How to create a QR code menu for your restaurant

PDF or mobile web menu?

A QR code can open a PDF or a web page. A PDF may be enough if your menu rarely changes. Keep its URL stable when replacing the file, and test whether guests can read it on a small screen without constant zooming.

A web menu presents categories and individual dishes in a mobile layout. It is more useful when prices or availability change often, when you need photos and declared allergens, or when you want to offer table ordering. In ELUNEA, table ordering is part of the Signature and Large menu plans; linking orders to a till or payment terminal requires a separate discussion.

Build your restaurant QR menu in five steps

1. Collect the facts. List each category, dish, price, description and declared allergen. Use photos that reflect what your kitchen actually serves.
2. Organise the choices. Separate starters, mains, desserts and drinks. Check variants and supplements. Write short descriptions that help a guest understand the dish.
3. Choose your format and prepare visuals. Decide whether a PDF is sufficient. With ELUNEA, your team sends photos or 360° captures for the dishes selected for 3D; we check the resulting models before they go live.
4. Publish and test on phones. Open the menu on iPhone and Android without a guest account. Check categories, images, prices, allergens and any ordering flow you plan to use.
5. Print one QR code first. Scan it from a real table in your actual lighting before printing the full set. Make sure it points to your published menu, not a draft.

If you enable table ordering, verify the QR code belongs to the right table. Open a table session, enter the six-digit code given by the server, place a test order and check that it reaches the dashboard. When guests leave, your team must close the table; then confirm the old access can no longer order.

Try a restaurant menu QR code

On a computer, scan this code with your phone camera. On a phone, open the link directly. The sample menu opens in a browser, without an app or guest account.

Open a dish page and turn its 3D model. The dishes and prices are examples; your own printed code must point to your restaurant’s published menu.

What does a QR code menu cost?

The QR image itself is only one part of the project. Compare menu hosting, updates, setup, images, 3D production and any printed table signs before choosing a service.

ELUNEA Essential starts at €49 excluding VAT per month plus €290 excluding VAT for one-off setup: €339 excluding VAT for setup and the first month. It covers up to 30 dishes, 10 initial 3D models and three new or replacement models each month. Text, price and availability updates are unlimited. See the plans and included services for larger menus.

For a twelve-month comparison, Essential totals €878 excluding VAT (€290 setup + 12 × €49). This assumes twelve monthly payments at the stated price, with no extras or printed materials; it is not an annual commitment. Applicable taxes are calculated before payment.

Check these points before your first service

• Every table code opens the correct published menu without asking guests to install an app.
• The printed code is large enough to scan and is not hidden by reflections or poor lighting.
• Prices, ingredients and declared allergens match the dishes currently served.
• Mobile data or Wi-Fi works in all areas where guests will scan.
• A paper menu or help from the team remains available for guests who do not use a phone.

Start with a few signature dishes if you want to add 3D. A model helps guests explore presentation, but it does not replace accurate ingredient and allergen information. You can try the 3D demo before deciding which dishes to capture. Review any translated dish text with your team before publishing it.

What the rules require

Across the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires restaurants to tell guests about the 14 allergens that must be declared, including for food that is not prepacked; each country sets out how this information must be given. In the UK, the Food Information Regulations 2014 apply, and Food Standards Agency guidance explains how businesses can provide allergen information in writing or verbally, with clear signposting.

A QR menu can present this information, but not every guest will be able or willing to use a phone. Keep a paper or displayed version for guests who ask, and check your local rules on displaying prices. In ELUNEA, allergens are declared by your restaurant, which remains responsible for their accuracy and updates.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules that apply to your business with your local food authority or a legal professional.