When you step into a bustling Chinese restaurant, the sights and sounds first capture your attention. Once you settle in, the quality of service ultimately determines your experience. What happens when the service is slow? You lose patience. And your appetite diminishes. When the food finally arrives, it won’t be as appealing. And if you’re lucky enough to get a timely response from the kitchen, it may not even be what you ordered. For Chinese restaurants, slow service like this often results from disorganized operations. Understanding how to choose a point of sale system is crucial for addressing these issues effectively. A Chinese restaurant POS system can help you avoid this scenario. This article will help you choose a system that improves customer service, streamlines operations, and enhances overall efficiency in your Chinese restaurant.
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The POS Exchange simplifies finding a Chinese restaurant POS system that fits your unique needs. With our extensive buyer’s guide, you can pinpoint crucial features to look for that will help you achieve your goals.

What is a Chinese Restaurant POS System?

A Chinese restaurant POS system is a specialized point-of-sale solution designed to meet the specific needs of Chinese restaurants. It goes beyond the capabilities of generic POS systems to cater to the intricacies of Chinese cuisine establishments. 

What Makes a Chinese Restaurant POS System Different? 

So, what sets it apart? Unlike a generic POS system, a POS system for Chinese restaurants is equipped with features tailored to the unique requirements of these establishments. 

It considers: 

• The multilingual nature of Chinese restaurants
• Efficient inventory management
• User-friendly interfaces and much more. 

Multilingual Support 

Communication is the backbone of any restaurant. Look for a system that offers multilingual support, enabling your staff to interact effortlessly in Chinese and other languages, ensuring accurate orders and excellent customer service. 

Inventory Management 

Efficient ingredient tracking prevents shortages and ensures you never run out of essential items. Look for systems with robust inventory management features that allow you to monitor stock levels, track ingredient usage, and automate reordering processes. 

Intuitive User Interface 

An intuitive user interface is key to quick staff training and seamless order processing. Opt for a POS system with a user-friendly design, which will enable your employees to navigate the system effortlessly, speed up order placement, and reduce errors. 

Restaurant Management 

Menu Customization 

Tailor your menu to accommodate diverse Chinese dishes and meal combinations. A customizable menu feature is essential for adapting to your customers’ preferences. 

Order Management 

Streamline the order-taking process, whether for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. The system should: 

• Efficiently manage orders
• Ensuring accuracy 
• Timely delivery

Staff Management 

Keep track of your staff's: 

• Schedules
• Performance
• Responsibilities

Effective staff management leads to smoother operations and improved customer service. 

Smart Ordering 

POS Handhelds 

Equip your staff with handheld devices to take orders and process payments tableside, enhancing efficiency and customer experience. 

Tablet Ordering 

Utilize tablets for efficient order management. Allow your waitstaff to send orders directly to the kitchen, reducing wait times and improving table turnover rates. 

QR Code Ordering 

Embrace restaurant technology by enabling QR code ordering. Customers can scan codes and place orders through smartphones, enhancing the contactless dining experience. 

Online Service 

3rd Party Integration 

Integrate your POS system with third-party platforms for online orders, ensuring a seamless experience for your customers ordering through various channels. 

Reservation & Waitlist 

Manage reservations and waitlists efficiently, optimizing table turnover and enhancing the overall dining experience for your patrons. 

Retention 

Loyalty Programs 

Implement loyalty programs to reward repeat customers, encouraging them to choose your restaurant for their future dining needs. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 

Utilize CRM tools to collect customer data, personalize interactions, and gain valuable insights into customer preferences. 

Offline Mode 

Ensure your POS system has an offline mode. This will allow your restaurant to continue operations even during internet outages, preventing disruptions to your business. 

Reporting & Analytics 

Access detailed reports and analytics to gain insights into your restaurant’s performance, helping you make data-driven decisions to enhance efficiency and profitability. 

