The Great Debate
Paper menus have served restaurants for centuries. But QR code menus are rapidly replacing them. Let's compare.
Cost
Paper menus cost 25 to 250 ETB per menu to print, and you need to reprint every time you change a price or add a dish. A restaurant with 50 tables might spend 25,000+ ETB per year.
QR menus cost nothing to update. You change prices or add items in your dashboard, and every QR code automatically shows the latest version.
Hygiene
Post-pandemic, guests are more conscious about shared surfaces. Paper menus are touched by hundreds of people. QR menus are personal — each guest uses their own phone.
Speed
Paper menus require a server to bring them. QR menus are instant — guests scan and browse immediately. This means faster ordering and higher table turnover.
Environmental Impact
A busy restaurant uses thousands of paper menus per year. QR menus eliminate this waste entirely.
The Verdict
QR menus win on cost, hygiene, speed, and environmental impact. The only advantage of paper menus is familiarity — and that's fading fast.