Create your menu and QR menu, even from a photo

7 min readUpdated
In shortIn PufferPOS one menu powers both the cashier and the QR menu your guests scan. You can type items in, import a CSV or Excel file, or upload up to six menu photos for AI to read; you review every item before it is saved.
On this page
  1. How the menu is organized
  2. Pick the fastest way for you
  3. Import from menu photos (AI)
  4. Import from Excel or CSV
  5. Add items by hand
  6. Turn on your QR menu
  7. Common questions

How the menu is organized

  • Categories group items, like Hot drinks, Cold drinks, Desserts.
  • Products are what you sell, with a price and an optional photo.
  • Sizes (variants) change the price: Small, Medium, Large.
  • Extras (modifiers) are choices added on top: extra shot, oat milk, no sugar.

Pick the fastest way for you

From a menu photo to ready items

Illustration

Drinks

Latte S/L65/85
Mocha80
+ extra shot15

Desserts

Cheesecake90
LatteEGP 65Small 65 · Large 85
MochaEGP 80Extra: shot +15
CheesecakeEGP 90Desserts
Menu photosAI reads up to 6 photos
CSV fileName, Category, Price
By handBest for small menus

All three start from Control panel → Products.

Import from menu photos (AI)

  1. Open Import

    In Products choose Import, then the photo option.

    /control-panel/products/import
  2. Add clear photos

    Up to six photos, JPG, PNG or WEBP. Shoot straight on, in good light, one page per photo.

  3. Review what AI found

    You see each category and item with its sizes and extras, next to your photo. Fix names or prices, remove anything wrong.

  4. Save to your menu

    Only what you approve is saved. Importing a menu never changes your stock.

Tip

Photo import uses AI credits. It is included in the 14-day trial and in Growth. On Starter you can still import a CSV file.

Import from Excel or CSV

If your menu is already in a spreadsheet, save it as CSV with three columns: Name, Category and Price, one row per item. Import it from Products → Import and review the list before saving. With AI menu import (trial and Growth), Excel files and other layouts work too.

Add items by hand

The products page with photos and categories
  1. Create categories

    Control panel → Categories. Add them in the order you want guests to see.

    /control-panel/categories
  2. Add a product

    Name, price, category and a photo. Add an Arabic and an English name if you serve both.

    /control-panel/products
  3. Add sizes and extras

    Open the product, add sizes with their prices, then extras with their prices and limits (for example, choose up to 2).

Turn on your QR menu

The QR menu as guests see it on a phone
  1. Enable the online menu

    Settings → Menu. Turn the menu on and choose what guests see: descriptions, ingredients, prices.

  2. Match your brand

    Pick your main color and show the language switch if you serve Arabic and English guests.

  3. Download the QR code

    Download the QR code image and print it for tables, the counter or the window.

  4. Hide what is sold out

    On any product, turn off “Show on online menu” and guests stop seeing it immediately.

Tip

Label items as New or Popular to guide guests to what you want to sell.

Common questions

Is the QR menu included in every plan?

Yes. The QR menu is included in Starter and Growth.

Can guests order from the QR menu?

Today the QR menu is for browsing: guests see items, photos, sizes and prices, and order with your staff.

How accurate is the photo import?

It reads clear printed menus well, in Arabic and English. That is why you review every item before saving.

Next guideConnect an Xprinter receipt printer (58 mm or 80 mm)
YOUR NEXT SHIFT, A LITTLE LIGHTER

A better shift
starts here.

Try PufferPOS with your own menu and team. Or tell us about your place and we’ll help you see if it fits.

14-day trial · No credit card required