Ordering Food in Chinese: Restaurant Survival Guide
Learn how to order food in Chinese restaurants with confidence. Includes essential vocabulary, phrases, and cultural tips for dining out.
Introduction
Ordering food in Chinese is an essential skill for anyone learning the language. This video will teach you everything you need to know to dine out with confidence in Chinese-speaking regions.
Essential Restaurant Vocabulary
Basic Terms
- 餐厅 (cāntīng) - restaurant
- 菜单 (càidān) - menu
- 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - waiter/waitress
- 点菜 (diǎn cài) - to order food
- 买单 (mǎidān) - to pay the bill
- 结账 (jiézhàng) - to settle the bill
Food Categories
- 主食 (zhǔshí) - staple food (rice, noodles, etc.)
- 菜 (cài) - dish/cuisine
- 肉 (ròu) - meat
- 蔬菜 (shūcài) - vegetables
- 汤 (tāng) - soup
- 饮料 (yǐnliào) - drinks
Common Dishes
- 炒饭 (chǎofàn) - fried rice
- 面条 (miàntiáo) - noodles
- 饺子 (jiǎozi) - dumplings
- 宫保鸡丁 (gōngbǎo jīdīng) - Kung Pao chicken
- 红烧肉 (hóngshāo ròu) - braised pork
Useful Phrases
Getting Started
- 请给我菜单 (qǐng gěi wǒ càidān) - Please give me the menu
- 我可以点菜吗? (wǒ kěyǐ diǎn cài ma?) - Can I order?
- 你们有什么特色菜? (nǐmen yǒu shénme tèsè cài?) - What are your specialties?
Ordering
- 我要… (wǒ yào…) - I want…
- 请给我… (qǐng gěi wǒ…) - Please give me…
- 我想要… (wǒ xiǎng yào…) - I would like…
- 来一份… (lái yí fèn…) - Bring me one portion of…
Making Requests
- 不要… (bú yào…) - Don’t want… (for ingredients)
- 少放… (shǎo fàng…) - Put less…
- 多放… (duō fàng…) - Put more…
- 不要辣 (bú yào là) - Not spicy
- 少辣 (shǎo là) - Less spicy
Asking Questions
- 这个是什么? (zhège shì shénme?) - What is this?
- 这个辣不辣? (zhège là bú là?) - Is this spicy?
- 有没有…? (yǒu méiyǒu…?) - Do you have…?
- 多少钱? (duōshao qián?) - How much is it?
Paying
- 买单 (mǎidān) - Check, please
- 可以刷卡吗? (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) - Can I pay by card?
- 可以微信支付吗? (kěyǐ Wēixìn zhīfù ma?) - Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
- 可以支付宝吗? (kěyǐ Zhīfùbǎo ma?) - Can I pay with Alipay?
Sample Dialogue
At the Restaurant
Waiter: 您好，请问几位? (nín hǎo, qǐngwèn jǐ wèi?) Hello, how many people?
You: 两个人。 (liǎng gè rén.) Two people.
Waiter: 请这边坐。这是菜单。 (qǐng zhèbiān zuò. zhè shì càidān.) Please sit here. Here’s the menu.
You: 谢谢。请问你们有什么特色菜? (xièxie. qǐngwèn nǐmen yǒu shénme tèsè cài?) Thank you. What are your specialties?
Waiter: 我们的宫保鸡丁和红烧肉都很好吃。 (wǒmen de gōngbǎo jīdīng hé hóngshāo ròu dōu hěn hǎochī.) Our Kung Pao chicken and braised pork are both delicious.
You: 好，我要一份宫保鸡丁，一份炒饭，还有两瓶水。 (hǎo, wǒ yào yí fèn gōngbǎo jīdīng, yí fèn chǎofàn, háiyǒu liǎng píng shuǐ.) Okay, I’ll have one Kung Pao chicken, one fried rice, and two bottles of water.
Waiter: 好的，请稍等。 (hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.) Okay, please wait a moment.
Cultural Tips
Dining Etiquette
- Wait for everyone: Don’t start eating until everyone is served
- Share dishes: Chinese meals are typically family-style
- Use serving chopsticks: Use the communal chopsticks to serve yourself
- Leave a little food: Finishing everything implies you’re still hungry
- Tipping: Not customary in mainland China, but appreciated in some areas
Payment Customs
- The host usually pays for everyone
- ”Fighting for the bill” is common and polite
- Mobile payments (WeChat Pay, Alipay) are ubiquitous
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Build Your Order
Practice constructing sentences:
- I want [dish name]
- Please give me [dish name]
- Don’t want [ingredient]
Exercise 2: Role Play
Practice the sample dialogue with a partner, switching roles.
Exercise 3: Menu Reading
Try reading a Chinese menu and identifying dishes you’d like to order.
Additional Resources
- Download the vocabulary list
- Practice with our interactive exercises
- Watch more food-related videos
Next Steps
After mastering restaurant vocabulary, you can:
- Learn food ingredients
- Study cooking methods
- Explore regional cuisines
- Practice more complex dining scenarios
Remember, the best way to learn is to practice in real situations. Don’t be afraid to order in Chinese at restaurants!