Are QR code menus free?

A QR code that links to your existing online or PDF menu is free to create with QR-10’s menu QR code generator. A hosted, editable mobile menu with scan analytics is part of QR-10 Pro.

Should every table have its own QR code?

Not necessarily. One code on every table works for a menu. Separate dynamic codes per area — terrace, bar, dining room — are useful if you want to compare how often each area scans.

Do guests need to download an app?

No. Guests scan with the phone camera and the menu, review page or payment screen opens directly.

Should I still offer printed menus?

Yes. Keep a few printed menus for guests without a smartphone, with a flat battery, or who simply prefer paper.

How do I get a QR code for Google reviews?

In your Google Business Profile, find the option to ask for reviews and copy the review link. Paste that link into a QR code generator — or use a dynamic code so you can change it later.

QR codes for restaurants: menus, payments and reviews

On this page

7 ways restaurants use QR codes
Choosing a menu format
Where to put QR codes
Measuring what works
Mistakes to avoid
A 30-minute setup plan
FAQ

Key takeaways

QR codes can do much more than menus: payments, reviews, Wi-Fi, feedback, reservations and reorders.
A mobile menu beats a PDF for guests; a dynamic code lets you change prices without reprinting.
Put codes where guests pause — tables, the counter, the door, receipts and delivery bags — with a clear call to action.
Use separate dynamic codes per placement to see what guests actually scan, and keep paper menus for those who want them.

7 ways restaurants use QR codes

1. Menus

The classic. A code on each table opens the menu on the guest’s phone, so they can browse at their own pace and you print fewer menus. Make one in a minute with the menu QR code generator.

2. Ordering and paying at the table

If you use an online-ordering or table-service system, a code can open it directly. In India, a UPI QR code on the table or counter lets guests pay with Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm in seconds.

3. Google reviews

Happy guests rarely leave reviews unprompted. A small code on the bill folder or receipt — “Enjoyed your meal? Leave us a review” — opens your Google review page in one scan.

4. Wi-Fi

Stop spelling out the password. A WiFi QR code on the table or counter lets guests join your guest network instantly — and helps your menu load if mobile signal is weak.

5. Feedback and complaints

Link a code to a two-question feedback form so issues reach you privately, while there’s still time to fix them.

6. Reservations, events and loyalty

Window and door codes can open your booking page, upcoming events or a WhatsApp chat for party bookings and loyalty offers.

7. Reorders from delivery bags

A code on takeaway bags and boxes that opens your direct-ordering page brings customers back without marketplace commission.

Menu formats for QR codes
Format	Good	Watch out
PDF menu	Quick if you already have a designed menu	Pinch-and-zoom on phones; every change means a new file
Page on your website	Fully under your control	Needs someone to update the site; often slow on mobile
Hosted mobile menu (QR-10 Pro)	Built for phones: sections, prices, veg/vegan/spicy tags; edit in minutes	Part of the Pro plan
Ordering platform	Guests can order and pay	Fees; check that it works without an account

Use a dynamic code whatever you choose

Point a dynamic QR code at your menu. If you switch from a PDF to a mobile menu, or change ordering platforms, you change the link once — every table tent keeps working.

Where to put QR codes

Table tents and stickers — at least 3–4 cm wide, at the edge of the table, facing the seat.
The counter and the queue — menu and payment codes where people wait.
Windows and doors — larger codes (see our QR code size guide) for the menu, opening hours and bookings, so passers-by can look before they walk in.
Bills and receipts — the review and feedback codes, when the experience is fresh.
Delivery bags and boxes — direct reorders and reviews.

Measuring what works

Give each placement its own dynamic code — table tents, the window, receipts, delivery bags — and compare their scans. QR-10 shows scans by day and hour too, so you can see when guests browse the menu and time your specials.

Mistakes to avoid

Codes that are too small or printed on glossy, reflective stands.
A broken link after the menu changes. If your PDF’s address changes, every printed code breaks. Use a stable page or a dynamic code.
No call to action. “Scan for menu” is enough — but it has to be there.
Nowhere to connect. A menu that won’t load in a basement dining room is no menu. Offer Wi-Fi.
No paper fallback. Keep printed menus for anyone who prefers them.

Check your codes regularly

Fraudsters sometimes stick their own payment codes over a restaurant’s. Check counters and tables now and then, and laminate payment codes.

A 30-minute setup plan

1Decide on your menu link: a page, a PDF or a hosted mobile menu.
2Create a dynamic QR code for the menu, and a WiFi code for your guest network.
3Create a review code with your Google review link, and a UPI code if you take UPI payments.
4Download SVGs and print a test table tent; scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone.
5Print the final tents, stickers and receipts with a clear call to action next to every code.

Ready? Start with the free menu QR code generator, or create a free account for dynamic codes you can edit anytime.