Using Tags and Allergens

Direct Ordering (DO) gives you the flexibility to add Tags and Allergens to menu items. These filters help guests:

• Find what they’re looking for faster
• Avoid ingredients they can’t consume
• Have a more personalized and accessible menu experience

You can choose to use Tags, Allergens, or both—depending on your brand's goals and guest preferences.

What Are Tags and Allergens?

Tags are custom labels you can apply to your menu items to highlight specific characteristics that may interest your guests. These might include attributes like Spicy, Organic, Served Hot, or Seasonal. Tags help guests quickly filter the menu based on what they’re in the mood for or what aligns with their preferences.

Allergens, on the other hand, are used to identify ingredients that a menu item contains—such as Gluten, Dairy, Peanuts, and other common allergens. This allows guests with dietary restrictions to filter out menu items that may not be safe for them to eat.

Note: If you don’t want to manage a separate allergen list, you can simply create a Tag like Gluten-Free to serve a similar purpose.

Managing tags

Follow the steps below to set up and manage Tags in Direct Ordering:

• Create Tags: Build custom tags to label menu items based on characteristics like Spicy, Organic, or Seasonal
• Add Images: Upload branded icons to visually represent each tag
• Add tag to Menu Items: Apply tags to individual menu items in your menu
• Manage Tag Visibility: Choose how tags appear to guests in the online ordering experience
   

Managing allergens

Follow the steps below to set up and manage Allergens in Direct Ordering:

• Create Allergen: Define allergens that may be present in your menu items, such as Gluten, Dairy, or Peanuts
• Add Images: Upload icons to visually represent each allergen for better guest clarity
• Add Allergen to Menu Items: Assign allergens to the appropriate menu items in your menus
• Manage Allergen Visibility: Control how allergen information is displayed to guests in the ordering experience

What Guests See

When filters are enabled, guests can:

• Toggle a Tag (like Spicy) to view only matching items
• Hide items that contain allergens (like Gluten)
• See highlighted labels on items if "Highlight" mode is used

Watch it in action below:

Tips and Best Practices

• Use clear, simple names for Tags and Allergens so guests can understand them quickly
• Apply filters consistently across your full menu to avoid confusion
• Upload icon images for visual reinforcement, especially on mobile
• Use the "None" display mode when you're preparing tags internally but not ready to show them publicly
• Review your Tags and Allergens regularly to ensure accuracy as your menu evolves