Menu And Table QR Ordering
Build categories, add menu items, manage availability, food type, publish QR menus, and prepare customer ordering.
The menu is the source of truth for what you sell and at what price. It powers:
- staff order entry (New Order, Orders)
- customer QR ordering in the browser
- kitchen display item names
- billing line items and tax
- POS tiles
- analytics (item performance)
- inventory recipes (when linked)
A messy menu creates messy service. Keep it simple enough for staff to update during a busy shift.
Menu structure
Categories
Use names customers understand:
- Starters, Soups, Main Course
- Beverages, Combos, Desserts
- Today's Specials
Avoid internal kitchen codes unless staff also use those names aloud.
Inactive categories hide whole sections without deleting history. Delete only when you are sure you will never need the category again.
Items
For each item, set at minimum:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name | KDS, bills, QR (keep short) |
| Price | Locked on order lines at time of sale |
| Category | Navigation on all surfaces |
| Availability | On/off without deleting |
| Food type | Veg / Non-veg / Not set |
Optional but valuable:
- description (answers "what is in this?" before staff is called)
- image or icon (QR and POS conversion)
- variants or modifiers (where your setup supports them)
- allergens, station, or promo tags (kitchen routing and marketing)
Food type (Veg / Non-veg)
Indian customers often filter by food type. Set Veg or Non-veg consistently. Marks appear on:
- customer QR menu
- staff order screens
- POS tiles
- receipts (where configured)
"Not set" should be temporary—fix before go-live.
Availability during service
When something sells out:
- Mark item unavailable
- Do not delete the item
Unavailable items disappear from active ordering but stay in history, recipes, and reports. Turn availability back on when prep restocks.
Branch menus
Multi-branch groups may have:
- organization menu shared across branches
- branch overrides for price or availability per location
After org-wide import, review each branch that differs locally.
Import and bulk setup
For large catalogs:
- Use menu import tool
- Preview categories, names, prices
- Fix errors in preview
- Apply when correct
- Spot-check 10 items on QR and staff screens
Import saves hours but still needs a human review pass.
Images
Upload clear photos for customer-facing menus. Tips:
- consistent lighting and framing
- reasonable file size for mobile data
- avoid text-only images (bad for accessibility and search)
Staff POS and QR both benefit from recognizable thumbnails.
Table QR ordering (customer flow)
Customers do not install an app. They scan a table QR and order in the mobile browser.
Staff responsibilities
- unique QR per table
- menu accurate and available items only
- shift open (orders may not flow if shift closed)
- accept/reject QR orders in Orders queue
- kitchen follows same KDS path as staff orders
Customer journey
Scan QR → see menu → add to cart → submit order
↓
Staff accept → kitchen prepares → serve → bill → payCustomers may see limited status in browser depending on setup. Staff remain in control of acceptance and kitchen flow.
Bill and payment
Your outlet may:
- collect at table via staff Billing
- show UPI on receipt
- use provider checkout where configured
Train staff on who initiates bill request for QR tables.
Test before publishing QR codes
Run this on a customer phone (not staff simulator only):
- Scan table QR
- Confirm table number and restaurant name
- Add item with variant/modifier if used
- Submit order
- See ticket on KDS or Orders
- Complete kitchen and billing test
Repeat for one Veg and one Non-veg item if filters apply.
Public product page
For marketing context on QR ordering in India, see QR menu restaurant software for India.
Common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Item missing on QR | Check availability, category active, branch override |
| Wrong price on bill | Price snapshots at order time—new orders get new price |
| Kitchen sees wrong name | Shorten item name; use description for detail |
| Import duplicated items | Re-run preview; merge duplicates before apply |
Related guides
- Restaurant setup — tables and QR setup
- Orders overview
- Inventory — recipes link to items