ERAGO

How to Add a QR Code to a Restaurant Menu

By ERAGO · Published · 3 min read

A table tent with a QR code next to a cup of coffee

Prices go up, a dish sells out, a seasonal drink arrives. If your menu QR code points straight at a file, every change means a new QR and a new round of printing. The fix is simple: point the QR at a short link instead, then change where it goes whenever the menu changes. Here's how to set it up in five steps.

Make a menu QR code, free →

Step 1: Put your menu online

Pick one of these:

  • A PDF saved to Google Drive or a similar service, with sharing set to "anyone with the link". Easy, but make sure it's readable on a phone screen.
  • A web page or online catalog, if you already have one. Best for phones, since text resizes and loads fast.
  • A bio page on ERAGO (erago.site/@yourcafe) with buttons for Food, Drinks and Order on WhatsApp. It's free with a small ERAGO badge; Pro ($5/month) adds themes and lets you remove the badge.

Whatever you choose, open it on your own phone with mobile data before moving on. If it's slow or tiny, guests will give up.

Create a short link with a readable slug, such as erago.site/menu or erago.site/kopisenja-menu, and point it at your menu. Then download the QR code for that link from the same screen. Need naming ideas? See how to make a short link with a custom slug.

Because the QR encodes the short link, not the file, the printed code never has to change.

Step 3: Size and place it on the table

  • Table tents and stickers: guests scan from 30–50 cm, so print the code 3–5 cm wide. The QR print size guide has the full cheat sheet.
  • Put it at eye level for a seated guest, not flat under a glass or a napkin holder.
  • Add a short line of text above it: "Scan for the menu".
  • Print the slug under the code (erago.site/menu) for anyone whose camera won't scan.
  • Use laminated card or a matte sticker so lights don't cause glare.

Also place one at the counter and one at the entrance, for people deciding before they sit down.

Step 4: Update prices by changing the destination

When something changes, update your menu file or page. If you made a new file, open the short link in ERAGO and change its destination to the new one. That's it. Every QR on every table now opens the updated menu. Changing the destination is free on every plan, and you can do it as often as you need.

Tip: name your files with a date (menu-2026-10.pdf) so you always know which version is live.

Step 5: Run a seasonal menu without new prints

The same QR can open a different menu for a few weeks. For Halloween, point erago.site/menu at your spooky drinks menu from Oct 25 to 31, then switch it back on Nov 1. Want a themed code for a special promo card? Try the Halloween QR code generator, and see 6 Halloween QR code ideas for more.

Quick checklist

  1. Menu online and readable on a phone
  2. Short link with a clear slug
  3. QR printed at 3–5 cm with "Scan for the menu"
  4. Tested on two phones at the table
  5. Destination updated whenever the menu changes

Create your menu QR now →

FAQ

Can I change my menu without printing a new QR code?

Yes. If the QR points to an ERAGO short link, change the link's destination and the same printed code opens the new menu. It's free.

What size should a menu QR code be?

For table tents and stickers, about 3–5 cm wide works well for scanning from a seated position.

Should my menu be a PDF or a web page?

Both work. A web page is easier to read on phones, while a PDF is quick to set up. Test either one on mobile data first.