The short answer
To set up a QR code menu, you build a digital version of your menu, generate a QR code that links to it, print and place the codes on your tables, and switch on ordering and payment if you want guests to order from their phone. With the right platform the whole thing takes an afternoon, and guests never have to download an app.
Step 1: Build your digital menu
Add your categories, items, prices, photos, and descriptions. Include modifier groups for sizes and extras, and mark allergens and calories where you can. A menu with clear photos and an easy structure sells more than a wall of text, so spend the time here.
Step 2: Generate a code for each table
Use a per table QR code rather than one code for the whole restaurant. A per table code lets the kitchen know exactly where an order came from, keeps sessions separate, and makes paying at the table simple. Good platforms generate these for you automatically.
Step 3: Place the codes where guests sit
Print the codes on table stickers, stands, or cards, and put them within easy reach. Add a short line in Arabic and English telling guests to scan to view the menu and order. Test every table once before service.
Step 4: Turn on ordering and payment
A QR menu can be view only, or it can take the full order and payment. If you turn on ordering, the order flows straight to the kitchen display, guests can track it, and they can pay from the table or at the counter. This is where QR menus save the most time and lift average order value.
Common mistakes to avoid
- One code for the whole restaurant instead of one per table.
- A menu that is not bilingual, missing half your guests.
- No photos, which lowers average order value.
- Forcing an app download, which makes guests give up.
Do it with Menu Malak
Menu Malak builds the digital menu, generates per table QR codes, and handles ordering, payment, and the kitchen display, all bilingual and with no app for guests. Try the live demo to see the guest flow end to end.