the table gets scanned less.
- Using blurry or dark photos. A product without a photo is better than one with a bad photo.
- Entering allergen information without asking the kitchen. This information is the business's responsibility.
- Removing printed menus entirely. Keep a few printed menus for guests without a phone or who don't want to scan a code.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to download an app for a QR menu?
No. Guests scan the code with their phone camera and the menu opens in the browser.
Do I need to reprint the QR code when prices change?
No. The code points to your menu's address; when you change a price in the panel, the same code opens the updated menu.
Does every table need its own QR code?
A single code is enough just to show the menu. If you want waiter calls or table ordering, each table needs its own code so the table is known.
How does calling the waiter from a QR menu work?
The guest presses the button on the menu and the call arrives in the staff panel with the table name. Menübulut has rules that limit repeated calls and fake calls sent from outside.
Can the menu also be shown in English?
Yes. Once you enter English names and descriptions for your products, guests can choose the language on the menu. In Menübulut this is included in the Business and Pro plans.