Option groups (also known as modifiers) let you add customisation choices to your menu items — things like sauce selection, spice level, extra toppings, or size upgrades. They are configured in Settings → Base Menu → Option Groups and shared across all outlets.
Types of option groups
There are two types you can create:
Type | Use case | Example |
Add-on | Extra items added to a dish | Toppings: extra cheese, bacon, avocado |
Size | Variations that change the base item | Sizes: small, medium, large |
The type affects how the option interacts with Papaya Inventory — add-ons deduct additional ingredients, while sizes can scale the base recipe.
Creating an option group
Step 1: Add the option group
Go to Settings → Base Menu → Option Groups and click Add option group. Give it a name (e.g. "Pizza toppings") and select the type (Add-on or Size).
Step 2: Add options
Add individual options within the group. For each option, set:
Name — what the customer sees (e.g. Extra cheese)
Price — additional cost, excluding tax (e.g. ฿30). Set to ฿0 for free options
Step 3: Set the rules
Rules control how many options a customer must or can select:
Required — the customer must select options. Choose either:
Exactly — a fixed number (e.g. exactly 1 sauce)
Between — a range (e.g. between 1 and 3 toppings)
Optional — the customer can select options but doesn’t have to. Set Maximum total options to cap the selection.
When the total selection count is greater than 1, an additional field appears: Maximum quantity per option. This controls how many times the same option can be selected (e.g. allowing "2x extra cheese"). See Pre-Option Quantity in Bundles for details.
Step 4: Save
Click Save. The option group is now available to attach to menu items.
Adding options individually
You can also create standalone options and assign them to an existing option group. Go to Option Groups → Add new → Option, fill in the name and price, and select which option group it belongs to.
This is useful when you want to add a single new option to an existing group without opening the full group editor.
Attaching option groups to menu items
After creating your option groups, go to Base Menu → Menu Items, edit the menu item you want to customise, scroll to the option groups section, and select the groups to attach. Click Save.
You can attach multiple option groups to a single menu item (e.g. a burger might have "Sauce", "Extra toppings", and "Size").
‼️ Option groups are shared across your base menu. Changes to an option group (adding options, changing prices, updating rules) apply everywhere that group is used.
Option availability
Each individual option can have its own availability status:
Available — visible and selectable
Out of stock — visible but greyed out, cannot be selected
Merchant only — only visible on the merchant POS, hidden from the customer app
Unavailable — completely hidden
This lets you temporarily remove an option (e.g. seasonal topping ran out) without deleting it.
FAQ
What’s the difference between option groups and menu item groups?
Option groups add modifiers to a single menu item (e.g. toppings on a pizza). Menu Item Group for Combo Meals bundle entire menu items together (e.g. choosing a main dish in a meal deal).
Can I reuse an option group across multiple menu items?
Yes — that’s the main benefit. Create a "Spice level" option group once, then attach it to every dish that needs it.
Can options have sub-options?
Yes. Options can have their own nested option groups (sub option groups), allowing multi-level customisation like choosing a protein, then choosing how it’s cooked.