How to Import Your Menu in NEMENU: 4 Easy Methods

You've just signed up for NEMENU and you're staring at an empty menu editor. The thought of typing in every single menu item—all 50 of them—makes you want to close your laptop and deal with it later. We get it. That's exactly why we built four different ways to import your menu, including AI that can read your existing menu photos and extract everything automatically.

In this guide, we'll walk through each import method so you can choose the one that works best for your situation. Whether you have a beautifully designed PDF menu, a messy spreadsheet, or just photos of your current menu, there's a path to getting your menu online fast.

Method 1: Quick Start with Sample Menu

If you're new to NEMENU and want to explore how everything works before adding your own items, the Quick Start option is perfect. With one click, we'll populate your menu with a realistic sample menu complete with categories, items, variants, allergen tags, and descriptions.

When you first open your empty menu dashboard, you'll see a prominent "Quick Start with Sample Menu" button. Click it, and within seconds you'll have a fully structured menu to explore. You can then modify the sample items, delete what you don't need, and add your own dishes.

• Best for: First-time users who want to explore the platform
• Time to complete: Instant (one click)
• What you get: Pre-populated categories, items with descriptions, price variants, and dietary tags
• Next step: Customize the sample menu to match your actual offerings

Method 2: AI Photo Import (Our Most Powerful Feature)

Here's where things get exciting. What if you could just take a photo of your existing menu—paper, PDF, or even a photo of your menu board—and have NEMENU automatically extract all the items, prices, and categories? That's exactly what our AI Photo Import does.

How AI Menu Extraction Works

Our AI Photo Import is powered by Claude Sonnet 4, one of the most advanced vision AI models available. When you upload a photo of your menu, Claude analyzes the image and intelligently extracts the structure, reading item names, descriptions, prices, and even detecting size variants.

• Automatic category detection: The AI identifies menu sections and creates categories automatically
• Price extraction: Handles various formats including $12.99, 12.99, and international formats like 12,99
• Variant recognition: Detects size options (Small, Medium, Large) with their price adjustments
• Allergen detection: Identifies common allergens mentioned in descriptions
• Dietary tag recognition: Spots vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary markers

The 3-Step AI Import Process

Using AI Photo Import is simple and takes just a few minutes, even for menus with dozens of items.

Step 1: Upload Your Menu Image. Click "Import from Photo" in the menu editor and either drag-and-drop your image or click to select a file. We support JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF formats up to 10MB. For best results, make sure your menu photo is clear and well-lit.

Step 2: AI Processing. Once uploaded, our AI goes to work analyzing your menu. You'll see a processing indicator while Claude examines the image, identifies the structure, and extracts all the relevant information. This typically takes 15-30 seconds depending on menu complexity.

Step 3: Review and Edit. After processing, you'll see a preview of the extracted menu with all categories and items. This is your chance to review everything, make corrections, add missing information, or remove items that shouldn't be included. The inline editor makes it easy to fix any details before importing.

Tips for Best AI Results

• Use high-resolution images: Clearer photos mean better extraction accuracy
• Good lighting matters: Avoid shadows and glare on your menu
• One page at a time: For multi-page menus, import each page separately
• Review before importing: The AI is smart but not perfect—always double-check prices and descriptions
• Handwritten menus work too: Claude can read clear handwriting, though printed text yields better results

Method 3: Import from Excel or JSON File

Already have your menu in a spreadsheet? NEMENU supports direct import from Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) and JSON format. This method is ideal if you have a digital copy of your menu or if you're migrating from another menu system.

Excel Import Structure

Our Excel import uses a simple two-sheet structure. The first sheet, "Categories," contains your menu sections like Appetizers, Mains, and Desserts. The second sheet, "Items," lists all your menu items with their details and links them to categories using a simple ID system.

• Categories sheet: Category ID, Category Name, Description, Parent Category ID, Sort Order
• Items sheet: Category ID, Item Name, Description, Price, Variants, Allergens, Dietary Tags, Sort Order
• Variants format: "Small:0:true|Medium:2.50:false|Large:4.00:false" (name:price_adjustment:is_default)
• Allergens and dietary tags: Comma-separated values like "gluten, dairy, nuts"

JSON Import for Developers

If you prefer working with structured data or are integrating NEMENU with other systems, our JSON format gives you full control. The JSON schema supports nested categories, detailed item variants, and complete allergen and dietary tag information. Download the JSON template from the menu editor to see the exact structure.

Both Excel and JSON imports give you the option to either replace your existing menu entirely or merge new items with what you already have. This flexibility makes it easy to do initial imports or batch updates later.

Method 4: Manual Entry with Smart Assistance

Of course, you can always build your menu from scratch directly in the editor. This is perfect for small menus, adding new items to an existing menu, or if you prefer hands-on control over every detail.

The menu editor features intuitive add buttons for creating categories and items. Simply click to add, fill in the details, and drag to reorder. The interface is designed for speed—you can tab through fields and use keyboard shortcuts to add items quickly.

AI-Powered Features After Import

Getting your menu imported is just the beginning. NEMENU includes several AI-powered tools to enhance your menu and save you time on ongoing maintenance.

AI Description Improvement

Struggling to write appetizing descriptions for your dishes? Our AI Description Improvement feature can generate or enhance menu item descriptions automatically. Click the improve button on any item, and Claude Haiku will craft a compelling description that highlights key ingredients and preparation methods while staying concise.

Smart Allergen and Dietary Tag Suggestions

Food allergen labeling is critical for customer safety. Our AI analyzes each item's name and description to suggest relevant allergens (gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, shellfish, and more) and dietary tags (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, spicy). The suggestions are conservative—only flagging items when the AI is highly confident—so you can trust the recommendations while maintaining final control.

Multi-Language Translation

Serve international guests? NEMENU can automatically translate your entire menu into 50+ languages. The translation AI preserves food names where appropriate (you probably don't want "Spaghetti Carbonara" translated), understands culinary terminology, and maintains the tone of your descriptions. You can translate individual items or batch-translate your entire menu with one click.

AI Category Image Generation

Want professional-looking category images but don't have photography? Our AI image generation feature creates custom category cover images using Amazon Nova Canvas. Just provide your category name (like "Fresh Pasta" or "Craft Cocktails"), and the AI generates a relevant, appetizing image. It's a quick way to add visual appeal without hiring a photographer.

Which Import Method Should You Choose?

With four different import options, here's a quick guide to choosing the right one for your situation.

Getting Started Today

Importing your menu into NEMENU shouldn't feel like a chore. Whether you snap a photo of your current menu and let our AI do the heavy lifting, or prefer the structure of an Excel template, you can have your digital menu live and ready for QR code scanning in minutes, not hours.

The best part? All import methods are available on our free tier, so you can try them out without any commitment. Our AI features for description improvement, translations, and image generation are included in Pro and Enterprise plans, giving you powerful tools to make your menu shine once it's imported.