QR code menus explained: how to set one up in 2026

QR menus went from pandemic stopgap to standard. A guest scans the code, sees a mobile-optimised live menu, and, if you turn it on, can order and pay without a single waiter round-trip.

How a QR menu works

There is no magic in the square. Each table has its own QR pointing at a unique URL, something like /r/your-restaurant/table/12?qr=ABC. Scanning it with the phone's native camera opens that page in the browser, and the page renders your live menu.

Because the link carries a per-table token, the system knows exactly which table is looking, which is what makes ordering and paying at the table possible without anyone typing a table number. The menu itself is the same digital menu you manage in the dashboard; the QR is just the door to it.

Generate and print the codes

Setting up the codes is a five-minute job, not a project. You do it once, then reprint only when you add tables.

1. 01

   Generate per-table QR

   In the dashboard, create a code for each table. Each one is bound to a unique token tied to that seat.
2. 02

   Export to print

   Download as print-ready files, a 10x10 cm table card or an A6 insert work well for most rooms.
3. 03

   Make them durable

   Laminate the cards or use weatherproof vinyl stickers so they survive spills and a thousand wipes.
4. 04

   Place and go

   Drop one on each table. Because every code carries its own token, the system maps every scan to the right table automatically.

Where to place them

A QR menu only works if guests actually find the code. Spread it across the touchpoints where people are already looking:

• On the table, a standing card or a permanent sticker is the primary spot.
• On the paper menu as a backup, so regulars and one-tappers both have a path in.
• On the window or counter for takeaway and passers-by checking what you serve.
• Even in restroom mirrors, surprisingly effective read-while-waiting placement.

Brand the QR, don't ship a grey square

A plain black-and-white square says "generic, possibly sketchy." Put your logo in the centre and your brand colours around it. Guests recognise it instantly as yours, scan with more confidence, and the table itself looks designed rather than improvised. Crubby menus are custom-designed end to end, and the code is no exception.

Add ordering + payment

On Premium you can turn the menu into a full self-service flow. Guests browse, add to a cart, and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card right from their phone. Your staff confirm each order on a tablet in the kitchen or at the pass.

The result is concrete: shorter waits, fewer trips per table, and a measurably higher average check, guests add a side or a second drink when ordering is one tap away instead of one flagged-down waiter away.