How to Add a QR Code to Your Restaurant Menu
A new seasonal dish, a different lunch offer, an updated price: restaurant menus rarely stand still. A QR code lets guests open the menu on their own phones and makes it easier to share the current version. Here's how to choose a format, put it on your tables, and plan for the next update.
Choose What the QR Code Opens
If you already have a PDF menu, that's a perfectly reasonable place to start. Upload it through QR-ZY's PDF generator and check how it reads on a phone. Small print that works on an A4 sheet can mean a lot of zooming on a screen. A mobile-friendly menu page is often easier to browse.
You can build that page in QR-ZY's menu creator, with categories, dishes, descriptions, and prices. You can also import menu items from a PDF or DOCX and check the result. If the menu already has a web address, use a Link QR. Planning to move from a PDF to a web page later? Create a dynamic Link QR with the PDF's address from the outset; you can then change its destination in your dashboard without replacing the printed code.
How to Create the QR Code in 3 Steps
- Choose Menu to build a menu page, PDF for a ready-made document, or Link for a menu that's already online.
- Add your dishes, upload the PDF, or paste the menu address. Check the preview, then add your brand colors or a small logo if you like.
- Download the QR and add it to a table card, sticker, or printed menu. SVG works well when the artwork needs to scale; check PNG or PDF at the final size. Scan one printed sample before ordering the whole batch.
Updating Your Menu Without Reprinting
Seasonal dishes and price changes don't always mean replacing the QR on every table. If you update your own menu page or replace a file at the same web address, a static link QR will still open it. A new address is the point at which that static code needs replacing.
If the address may change, use a dynamic Link QR. With active Pro or Business access, you can change its destination in your account and keep the printed code. This is useful when moving from a PDF to a website or switching where the menu is hosted.
Dynamic QR analytics also show how often the code is scanned, helping you see whether guests use it. Read that as scan activity: the same guest might open the menu several times.
Where to Place the QR Code
The best spots are the ones guests naturally look at: a table stand, a sticker on the table, or the bill folder. A code by the door or in the window can also help someone deciding whether to come in. A short 'View the menu' label makes the invitation clear.
For a table card, start with a code around 4–5 cm wide and try scanning it while seated. A window code viewed from farther away may need to be larger. Keep a clear light margin around the pattern, at least four small QR squares wide, and check that glare or folds don't get in the way.
Make the Menu Easy to Use on a Phone
The code is only the doorway. Once guests scan it, the menu should load quickly and be comfortable to read without constantly pinching and zooming. Keep files and images small, group dishes into clear categories, and put popular choices near the top. Check both small and large phone screens, and keep a few paper menus handy for guests who prefer them.
Quick Checklist
- The code opens the correct menu, and the dishes and prices are easy to read on a phone.
- You have checked how to update the menu: keep its web address or change the destination of a dynamic Link QR.
- The code has a clear label, strong contrast, and an empty margin around it.
- A printed sample scans on several phones from where guests will use it, in the restaurant's usual lighting.
- Paper menus are available on request.