A new mobile and web application from Tokyo-based PAAN Co., Ltd. called MENU-PAAN is designed to help travelers navigate restaurant menus in Japan and across 105 countries and regions by translating dishes into the user’s own language. The app was developed by the fourth-generation owner of Kushinobo, a kushikatsu restaurant with 75 years of history, drawing on direct experience of the language barrier from both sides of the dining table.
The app is available on iPhone and iPad via the App Store, while Android and desktop users can access a browser-based web version with no installation required. A free tier is available, with paid plans sold as one-time purchases rather than monthly subscriptions.
MENU-PAAN Features For Restaurant Navigation
The core function of MENU-PAAN is photo-based menu translation. Users take a photo of a menu, and the app identifies each dish and explains its ingredients, preparation method, and how it is typically eaten, all in the user’s chosen language. The app supports 12 interface languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.
A notable capability is its ability to read handwritten, brush-written, and vertically formatted Japanese menus, including chalkboard signs, which typically defeat standard translation apps. Once dishes are selected, the app generates an order list in the local language that diners can show directly to restaurant staff, removing the need for verbal communication.
The app also includes a phrase library for common restaurant requests such as asking for water, small sharing plates, or specifying meat doneness. Dietary restriction cards let users type an ingredient to avoid, such as prawn or peanut, and the app displays it as a card in the local language to present to staff. Payment guidance is built in as well, covering local customs around tax, service charges, and tipping norms by country.
Additional features include menu sharing via QR code, so dining companions can view the translated menu without installing the app themselves. The app also displays reference images for unfamiliar dishes, suggests dishes based on user preferences, and keeps a history of past menus and notable dishes for future reference.
Pricing Plans
MENU-PAAN offers a free Lite tier allowing up to three simplified translations per day, while paid Pro plans are sold as one-time packs with no recurring charges. During the current launch promotion, a 10-scan pack is priced at JPY 590 (down from JPY 1,080), a 30-scan pack at JPY 1,280 (from JPY 2,280), and a 100-scan pack at JPY 3,480 (from JPY 5,980).
Travel-specific plans are also available, which combine a set number of Pro scans with unlimited Lite usage during the plan period. The 3-day travel plan is JPY 490, the 7-day plan is JPY 980, and the 30-day plan is JPY 2,480, all at launch promotional prices. Corporate plans for expatriate benefits or tour packages are available on inquiry.
Pokdepinion: Finally, much less struggles to order food now.
