QR code ordering for Australian restaurants and cafés
Table QR ordering with no commission and no app for diners to download.
- ✓ 0% commission: versus 30% listed by Uber Eats and DoorDash for orders they deliver
- ✓ Free menu migration: send a menu export, screenshots or your ordering link and we move it
- ✓ Month to month: no lock-in contract, cancel any time
- ✓ Stripe card payments: standard Stripe fees, and Chefzi takes 0% of the order
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Free setup and onboarding · Free menu migration · Month to month
Restaurants and takeaways across the UK, US, Germany, Europe, Australia and Belgium use Chefzi
Updated 27 October 2026. All prices are from the vendors' own Australian pages, read that day. On this page: Types of QR ordering · Set-up · Printing tips · Measuring results · FAQ
Every table gets its own QR code. Guests scan it, order from your menu and the order arrives in the Chefzi app tagged with the table number. It's ideal for cafés, food courts, pubs and casual dining where staff are stretched.
Table QR is included on every plan. See all features.
QR ordering that keeps the welcome
Each table gets its own code, so orders arrive with the table number. Guests scan, order and pay on their phone, and staff spend their time on service instead of carrying a card machine around. Keep a human touch by greeting guests and offering to take orders the usual way.
Where to put QR codes
- Every table, on laminated cards or acrylic stands
- The counter, for takeaway pre-orders
- The shop window, for after-hours walkers
- Bags and receipts, so the next order comes direct
How QR code ordering works
- Each table has its own QR code, linked to your menu with the table number set.
- The guest scans with their phone camera. No app is needed.
- They order and pay, or add to an open tab if you allow it.
- The order rings in the kitchen with the table number, and staff run the food.
The backlash, and how to avoid it
Not every diner likes QR ordering. One of the top Australian results for "qr code ordering" is a Reddit thread arguing it "needs to go". The common complaints are a hidden surcharge or "platform fee", being forced to use a phone, and no staff contact. Avoid them by charging menu prices with no diner fee, always offering to take orders the usual way, and keeping a printed menu on request.
QR ordering costs in Australia
Some dine-in QR platforms charge diners a per-order fee, or charge venues a percentage. Chefzi's table QR is included in the flat monthly fee, with no diner fee and no commission. Card processing applies to card payments.
Pay at table
Pay at table means the guest settles the bill from their phone, without waiting for a staff member and a card terminal. With QR ordering, guests pay as they order, or run an open tab and pay at the end if you allow it. It frees up staff at the end of service and speeds up table turns. Some guests will still want to pay at the counter, so keep that option.
Three types of QR code at the table
| Type | What the guest does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Menu only | Views the menu, then orders with staff | Fine dining and venues that want full table service |
| Order, pay later | Orders from their phone, and pays at the counter or on a tab | Pubs, groups, venues with regulars |
| Order and pay | Orders and pays by card on their phone | Cafés, casual dining, food courts, busy weekends |
Many venues mix them: order-and-pay for coffee and snacks, and staff service for dinner mains. Pick the type that matches how you serve, not the one with the most features.
Setting up table QR ordering
- Number every table, including the outdoor and footpath tables your council permit covers.
- Create one QR code per table so each order arrives with its table number.
- Decide how payment works: pay first, a tab, or pay at the counter.
- Set what goes where: drinks to the bar, food to the kitchen.
- Do a soft launch over one quiet service, with staff showing guests how it works.
Printing and placement tips
- Print the code large enough to scan from a seated position, and test it from the farthest chair.
- Add a short line, such as "Scan to order — or just ask us", so nobody feels forced.
- Use durable stands or stickers outdoors. Sun and rain fade paper quickly.
- Put the table number in large type next to the code.
- Keep the QR link permanent, so a menu change never means reprinting.
How to tell if QR ordering is working
- Average spend per table. Compare four weeks before and after.
- Table turn time at your busiest service.
- Staff time: are staff spending less time taking orders and more on service?
- Complaints: track any mentions of QR in reviews. If they rise, add more staff contact.
QR ordering costs compared
Pricing models vary. Some platforms charge diners a per-order platform fee, some charge venues a percentage per transaction, and some include QR in a monthly fee. For example, Bopple includes QR table ordering in its $49-a-month plan, plus 1.64% + $0.10 per order (from 1 Oct 2026). HungryHungry and me&u don't publish their prices. Chefzi includes a QR code for every table in its flat monthly plan, with no diner fee. Card processing applies to card payments. See all systems compared.
