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How to Create a No-Touch Menu for Your Restaurant

Create a contactless menu using a QR Code

A new era of dining in the age of coronavirus is here. Say goodbye to physical menus and say hello to QR Codes!

    In this article, you will learn
  1. Examples of using QR Codes as menus
  2. The benefits of creating a QR Code for your menu
  3. How to convert your digital menu into a QR Code
  4. How to design your QR Code
  5. Integrating the QR Code using free templates

Examples of using QR Codes as menus

Below are some inspirations on where you can print your new QR Code menu in your restaurant or bar so that it can be scanned easily by customers.

Contactless menu using QR Code on a table tent
QR Code idea to replace printed menu in a restaurant.
QR Code on a menu for contactless access
QR Code restaurant menu on a banner
QR Code idea for a restaurant menu at a hotel
QR Code on restaurant window to replace printed menu.

Why should you create a QR Code for your menu?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has now spread across the entire globe and the recovery of the hospitality industry will likely take a while. It is already clear that coronavirus can spread through touching contaminated surfaces. This puts establishments such as your restaurant in the spot as most of the surface is shared by different people every day. While cleaning and disinfecting tables and bars a good start, there is still one thing that people need and share; menus. So how can you eliminate the sharing of physical menus between customers? The answer is simple, replace the menu with a PDF QR Code!

Easily share a PDF with a single scan

Expand your marketing materials with this QR Code type, and display a digital brochure, product manual, catalog, menu, and much more.

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Save on printing costs

Menus get shared a lot, which resulted in wear and tear. Sometimes, drinks spill on them or sauces smeared all over the menu cover. It’s no stranger that printing paper menus are actually eating into your profits. But with a PDF QR Code replacing the physical menu, you only have to print the Code onto surfaces where it’s easily accessible such as on the wall of your restaurant, at the window, on the door, or even on the table itself. But what if you have to change the menu?

Easily changeable without reprinting

To change the menu, all you need to do is upload a new file onto the QR Code, without ever reprinting a new QR Code. That’s right, the PDF QR Code is a form of Dynamic QR Code where you can easily replace and edit its content whenever you want. There is absolutely no limit as to how many times you can change the menu in just a few clicks. Now you can finally create a seasonal menu that changes every 3 months to keep customers coming back for more.

Contactless and touchless experience

To keep your customers safe, creating a PDF QR Code for your menu will limit cross-contamination from sharing physical menus. This is in line with WHO’s guideline to stop the spread of COVID-19 through objects. A survey by Dataessential also reveals that 65% of restaurant guests will accept no physical menus as a new rule.

Limit interaction to keep your staff safe

It’s not just the customers you have to take care of, your staff members are also at risk of getting infected as they serve dine-in customers. By adding a QR Code on the table or the wall where it’s easily scannable by your customers, your staff members no longer have to hand in physical menus and explain the specials. You can add as much information as you want about the dishes you offer directly in the PDF QR Code as there are no print limitations.

Update on the fly

How many times have you sold out a dish or no longer offer some specials that are printed on menus? We know it’s time-consuming and expensive to keep updating your menu. That is why the PDF QR Code is perfect so you can update your menu in real-time. No more saying, “Sorry it’s sold out” to customers!

Attract attention with images

Most restaurants do not add images on their menu because it costs money to print high-quality images on paper. But with the PDF QR Code, you can upload your digital menu with mouth-watering images to keep customers happy. Plus, they get to see and decide based on the images they see to make the ordering process a breeze.

How to convert your digital menu into QR Code

  1. First, log in to your QR Code Generator PRO account. If you don’t have one, sign up for a 14-day free trial.
  2. Once you’re in, select Create QR Code on the dashboard. Select Create QR Code on the dashboard to start creating a QR Code
  3. Under Dynamic Codes, select PDF. Under Dynamic Codes, select PDF to create a PDF QR Code
  4. Start by naming your QR Code on the top. This could be “My Restaurant Menu.” Start by naming your QR Code on the top field
  5. In the Upload PDF section, select the Upload PDF button to upload your menu. In the Upload PDF section, select the Upload PDF button to upload your file
  6. After your menu is fully uploaded, you’ll have two options:
    1. Select Link directly to PDF to have your customers download your PDF to their phones when they scan the QR Code. *If you select this option, skip steps 7 to 9 Select Link directly to PDF if you don't want to have a cover page
    2. Continue to the next section to design and customize the landing page where your menu is displayed. Now, choose the colors for the background of your PDF landing page
  7. Now, choose from pre-selected color options for the background of your PDF landing page or customize using your restaurant or bar colors. There are over 6 million color combinations you can select from using the Hex color codes so you will definitely be able to find your brand colors to match the design. Choose from over 6 million color combinations using the Hex color codes
  8. Next step, fill in the basic information on your PDF landing page. Add the name of your establishment, the title of your PDF menu, description of the menu, and your website address. Fill in the basic information on your PDF landing page
  9. To improve your customers’ experience even more, add your logo as a welcome screen to foster brand awareness. To improve your customers’ experience even more, add your logo as a welcome screen to foster brand awareness
  10. Select Next to proceed with designing your QR Code. Select Next to proceed with designing your QR Code

