Documentation
Everything you need to know to get started and make the most of My Chef.
🚀 Quick Start Guide
Get your restaurant up and running in under 10 minutes.
Create Your Account
Visit /register and fill in your restaurant details. You'll need your restaurant name, email address, and a password. No credit card required.
Set Up Your Menu
From your restaurant dashboard, create menu categories (e.g., Appetizers, Mains, Drinks) and add your menu items with prices, descriptions, and photos. You can also add option groups for modifiers like size, spice level, and extras.
Create Your Tables
Add your tables in the Tables section. Each table automatically gets a unique QR code that customers can scan to view your menu and place orders.
Connect Stripe (Optional)
To accept online payments (credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay), connect your Stripe account from the restaurant settings page. Funds are deposited directly to your bank account.
Print & Place QR Codes
Download and print the QR codes for each table. Place them on your tables and you're ready to go! Customers scan with their phone camera – no app needed.
👥 Role-Based Guides
Each team member has a dedicated dashboard tailored to their role.
Restaurant Owner / Manager
- ✓ Full dashboard with analytics and revenue tracking
- ✓ Menu management (categories, items, modifiers, images)
- ✓ Table management with QR code generation
- ✓ Order history and real-time order tracking
- ✓ Staff account management (cashier, kitchen, waiter)
- ✓ Payment settings and Stripe Connect setup
- ✓ Restaurant profile and branding customization
Kitchen Staff
- ✓ Real-time order queue with sound notifications
- ✓ One-click status updates (preparing → ready)
- ✓ Special instructions highlighted per item
- ✓ Timer tracking for order preparation
- ✓ Table number and order details at a glance
Cashier
- ✓ Process cash and counter payments
- ✓ Approve pending orders (if enabled)
- ✓ View all active orders across tables
- ✓ Cancel orders with reason tracking
- ✓ Mark orders as served
Waiter
- ✓ See which orders are ready for pickup
- ✓ Mark orders as served with one tap
- ✓ View table assignments and order details
- ✓ Real-time notifications for ready orders
📱 Customer Experience
Here's what your customers see when they scan a QR code.
Scan QR Code
Customer opens their phone camera and scans the QR code on their table.
Browse Menu
Your full digital menu loads instantly with photos, descriptions, and modifiers.
Place Order
Add items to cart, customize options, add special instructions, and submit.
Pay & Track
Pay online or at the counter. Track order status in real-time on their phone.
💳 Payments & Pricing
Understanding how payments work on My Chef.
How It Works
100% Free for Restaurants: My Chef charges absolutely no fees to restaurant owners. No monthly subscription, no setup fees, no hidden charges.
Customer Service Fee: A small service fee is added to each order and paid by the customer. This covers the platform and payment processing costs.
Direct Payouts: When customers pay online, funds go directly to your Stripe-connected bank account. You receive the full order amount.
Supported Payment Methods
🔧 Troubleshooting
Common questions and quick fixes.
QR codes aren't working
Make sure your tables are set to "Active" in the table management section. Inactive tables will show an error when scanned.
Orders not appearing on kitchen screen
Check that the kitchen device has an active internet connection and the page is not minimized. Orders are pushed in real-time via WebSockets.
Can't accept online payments
You need to connect your Stripe account first. Go to Restaurant Settings → Payment Settings and click "Connect with Stripe." Complete the onboarding process with Stripe to start accepting payments.
How to add staff accounts
From your restaurant dashboard, navigate to Staff Management. You can create accounts for kitchen staff, cashiers, and waiters with their respective dashboards.
Need More Help?
Our support team is available 24/7 to help you get set up and running smoothly.