> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dishink.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding Menu Items

> Add individual menu items, save drafts, and extract menus from images using AI.

The Add Menu Item page is where you build out your menu one item at a time. It supports image uploads, draft saving, AI extraction from existing menus, and branch price overrides for multi-location accounts.

Go to **Front Operations → Add Menu Item** to get started.

## The form

Fill in the following fields:

| Field              | Required | Notes                                                      |
| ------------------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Item Name**      | ✅ Yes    | Shown on the menu page, POS, waiter app, and KDS           |
| **Description**    | No       | Short text shown on the public menu                        |
| **Price (K)**      | ✅ Yes    | Base price in Kwacha — applies to all locations by default |
| **Category**       | ✅ Yes    | The section this item belongs to on the menu               |
| **Nutrition Info** | No       | Free-text field, e.g. "Calories: 450 \| Protein: 20g"      |
| **Featured**       | No       | Marks the item as popular on the homepage                  |
| **Available**      | No       | On by default — uncheck to hide the item from orders       |

Once the form is complete, click **Publish Item** to save it live to your menu immediately.

<Note>
  Publishing is instant. The form resets after you click Publish so you can start the next item straight away. Your published item is confirmed with a toast notification.
</Note>

## Adding images

Each item supports up to **3 images**. The first image is used as the thumbnail on the menu page, POS, and waiter app.

To add images, click the **Add photo** tile in the image grid and select one or more files. Supported formats are PNG and JPG up to 5 MB each.

Images upload in the background while you fill in the rest of the form. A progress bar appears on each image tile while it uploads, and a green tick appears when it's done.

<Warning>
  Do not click **Publish Item** while images are still uploading. A warning modal will appear if you try — wait for all images to finish before publishing, otherwise the item will save without its photos.
</Warning>

### Retrying a failed upload

If an image fails to upload (shown with a red error overlay), click **Retry** on that tile. Check your internet connection first if multiple images fail.

### Removing an image

Hover over any image tile and click the red × button in the bottom-right corner to remove it.

## Creating a new category inline

If the category you need doesn't exist yet, you can create one without leaving the form:

1. Click the **+** button next to the category dropdown
2. Type the new category name
3. Press **Enter** or click the tick button

The new category is created immediately and selected automatically. Press **Escape** to cancel.

## Saving as a draft

If you're not ready to publish yet, click **Save as Draft** to save your progress locally on your device. Drafts preserve the form fields and any already-uploaded images.

To view and manage your drafts, click the **Drafts** tab at the top of the page. From there you can:

* **Load** a draft to continue editing it
* **Delete** individual drafts
* **Clear all** drafts at once

When you load a draft, the form is populated with the saved data and your images are restored. The tab shows a badge with the number of saved drafts.

<Note>
  Drafts are stored locally on your device. They are not synced across devices or browsers. If you clear your browser data, drafts will be lost.
</Note>

## AI menu extraction

The **Extract Menu with AI** button lets you import items from an existing menu — a photo, a PDF, or a typed list — without entering each item by hand.

Click the purple **Extract Menu with AI** button to open the importer. Follow the prompts to upload your source and review the extracted items before publishing.

<Note>
  AI extraction is best for onboarding an existing menu quickly. Always review the extracted items before publishing — prices and descriptions may need adjusting.
</Note>

## Setting branch prices after publishing

On multi-location accounts, a prompt appears after each item is published offering to set branch-specific prices. Click **Set Branch Prices** to open the Branch Price Editor for that item.

You can also set branch prices later from **Manage Menu** by clicking the **Locations** (📍) button on any item row.

## Plan limits

| Plan       | Item limit |
| ---------- | ---------- |
| Starter    | 15 items   |
| Growth     | Unlimited  |
| Growth Pro | Unlimited  |
| Enterprise | Unlimited  |

When you reach your plan limit, the form is locked and an upgrade banner appears. Publishing is blocked until you upgrade or remove existing items.

## Tips & best practices

<Tip>
  Publish items in batches by category. Add all your Starters first, then Mains, then Drinks — this keeps the menu organized from day one.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Write the item name exactly as it should appear on the menu. Avoid abbreviations — customers and kitchen staff both read it.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Use the **Save as Draft** button if you're gathering images or waiting for pricing confirmation. Drafts survive page refreshes and browser restarts.
</Tip>

## Common mistakes

<Warning>
  Do not close the browser tab while images are still uploading. The upload will be interrupted. If this happens, re-open the Add Item page — a **Resume Paused Uploads** banner will appear asking you to re-select the interrupted files.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  The Starter plan has a 15-item limit that applies to the total across all categories. Plan your category structure before you start adding items.
</Warning>

## Related pages

* [Categories](/menu/categories)
* [Menu Items](/menu/menu-items)
* [Pricing](/menu/pricing)
* [Availability](/menu/availability)
* [Images](/menu/images)
* [Multi-Location: Shared Menus](/multi-location/shared-menus)