Google menu is wrong (January 2026): find the cause + fix it fast
January is the month when many restaurants update their menu and prices. That is exactly when Google Business Profile (GBP) often goes wrong: guests see an old menu, incorrect prices, or items that have been gone for weeks. That costs revenue, creates arguments at the table, and triggers extra phone calls during rush hours.
This article is not “how do I add a menu”. This is troubleshooting: first you identify which situation you have, then you figure out where Google is pulling the menu from (website, AI from a photo/PDF, or a partner), and then you apply the right fix. Including what to do when Google does not give you an edit button.
Recognizable symptoms (and why this costs revenue immediately)
In GBP, the menu is often the decision point: does it fit, what does it cost, can I eat here with my preferences? If it is wrong, people click to a competitor or they walk in with the wrong expectations.
Old menu, wrong prices, weird items or photos
Common January cases:
- You increased prices on January 1, but Google still shows November pricing.
- Somewhere, an old “winter menu 2024” PDF is still online and Google picks that up.
- Google shows weekly specials as if they are permanent menu items.
- Lines and prices are mixed up, like the menu was half retyped. That often points to automatic extraction from a photo or PDF.
Menu tab is visible, but there is no Edit menu button
You can see the menu in Search or Maps, but you cannot change anything. This is usually not a bug, but a source issue: the menu is not coming from your manual entry, but from your website, from AI, or via a partner integration. Sometimes it is also permissions (wrong Google account or role).
Menu disappeared or changes by device (desktop vs mobile)
Sometimes you do not see a menu, but a guest does. Or it appears in Maps but not in Search. That can be caused by caching, rollout differences by interface, or because multiple sources overlap and conflict.
Where does Google get your menu? (3 sources + what to do)
Since 2025, Google has rolled out menu functionality more widely and automatic extraction (AI transcription) shows up more often. Helpful when it works, but it also explains why errors are showing up more frequently.
1) Menu from your website (menu URL or readable content)
Google can use a menu page from your site as the source. It goes wrong when:
- you have multiple menu URLs (a page plus old PDFs)
- seasonal menus keep hanging around without clear “expired” context
- your menu sits inside a widget Google cannot read well
What to do: create 1 clear source and clean up the rest (see the step-by-step plan).
2) AI menu transcription (menu automatically converted from a photo or PDF)
Google can pull text from a photo or PDF and turn it into a menu. Signals:
- strange line breaks
- prices attached to the wrong item
- a menu suddenly appears even though you never entered anything
What to do: find the trigger (which photo or PDF) and replace or remove it.
3) Third parties or partners (ordering, reservations, directories)
Think ordering platforms, reservation providers, directories, or an old agency tool. If an outdated menu lives there (or a link points to old content), it comes back into the customer journey. Sometimes even inside Google itself, sometimes mainly via the buttons in your profile.
What to do: correct the source with the partner and account for the turnaround time.
Quick wins (15 min): what to check first before hunting the cause
These checks often make the situation obvious immediately and save you endless clicking.
Check 1: are you logged in as the owner, in the right account?
Common issues:
- you are in your personal Gmail, but the listing is attached to your business account
- you have Manager access, not Owner (so options are missing)
- there is a duplicate listing and you are editing the wrong one
Check 2: are you managing it via Search, Maps, or business.google.com?
Menu options differ depending on where you enter. Always check:
- Google Search (search your business name and open “Your Business Profile”)
- Google Maps (on mobile you sometimes see slightly different menu options)
- business.google.com (the UI can lag behind or show different modules)
Check 3: rule out cache and UI glitches
Quick tests:
- incognito
- another browser
- another phone or laptop
If something is missing only in one specific screen, it is often UI rather than a real limitation.
Step-by-step: fix an incorrect or outdated menu (by source)
Do not guess. First determine where Google is pulling it from, then fix it.
If the menu comes from your website
Clean up the menu page (1 canonical URL, no old PDFs, no duplicates)
Real-world example: a venue has /menu, but also still has /menu-winter-2024.pdf linked somewhere. Google sometimes grabs the PDF because it is simple and clear.
Actions:
- Pick 1 main menu page (for example /menu) and keep that URL timeless.
- Remove old PDFs or make sure they are no longer publicly discoverable.
