From your first dishes to a card guests can scan
Learning how to create a QR code for a menu starts with the page it will open. Prepare your dishes, choose your own public menu route, download the matching code and test a real print. This guide takes you through that process without coding or guessing which link guests should use.
Prepare the destination before the design
A QR code gives a phone a destination to open. A menu saved only on your computer is not enough: guests need an accessible public page. With MenuForma, you create the restaurant menu first and use the matching public link from its QR card. The square is the shortcut; the menu behind it is what customers actually read.
Start with a few dishes and decide whether visitors should only browse or also place a table order. That decision affects the route you share and the wording on the table card. You can check the live examples before committing to a layout, then use your own restaurant's code when it is ready.
Build, check, download, then share
Follow the steps in order. You do not need a separate website project, but checking the public menu and the finished print is still part of the job. A downloaded code is not proof that the right dishes or table will appear.
Register with MenuForma and create your restaurant. Check the restaurant name and primary language before adding content, so guests see the right information after scanning. Start with one venue and a small set of dishes rather than importing every variation at once. Free Forever gives you a place to build and review that first menu without entering a credit card.
Import a PDF, photograph or website menu link, or enter your dishes manually. Treat imported content as a draft: compare the names, categories, descriptions and prices with your original menu. Check currency, spelling and any dietary information your team provides. Save your edits, then open the guest view to check that the menu is understandable on a phone, not just in the editor.
Open the QR codes area for the correct restaurant and choose the service you want to share. A display menu is for browsing; a table ordering code carries a table reference for dine-in orders. Check the public menu link on the relevant card. Do not encode a dashboard address, an editing screen or one of the example restaurants shown on this page.
Use Download on the QR card you selected. On desktop, save the generated image; on a supported mobile browser, follow the image-saving instructions in the opened view. Keep a clear name for each file, especially when you have several tables. Basic black-and-white QR codes are included in Free Forever. If you want additional design options, compare the current plan before choosing them.
Place one sample where guests will use it, then scan with different phones in your normal lighting. Confirm the restaurant, menu mode and table reference, not only that a page opens. Keep the square undistorted and the surrounding margin clear. Avoid glare from covers or lamination. If scanning is difficult, enlarge the code or change its position before ordering a full batch of cards.
Put the verified cards on the intended tables and add a simple instruction such as Scan to view menu. Share the public link in messages or online so guests already using a phone can tap instead of scan. Make a colleague responsible for routine menu checks. After changing a dish or price, save and reopen the live page; after changing a destination, recheck your printed codes too.
One place for the menu behind the scan
The useful part is not just producing a code. It is turning existing content into a public menu your team can maintain, with a route that matches the way you serve guests. These capabilities help with that work while leaving the final checks in your hands.
A document, photo or website link can become an editable draft rather than another file guests must zoom into. You can also enter dishes manually when that is easier. Review every import before sharing it; recognition is a starting point, not a substitute for checking your restaurant's prices and ingredients.
Guests open a public menu in their browser and browse categories and item details. They do not need a MenuForma account or app just to read it. Try the live examples below to see the guest experience before deciding how your own menu should be organised.
Change dishes, descriptions and prices from your dashboard while retaining the same public address for ordinary content edits. That separates menu maintenance from printing work. If you change the restaurant link or choose a different service route, check the destination again rather than assuming the old card has changed automatically.
Free Forever includes dine-in table ordering. Use the code belonging to the intended table, then check the guest route and how your staff will handle orders. A browse-only menu and a table ordering menu serve different needs; the card's wording should make that choice clear to guests.
Regular supports multiple languages, multiple restaurants, delivery and takeaway ordering. Add those channels when your team is ready to operate them. They are not necessary just to put a primary-language menu behind a code, and the examples do not mean every demonstrated feature belongs to the free plan.
Use Free Forever to prepare your first menu, open it on a phone and test a sample card. One correct print is more useful than a large stack pointing to the wrong route. Keep updated paper menus available too, so guests without a working phone can still choose comfortably.
