How to Order Food in Chinese: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Ordering food in a Chinese restaurant can feel intimidating if you don't speak the language, but a few essential phrases go a long way. Key Chinese phrases like "点菜" (diǎncài - to order) and "来一个…" (lái yí ge… - I'll have one…) will help you get through the menu and talk to the staff.
Whether you're travelling through China or visiting your local Chinese restaurant, ordering in Mandarin is great speaking practice, and staff are usually pleased when you make the effort. You might even discover dishes that aren't on the English menu.
What you need is some basic food vocabulary and a handful of restaurant phrases. With those, and reasonably clear tones, you'll be able to ask for specific dishes, ask about ingredients and pay, all in Chinese.
Key Takeaways
- Basic Chinese phrases can help you order food confidently and access authentic menu items
- Proper pronunciation and food vocabulary are essential for effective communication in Chinese restaurants
- Learning restaurant etiquette and key expressions enhances your overall dining experience
Getting Started with Basic Chinese for Ordering
A few essential Chinese phrases will help you order food confidently. The right vocabulary and a little menu knowledge can take you from awkward pointing to a real exchange with the staff.
Essential Vocabulary and Phrases
Start with basic greetings like 你好 (nǐ hǎo - hello) and 谢谢 (xièxie - thank you). These simple words create a positive first impression. (Our post on greetings in Chinese covers more.)
Common restaurant phrases you'll need:
- "几位？" (jǐ wèi? - How many people?) - staff will usually ask you this. Answer with a number: "两位" (liǎng wèi - two).
- "有位子吗？" (yǒu wèizi ma? - Do you have a table?)
- "服务员！" (fúwùyuán! - Excuse me! / Waiter!) - the usual way to call staff over.
- "我要…" (wǒ yào… - I want…) or "来一个…" (lái yí ge… - I'll have one…)
- "这个多少钱？" (zhège duōshao qián? - How much is this?)
- "买单！" (mǎidān! - The bill, please!)
When specifying quantities, use a number followed by a measure word: 个 (gè) for most things, 份 (fèn) for a portion, 碗 (wǎn) for a bowl, 杯 (bēi) for a glass or cup, 瓶 (píng) for a bottle. For example, "两个" (liǎng ge) means "two (of them)", and "一碗米饭" (yì wǎn mǐfàn) means "a bowl of rice". Note that 二 (èr, two) becomes 两 (liǎng) before a measure word.
If you want to rehearse these phrases out loud before you go, the Chunking Chinese fluency trainer teaches everyday sentence chunks like these and gives feedback on the tone and pronunciation of each character as you speak.
Navigating the Menu
Menus in mainland China are usually in characters only, sometimes with English and often with photos. Many restaurants now have you order by scanning a QR code at the table, called 扫码点餐 (sǎomǎ diǎncān), which gives you a picture menu on your phone. Look for common cooking methods in dish names: 炒 (chǎo - stir-fried), 炸 (zhá - deep-fried), 蒸 (zhēng - steamed), 烤 (kǎo - roasted or grilled) and 红烧 (hóngshāo - braised in soy sauce).
Key menu sections typically include:
- 凉菜 (liángcài) - cold dishes and starters
- 热菜 (rècài) - hot dishes, the main part of the meal
- 汤 (tāng) - soups
- 主食 (zhǔshí) - staples such as rice, noodles, dumplings and buns
- 饮料 (yǐnliào) - drinks
Take photos of dishes you enjoy and note their Chinese names for future reference. For a fast-food warm-up, our guide to the McDonald's menu in China teaches some real menu vocabulary.
Mastering the Art of Chinese Dining
Chinese dining combines specific etiquette rules with practical considerations to create an enjoyable meal. You'll need to master both the social customs and communication skills to navigate the experience smoothly.
Ordering Etiquette and Table Manners
At a formal meal, it's polite to wait for the host or the eldest person at the table to start eating. At a round table with a lazy Susan, turn it gently (clockwise is the usual convention) and never spin it while someone is serving themselves.
Use your chopsticks properly - don't stick them upright in rice (it looks like incense sticks at a funeral) or point them at others. Rest them across your bowl or on the chopstick rest when not in use.
Share dishes family-style rather than ordering individual portions. Take small portions from shared plates, and use the serving spoons or serving chopsticks (公筷, gōngkuài) provided rather than your personal chopsticks.
When someone pours tea for you, you can tap two fingers on the table to say thanks without interrupting the conversation. This custom is most common in southern China and at Cantonese dim sum.
Special Requests and Dietary Restrictions
If you're vegetarian, tell the staff "我吃素" (wǒ chī sù - I'm vegetarian) or "我不吃肉" (wǒ bù chī ròu - I don't eat meat). Vegetable dishes are sometimes cooked with a little meat or meat stock, so it's worth checking. For other things you can't eat, say "我不吃…" (wǒ bù chī… - I don't eat…).
