Restaurant menu QR code

What a menu QR code actually links to

A menu QR code is a URL QR code in disguise — it encodes the web address where your menu lives. The phone's camera opens that link, and the menu appears in the browser. The code itself holds no menu; it's a signpost to one. That means the quality of the experience is entirely about what you host and where.

You have two good options for the destination:

• A web page — an HTML menu page on your site. This is the best experience: it reflows to fit any screen, loads fast, and is readable without zooming.
• A hosted PDF — acceptable, but PDFs force diners to pinch and pan on a phone. If you go this route, see QR codes for a PDF for hosting tips.

https://yourrestaurant.example/menu

When to use it

• Table tents and stickers — one code per table for dine-in ordering or browsing.
• Window displays — let passers-by check the menu and prices before they sit down.
• Takeaway counters and flyers — link to an online ordering page.
• Seasonal or daily specials — point to a page you update rather than reprinting cards.

Gotchas worth knowing

• Keep the destination link short. A clean /menu path makes a coarse, robust code that scans across a dimly lit table. Avoid long tracking strings.
• Don't gate it. No forced app install, no sign-in, no marketing wall before the food. Diners abandon those.
• Plan for change. A static code can't be repointed, but if it points to your URL you can change the page behind it freely. Keep the URL stable and edit the menu page — never bake the menu version into the link. If you expect the whole URL to move, weigh a dynamic code.
• Print it large enough and laminate. Grease and glare kill scans. Follow the 10:1 size rule and leave a clear quiet zone.
• Offer a fallback. Keep a few printed menus for guests who can't or won't scan.

Make it accessible and fast

A menu behind a QR code has to work for every diner, on every phone, on patchy restaurant Wi-Fi. A few rules keep it inclusive and quick:

• Use real text, not a photo of text. An image or scanned page can't be enlarged cleanly or read by a screen reader. A proper HTML page reflows and zooms.
• Size type for thumbs and dim light. Legible body text and strong contrast matter as much on the menu page as on the code itself.
• Keep it light. Compress images and skip heavy scripts so the page loads in a second or two on mobile data — a seated table won't wait.
• Surface allergens and dietary labels. A digital menu is easy to keep current, so there's no excuse for stale information.
• Keep a few printed menus. Some guests can't or won't scan; a paper fallback is good service and, in places, a legal expectation.

Make a menu QR code

Publish your menu at a stable URL, then paste that address into the Link tab. Export a high-resolution PNG or vector SVG sized for a table tent.

Frequently asked questions