QR Code Ordering in Germany: A Guide for Restaurants

From beer gardens in Bavaria to cafés in Berlin, more German venues are putting a QR code on the table so guests can see the menu, order and sometimes pay from their phone. A QR code ordering system (QR-Code-Bestellsystem) can take pressure off staff and speed up service — but in Germany it has to fit around strict cash register rules. This English-language guide explains how QR ordering works, what German guests expect, how it interacts with KassenSichV and the new VAT rates, and how to launch it.

This guide is general information, not tax advice. Confirm your setup with your Steuerberater.

How QR code ordering works

1. Each table has its own QR code.
2. The guest scans it with their phone camera; the menu opens in the browser — no app, no account.
3. They choose food and drinks, add options and notes, and send the order.
4. The order appears in the kitchen and at the bar, tagged with the table number.
5. The guest pays — at the table, at the counter or with the waiting staff, depending on your setup.

Why German venues use QR ordering

• Staff shortages. Hospitality in Germany struggles to hire. QR ordering lets fewer staff serve more tables.
• Beer gardens and terraces. Guests order the next round without waiting for a server to walk across the garden.
• Tourists. Guests can read the menu in their own language.
• Accuracy. Orders, including allergies and extras, arrive exactly as entered.
• Instant menu changes. Remove a sold-out dish or change a price on every table at once.

What German guests expect

German guests are generally privacy-conscious and value good service:

• No app, no forced registration. Guests should be able to order without creating an account or handing over personal data.
• Clear information on allergens and additives (Allergene und Zusatzstoffe) on every item.
• A real person nearby. QR ordering should support waiting staff, not replace them.
• Easy split bills (getrennt zahlen) for groups.
• Transparent prices including VAT.

Respect data protection (GDPR/DSGVO): collect only the data you need, and explain it clearly.

The rules: KassenSichV and VAT

Every sale must be recorded in a compliant system

German law requires electronic cash systems to be secured with a certified TSE, registered with the tax office via ELSTER, and to issue a receipt for every sale (Belegausgabepflicht). Orders and payments that come in through QR ordering still count as sales. So the central question for any QR ordering system is: how do these sales end up in your TSE-secured cash system?

The common approaches are:

• a QR ordering system that is part of, or integrated with, your certified POS
• a QR ordering system used for ordering only, with payment and receipts handled by staff through the certified POS

Our guide to restaurant POS systems in Germany explains TSE, ELSTER registration and inspections in more detail.

7% food, 19% drinks

From 1 January 2026, VAT on restaurant food is permanently 7% (for dine-in, takeaway and delivery), while drinks stay at 19%. Your payment and receipt system must apply the correct rate per item and show both on the receipt.

Where MenuBeacon fits in Germany

MenuBeacon provides the guest-facing part of QR ordering:

• a mobile digital menu in German, English and other languages, with photos, prices in EUR, allergens and dietary tags
• QR ordering from the table, with orders going to a live kitchen display
• waiter call and bill request buttons
• no app and no registration needed for guests to browse or order at the table

MenuBeacon is not a certified cash register. It has no TSE, is not registered via ELSTER, and applies a single tax rate per restaurant, so it cannot split 7% food and 19% drinks on one bill. In Germany we recommend using it for menus and ordering, with payment and receipts handled through your TSE-certified POS. Talk to your tax adviser about the right setup for your business.

Setting up QR ordering alongside your POS

1. Build the menu with photos, prices, allergens and additives, and modifiers. Our guide to creating a digital restaurant menu covers every step.
2. Add languages — German plus English, and others if you serve many tourists.
3. Generate a QR code per table and print durable table cards with the table number and a short line such as "Scannen und bestellen".
4. Decide how payments work. For example, staff take payment and issue the receipt through your certified POS when the guest asks for the bill.
5. Set up the kitchen and bar screens or printers and test from every table. See our kitchen display guide.
6. Brief the team and launch on a quiet shift.

What it costs

MenuBeacon's Free plan includes QR ordering, a live kitchen display, 3 menus with unlimited items, 20 table QR codes and 5,000 scans a month. Pro is $20 USD a month and adds staff accounts, loyalty, reservations, AI menu import and integrations. There is no commission on your orders. See the pricing page.

When comparing other QR ordering systems, ask about per-order commissions, how sales reach your TSE system, and whether the provider stores guest data in line with GDPR.

Keep your codes safe

Fake QR stickers placed over genuine codes are a known scam. Use holders that are hard to cover, check codes daily and make sure your menu clearly shows your restaurant's name.

The bottom line

QR code ordering can make a real difference in German restaurants and beer gardens facing staff shortages — as long as every sale still lands correctly in a TSE-secured cash system and VAT is applied at 7% for food and 19% for drinks. Use QR ordering for what it does best — fast, accurate ordering — and keep receipts and payments in your certified POS.

Start free with MenuBeacon to set up a multilingual QR menu and ordering, or see how it works.