How to Create a QR Menu: Step-by-Step Guide
A complete walkthrough for setting up a digital, contactless QR code menu for your restaurant, café, or bar — free, no developers needed, ready in 15 minutes.
You can set up a digital QR menu (no app download — guests scan and open in the browser) in 15 minutes. No developer, designer, or special equipment required — just a few minutes of your time.
If you're still choosing a format or want to understand the difference between a PDF and a live menu, start with How to digitize a restaurant menu. This guide covers the specific Scan'n'plate workflow.
What you'll need
- A Google account (for sign-in)
- Your venue name and address
- A list of dishes with prices
- Optional: photos of your dishes
Step 1: Sign up for Scan'n'plate
Go to scan-n-plate.com and click Sign in — authentication is via Google, no separate password needed.
After signing in, you'll land in your dashboard. All your venues and menus will be stored here.
Step 2: Create your establishment
Click Add establishment and fill in the basics:
- Name — how it appears to guests
- Type — restaurant, café, bar, bakery, etc.
- City and address — helps guests find you
- Opening hours — displayed on the menu page
- Contacts — phone, Instagram, Telegram
A cover photo is optional at first, but it noticeably improves first impressions.
Step 3: Add a menu and categories
Inside your establishment, create a menu (e.g. "Main Menu" or "Summer Terrace").
Then add categories — the sections guests will browse through:
- Breakfast
- Mains
- Pizza & Pasta
- Drinks
- Desserts
Categories can be reordered by dragging.
Step 4: Add your dishes
Inside each category, add variants (dishes) with:
- Name and price
- Description (ingredients, weight, notes)
- Tags — "new", "bestseller", "vegetarian", "spicy", etc.
If a dish is temporarily unavailable, hide it with a single toggle — no need to delete it.
Add-ons (extras like sauces, toppings, or upgrades) are configured in a separate block within the category. A price of 0 shows as "Free."
Step 5: Set up discounts (optional)
Each category supports discounts by day of week, time of day, or specific dates:
- Business lunch on weekdays 12:00–15:00 — −20%
- Happy hour on Fridays 18:00–20:00 — −15%
- Anniversary discount on a specific date — −10%
Discounts automatically appear as badges on the guest-facing menu page.
Step 6: Publish your establishment
When your menu is ready, switch the establishment to Published. It will become accessible at a permanent URL like:
scan-n-plate.com/en/russia/moscow/establishments/your-id
The QR code button in the establishment card turns this link into a scannable code. Download it as PNG — ready to print.
Step 7: Place the QR code in your venue
Print the QR code and put it where guests will see it first:
- On the table — in an acrylic stand or laminated under glass
- On the entrance door — so guests can browse before walking in
- At the counter — for walk-up orders
- In Instagram Stories — link it in your bio
Minimum working print size: 3×3 cm. Recommended: 6×6 cm or larger.
Tips for best results
Add photos. Dishes with photos get ordered significantly more often. One good smartphone photo in natural light is enough.
Fill in opening hours. Guests see an "Open" / "Closed" status in real time — it cuts down on calls asking "are you open?"
Use tags. "Bestseller" and "New" draw attention to key items without any extra effort.
Hide, don't delete. If a dish is seasonal or temporarily off the menu, hide it. Restoring it takes a second.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a QR menu cost?
Creating a menu and getting a QR code on Scan'n'plate is free. Sign up and try it without limitations.
Do I need to reprint the QR code when I update the menu?
No. The QR code points to your establishment's permanent URL — it never changes. Update dishes and prices as often as you like; the code stays the same.
Can I have multiple menus for one establishment?
Yes. For example: a main menu, a kids' menu, and a drinks menu — as separate sections within the same establishment.
How do guests open the QR menu?
They just point their phone camera at the QR code — iOS and Android automatically offer to open the link. No app download needed.
What if I have multiple locations?
Create a separate establishment for each location. Each gets its own URL and its own QR code.
QR menu vs paper menu
| Paper menu | QR code menu | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Design, print, wait | ~15 min, no printing |
| Update | Reprint batch | Change online — guests see it at once |
| Cost | Per print run | Free (Scan'n'plate) |
| Same code when you edit? | N/A | Yes — one QR forever |
One QR code, update anytime. The code links to your establishment page. Change dishes, prices, or photos whenever you want — no reprint, no new code.
Creating a contactless QR menu is simpler than it sounds: sign up → add establishment → add categories → add dishes → publish → get QR code. The whole process takes as little as 15 minutes.
Once your menu is live, optimize it to drive sales: dish order, anchor pricing, descriptions, add-ons. See How to increase average check with your menu for practical techniques.
Try it now — it's free.