What to Do with QR Code Menus in Shanghai Restaurants

扫码点餐不是噱头，而是上海餐饮行业的标准做法。了解它为什么存在，能帮你更好地适应。

• 扫码点餐减少了服务员的工作量，餐厅可以用更少的人服务更多的客人。
• 对顾客来说，扫码点餐可以慢慢看菜单，不用催着点菜。
• 扫码后可以直接在手机上付款，省去了等账单的步骤。
• 疫情期间扫码点餐普及得更快，现在已经变成了默认方式。
• 大部分商场餐厅、连锁店和中高端餐厅都用这套系统，只有部分老店和路边摊还是纸质菜单。

到了上海你会发现，坐下来吃饭的第一步不是看菜单，而是扫桌上那个二维码。

QR code ordering is not a gimmick. It is the standard practice in Shanghai's restaurant industry. Understanding why it exists helps you adapt faster.

• QR code ordering reduces the workload for servers, allowing restaurants to serve more guests with fewer staff.
• For customers, it means you can take your time browsing the menu without feeling rushed to order.
• After ordering, you can pay directly on your phone, skipping the step of waiting for the bill.
• QR code ordering spread even faster during the pandemic and has since become the default method.
• Most mall restaurants, chains, and mid-to-upscale restaurants use this system. Only some older shops and street stalls still use paper menus.

When you arrive in Shanghai, you will find that the first step to eating out is not reading a menu — it is scanning the QR code at the table.

很多扫码点餐系统其实支持英文，但按钮不太显眼。扫完码进入菜单页面后，先花几秒钟找一下。

• 在页面顶部或底部找 "EN"、"English" 或一个语言切换的小图标（通常是地球或旗帜图案）。
• 有的系统在你第一次打开时会弹出语言选择，直接选英文就行。
• 微信小程序的点餐页面一般在右上角有三个点的菜单，点进去可能有语言选项。
• 海底捞、鼎泰丰这类大品牌的点餐系统通常有英文版。

有英文切换是最省事的方案。先试这个，不行再用其他方法。

Many QR code ordering systems actually support English, but the button is not always obvious. After scanning the code and opening the menu page, take a few seconds to look for it.

• Look for "EN", "English", or a language switch icon (usually a globe or flag symbol) at the top or bottom of the page.
• Some systems pop up a language selection screen the first time you open the page. Just select English.
• WeChat mini-program ordering pages usually have a three-dot menu in the top right corner. Tap it and there may be a language option inside.
• Major brands like Haidilao and Din Tai Fung typically have English versions of their ordering systems.

An English switch is the easiest solution. Try this first before moving on to other methods.

如果菜单没有英文切换，翻译 App 的相机功能是最实用的替代方案。

• 打开 Google 翻译或苹果自带翻译 App，选择相机翻译模式。
• 把手机相机对准菜单页面，App 会实时把中文翻译成英文叠在画面上。
• Google 翻译支持离线翻译，出发前下载好中文语言包，没网也能用。
• 翻译不一定百分百准确，但足够让你知道大概是什么菜、什么食材。
• 也可以截图后用翻译 App 翻译截图，这样你可以慢慢看，不用一直举着手机。

这个方法对大部分中文菜单都管用，是看不懂中文时最可靠的兜底方案。

If the menu has no English switch, a translation app's camera feature is the most practical fallback.

• Open Google Translate or the Apple Translate app and select camera translate mode.
• Point your phone camera at the menu screen. The app will overlay English translations on top of the Chinese text in real time.
• Google Translate supports offline translation. Download the Chinese language pack before your trip and it works without internet.
• Translations are not always 100% accurate, but they are usually enough to tell what kind of dish it is and what the main ingredients are.
• You can also take a screenshot and translate the screenshot in the app. This way you can read at your own pace without holding your phone up.

This method works for most Chinese menus and is the most reliable fallback when you cannot read Chinese.

如果前两步都不管用，你还有最后两个选择。

• 看图点菜：很多扫码菜单都有菜品图片。找有图的菜，挑一个看起来不错的。米饭、面条、炒菜这类主食基本不会太离谱。
• 看价格：价格能给你一些线索。最贵的通常是大菜或海鲜，便宜的可能是小吃或主食。
• 看销量：有些系统会显示菜品的销量排行。点销量最高的，通常是这家店最受欢迎的菜。
• 换餐厅：如果完全看不懂也没有图片，最简单的办法就是换一家。上海餐厅那么多，没必要在一家看不懂的店纠结。

别觉得换餐厅不好意思。找到一家你能顺利点菜的餐厅，比在看不懂的菜单上硬撑要好得多。

If the first two steps do not work, you still have two options.

• Order from pictures: Many QR code menus have dish photos. Find the ones with pictures and pick something that looks good. Staples like rice, noodles, and stir-fried dishes are usually safe bets.
• Read the prices: Prices can give you clues. The most expensive items are usually large dishes or seafood. The cheapest might be snacks or staples.
• Check the rankings: Some systems show a sales ranking for dishes. Ordering the most popular item is usually a safe choice — it is what the restaurant is known for.
• Switch restaurants: If you cannot read anything and there are no pictures, the simplest solution is to leave and try another place. Shanghai has so many restaurants that there is no need to struggle at one you cannot understand.

Do not feel embarrassed about switching restaurants. Finding a place where you can order confidently is much better than forcing yourself through an unreadable menu.

搞定扫码点餐之后，上海吃饭就没什么障碍了。

Once you figure out QR code ordering, eating in Shanghai has no more barriers.