Table ordering system: how it works in practice
A table ordering system lets diners order (and usually pay) from their table without waiting for staff. With QR code table ordering, each table has its own code, so orders arrive tagged with the table number.
- The diner scans the table's QR code with their phone camera. No app is needed.
- They browse the menu, choose options and add notes such as allergies.
- They pay online, or order to the table and pay at the counter if you allow it.
- The order rings in the Chefzi app with the table number and can auto-print a docket.
- Staff run the food to the table number on the docket.
Do diners actually like QR ordering?
Not always. Australian diners have pushed back publicly on QR-only ordering (one r/australia thread, "Table QR code ordering at restaurants needs to go", ranks for this topic). Common complaints are hidden surcharges, being forced to download apps or create accounts, and losing table service. To avoid the backlash:
- Keep QR ordering optional, and let people order with staff too.
- No app download and no forced sign-up.
- Show any surcharge before checkout, not at the end.
- Use QR ordering for second rounds and busy times, not to replace hospitality.
QR ordering on its own or through your POS?
Enterprise platforms such as me&u focus on POS-integrated order-and-pay with group tabs, tipping prompts and loyalty, and price by quote. Chefzi is simpler: QR orders arrive in the Chefzi app and on printed dockets, at a flat monthly fee. Choose POS integration if you run a large venue with bar tabs. Choose a flat-fee QR system if you're a café, takeaway or small restaurant. See the restaurant POS guide and Chefzi vs me&u.
QR code table ordering in Australia: setup, tips and mistakes to avoid
QR ordering became normal in Australian venues during 2020–21 and stuck around, especially at busy cafés, pubs and food courts. Done well, it speeds service. Done badly, it feels cold.
Set-up checklist
- One QR per table, so orders arrive with the table number attached
- Durable printing: laminated, or acrylic stands for outdoor tables
- A short line under each code: "Scan to order and pay. Staff are happy to help."
- The same menu as the counter, with sold-out items switched off live
Pay first or pay later?
Pay-first suits cafés and casual venues. Pay-later suits groups and drinks venues, but needs a way to close tabs.
Kitchen workflow
Orders should sound on a device the kitchen actually hears, with the table number large. Test during a quiet service first.
Keep the welcome
Greet guests and offer to take the order the usual way. Older customers and visitors appreciate the choice.
What commission costs on an illustrative A$10,000 month
| A$10,000 a month in app orders for your venue | Commission |
|---|---|
| Uber Eats, they deliver (30%) | A$3,000 |
| DoorDash, pickup (15%) | A$1,500 |
| Chefzi (0%) | A$0 plus a flat monthly fee |
Published Australian rates from the Uber Eats and DoorDash merchant pricing pages, checked 27 October 2026. Excludes GST and card processing. Your own agreement may differ.
Guides
- Food safety for takeaway and delivery orders in Australia: What FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A means for takeaways, plus practical temperature, packaging, allergen and driver tips for pickup and delivery orders.
- Pricing your menu for delivery apps vs your own ordering page: How Australian takeaways set different prices on Uber Eats and DoorDash vs their own page: worked examples, margin maths and what to tell customers.
Get your commission-free ordering page
Tell us where to reach you. We'll build your menu for free and send you a test link.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QR ordering included?
Yes, on every plan.
Do diners need to download an app to use QR ordering?
No. The QR code opens your menu in the phone's browser.
What if the venue has no wifi?
Guests use their own mobile data, so venue wifi isn't required. Your staff device needs a reliable connection to receive orders.
How do I stop fake or prank orders?
Make guests pay first, or have staff confirm the first order from each table before it goes to the kitchen.
Can I still take orders at the table?
Yes, and you should keep offering it. QR ordering works best as an option rather than the only way to order.
Is QR code ordering worth it for a small café?
Usually yes for busy counter-service cafés, because it removes the queue. If you have only a few tables, a single counter QR for pickup orders may be enough.
Do customers need an app to order from a QR code?
No. The QR code opens the ordering page in the phone browser.
Will QR ordering replace my staff?
It usually frees staff from taking orders and running payments, so they can spend more time on service.
How do you order food from a QR code?
Point your phone camera at the code on the table. The menu opens in your browser, and you choose items and place the order without downloading an app.
Is it free to make a QR code?
Yes. A basic QR code that points to a link is free to make with many tools, including the share menu in Google Chrome. A table-ordering QR also needs an ordering system behind the link.
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