How to create a QR code for a menu

Are you a busy restaurant owner, manager or supervisor? Or just someone’s tasked and don’t know how to create a QR code for a menu?

We know you’re busy with the day-to-day operations of your venue, whether it’s taking care of customers, working in the kitchen, or anything else. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide for you.

Summary

What’s the purpose of creating a QR code for a menu?
Why Create a QR Code Menu for Your Business
Selecting the best Tool
Step-by-Step Guide: How to create a QR code for a menu
Conclusion: What are best QR code placement ideas?

What’s the purpose of creating a QR code for a menu?

Are you considering creating a QR code for your menu to link a PDF or direct customers to your website? While both options can work, consider the benefits of a digital QR code menu and read on to explore why it might be the best choice.

Why you shouldn’t link a QR code to a PDF

PDF menus often frustrate customers. For one, they’re not mobile-friendly. Additionally, they tend to load slowly and require constant zooming and scrolling. As a result, this can lead to a poor user experience and may even discourage customers from fully exploring your offerings.

Frustrated customer struggling with a slow-loading PDF menu on a mobile phone, highlighting the problems with traditional digital menus. — Traditional PDF menus often frustrate users with slow loading and poor navigation on mobile devices.

Why you shouldn’t link a QR code to a website

Websites, especially those not optimized for mobile, can display poorly on smartphones. Slow loading times, complicated navigation, and inconsistent formatting can detract from the dining experience. Instead, a dedicated digital menu provides a seamless, engaging experience tailored for mobile users.

Why Create a QR Code Menu for Your Business

Switching to a QR code menu might seem like a small tweak — but in practice, it brings major advantages for your daily operations, customer experience, and bottom line. If you’re wondering how to create a QR code for a menu, these key points are worth considering:

Make menu updates instantly

Let’s start with the practical stuff. Editing a menu shouldn’t mean reprinting everything. Whether you’re adjusting prices or introducing seasonal specials, a QR code menu lets you make updates in real time — no printing delays or extra costs.

Boost order value and table turnover

Digital menus often encourage customers to spend more. When they can browse at their own pace, they’re more likely to add that dessert or extra side. Plus, immediate menu access shortens decision-making time, helping you seat more guests throughout the day.

Free up your staff’s time

Your team is busy — and handing out menus shouldn’t slow them down. With QR codes, guests take control of their ordering journey, letting staff focus on what really matters: great service.

Improve the customer experience

Design matters. Digital menus can look clean, modern, and easy to navigate. You can organize items into sections, highlight specials, offer multiple languages, and even include allergen info — all in a mobile-friendly format.

Show your food at its best

Photos sell. Being able to include high-quality images of your dishes helps customers decide more confidently — and often leads to higher-value orders. It’s like having a visual menu right in their hands.

Support safer dining

While we’ve moved past peak restrictions, many guests still appreciate a contactless option. QR menus reduce the need to touch shared surfaces, helping you create a more comfortable, hygienic environment.

Selecting the best Tool

If you’re looking to create a QR code for your menu, an online generator is a quick and easy option. There are plenty of great tools available, like QR Code Generator, QRfy or Go QR.

But if you’re interested in a more comprehensive solution that includes automatic language translations, quick updates to descriptions, prices, or photos, consider pikMenu. It all depends on what fits your needs best!

User interface showing how to create and style a QR code for a menu using an online generator tool — Digital QR code menu – pikMenu with automatic multilingual translations

Step-by-Step Guide: How to create a QR code for a menu

There are two main ways to create a QR code for your menu. On one hand, you can choose a quick, two-click solution using a free QR code generator. On the other hand, if you value a seamless and professional experience for your customers, we highly recommend using the pikMenu app.

Option A: Using an Online QR Code Generator

Choose a reliable online QR code generator. E.g. QRfy.com
Upload your content (Website, Text, PDF, Image, vCard, Video)
Customize your QR design
Download your QR code

Screenshot showing the steps on how to create a QR code for a menu, including entering the URL, designing the QR code, and downloading the final version. — qrfy.com: This example shows how you can quickly create a QR code for your menu (or other services) – simply add your website, pick a style, and you’re good to go.

Option B: Creating a QR Code with the pikMenu App

👉 Prefer watching over reading? Check out this quick 29-second video tutorial.

Go to www.pikMenu.com
Click the „Start For Free“ button in the top right corner.
Sign up or log in
Create a free account or sign in to your existing account.

Step one of how to create a QR code for a menu using pikMenu – click Start For Free on the homepage. — *The interface highlights where to create or edit your menu and where to generate your printable QR codes.*

Click “Add Menus” in the left-hand panel
Add menus, product Categories to create your main menu and add items (suitable for Café, Restaurant and Hotels)

pikMenu dashboard showing where to add menus and access the My QR Code section to generate a QR code for your restaurant menu. — *The interface highlights where to create or edit your menu and where to generate your printable QR codes.*

Navigate to “My QR Code” and Download your QR code

Download section in pikMenu showing different QR codes for tables and online orders with download buttons. — *Final step in creating a QR code for a menu – users can download their personalized QR code for printing and placement.*

So there you have it – a simple way to create a QR code for a menu and make your guests‘ experience smoother and more modern.

What are best QR code placement ideas?

Some of the best QR code placement ideas for menus include positioning them directly on tables, embedding them in digital or shortened menus, placing them at the restaurant entrance, or displaying them on posters. By doing so, you ensure they remain highly visible and easily accessible to customers.

Illustration showing various practical placements of QR codes, including on tables, doors, hotel rooms, promotional materials, billboards, parking spaces, restaurant tables, elevators, and glass surfaces — Popular QR code placement options include tables, promotional flyers, doors, billboards, parking spots, and more – making digital access seamless for customers

When placing QR codes for menus, it’s essential to ensure they are both visible and easy to access. To help you get started, here are a few tried-and-true placement ideas that consistently work well in restaurants and cafés:

On tables – ideally in menu holders, where customers can easily spot them.
On doors – at the entrance, so guests can scan them as they come in.
In hotel rooms – on nightstands or near the TV for easy access.
On promotional materials – like flyers or business cards, to direct people to your digital content quickly.
On billboards – to grab attention in high-traffic areas.
In parking spaces – to reach customers as they arrive.
In elevators – where people have a moment to scan while waiting
On windows or glass surfaces – perfect for catching the eye of passersby

Conclusion: What’s the Best Way to Create a QR Code for a Menu?

When it comes to how to create a QR code for a menu, you’ve got two clear options:

Option A: Use a free online QR code generator. It’s fast, takes just a couple of clicks, and gets the job done if you only need a basic solution.
Option B: Use the pikMenu app. While it takes a minute or two more, it’s the right choice if you care about your customers’ experience — offering menu photos, multiple languages, easy edits, and analytics all in one.

So, whether you’re looking for speed or a complete digital dining solution, now you know exactly how to create a QR code for your menu — and choose the path that fits your needs best.

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