QR Menu in Nepal: Prices, VAT Display and Languages

A QR menu is a public page. Whatever you write on it, guests read as an offer, so prices, taxes and descriptions need to be clear and consistent with what you charge on the bill. This article covers the local points a restaurant or cafe in Nepal should settle before publishing, with the official bodies to confirm rules with. It is about software and menu presentation, not legal or tax advice.

Show prices the way you bill them

The biggest source of complaints is a gap between menu price and bill total. Decide whether the menu shows prices exclusive or inclusive of 13% VAT and any service charge, and state it clearly in a line at the top or bottom of the menu. If your outlet is VAT registered, the bill must match that statement. If it is not registered, do not suggest that VAT is included. Confirm your status with the Inland Revenue Department or your accountant, because the menu can only display what is true for your business.

Keep menu and bill in step

When you change a price on the QR menu, change it in your billing system on the same day. Mismatches between the two cause arguments at the counter. If your billing software is separate, make one person responsible for both updates, or ask about connecting them. Our restaurant POS software can be the single source of prices where that is configured.

Languages and spelling

A bilingual menu helps both locals and visitors. Use the Nepali name guests actually use, such as momo, thukpa or sel roti, and write the English description beside it. Keep spelling consistent across the menu. In tourist areas, add the languages your guests ask for most. Avoid machine-translated text that sounds odd, because a wrong word on a food item can confuse or offend.

Allergies, ingredients and honesty

A menu should not make health claims or promise that a dish is safe for any condition. Add a visible line asking guests with allergies or dietary needs to speak to staff before ordering. Label veg and non-veg clearly, since this matters to many guests and families in Nepal. If a dish contains alcohol or an ingredient that surprises, say so.

Payment options on the menu

Guests in Nepal pay by cash, mobile QR, bank transfer or card, depending on the outlet. You can list the options you accept on the menu. Showing a payment QR on the menu page is a different matter from connecting a wallet to orders, which needs separate set-up. Do not list a payment method you do not actually support, and do not add a logo of a payment service unless you have the right to use it.

Guest data and privacy

If table ordering asks for a name or phone number, collect only what you need, tell guests why and keep the data private. Do not share it with outsiders or add people to promotional groups without asking. A simple note saying that contact details are used only to serve the order builds trust.

Connectivity and fallback

Not every guest will have mobile data and your Wi-Fi may be weak. Keep a few printed menus for guests who prefer them or cannot scan, and keep a backup way for staff to take orders if the internet fails. A good QR menu works with the people at your counter, not instead of them.

Festival and seasonal changes

Special menus for Dashain, Tihar, Christmas or a local fair can be added as separate sections with start and end dates, so they appear and disappear without manual work. Record the BS and AD dates in your own calendar, because festival dates shift every year.

A quick checklist before you publish

• Prices match your billing system for every item.
• The menu states clearly whether VAT and service charge are included.
• Veg and non-veg labels are correct on every dish.
• An allergy note asks guests to speak to staff.
• Nepali and English text has been read by a person, not only translated by a tool.
• Only the payment methods you really accept are shown.
• Printed menus are available for guests who prefer them.

Running through this list once before launch saves a lot of awkward conversations later, and it takes less than an hour.

Our QR code digital menu software is designed to cover these points. Next step: check your current bill against your printed menu for five random items. If any price or tax line differs, fix that before putting the menu online.

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