How to Create a Digital Menu: Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Creating a digital menu is much easier than most restaurant owners think.
You don’t need a designer, a developer, or any technical skills — with the right tool, you can build a clean and professional menu in minutes.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to create a digital menu that is:

• Fast

• Easy to navigate

• Multilingual

• Mobile-friendly

• Complete with photos, allergens, and categories

Let’s start.

Step 1: Prepare Your Dishes

Before creating your menu, gather the basics:

• Dish names

• Descriptions

• Prices

• Categories (starters, mains, pizzas, drinks, desserts…)

• Allergen information

• Photos (optional but recommended)

Tips for better results:

• Keep names short and clear

• Use simple ingredient lists

• Add allergens (EU regulations require it)

• Take clean, bright photos

Step 2: Add Your Dishes to Menuki

Once you have your information ready, log into Menuki and start adding your items.

You can add:

• Title

• Description

• Price

• Category

• Photo

• Allergens

• Availability (show/hide instantly)

Each item appears cleanly inside your menu, automatically formatted for mobile.

Step 3: Organize Categories

A good structure makes the menu easier to navigate.

Here are common layouts:

For restaurants:

• Starters

• Mains

• Desserts

• Drinks

For pizzerias:

• Pizzas

• Calzones

• Starters

• Drinks

For Spanish restaurants:

• Tapas

• Raciones

• Paellas

• Bocadillos

• Postres

For Italian restaurants:

• Antipasti

• Primi

• Secondi

• Contorni

• Pizze

• Dolci

Good categories = faster decisions.

Step 4: Add Photos (Optional, But Highly Recommended)

Photos help customers:

• Understand the dish

• Feel more confident ordering

• Choose faster

• Increase trust

Restaurants with photos see higher conversions, especially with tourists.

Tips:

• Use natural light

• Take photos from above

• Keep the background clean

Menuki automatically optimizes your images for speed.

Step 5: Enable Automatic Translations

Menuki supports multiple languages automatically:

• English

• Spanish

• Italian

• French

• German

This helps you:

• Attract tourists

• Increase clarity

• Reduce staff questions

• Improve customer experience

One click → full menu translated.

Step 6: Print Your QR Codes

Once your menu is ready, generate your QR codes.

Place them on:

• Tables

• Menus holders

• Terrace signs

• Bar counters

• Hotel rooms

• Flyers

• Your entrance

Customers scan → your live menu opens instantly.

Step 7: Share Your Menu Online

Your digital menu link works everywhere.

Share it on:

• Google Maps (Google Business Profile)

• Instagram bio

• Facebook

• Your website

• WhatsApp

• QR codes

This improves visibility, SEO, and customer experience.

Step 8: Update Anytime (Real-Time)

With a digital menu:

• Change a price

• Hide a dish

• Add a special

• Upload a new photo

Everything updates instantly — without touching QR codes.

This saves time and avoids mistakes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Uploading PDFs

They hurt SEO and user experience.

❌ Too many dishes

Keep your menu clean and focused.

❌ Missing allergens

EU regulations require them.

❌ No photos

Customers buy with their eyes.

❌ Not adding your menu to Google

You lose visibility.

Final Tips for a High-Performing Digital Menu

• Keep descriptions short

• Use photos strategically

• Place QR codes everywhere

• Translate the menu for tourists

• Update items regularly

• Track analytics to improve

A digital menu is not just a menu — it's a marketing tool.

Create Your Digital Menu Today

Menuki makes creating a digital menu simple and fast:

• Real-time updates

• Automatic translations

• Allergen filters

• Beautiful themes

• QR codes

• Unlimited views

• EU hosting (GDPR compliant)

👉 Try Menuki for free and create your digital menu in minutes.