Digital QR menus for restaurants: a practical guide
By the Menufly team · Last updated:
A digital QR menu is an online version of a restaurant's menu that guests open by scanning a QR code on the table with their phone camera. It opens in the browser with no app to install, and the venue can change dishes and prices at any time without reprinting.
How does a digital QR menu work?
The venue adds categories, dishes, prices and photos in a dashboard, then downloads a QR code and prints it on table cards, coasters or the door. Guests scan it with their phone camera and see the current menu within seconds.
Because the QR code points to a web address rather than to the content itself, it only has to be printed once. Every later price or dish change is visible to guests as soon as it is saved.
- Step 1: build the menu by hand or import it from a photo, PDF or URL.
- Step 2: design and download the QR code sized for tables, doors or receipts.
- Step 3: guests scan and browse — no app, no login.
What does the law require from a restaurant menu?
For food served without prepackaging, Article 44 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 makes allergen information mandatory. Annex II lists the 14 substances that must be declared, such as cereals containing gluten, eggs, milk, nuts, celery, mustard and sesame.
In Slovenia, Article 14 of the Consumer Protection Act (ZVPot-1) requires prices to be clearly displayed in euros including VAT, with details set by the price-marking rulebook (Official Gazette RS No 10/23).
A digital menu makes both easier: allergens are tagged on every dish and prices are always current, so a printed menu can't show an outdated price. This guide is not legal advice — check the current text of the regulations for your situation.
“Where foods are offered for sale to the final consumer or to mass caterers without prepackaging […] the provision of the particulars specified in point (c) of Article 9(1) is mandatory.”
How to choose a digital menu provider
When comparing QR menu platforms, check:
- Does the guest need an app? A good QR menu opens in the browser.
- Are allergens and price variants supported on every dish?
- How many languages are supported, and is translation included?
- Can you import your existing menu instead of retyping it?
- Is there a free plan with no credit card and no contract?
- Can you export or delete your data at any time?
Printed menu, PDF or digital QR menu?
A comparison of the three most common ways guests get to a menu.
| — | Printed menu | PDF on a website | Digital QR menu (Menufly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changing a price | Reprint | New PDF and re-upload | Instantly, in the dashboard |
| Time to go live | Days | Hours | Seconds |
| Cost of a change | Design and printing | Designer's time | No extra cost |
| Reading on a phone | — | Pinch and scroll | Built for phones |
| Multiple languages | A print run per language | A PDF per language | Up to 5 languages in one menu |
| Allergens per dish | If printed | If in the PDF | Tagged on every dish |
| View analytics | No | No | Yes (Lite and Pro) |
How much does Menufly cost?
Prices are in euros per month. Annual billing is cheaper; cancel any time.
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed annually | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menufly Basic | Free | Free | 1 menu, 20 dishes, 500 visits/month, 1 language |
| Menufly Lite | 11 € | 8 € | unlimited menus, 200 dishes, 1500 visits/month, 1 language |
| Menufly Pro | 18 € | 13 € | unlimited menus, 600 dishes, unlimited visits, 5 languages |
Every plan includes the QR editor, dish photos, allergens and price variants, with no setup fees.
Digital QR menu FAQ
Do guests need to install an app to use a QR menu?
No. Guests scan the QR code with their phone camera and the menu opens in the browser.
Can I keep a printed menu alongside the QR menu?
Yes. Many venues keep a few printed copies for guests without a smartphone, while the QR menu stays up to date.
Do I need to reprint the QR code when prices change?
No. The QR code points to the menu's web address, so it stays the same and changes show up instantly.
Does a digital menu support allergens?
Yes. In Menufly you can tag each dish with allergens from the list in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
How many languages can the menu have?
The Basic and Lite plans include 1 language; the Pro plan supports up to 5.
How long does setup take?
Most venues have their menu live in under 3 minutes, and faster still when importing from a photo or PDF.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers — Article 44 and Annex II — EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union
- Zakon o varstvu potrošnikov (ZVPot-1), Uradni list RS, št. 130/22 — 14. člen — Uradni list Republike Slovenije
- Pravilnik o načinu označevanja cen blaga, digitalnih vsebin in storitev ter objavi znižanja cene blaga, Uradni list RS, št. 10/23 — Uradni list Republike Slovenije
Try a digital menu for free — no credit card required.
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