Payment Processing 

A seamless payment processing system is non-negotiable. Look for a POS system that supports multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, and other digital payment options. This will provide convenience to your customers and speed up transactions. 

Multi-location Management 

If you have multiple restaurant locations, opt for a POS system that allows centralized management. This feature enables you to monitor and control operations across all locations from a single dashboard, ensuring service and menu offerings consistency. 

Automatic Feature & Software Upgrades 

Choose a POS system that offers regular updates and enhancements. Automatic feature upgrades keep your system up-to-date with the latest advancements, ensuring your restaurant stays competitive and can adapt to changing market demands. 

How to Choose the Right POS System: Key Features for Chinese Restaurants

Consider your business’s specific needs when choosing a POS system for your Chinese restaurant. Make a list of your most important features, and then compare different POS systems to find one that has all the features you need and fits your budget.

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6 Leading Chinese Restaurant POS Systems for Better Customer Service

1. Lightspeed POS - A Comprehensive Solution for Large Chinese Restaurants

We recommend the Lightspeed POS system if you have a large Chinese restaurant or multiple locations. The POS interface is in Chinese and offers flexible payment processing and solutions. Customers can pay by card, cash, or phone (contactless payment). Plus, it is very secure, minimizing the risk of card fraud. This POS system allows third-party integration with big food delivery apps like Uber Eats. 

The interface lets you consolidate orders on one dashboard, enabling servers to keep track of food orders at a glance. The self-service kiosk option allows for easy menu item ordering and fast payment processing since customers won't have to wait at the cash register to pay. The floor plan and table management features make it easy to view and amend bookings and keep track of the number of customers at any given time. 

Advanced Features and Suitability for Chinese Restaurants

Lightspeed's robust tools and various settings offer many features to make running your Chinese restaurant as smooth as possible. It comes with: 

• Software for accounting
• Sales
• Reporting and more

Pros: 

• Mobile and contactless payments. 
• Advanced reporting tools. 
• 24/7 support. 

Cons: 

An extensive and comprehensive POS system may be superfluous for a smaller Chinese restaurant business model.  

2. TouchBistro POS - Ideal for Small to Mid-Sized Chinese Restaurants

TouchBistro offers a flexible iPad-based restaurant point-of-sale system for small to mid-sized establishments. It is also an excellent option for mobile restaurants and food trucks. While it isn't built specifically for Chinese restaurants, this POS system offers excellent hardware and software that have proven successful in running many Chinese restaurants. 

They offer Chinese-language software options and a flexible POS system tailored to different types of eateries. The cash register runs with an iPad Mini for speedy and efficient ordering. Bills can be split, and other forms of payment can be used for the same bill. The TouchBistro Loyalty package lets you run marketing campaigns, target sales directly to specific customer groups, and offer customer rewards. Menu customization is straightforward and can be adjusted with just a few clicks. 

Key Features and Benefits for Chinese Restaurants

Other features include staff management, menu management, inventory management, table-side ordering, payment processing integrations, and various reporting options. One of the best things about TouchBistro is that you can get a free software trial before you buy it. This is an excellent way to ensure it is the right POS system for your specific needs before investing. 

‍Pros: 

• Free trial available. 
• Supports the Chinese language. 
• A good option for mobile venues. 

‍Cons: 

Specific reporting tools may not be as developed as they could be.  

3. Sintel Systems POS - Built for the Global Asian Market

The Sintel Systems POS is designed for a global Asian market and is built to serve business owners, Asian customers, and non-English speakers. It has multi-language features and is available with Chinese characters and Spanish language options, so it is ideal for a restaurant POS in the US and abroad. 

Sintel Systems POS software can support various restaurant business models, such as: 

• In-person dining
• Food delivery and takeaway
• Online orders
• Drive-throughs

Sintel Systems POS makes buying food simple with its embedded payment processing for all the major credit card providers, an ideal feature for a global POS system. No matter the location of your restaurant, your customers can quickly pay. The payment processing hardware and software are EMV and PCI compliant, offering strong security for transactions and data storage. 