- Link consistently across your site to that one page.
- Avoid multiple versions without structure (lunch, dinner, takeaway) that are mixed together.
Keep names and prices consistent
In January, you often see URLs or titles like “winter-menu-2024” while the content is now 2026. That works against you.
Actions:
- Use a timeless URL and update the content.
- Show seasonal offers with a clear end date (for example through January 31, 2026).
- Check that prices match your POS system and your QR menu.
If the menu was taken over by AI (photo or PDF to text)
Find which content triggers the transcription
Real-world example: a tapas bar uploads a photo of a chalkboard with daily pricing. Google reads it and still shows those daily prices weeks later as the menu.
Actions:
- Check your GBP photos: is there an old menu photo or PDF in there?
- Check old Posts and updates: PDFs or images can also live there.
- Ask someone else (a colleague or regular) to check what they see via Menu, ideally on a different device.
Apply corrections or re-upload
Options:
- Take control back: remove or replace the trigger photo or PDF.
- Stabilize: create one source of truth (for example your own online menu) and point to it consistently.
If you notice you are chasing Google every time you change seasons, it is often smarter to centralize menu control (and not depend on what Google thinks it can read from photos).
If the menu comes in via a partner
Review partner links in GBP (order, reserve, menu)
Many mistakes are not in Google, but in where Google sends people.
Actions:
- Click through every button in your profile (mobile and desktop): Order, Reserve, Menu, Website.
- Check whether multiple partners are active at the same time (old and new mixed together).
- Replace or remove outdated links wherever you can.
Fix the external listing and account for turnaround time
With partners, the flow is: you update, the partner processes it, Google and customers see it later. Sometimes days, sometimes longer.
Action: write down what you changed and when. It helps if you need to follow up.
I cannot edit it: what to do when Google shows no edit option
Do not search forever. Make it provable, reduce damage, and escalate intelligently.
Checklist: collect evidence (screenshots, query, date)
Collect:
- screenshot of the wrong menu (with context from Search or Maps)
- screenshot of your management view where the edit option is missing
- the exact query (for example “Restaurant X menu”)
- date and time
- whether the difference is visible between mobile and desktop
Temporary solution: have the Menu tab removed (if it is truly harmful)
If prices or allergens are wrong, no menu can be better than a wrong menu. In that case, you would rather send traffic to your own menu page where you have full control.
Escalate: support and forum
If self-service does not work:
- report it via the GBP support route (if it is available in your account)
- post it in the GBP forum with your evidence; Product Experts can often point you to the right path
Prevent this from happening again next month (mini audit)
A wrong menu in January is annoying. A wrong menu that keeps coming back costs revenue long-term and adds unnecessary friction in your online flow.
1 source of truth and an update process
Make 1 place authoritative (website or QR menu) and have everything point to it. No loose PDFs, posts, and photos as an alternative system.
Use Popular dishes or items only if you will maintain it
Google and Maps keep adding more ways to show items and popular dishes. It works well if you keep it updated. If you will not maintain it, it is better to leave it empty.
January workflow: price update, then check Google within 48 hours
Routine:
- menu and prices live
- within 48 hours, check in Search and Maps
- have someone else check as a “normal user”
- only then scale campaigns and promotions
FAQ
How long does it take for Google to update the menu?
It depends on the source. Direct edits can show the same day, but caching can take a few days. If the source is your website or a partner, expect days and sometimes longer.
Why does the customer see something different than I see in management?
Search and Maps sometimes show different layouts and rollout can vary by user and device. The customer may also be seeing an AI menu or partner source that you cannot edit as a menu inside your management view.
Can I remove an old menu completely?
Sometimes directly, often indirectly. If it comes from a photo, PDF, or partner, you need to remove or correct that source. If it comes from your website, you need to clean up old URLs and PDFs and make sure only 1 clear menu source remains.
WhatsApp “GBP Menu Fix” - have the reader send 3 screenshots plus the listing name; you do a quick mini audit (identify the source + give a concrete fix/escalation plan).
Want to fix this today? message us on WhatsApp with screenshots: (1) the wrong menu, (2) your management screen, (3) the Search or Maps view, plus your listing name. We will pinpoint the source and send back a concrete fix or escalation plan.