How to design your QR Code (optional)

Choose a frame with call-to-action text

Now that the PDF QR Code for your menu is ready, it’s time to design the actual QR Code for your customers to scan.

  1. Select the Frame tab. Select the Frame tab to add a frame to your QR Code
  2. Choose from our ready-made frames to make your QR Code stand out. Choose from our ready-made frames to make your QR Code stand out
  3. All of our frames come with an editable call-to-action to urge your customers to scan the QR Code. Simply select the T icon on the bottom and change the default text to whatever you want. It’s always a good idea to keep it short and straight to the point, such as “View Menu” or “Scan for Menu.” Select the T icon on the bottom to change the default text to whatever you want
  4. Next, change the color of the frame to match your restaurant’s branding. Select the color picker wheel with the plus sign to start choosing your color. Change the color of the frame to match your brand

Change the Code’s shape and color

Change the design and color of the small black and white squares that make up your QR Code.

  1. Select the Code tab. Select the Code tab to customize the shape and color
  2. Change the squares into a variety of shapes that suits you. Change the squares into a variety of shapes that suits you
  3. Then, change the color of the shapes to either match the color of your frame or another contrasting color that complements the design. Change the color of the shapes to match your brand
    Pro tip

    The Code’s color must always be darker than the background so that it remains scannable by any smartphone camera.

Add your logo in the center

What better way to show off your restaurant or bar logo other than directly on the QR Code itself?

  1. Select the Logo tab. Select the Logo tab to add your logo in the center of your QR Code
  2. Upload your logo by selecting the Upload icon. Upload your logo by selecting the Upload icon
  3. Your logo will be resized and adjusted automatically to fit in the center of the QR Code. Your logo will be resized and adjusted automatically to fit

Download in high-quality

You have the option to download the QR Code in four different file formats: JPG, PNG, SVG, and EPS.

  1. Select the Download button to automatically download your QR Code file in PNG format. This file format is suitable for any design you want to add the QR Code on. Select the Download button to automatically download your QR Code file in PNG format
  2. To download in other file formats, select the three vertical dots next to the Download button. To download in other file formats, select the three vertical dots next to the Download button
  3. Choose which format you’d like to download the QR Code in. Choose which format you’d like to download the QR Code in
    Important

    Your QR Code will lose all customized designs if you downloaded it in EPS file format.

Integrating the QR Code onto another file design

You can either print the QR Code on its own or add it to another file design where your QR Code can be highlighted even more. Please observe the file sizes below so you can adjust the templates according to the sizes you need.

Standard printing formats for common marketing materials

Below are the recommended templates complete with instructions to make scanning the QR Code a breeze for your customers. With the proper placement inside your establishment, you only need to print a few of these to work.

  1. First, select a template and download it.
  2. Open it with any image editing tool of your choice.
  3. Insert your QR Code in the empty box provided.
  4. Adjust the size of the QR Code by dragging the corner to fit the empty box slot. Always drag from the corner to maintain its original shape and do not drag from the top, bottom, or sides. Adjust the size of the QR Code by dragging the corner to fit the empty box slot
  5. Save and export the image in a high-quality print format.
    Important

    Test your QR Code to ensure it’s still scannable every step of the way. Dragging or resizing the QR Code can sometimes result in blurry or unrecognizable shapes.

Choose which template you’d like to use below:

Free template of QR Code poster for restaurant menu
Download template
Free template of QR Code flyer for restaurant menu with scan instructions
Download template
Free template of QR Code for menu
Download template
Free template for restaurants to replace menu with QR Code
Download template

FAQ

Yes, you can upload one PDF file with the maximum limit of 20 MB.

Your PDF QR Code comes with its own short URL where you can use it to promote your menu on social media, email, or your own website.

No, you don’t have to print a new QR Code. Simply reupload your PDF onto the same QR Code and it will have the updated version when you save it or follow the instructions in our Help Center.

Have more questions?

Visit our help center
An illustration that urges users to contact the support team at QR Code Generator via email or chat