How to Make a QR Menu for Your Restaurant in Sri Lanka

A QR menu lets guests scan a code on the table and see your menu on their own phone. Here is how to set one up properly, whether you run a small café in Galle or a busy restaurant in Colombo.

What a QR menu is (and is not)

A QR code is a square barcode that opens a web page when a phone camera points at it. A QR menu is that page: your menu, with items, descriptions, photos and prices, always up to date. Guests do not need to download an app.

The part that matters is the page behind the code, not the code itself. A QR code that opens a blurry PDF is worse than a printed menu. Aim for a page that loads quickly on a mobile connection and is easy to read with one hand.

Step 1: Get your menu ready

  • Write down every item exactly as you want guests to see it, with its current price in rupees.
  • Group items into clear categories (starters, rice and curry, mains, desserts, drinks).
  • Add a one-line description to anything a first-time guest might not recognise, including key ingredients and spice level.
  • Note allergens or dietary details you already track, such as vegetarian, vegan or contains nuts.
  • Take a clear photo of your best-selling dishes (see our guide on menu photos).

Step 2: Build the digital menu

In TableTalk you create an account, then add items with photos, descriptions and prices in the dashboard. If your menu is already in a spreadsheet, you can import it in bulk from a CSV file instead of typing each item. You can mark an item as sold out with one tap, so guests never order something the kitchen has run out of.

Step 3: Generate a QR code for each table

Use one code per table rather than one code for the whole restaurant. Table-specific codes mean an order arrives at your kitchen already labelled with the table number, so staff do not have to ask where it goes. TableTalk generates print-ready codes for each table.

Step 4: Print and place the codes

  • Print on sturdy, wipe-clean material. Table stands and laminated cards survive daily use better than paper.
  • Make the code at least 4 cm wide so older phones can scan it easily.
  • Add a short line such as "Scan to see the menu and order" so guests know what to do.
  • Keep codes away from glare, candles and glossy surfaces that reflect light.
  • Test every code with at least two different phones before opening.

Step 5: Brief your team

Staff should be able to explain in one sentence how it works, and to help guests who prefer not to use their phones. Many restaurants keep a few printed menus as a backup, especially at first. The goal is to make ordering easier, not to remove the human welcome.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Linking to a large PDF that is slow to load and hard to read on a phone.
  • Using one code for the whole restaurant, so staff cannot tell which table ordered.
  • Letting prices or availability drift out of date.
  • Printing codes too small or on a surface that reflects light.
  • Forgetting to test the code on both iPhone and Android.

Next step

Once your menu is built, you can also list it on TableTalk so diners searching for places to eat can find your restaurant and its menu before they arrive.