Before the cards reach your tables
Open the code on a phone that is not signed in to your merchant account. Confirm the restaurant name, menu mode and table. Test the link printed underneath too. If either opens an editor or a demo, replace it with your own public menu route before distribution.
Check the actual card from a seated position, not just the image on a large screen. Leave clear space around the code, keep strong contrast and make sure it is not distorted. Try evening lighting and any protective cover. Adjust the size or placement if scans are inconsistent.
Write Scan to view menu for a browse-only route, and explain ordering when that is what you offer. Include a direct menu link for guests who cannot scan. Staff should know how to help, and paper copies should stay current rather than becoming an outdated fallback.
Know what your first setup includes
Free Forever
Free Forever includes one restaurant, a primary-language menu display, basic black-and-white QR codes and dine-in table ordering. There is no credit card required to register and no trial deadline. Use it to build the menu and test a card before you decide whether you need more languages or additional service channels.
Regular
Regular supports multiple languages, multiple restaurants, delivery and takeaway ordering, and online payments. Payments need a supported, configured Stripe connection. MenuForma lists a 0.6% platform fee per Stripe transaction, and Stripe processing fees may also apply. Review current plans and terms rather than assuming every capability in a demo is free.
Practical answers before you download or print
Here is what restaurant owners often need to clarify: the free scope, which address to use, how to save the image and what happens when the menu changes.
Create a restaurant in MenuForma, add or import dishes and review the public menu. Open the QR codes area, select the appropriate menu or table card and download its code. Scan a finished sample before sharing it. You do not need to build a website yourself, but you should still check the menu details and confirm that the code opens the right restaurant.
Yes. Free Forever includes one restaurant, a primary-language menu, basic black-and-white QR codes and dine-in table ordering. Registration does not require a credit card, and it is not a time-limited trial. Regular adds multiple languages, multiple restaurants, delivery, takeaway and online payments. Check the current plans before relying on a capability shown in an example menu.
Yes. MenuForma can use those sources to create a menu draft, or you can add dishes manually. A clear source makes review easier, but recognition can still need corrections. Check item names, category placement, descriptions, currency and prices before sharing. For ingredient or allergy questions, your staff should confirm the information directly rather than treating imported text as a safety guarantee.
Use your own restaurant's public menu destination, with the correct mode and table reference if needed. Do not link guests to your dashboard, a login screen or our demo menu. The matching QR card provides the route for that service. Open it as a guest on another phone or browser to confirm it reaches the intended menu without requiring your merchant login.
Not for ordinary edits that remain at the same public address. Update the menu, save and check the live page; the printed code still points to that address. Changing the link itself or switching service routes is different. Recheck existing cards when you make those changes, and replace any that no longer open or describe the intended guest experience.
Use Download on the selected QR card. On supported mobile browsers, the code opens in an image view with saving instructions; long press the image to save it where your browser allows. On desktop, the image downloads as a file. Keep the original generated image rather than a compressed screenshot, then scan the actual printed version before giving it to guests.
There is no single size that works at every viewing distance. Use strong contrast, preserve the clear border and avoid stretching the square. Test under your actual lighting and watch for glare, folds or blurred printing. If several phones struggle, enlarge the code or move it. If the scan works but the page does not load, also check the destination and internet connection.
Guests need a compatible phone and internet access to open the public menu, but no MenuForma app or account just to browse it. Wi-Fi can help where mobile reception is poor. Print a direct menu address alongside the code and keep paper copies or staff help available. Do not make scanning the only way to order for guests with no phone or a flat battery.
Yes, when you choose the relevant route and configure the service. Free Forever includes dine-in table ordering; Regular adds delivery, takeaway and online payments. Stripe checkout needs a supported, configured connection. MenuForma lists a 0.6% platform fee per Stripe transaction, and Stripe processing fees may also apply. Review the current terms and your order-handling workflow before offering payment to customers.
Scan a final printed card on another phone, browse several categories and compare prices with your source. Check the restaurant identity, selected mode and table reference. If using ordering, review the staff workflow as well. Ask a colleague to try finding a dish without instructions. Keep a copy of the public link and set a routine for checking signs and menu updates after launch.