Menu Setup

How to Add Menu Items and Descriptions

Everything you need to know about how to add items to your DoorDash Merchant menu, edit item descriptions, and options, as well as how to temporarily deactivate them.

9/10/23
9 min read
DoorDash Merchant Portal - Items and Descriptions

Adding specific details to your DoorDash merchant menu can significantly impact your restaurant's sales. Based on a DoorDash study, adding menu item descriptions can increase sales by up to 18% per month. By taking the time to enhance your menu with descriptions, you can capture the attention of customers, entice their taste buds, and ultimately drive more orders. Below is a video with Merchant Portal instructions, or follow along with the written instructions:

What is the DoorDash Menu Manager?

To make DoorDash menu updates, you can use the Menu Manager in the Merchant Portal. Here's information about its editing tools and functionalities:

How do I add a new item to my DoorDash Merchant menu?

You can use these editing tools to edit your menu:

1. In the Menu Manager section of the Portal, scroll to the category you’d like to add an item to.  Alternatively, you can do this from your Tablet or the Business Manager App.

2. Click Add An Item at the end bottom of the list of items in the category.

3. In the dialogue box that appears, fill in the Name, Price, and Description of the new item.

4. Click Save and Add Photo to add your new Item. The item will now appear on the menu.

How do I add an item descriptions?

Based on a DoorDash study of over 15,000 local small business merchants in Q2 2022, menus with menu item descriptions get up to 23% more sales each month.

1. In the menu section of your Merchant Portal, click on the pencil icon to the right of the item.
2. Select Edit Details in the dialogue box.

3. Write the item descriptions in the text box and click Save Changes, which will only appear at the bottom once changes are made to the menu design.

Now that you’ve added your items, it’s time to add your DoorDash menu prices.

How can I permanently delete an item from my DoorDash merchant menu?

There are two ways you can use the menu editor to remove items. In the Menu Manager section of the Merchant Portal, you can either:

  1. Click the trash can next to the item you want to remove.

or

  1. Click on the item you want to delete.

  2. Select the three dots in the right hand corner of the pop-up.

  3. Click Delete.

How do I organize items into categories using the menu editor?

Your menu design layout can be easier to navigate by splitting up items into categories. Sort the order of categories in the Menu section of the Merchant Portal.

1. In the Menu Manager section of the Merchant Portal, click Settings on the top right of the page.

2. Click and hold the six black dots next to the category you want to move. Drag and drop the item to the new position and click Save.

If you have the same menu in multiple locations, you can share that menu across your various restaurants. When a shared menu is edited, the changes are reflected for all stores that use that menu. However, temporary deactivations to items and options can be applied to specific locations.

How do I add category descriptions?

Not only do category descriptions allow your customers to easily navigate your menu, but they can also entice them to order more. Use DoorDash editing tools:

  1. In the Merchant Portal, select Menu Manager.

  2. On the right, on the three dots next to the category you’d like to edit.

  3. A pop-up will allow you to enter the category title and description. If you click the three dots, you can then click Delete to remove the category.

How do I use the editing tools to mark an item out of stock?

When you run out of an item, you can temporarily deactivate it from your menu using the Menu Manager in the Merchant Portal, by making edits via the Tablet, or the Business Manager App. In the Portal:

  1. On the item that’s out of stock, to the right click on Available.

  2. A dropdown will appear, allowing you to choose if the item is Unavailable Today or Unavailable Indefinitely. You can also click the pencil icon and select availability within the pop-up. 

  3. To mark an item back in stock, click Available. You can do this by either clicking on the three dots to the right of the item, or from Edit Details.

As some other options, here are instructions on how to edit your DoorDash menu on your Tablet and in the Business Manager App.

How to edit DoorDash menu items across multiple menus

  1. In the Merchant Portal, select Menu Manager.

  2. Click on the item you want to edit.

  3. Then from the item description window, click Manage Availability and you will be able to select for which location(s) you want the item to appear in.

  4. In this section, you’ll be able to:

    • Select/Deselect all stores this item should appear on

    • Search for an individual or specific location

    • See at a glance whether the item is available or unavailable at individual stores

  5. Once you determine which location(s) should carry the item you’re editing, you’ll click the red Edit Locations button.

  6. Choose between: Mark as Available, Mark as Unavailable for Today, or Mark as Unavailable Indefinitely.

  7. Click Confirm. The change will be applied to the item in question at the locations specified.

Keep in mind, If you choose to deactivate an entire category and/or an option within a modifier, it will apply to all stores connected to the menu and all items connected to the modifier. If you need to edit a modifier across multiple menus, head over to How to Add Modifiers.

Other important things to consider when building your menu

  • Photos: Photos are a great way to showcase your menu design. Here are tips on how to upload photos, follow photo best-practices, and even sign up for a free photoshoot.

  • Modifiers: Modifiers make it easy for your customers to customize their order.

  • Pricing: Tips on how to add in pricing and best practices.

Want to drive more sales? Learn how to add photos for your menu.

Author

Merchant Learning

Merchant Learning