Comprehensive Back-Office Features and Support for Chinese Restaurants

This Chinese restaurant POS system has an excellent selection of back-office features. These tools make managing your inventory easy. It also has sales reporting features, allows staff management, and has a cloud-based data store, providing access from any location. Sintel offers exceptional customer service and technical support that covers software and hardware, employee training, initial POS setup, and system updates. 

Pros: 

• Can be used in different languages including Chinese characters. 
• Comprehensive technical support. 
• Excellent range of back-office tools. 

Cons: 

• Basic-looking interface. 
• Contact the company for an individualized quotation.  

4. Clover POS - Strong Language Support Features

Clover offers an android cloud-based POS system that allows you to take your point-of-sale directly to your customer at the table. This minimizes wait times, lets you move your food orders more quickly, boosts sales, and reduces order errors. With adjustable settings, you can add automated notifications to alert servers of: 

• Special offers
• Sales items
• Dishes that may be sold out

You can also add reminders to collect customer email addresses and other contact details for marketing purposes and loyalty programs, all of which can boost your business. Clover allows restaurant management from any location. Using the Clover mobile interface, you can: 

• Adjust menu items
• Amend the table layout
• Manage reservations
• Store data and more

Overcoming Language Barriers and Enhancing Inventory Management for Chinese Restaurants

The Clover POS system minimizes the impact of language barriers by translating food orders to Chinese when sending them to the kitchen. Receipts can also be printed in Chinese. Settings allow the translation to be done in traditional Chinese characters or simplified Chinese characters to enable orders to be processed faster. 

Clover offers excellent inventory management features. Thousands of SKUs can be imported for simple ingredients and supply management. With the help of their low stock alerts, you’ll never run out of ingredients mid-service again. 

Seamless Menu Management and Comprehensive Features for Chinese Restaurants

You can also easily see your top sellers and which dishes aren't favored to manage your menu better. Tax rates can be set to your location for spot-on pricing. Other top features include: 

• State-of-the-art security
• Own-brand gift card options
• Payment processing for all payment methods
• Third-party integrations for back-office reporting tools

‍Pros: 

• Chinese-language support and pictures for easy order processing. 
• Cloud-based. 
• Excellent inventory management features. 

‍Cons: 

Select customers have found the 'More tools' section challenging to navigate.  

5. Rezku POS - Feature-Rich POS System for Delivery and Takeout

The Rezku company offers a tremendous point-of-sale system with software suitable for most restaurant service setups. This iPad-based POS system has many great features that other POS brands charge extra for. Its features are perfect for: 

• Online ordering
• Takeaway
• Delivery

Customers can place food orders online, which are then sent directly to your restaurant kitchen for preparation. The timings of these food orders are set to keep pace so that food is ready for the customer in the correct time frame. In addition, you'll be able to customize your online menu with your Chinese restaurant's branding and themes. 

Rezku POS: Versatile Design and Enhanced Ordering Options for Chinese Restaurants

The menu design allows for full-color pictures and product descriptions for easy ordering. Rezku offers an innovative two-in-one POS system design that merges counter-service with mobile. 

POS system, broadening sales and ordering options. Low-cost yet robust wireless POS terminals simplify installation, and payment processing can be done tableside. 

Rezku POS: Comprehensive Features for Chinese Restaurants with Offline and Loyalty Options

Other great features that Rezku offers include customer loyalty programs and gift cards, top security features, remote store and staff management options, and an offline mode that allows order and payment processing during downed network periods. 

Pros: 

• Free trial available. 
• High-quality hardware with low costs. 
• Robust offline modes. 

Cons: 

The starting price is cheap, but add-ons can be expensive.  

