To configure the Kitchen Monitor, navigate to Food Menu → Settings → Front-End Dashboard → Kitchen Monitor from your WordPress admin dashboard.
This page lets you set up a real-time kitchen order display with sound notifications for monitoring and managing incoming orders.
How the Kitchen Monitor Works #
Orders flow through four stages on the kitchen display. Each stage maps to a WooCommerce order status, and staff update the status directly from the monitor as the order progresses:
Step 1 – Order Received: A new order lands on the monitor and kitchen staff acknowledges it.
Step 2 – Prepping: The kitchen has started preparing the order.
Step 3 – Ready: Food is ready to be picked up or served to the customer.
Step 4 – Completed: Order handed off — auto-hidden from the active monitor view.
Tip: Add steps 1–3 to Statuses to Display and pick step 4 as the Complete Order Status. Completed orders are hidden from the active view but stay accessible through the status filter dropdown on the monitor.
Note: Stages like Prepping and Ready aren’t WooCommerce defaults. Enable Custom Order Statuses first to define your own stages.
4.1 Enable Kitchen Monitor #
Toggle this on to activate the live kitchen display page on the front-end dashboard.
- Statuses to Display: Select which order statuses should appear on the kitchen monitor. Only these statuses will be shown as filter tabs and status change buttons. If left empty, all statuses will be shown.
- Complete Order Status: Select the status that marks an order as complete. Orders with this status are hidden from the kitchen monitor by default. Staff can reveal them using the “Show Completed” toggle on the monitor.
- Default Sound Notification: Toggle this on to play a sound when new orders arrive. Kitchen staff can also toggle this on or off directly from the monitor page.
- Pause Message: Customize the message displayed on the checkout page when orders are paused by kitchen staff (e.g., We are currently not taking any orders. Please try again later).
- Extra Column: Add an additional data column to the kitchen monitor display for extra order information.
After configuring, click the Save Changes button to apply your changes.
Front-End Dashboard – Kitchen Monitor #
Access the Kitchen Monitor from the Kitchen Monitor menu in the front-end dashboard sidebar. This is a live display page where kitchen staff can monitor, manage, and update incoming orders in real-time.
Controls
- Status Filter – Filter orders by status using the All Statuses dropdown.
- Search – Search by order ID to find a specific order quickly.
- Pause Orders – Click to temporarily stop accepting new orders. A message is displayed to customers on the checkout page.
- Sound Off – Toggle the sound notification for new orders on or off.
- List / Grid – Switch between two display modes based on your preference.
Quick Stats
Three summary cards at the top show Active Orders, New Today, and Completed Today.
Kitchen Monitor Front End List View #
A compact table format showing each order in a single row:
- Order – Order number (with a NEW badge for fresh orders)
- Customer – Customer name
- Items – Ordered items with quantities (e.g., 1x Fried Rice served, 1x American pizza)
- Status – Color-coded badge (PREPPING, READY, IN OVEN, PROCESSING, etc.)
- Order Time – When the order was placed
- Delivery / Pickup Time – Scheduled delivery or pickup time
- Print – Print an order slip
- Actions – Click Details to open the full order view
Kitchen Monitor Front End Grid View #
A card-based layout displaying each order as an individual card with full details visible at a glance. Each card shows the status badge, order number, time, customer name, and a complete item breakdown including quantities, addons, discounts, and prices. Delivery/pickup time is shown at the bottom of each card. Each card has Print and Details buttons.
Grid view is ideal for kitchen display screens where staff need to see order details without clicking into each order.
Kitchen Monitor Order Details #
Click Details on any order to open a detailed popup showing:
Status Dropdown – Change the order status directly from the dropdown (e.g., Processing → Prepping → In Oven → Ready → Completed). This updates the order instantly.
Order Info – Order number, order type (Delivery/Pickup), order date and time, and delivery/pickup schedule.
Customer Info – Customer name and phone number.
Items – Full item list with quantities, prices, and all addons (e.g., Food Addon, Dessert Addons, Drinks Addons with individual prices).
Order Total – Subtotal and Total amount.
Print Options – Generate different slip types:
- Order Confirmation – Full receipt for customer
- Kitchen Slip – Preparation details for kitchen
- Packing Slip – Checklist for packing
- Delivery Driver Slip – Delivery details for driver
Why Use Kitchen Monitor? #
- Real-Time Order Visibility – Kitchen staff see incoming orders instantly without checking the WordPress admin, keeping the workflow fast and focused.
- Clear Order Progression – The 4-step workflow (Received → Prepping → Ready → Completed) gives every team member a clear picture of where each order stands.
- Sound Alerts – Audio notifications ensure no order is missed, even during busy periods when staff can’t constantly watch the screen.
- Pause Ordering – Kitchen staff can temporarily pause incoming orders during rush hours or emergencies, automatically displaying a message to customers on the checkout page.
- No Admin Access Required – Staff interact only with the front-end dashboard, keeping the WordPress admin secure while giving the kitchen team everything they need.
