In 2025, an online menu is essential for any restaurant or takeaway business. Potential customers want to explore a restaurant’s offerings, choices, and prices online before making a decision. Over 500,000 Google searches related to takeaway services are conducted every month. Don’t miss out on potential new customers by not having your business and menu available online. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to various types of online menus and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
What is a Online Menu?
An online menu allows your customers to explore your menu and offerings online. This encompasses both food choices and prices, along with any special offers. Particularly for customers who are unfamiliar with your restaurant or takeaway, an online menu is a crucial tool in deciding whether they should visit your restaurant or place an order. An online menu serves as an online business card for your restaurant, attracting new customers. This is particularly important if you offer dishes tailored to specific preferences or dietary requirements (such as a wide range of vegan or gluten-free options), helping you stand out from your competition and attract new customers.
Types of Online Menus
Believe it or not, there are different types of digital menus suited for various purposes. Here are the most common ones:
Text or Image Menu on Your Website
The simplest way to publish your menu online is to place it as text or an image on your website. The text version has the advantage that your dishes can be found by Google, meaning new customers searching for specific meals online will see your website in Google results. For this reason, it’s not recommended to provide your menu as an image only. However, it’s better to have an image of your menu than no information about your offerings at all.
Menu as PDF for Download
Menus are often provided as PDF files that customers can access by opening a specific link or scanning a QR code with their smartphones. This digital menu option is cost-effective and suitable for getting started. However, the loading time can be long, and there are no additional functions within the PDF.
Menu for Direct Ordering via a Website
Having your own takeaway business website with an integrated menu offers independence from delivery platforms and various other advantages. Promoting your online ordering function to your customers can save you a considerable amount of commission and help you reach new customers. Hungry users can not only view your menu but also place an order directly online and make online payments in one go. This leads to increased revenue and customer satisfaction.
Menu for Direct Ordering via an App
Like an online website, an app can also function as a digital menu. Specialised takeaway apps are user-friendly and optimised for ordering via smartphones. Additionally, you can engage with your customers through push notifications and analyse their buying behavior. To use the app, customers need to download it from the respective iOS or Android store. The downside of menu apps is that they can only be used after downloading from the App Store or Google Play Store. This can be frustrating for older customers who may need time and patience to install them.
Benefits of Digital Menus for You and Your Customers
Providing an online menu offers many benefits for both you and your customers. In addition to the positive marketing impact of allowing potential customers to decide in advance to choose your restaurant due to knowledge of your offerings, there are other important reasons for having a digital menu:
Getting a Digital Menu for Your Restaurant or Takeaway Business
Don’t have a digital menu for your restaurant yet? It’s time you got one! If you’re running a restaurant, a simple listing of your dishes and beverages on your website might suffice. However, if you intend to receive digital in-house orders or make your takeaway business available online, it’s recommended to use a professional e-commerce system. At OrderYOYO, we work with thousands of satisfied customers across Europe and are happy to provide you with more information about your options.
