Restaurants have been using QR codes for a long time, but their use skyrocketed during the COVID pandemic. That’s because they provide touchless experience, that helped to maintain safety standards while dining out.

QR code use in restaurants haven’t slowed down post-pandemic, either. Restaurants have been introducing new integrations to streamline processes for employees and diners alike. And we here at My QR Code are going to walk you through restaurant QR codes in depth, and show you why they’re such a game changer. Let’s dive in!

What Are QR Codes in Restaurants?

A QR (Quick Response) code is a scannable barcode that stores information such as website links or text. In restaurants, QR codes are commonly used to direct customers to digital menus, ordering platforms, or payment portals. All it takes is a smartphone camera or QR scanning app to scan the code and access the content instantly.

Let’s take a look at some of the different use cases of restaurant QR codes in a little more detail:

QR Codes for Digital Menus

One of the primary reasons for the rise of QR codes in restaurants was the COVID-19 pandemic, where touchless interactions became essential for minimizing virus transmission. Instead of handling physical menus customers can scan a QR code to access menus from their personal devices. This promotes safety and hygiene, providing peace of mind for both customers and staff.

Digital menus have decreased in popularity amongst diners post-pandemic, with the majority preferring to use traditional menus to order. However, it’s still a good option for those that prefer the touchless experience. Keep in mind, it’s also far easier to update a digital menu than it is a physical one, which can help keep printing costs down.

QR Codes for Payment

QR codes enable customers to place their orders directly from their phones, reducing the wait time for waitstaff and speeding up service. This self-service model increases table turnover and boosts revenue, particularly during busy hours.

Some restaurants also link QR codes to payment gateways, allowing customers to pay their bill without waiting for a server. This not only improves the customer experience but also reduces human error in processing payments.

QR Codes for Marketing

Restaurants can utilize QR codes for more than just menus and payments. QR codes can be used to engage customers by linking to loyalty programs, feedback forms, social media pages, or promotional offers. They provide a convenient way for restaurants to collect customer data and send personalized offers.

For example, a QR code on a receipt could offer a discount on a future visit if the customer signs up for the restaurant’s email list.

QR Codes for Customer Feedback

Your restaurant could have glowing reviews from critics, but it won’t make much of a difference if you don’t have customer appraisals to back them up!

Thankfully, with QR codes, collecting customer feedback is much easier. You can place QR codes on tables, or on posters around your restaurant which can take diners to your preferred reviewing site (like Trustpilot, for instance). And as customers are able to leave feedback directly from their phones (and directly after their meal), they’re much more likely to leave you a review.

QR Codes for Restaurant Apps

Larger chains of restaurants have started implementing their own apps, which can be easily downloaded through QR codes placed around a restaurant, or even embedded within a restaurant menu.

These can help restaurants keep customers coming back for more, as they can provide loyalty incentives, advertise events, and promote daily deals directly through their app.

Why Should Restaurants Use QR Codes?

Restaurants should use QR codes because both diners and employees value convenience. We’ve already shown you how QR codes can handle certain processes within a restaurant, and provide a better experience overall, and that’s because they make completing those processes easy.
And the best thing is, they’re not even difficult to implement! QR codes can be generated quickly, and are an inexpensive option for restaurants. We’ll show you how in the next section, where we’ll go into detail on how to get your own QR codes.

How to Generate Restaurant QR Codes

Generating a restaurant QR code with My QR Code is a simple process that allows you to link to various online resources like your menu, social media, and business listings. Follow these steps to create a QR code for your restaurant:

Step 1: Visit My QR Code Generator

Go to the My QR Code website, which offers a user-friendly interface for generating QR codes for different purposes.

Step 2: Choose the Type of QR Code

We’ll be using the Menu QR Code Generator for our example, but we have options for links, business pages, social media, vCards, and more!

Step 3: Add Menu Items and Design Menu Page

When the QR code is scanned, diners will be directed to a menu page that you have full control over! Simply choose the colors of your menu page, add your menu items (including images of the menu items if you’d like). Once you’re happy with the result, you can move onto designing your QR code.

Step 4: Customize the QR Code

My QR Code allows you to customize the appearance of your QR code. You can add your restaurant’s logo, change the color scheme to match your branding, or even choose different shapes for the code.

Step 5: Generate and Download

After customizing, click the “Generate” button. Once the QR code is created, you can download it in formats like PNG or SVG. Print the QR code on menus, table tents, or display it on your website and social media channels.