QR code menus are a new type of digital menu used by restaurants, replacing the traditional paper menu.

Restaurant customers scan a QR code placed on tables to open the menu on their smartphone.

If you are a restaurant owner and want to create a digital menu with a QR code, this is the right guide for you.

Here’s what we will cover:

1. Diffusion of QR code menus
2. How to create a QR code menu
3. How to read a QR code menu in a restaurant
4. Services to create a QR code menu
   1. Website builder (WordPress and similar)
   2. Upload a PDF
   3. Develop the menu by writing code
   4. Use a QR code menu service (BuonMenu and similar)
5. Services for designing and printing the QR code
   1. Generate the QR code
   2. Create the flyer with the QR code
   3. Print the QR code
   4. How to place the QR code in the restaurant
6. PDF menu vs digital menu
7. Pros and cons of QR code menus

Diffusion of QR code menus

QR code menus have spread in Italy and in other parts of the world since May 2020 (as seen from Google Trends) and are gradually replacing the traditional paper menu.

This surge was primarily driven by the pandemic, although the technology had been available earlier (both online menus and QR codes were already in use in various sectors).

Their adoption has shown that they offer many advantages, not just in terms of hygiene, and for this reason, they continue to be widely used and have permanently replaced paper in many restaurants.

Currently, thousands of restaurants in Italy use QR code menus: some still have paper menus, while others have fully switched to digital and use only a QR code menu.

If you’ve visited restaurants recently, you’ve likely encountered a digital menu in the past few years, and this trend is expected to grow.

How to create a QR code menu

If you are a restaurant owner and want to create a QR code menu for your establishment, there are several ways to do it.

The main steps to create a QR code menu are:

1. Publish your menu online on a website
2. Convert the link to your online menu into a QR code and print it
3. Customers scan the QR code placed on tables to open the menu.

How to read a QR code menu in a restaurant

If you are a customer seated in a restaurant and see a QR code on the tables, don’t worry: opening the menu is very simple.

Follow these steps to open the menu:

1. Take your smartphone and open the camera app (as if you were going to take a picture)
2. Point the camera at the QR code
3. Your smartphone will show a link you can click to open the menu.

Alternatively, you can open the App Store (on iOS) or Google Play (on Android) and search for "QR code" or "QR code scanner": you’ll find many apps that allow you to scan a QR code. This is particularly useful for older devices that don’t have the QR code reading function integrated into the camera.

Services to create a QR code menu

As we mentioned earlier, the main steps are creating an online menu and generating a QR code.

Let’s take a closer look at how to create the online menu. You can choose from several solutions:

Website builder (WordPress and similar)

You can create a website (or a simple webpage for the menu) with a website builder tool.

For example, you could use an open-source solution like WordPress or a paid tool like Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, etc.

The advantage is that you can create a custom design and use your own domain name.

The downside is that it can be difficult, time-consuming, requires technical skills, and the final result may be of low quality, as it’s often challenging to maintain a clean and consistent style throughout the menu using these tools. Also, creating good navigation between different sections of the menu can be problematic.

Upload a PDF

A very quick solution if you already have a menu in PDF format is to publish that PDF online and allow customers to download the PDF menu by scanning the QR code.

You can upload a PDF to your website (e.g., WordPress) or use a storage service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3).

Most of these services then allow you to get a public link for the file so that you can share it.

For example, you can go to Google Drive, upload your PDF menu to a folder, then right-click on the file, and select "Get link."

The advantage is that it’s a seemingly quick solution.

The downside is that it’s not convenient to update the menu, and for restaurant customers, reading and browsing a PDF menu is quite a hassle. Additionally, you might run into various limitations and serious issues (e.g., download limits on Google Drive) if too many customers try to download the menu in a short period.

Develop the menu by writing code

If you are a software developer, you can create a menu as a regular static website (with HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and then publish it (e.g., on any hosting service or Netlify and similar).

If you are a restaurant owner without technical skills, you could hire a web agency or use a freelance service (e.g., Fiverr).

The advantage is total customization.

The downside is that hiring an agency can be expensive, especially over time. Every time you need to make a small change, you have to contact the developer, which takes time and costs money.

Use a QR code menu service (BuonMenu and similar)

There are websites specifically designed to create an online restaurant menu: for example, you can search for BuonMenu or use one of the many QR code menu services available on the market. Most services guide you through creating the menu and allow you to download the QR code directly.

Be careful with free services: they often have hidden limits (e.g., on the number of views, items you can add, modifications, etc.) or are unreliable sites created by hobbyists (sites that may experience downtime or disappear without warning, causing significant damage to your restaurant's reputation).

We recommend using a professional solution, like BuonMenu, which has been used in Italy for years.

The advantage is that they are easy to use, you don’t need design skills to produce a good result, you can update the menu at any time, and the menus are easy to read and navigate on smartphones.

The downside is that you need to invest some time initially to enter the various categories and dishes (unlike with a PDF).

Services for designing and printing the QR code

Now that you have your menu published online and the link to it, all that’s left is to convert the link into a QR code.

