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

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

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.

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.