6. Brilliant POS - Mobile Functionality and Chinese Language Support

Brilliant’s mobile hardware option lets your servers take the point of sale directly to customers at any table. This functionality reduces customer table time, increasing table turn per shift, inevitably resulting in more income and cash flow. You can now stay on top of your business no matter where you are. 

Whether you are out of the restaurant for the day or on holiday enjoying the fruits of your spoils, you can keep tabs on your management team and ensure everything is being looked after as it should be. Brilliant’s Chinese Restaurant POS System is designed to function just as you need it to. That means you can enter orders in English and have them printed in Chinese, Traditional or Simplified, in the kitchen. 

Centralized Management for Multi-Location Chinese Restaurants

We can also set up your system so the order-entry function is in pictures, often speeding up the process considerably. Brilliant’s Chinese Restaurant POS Solution is your one-stop shop. If you currently own more than one location or intend to expand in the future, Brilliant’s system is the answer. You can manage multiple retail outlets from one single software platform. This flexibility allows you to stay on top of a complicated organization.

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What Should I Look For In My New Chinese Restaurant POS System?

Ease of Use: Prioritize an Intuitive POS Interface

A user-friendly interface is essential for efficient operations. Your staff should be able to navigate the POS system with minimal training, reducing the learning curve and enhancing productivity. For example, if your POS system is too complicated, it could delay service and frustrate your customers.  

Hardware Compatibility: Use Your Existing Restaurant Equipment

Ensure that the POS system is compatible with the hardware you already have in your restaurant. This compatibility prevents additional costs and ensures a seamless transition to the new system. For instance, if you have a few barcode scanners and receipt printers from another system, you should be able to use them with your new restaurant POS system.  

Software Integration: Streamline Operations by Connecting Your POS to Existing Systems 

Choose a POS system that integrates seamlessly with your restaurant’s other software applications, such as accounting software and online ordering platforms. Integration enhances efficiency by automating tasks and synchronizing data across different systems. 

For example, if your POS system integrates with your online ordering platform, orders placed through your website will automatically populate your POS, eliminating the risk of errors and speeding up delivery.  

Customization Options: Tailor Your POS System to Fit Your Restaurant’s Unique Needs

Every Chinese restaurant is unique, and your POS system should reflect that. Choose a customization system that allows you to tailor the interface and features according to your restaurant’s needs and branding requirements. 

For instance, create a unique menu layout that showcases your Chinese cuisine and helps customers identify items quickly.  

Pricing Structure: Weigh All Costs Before Committing to a System

Consider the pricing structure of the POS system, including setup fees, monthly subscriptions, and transaction fees. Evaluate the overall cost and ensure it fits your budget while providing the features and support necessary for your restaurant's success.  

Security Features: Protect Your Customers and Your Business

Protecting your customers’ data and ensuring secure transactions are paramount. Look for a POS system with robust security features, including encryption, tokenization, and secure payment processing, to safeguard sensitive information and build customer trust.  

Scalability: Choose a Restaurant POS That Can Grow With Your Business

Select a system that can scale with your restaurant’s growth. A scalable POS system accommodates expansions, whether you’re opening new locations or introducing new services. Scalability future-proofs your investment, allowing your restaurant to evolve without limitations.

Book a Free Demo With POS Exchange to Learn About Our Customized POS System Solutions Today!

The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. Our tailored POS system solutions help businesses speed up checkouts by 30%, implement dynamic pricing, and manage customer reviews while reducing overhead. Perfect for:

• Full-service restaurants
• Pizza shops
• Coffee houses
• Multi-location enterprises

We offer end-to-end service, from brilliant consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support. Our mobile iPad POS systems streamline operations with features like:

• Order management
• Bill splitting
• Inventory control

With integrations for business management tools and advanced security measures, we ensure your POS system grows with your business. Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. 

Whether you're managing:

• A busy restaurant
• A local café
• Operating a multi-location business

The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story. Book a free demo with POS exchange to learn about our customized POS system solutions today.

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