Generate the QR code

If you search "QR code" or "QR code generator" on Google, you’ll find many results for free services that allow you to convert a link (URL) into a QR code.

Be sure to always choose free and static QR codes (not dynamic paid ones); otherwise, some services might charge you money (perhaps not immediately, but after some time).

After generating and downloading the QR code, we recommend always testing it: scan the QR code with your phone and verify that the link displayed (before clicking on it) is indeed the one for your menu (and not for some other site that redirects to your menu).

Finally, before printing, it’s always a good practice to scan the QR code, click the link, and check that your menu opens as intended.

Alternatively, to avoid surprises, if you use a specific QR code menu service (like BuonMenu), you can download the QR code directly from the service without relying on other online tools.

Create the flyer with the QR code

Now that you have the QR code, all that’s left is to create a flyer to print with some text (e.g., "Our Menu") and the QR code.

You can simply use a text editor (like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Writer). Open a new document (you can also change the A4 format to something smaller) and then add text, images, or your restaurant’s logo, and click "insert image" to add your QR code.

If you prefer to create something more attractive, you can use a graphic design program (e.g., Inkscape).

However, graphic design programs are usually complex, so I recommend using an online tool like Canva, which is really simple and perfect for designing flyers, posters, and similar items.

Open Canva, choose a design, add text and images to the flyer, and finally insert your QR code. There’s even a feature to generate the QR code directly from a link.

Print the QR code

To print the flyer with the QR code, you can use your own printer or an online printing service (e.g., Vistaprint).

You can also choose from many different types of prints: business cards, flyers (maybe with a tabletop display), table tents, table signs. You can even go for more unique options like printing stickers to place on tables, embedding the QR code on paper placemats, etc.

How to place the QR code in the restaurant

The flyer with the QR code is usually placed on each table. You can use a display stand or not.

If you wish, the QR code can also be placed in a visible spot in the restaurant, such as at the entrance, on a large poster, or on a big screen.

However, the most classic solution is to place the QR code on the table, while these and other alternatives might be more useful for particular environments, like a bar or another type of establishment.

PDF menu vs digital menu

PDF menus are usually a nightmare for people seated at the table.

The text is often small and difficult to read. You have to constantly zoom in and move left and right, and it’s hard to find the various sections. The design isn’t optimized for smartphones (resulting in a less-than-pleasant experience). Lastly, automatic browser translations into different languages don’t work (which is a problem for foreign customers).

Most of the complaints people have about QR code menus, as seen in many Twitter posts, are actually related to PDF menus, not digital QR code menus in general.

If you’re a restaurant owner, we recommend spending some time enhancing your menu by creating something visually appealing. Using a digital menu with a well-crafted design (instead of a PDF) can be a good starting point.

Pros and cons of QR code menus

Let’s analyze the advantages and disadvantages of QR code menus compared to paper menus.

A QR code menu offers many advantages:

• First and foremost, the ease of updating the menu: changing it, testing new dishes, or adjusting prices is very fast
• The menu is always clean and hygienic, like new, and doesn’t need to be constantly cleaned or reprinted periodically
• Eco-friendly since it saves a lot of paper
• A QR code menu takes up little space on the table
• A digital menu can be accessed from anywhere and easily shared online
• There are infinite copies of the menu available, and no one has to wait, especially at large tables
• The menu is always available on the smartphone, without having to wait for the waiter or ask for the menu again
• The QR code menu is modern and smart, adding a touch of technology to the restaurant
• The digital menu can usually include more information and photos than a paper menu, allowing you to better showcase your cuisine
• Some digital menus allow you to add direct links to the restaurant’s social media (like Instagram and Facebook), making it easier to gain more followers and build customer loyalty.

However, some people are not used to digital menus and have expressed criticism toward QR code menus:

• "Uncomfortable and hard to read": this criticism specifically refers to PDF menus or those without easy navigation between sections
• "Too many apps to download": it’s advisable to use an online digital menu, which creates a webpage and doesn’t require the customer to install any apps (otherwise, they end up with too many apps from different restaurants)
• "I don’t want to use my phone at the table": although this is often said on social media, many people have no problem opening their phone for a moment at the table
• "Some people don’t know how to open a QR code": most people today can use QR codes because they are intuitive and are used in many different areas
• "Some people don’t have a phone or it’s out of battery": while true, this is a rare exception since phones are often used for payments, cards, communication, and are therefore always available (in any case, you can provide a printed menu or a courtesy tablet to the customer, or the customer can ask a friend, colleague, or family member at the table to use their phone)
• "Scanning a QR code isn’t safe": the risks are the same as browsing the internet. The important thing is to avoid installing applications or providing private credentials after scanning a QR code as much as possible.

In practice, most of the criticisms are related to specific experiences with poorly designed digital menus, not QR code menus in general. In our opinion, overall, the advantages of QR code menus clearly outweigh the disadvantages. The important thing is to always choose high-quality digital menus that are appreciated by customers for their design and readability (UI, UX, and branding are very important for restaurants).