A restaurant menu is not just a list of dishes. The best menu design helps customers decide faster, increases average order value, and communicates your brand at a glance.
In this guide, we’ll explore 15 menu design ideas based on real restaurant types. Each example includes practical design advice you can use whether you’re designing a menu card, creating menu design for a website, or looking for restaurant menu samples that actually convert.
What Makes the Best Menu Design?
Before jumping into examples, here’s what all best designed menus have in common:
Clear hierarchy and spacing
Easy-to-read typography
Logical categories
Prices that don’t overpower item names
A layout that works on mobile and print
Great menus reduce friction. Customers should understand your menu in seconds.
1. Food Truck QR Code Menu
A food truck QR code menu must load fast and be instantly readable on a phone. The best food truck menu design ideas use a vertical layout with large item names and short descriptions. This type of restaurant menu design works perfectly on mobile because customers can scroll quickly and order without zooming.
2. Cocktail Bar QR Code Menu
A cocktail bar QR code menu shows how a creative restaurant menu can still be mobile-friendly. The best designs use strong typography, generous spacing, and minimal text so drinks are easy to scan on a phone. These menu examples prove that atmosphere can still exist in mobile menu design for website.
3. Chinese Restaurant QR Code Menu
Chinese restaurant QR code menus often include many items, which makes mobile optimization essential. The best Chinese restaurant menu design ideas focus on clear categories and consistent spacing so customers don’t feel overwhelmed while scrolling. This is a strong restaurant menu sample for high-volume kitchens.
4. Café QR Code Menu
A café QR code menu benefits from clean, calm design that feels comfortable on a phone screen. The best café menu design ideas use simple typography and vertical sections so customers can browse drinks and food without friction. This is one of the most effective menu examples for mobile users.
5. Korean Restaurant QR Code Menu
Korean restaurant QR code menus are ideal for explaining unfamiliar dishes on mobile. The best Korean menu design ideas include short descriptions and clear grouping, helping customers understand dishes without crowding the screen. This type of menu design for website improves ordering confidence.
6. Dispensary QR Code Menu
A dispensary QR code menu is one of the most functional menu design examples. The best dispensary menu designs prioritize clarity, pricing, and categorization so customers can compare products easily on a phone. This is a strong example of best menu design driven by usability.
7. Ice Cream QR Code Menu
Ice cream QR code menus work well on mobile because flavors are easy to scan vertically. The best ice cream menu design ideas use playful typography and clear flavor names while keeping scrolling smooth. These restaurant menu samples are perfect for impulse decisions on mobile.
8. Ice Cream Truck QR Code Menu
An ice cream truck QR code menu is designed for speed. The best menu design ideas here use very few items, large text, and minimal descriptions so customers can decide quickly on their phones. This is one of the clearest examples of mobile-first restaurant menu design.
9. Mexican Restaurant QR Code Menu
Mexican restaurant QR code menus benefit from bold headings and clear sections that translate well to mobile screens. The best Mexican restaurant menu design ideas use strong visual hierarchy so tacos, mains, and combos are easy to find while scrolling. These menu examples are both practical and visually engaging.
10. Catering QR Code Menu
A catering QR code menu focuses on structured decisions rather than impulse ordering. The best catering menu design ideas present packages and pricing clearly in a vertical mobile layout. This type of restaurant menu sample works especially well for event planning on phones.
11. Beverage QR Code Menu
A beverage QR code menu must be instantly scannable on mobile. The best beverage menu design ideas group drinks logically and avoid unnecessary text so customers don’t need to zoom. These menu examples show how simplicity improves mobile usability.
12. Drink QR Code Menu
Classic drink QR code menus rely on familiarity and speed. The best designs list drinks cleanly with consistent spacing, making them ideal for mobile menu design for website. This is a timeless approach to best designed menus in bars and pubs.
13. Pizza QR Code Menu
Pizza QR code menus are one of the most common restaurant menu samples viewed on mobile. The best pizza menu design ideas clearly separate pizza names, toppings, and prices so customers can scroll and order quickly. This is a strong example of mobile-optimized menu design.
14. Pub Food QR Code Menu
Pub food QR code menus focus on comfort and clarity. The best pub menu design ideas use bold item names and simple descriptions that read well on small screens. These menu examples are optimized for casual dining and fast decisions.
15. Gastro Pub QR Code Menu
A gastro pub QR code menu balances premium presentation with mobile usability. The best gastro pub restaurant menu design ideas use whitespace, short descriptions, and high-quality images that load quickly on phones. These are some of the best designed menus for QR code dining.
QR Code Menu Design Tips
If you’re designing a QR code menu for mobile, always:
Design vertically, not horizontally
Avoid small fonts
Use clear categories
Limit text per item
Optimize images for mobile loading
These principles apply whether you’re designing a menu card, working with a menu designer, or building a menu design for a website.
Final Thoughts
The best menu design ideas today are mobile-first. QR code menus aren’t a trend—they’re the default. Restaurants that design specifically for mobile screens deliver a better customer experience and faster ordering.