Restaurant Resource
Chinese Menu Clarity Scorecard
The scorecard helps identify whether a menu makes ordering easier or simply lists food.
Scorecard
| Category | 0 points | 1 point | 2 points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant identity | Cuisine/format unclear. | Some clues. | Cuisine, format, and house style are clear. |
| Section structure | Long undifferentiated list. | Some sections. | Sections match ordering logic. |
| Dish names | Literal or vague only. | Some descriptions. | Functional names, Chinese, pinyin, and short explanations where useful. |
| Dietary signals | No useful labels. | Some labels. | Major risks clearly labeled with text. |
| Ordering guidance | No guidance. | A few notes. | First-order and group-order paths. |
| Mobile usability | Hard to use. | Readable with effort. | Readable without pinch-zooming. |
| Online reliability | PDF/image/stale. | Mixed. | Stable HTML menu with updated date. |
Interpretation
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | Menu is likely losing orders through confusion. |
| 6-9 | Menu is usable but needs structural cleanup. |
| 10-12 | Menu is clear enough for most diners. |
| 13-14 | Strong menu. Improve by testing with first-time diners. |
Downloadable clarity scorecard
| Template | Download | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Menu audit scorecard | menu-audit-scorecard.csv | Spreadsheet-ready scoring framework. |
category,criterion,score_0,score_1,score_2,notes Identity,Restaurant format is clear,Not clear,Partly clear,Clear, Identity,Regional cuisine or house focus is clear,Not clear,Partly clear,Clear, Structure,Menu sections match how customers order,Confusing,Somewhat logical,Clear, Structure,House specialties are easy to find,Hidden,Present but weak,Prominent, Descriptions,Unfamiliar dishes have plain-language descriptions,No,Some,Most or all, Descriptions,Chinese names and pinyin are used where helpful,No,Inconsistent,Consistent, Dietary,Common allergens and pork/shellfish/wheat/soy/sesame are disclosed,No,Partial,Clear, Dietary,Spice levels are explained,No,Partial,Clear, Operations,Menu size fits kitchen capacity,No,Somewhat,Yes, Online,Menu is readable on mobile,No,Somewhat,Yes, Online,Menu is HTML text rather than image-only,No,Partial,Yes, Online,Prices and hours appear current,No,Unclear,Yes,