A QR menu your guests can actually order from
Guests scan your code, browse in Arabic or English, and submit a delivery or pickup order. OrderScribe charges 0% commission on direct web and QR orders.
What a QR menu actually is
A QR menu is your menu published as a web page, reached by pointing a phone camera at a printed code. The camera opens the link, the menu loads in the browser the guest already has, and nothing gets installed.
That is the whole mechanism — and it is why the format stuck around after the years that made it famous. The interesting question is not whether guests can read a menu on a phone. It is whether they can order from it.
Reading menu or ordering menu: know the difference
A QR code can point at a PDF or at a structured web menu. A PDF is useful for reading, but guests may need to pinch and zoom and it does not provide a cart or order submission.
An ordering web menu adds structured categories, photos, item options, a cart, promo-code validation, and checkout for delivery or pickup. Guests can complete the flow without leaving the menu link.
- ✓Photos and descriptions alongside structured categories
- ✓Item options and modifiers presented before an item enters the cart
- ✓A cart and checkout for direct delivery or pickup requests
- ✓Prices updated centrally without changing the printed QR link
- ✓Unavailable items can be hidden from the public menu
How it works, end to end
There are two connected sides: the browser flow used by the guest and the order dashboard used by the restaurant.
- The guest scansThey point a phone camera at the QR code and the menu opens in the browser. No guest account or app installation is required.
- They browse and customizeThey choose Arabic or English, select items and modifiers, add notes, and enter a valid promo code if one is available.
- They submit delivery or pickupThe guest completes the checkout details and submits the order. The confirmation links to a browser page that shows the order status.
- The restaurant reviews itThe order appears in the restaurant dashboard with the submitted customer, fulfillment, item, modifier, address, and note details. Staff can update its status there.
Why add a direct-ordering channel
Delivery marketplaces can help restaurants reach new customers, while a direct menu gives existing guests another way to order from the restaurant itself. The channels can be used together.
Marketplace fees vary by provider and agreement. OrderScribe's Starter plan is $15 a month, and OrderScribe charges 0% commission on orders submitted through the restaurant's OrderScribe web menu or QR code.
Direct orders also give authorized restaurant staff access to the customer details and order history submitted through that channel, subject to account permissions and OrderScribe's Privacy Policy.
- ✓0% OrderScribe commission on direct web and QR orders
- ✓Published monthly and yearly subscription prices
- ✓A browser menu presented under your restaurant's brand
- ✓Submitted customer details and order history in the restaurant account
Setting yours up
OrderScribe has a self-serve setup flow. The time required depends on the size and complexity of your menu and whether your translations and photos are ready.
- Add or import your menuCreate categories, items, options, and prices in the dashboard, or use the CSV menu import. Add Arabic and English content where needed.
- Add photos and set the detailsOpening hours, delivery zones and fees, pickup, and per-branch differences if you run more than one location.
- Test it like a guestOpen your own menu on your own phone and place a real order through it before anyone else does.
- Print the QR code and go liveUse the dashboard's print-ready branch QR card for tables, and copy the same menu link for your website and social profiles.
Where to put the code
A QR menu earns its keep in proportion to how many places the link exists. The printed code is only the beginning — the same link belongs everywhere a hungry person might find you.
- ✓Table tents, and a sticker at the counter for takeaway queues
- ✓The window, so passers-by can read the menu before deciding
- ✓Receipt footers and delivery bags — that is your repeat-order channel
- ✓Instagram and TikTok bios, where the link matters more than the code
- ✓Your Google Business Profile menu link and your website's order button
What it costs
Starter is $15 a month, or $144 a year, for the QR menu and online ordering. Growth is $39 a month, or $375 a year, adding the AI assistant with 100 monthly points.
New accounts start with a 14-day free trial and no card. OrderScribe charges 0% commission on direct web and QR orders across the current plans. The full comparison, including the Scale plan, is on the pricing page.
QR menu questions, answered
What is a QR menu?
A QR menu is your restaurant's menu published as a web page and reached by scanning a QR code with a phone camera. The menu opens in the guest's browser, with nothing to download. On an ordering QR menu, the guest can also add items to a cart, choose options, and submit a delivery or pickup order to the restaurant.
Do guests need an app to use a QR menu?
No. Most current smartphone cameras can scan QR codes directly, and the menu opens in the phone's browser. Guests do not need to download an app or create an account to browse and submit an order.
How do I create a QR menu for my restaurant?
Create your categories and items in the dashboard or import a CSV, add Arabic and English content, configure the branch, and test the public menu. OrderScribe then generates a branch QR card you can print and a menu link you can share online. Contact us if you want to discuss assisted setup.
Is a QR menu better than a PDF menu?
They serve different needs. A PDF can be a quick way to publish a static menu, but it often requires zooming and does not provide structured item options, a cart, or order submission. A web menu lets you edit menu data centrally while keeping the same QR link.
Does a QR menu work for delivery and pickup too?
Yes. The same menu link works on the table, in your Instagram bio, on your website's order button, and in a WhatsApp message. Dine-in guests scan it, delivery and pickup customers tap it, and every order arrives in the same dashboard.
How much does a QR menu cost?
On OrderScribe, Starter is $15 a month or $144 a year and covers the bilingual QR menu and direct web ordering. Growth is $39 a month or $375 a year and adds the AI assistant with 100 monthly points. New accounts start with a 14-day free trial with no card, and OrderScribe charges 0% commission on direct web and QR orders across the current plans.
Can a QR menu be in Arabic and English?
Yes. OrderScribe menus support Arabic and English, including right-to-left layout for Arabic. The guest chooses a language in the browser before browsing and ordering.
What happens if I change a price or run out of an item?
You change it in the dashboard and every guest who scans after that sees the new version — no reprinting. Sold-out items can be marked out of stock so guests stop ordering them instead of calling you to be told no.
Put a current web menu behind your QR code
Start the 14-day free trial — no card — then add or import your menu, test the guest flow, and print your branch QR card.