Menu management · 8 min read
Categories and menu items
Go from an empty menu to a publishable one — how categories shape customer browsing, every field a menu item carries, and how to order both so the right things are on top.
Who this is for
Owners and managers setting up or maintaining a menu.
Before you start
- At least one branch created
Why categories matter
On the customer ordering app, categories are the top-level navigation. Mobile users browse fast — the first three categories get most of the attention, so the order matters more than people expect. A well-organised menu means customers find what they want quickly, order with fewer mistakes, and your kitchen gets cleaner tickets.
Add your first category
- 1
Click Add category.
- 2
Enter a name in every supported language. The English name is the fallback if a translation is missing.
- 3
Optional: add a short description to set context for that section.
- 4
Save. The category becomes the active section in the editor.
- 5
Edit an existing category later by hovering it and clicking the pencil icon.
Add your first items
- 1
Click Add item inside the category.
- 2
Fill in name, description, and price. Pick the most important item first — your bestseller.
- 3
Upload an image. Landscape, well-lit, no menu mock-up watermark.
- 4
Save and repeat. Three real items are enough to verify the customer experience end to end.
Reordering categories and items
Drag the handle on the left of a category to move it up or down. The order saves automatically and customers see it on the next load. Items reorder the same way inside their category.
Keep "Recommended" or your hero category at the top. Avoid putting "Drinks" first — they are an add-on, not the reason customers came.
Verify on the storefront
Open your ordering page on a phone. The category should appear with its items in the order you set. Tap an item to see the detail sheet — image, description, modifiers if any.
If anything is missing, the cause is almost always a save you forgot or an unfilled translation field.
Frequently asked
Can I hide a category temporarily?
There is no draft toggle for a category today. A category with no visible items is hidden from customers automatically, so either move its items elsewhere or toggle them off (86 them).Why does an empty category show in admin but not to customers?
That is intentional. The category stays in admin so you can keep building it; it only appears on the customer app once it has at least one available item.Do I have to type every menu item by hand?
No. If you already have a printed or PDF menu, the AI menu builder can extract categories, items, and prices from a photo or PDF, ready for you to review and import.