QR codes aren’t new, but how restaurants are using them in 2025? That’s a whole different game. What started as a pandemic workaround has evolved into one of the most versatile, guest-friendly, and brand-building tools in your restaurant’s arsenal.
And while digital menus are still the standard, they’re just scratching the surface.
Let’s explore 7 creative (and profitable) ways restaurants are using QR codes this year to engage guests, boost sales, and turn every table into a marketing opportunity.
1. Interactive Menus with Personality
Forget the boring PDFs. In 2025, smart restaurants are using QR codes to send diners to dynamic menus with interactive features like:
- Short videos showing dishes being made
- Chef’s recommendations for each section
- Pairing suggestions with wines or cocktails
2. Table-Side Ordering and Payments
QR codes linked to mobile ordering systems allow guests to place orders and pay at their convenience. No flagging down a server, no waiting for the check.
Bonus: Less friction = higher tips and faster table turnover.
3. Behind-the-Scenes Content Access
Want to build a deeper connection with guests? Add a QR code to your table tents or menu that unlocks a short video about:
- Where your ingredients come from
- A chef spotlight
- The story of how your restaurant started
This turns dinner into an experience and your guests into loyal fans.
4. Exclusive In-Restaurant Offers
Encourage guests to scan for limited-time offers that aren’t listed on the menu. Think:
- Secret happy hour specials
- Free dessert with a drink order
- “Scan and spin” digital discounts
This creates an element of surprise that gets people excited to scan every time they visit.
5. Collect Guest Feedback
Post-meal feedback doesn’t have to be a paper comment card. A quick-scan QR code at the table or on the receipt can send guests to a short, mobile-friendly survey.
Even better, offer an incentive like 10% off their next visit for completing it.
6. Grow Your Email & SMS List Automatically
Use QR codes to invite guests to join your loyalty program, sign up for your newsletter, or opt into text updates. This turns in-person diners into digital contacts, so you can keep the relationship going long after they leave.
Make the value clear: “Scan to get VIP invites and secret menu access.”
7. Create Shareable Moments for Social Media
QR codes can link directly to a branded Instagram filter, a TikTok challenge, or a playlist that matches your restaurant’s vibe.
Example: “Scan to hear tonight’s dinner playlist” or “Scan to enter our #TacoTuesday dance challenge.”
This turns guests into content creators, aka free marketing.
QR Codes Aren’t Just Functional. They’re Experiential.
The beauty of QR codes in 2025? They’re fast, flexible, and full of potential. With just one scan, you can turn a quiet dinner into a memorable experience, a regular guest into a follower, and a table into a marketing engine.
At BYK Digital, we help restaurants turn everyday tools, like QR codes, into smart, creative strategies that build loyalty and drive revenue.
Want help making your QR code experience unforgettable (and profitable)?
Let’s chat! Book your free strategy session now.