Ask for recommendations by saying "有什么推荐的吗？" (yǒu shénme tuījiàn de ma? - What do you recommend?) or "你们的招牌菜是什么？" (nǐmen de zhāopáicài shì shénme? - What's your signature dish?). Most staff will gladly suggest popular or seasonal dishes.
For spice levels, the usual terms are "不辣" (bú là - not spicy), "微辣" (wēilà - mild), "中辣" (zhōnglà - medium) and "特辣" (tèlà - extra hot). "不要辣" (bú yào là) means "no chilli, please".
If you have an allergy, say "我对…过敏" (wǒ duì… guòmǐn - I'm allergic to…), but it's best to also write it down in Chinese characters beforehand and show the staff your note.
Two small requests that come in handy: "少放点儿油" (shǎo fàng diǎnr yóu - less oil, please) and "不要香菜" (bú yào xiāngcài - no coriander, please).
Popular Dishes and Ingredients to Explore
Chinese cuisine varies enormously by region, from fiery Sichuan specialities to delicate Cantonese dishes. These are some of the best-known dishes to look for, with the names you'll see on the menu.
Savoury Highlights
Start with dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi), filled with minced pork, prawns or vegetables. They're usually boiled, but also come steamed or pan-fried (煎饺, jiānjiǎo).
Hot pot (火锅, huǒguō) makes for a fun, interactive meal where you cook fresh ingredients in a simmering broth. You'll find both spicy Sichuan-style and mild broths, and a split pot (鸳鸯锅, yuānyāng guō) lets you have both.
Kung pao chicken (宫保鸡丁, gōngbǎo jīdīng) packs a punch with its combination of diced chicken, peanuts and dried chillies. For something milder, try Peking duck (北京烤鸭, běijīng kǎoyā) with its crispy skin and tender meat wrapped in thin pancakes.
Don't miss mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐, mápó dòufu), a spicy Sichuan dish of silky tofu and minced meat in a rich, numbing sauce. Sweet and sour pork (糖醋里脊, tángcù lǐji) offers a balance of flavours with crispy meat in a tangy sauce.
Sweet and Refreshing Choices
Try traditional Chinese dessert soups like red bean soup (红豆沙, hóngdòushā), or the Hong Kong favourite 杨枝甘露 (yángzhī gānlù), mango and pomelo with sago in coconut milk.
Fresh lychees (荔枝, lìzhī) and longans (龙眼, lóngyǎn) make wonderful palate cleansers, and many restaurants offer a seasonal fruit platter (水果拼盘, shuǐguǒ pīnpán).
Sip on Chinese tea (茶, chá) throughout your meal - jasmine tea (茉莉花茶, mòlìhuā chá) is a popular choice, while oolong (乌龙茶, wūlóng chá) goes well with rich dishes.
Try tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán), sweet glutinous rice balls, sometimes served in ginger syrup. These chewy treats come with fillings like black sesame or peanut paste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Basic Chinese restaurant phrases and proper dining etiquette can make your dining experience smoother and more enjoyable at Chinese establishments.
What should I say to order a meal politely at a Chinese restaurant?
Catch the staff's attention with "服务员" (fúwùyuán), then say "我们要点菜" (wǒmen yào diǎncài), which means "We'd like to order."
Make your order specific by stating the quantity and measure word before the dish name. For example: "两份炒饭" (liǎng fèn chǎofàn) means "two portions of fried rice."
Can you give me a basic dialogue for ordering food in Mandarin?
Server: "您好，想吃点什么？" (nín hǎo, xiǎng chī diǎn shénme?) - Hello, what would you like?
You: "来一份宫保鸡丁，一碗米饭。" (lái yí fèn gōngbǎo jīdīng, yì wǎn mǐfàn.) - One Kung Pao Chicken and a bowl of rice, please.
Server: "还要别的吗？" (hái yào bié de ma?) - Anything else?
You: "就这些，谢谢。" (jiù zhèxiē, xièxie.) - That's all, thanks.
How do you ask for drinks when dining at a Chinese eatery?
Use "我要…" (wǒ yào…) or "来…" (lái…) followed by the amount and your drink: "来一壶茶" (lái yì hú chá) is "a pot of tea, please", and "来一瓶啤酒" (lái yì píng píjiǔ) is "a bottle of beer, please". For plain water, ask for "白开水" (bái kāishuǐ), boiled water, which is usually served hot or warm.
Specify the temperature if it matters: "热的" (rè de) for hot, "冰的" (bīng de) for iced or chilled, "常温的" (chángwēn de) for room temperature.
Could you tell me about dining etiquette I should follow in Chinese establishments?
Share dishes with your dining companions - individual portions aren't common in traditional Chinese restaurants.
Use chopsticks properly and never stick them vertically in your rice.
In many places, especially coastal areas, people avoid flipping a whole fish over on the plate (it suggests a boat capsizing) - instead, lift out the bone and carry on eating from the top.
What are the common phrases to use when placing an order at a Chinese restaurant?
"这个" (zhège) - this one - useful when pointing to menu items.
"再来一份" (zài lái yí fèn) - another portion, please.
"就这些" (jiù zhèxiē) - that's all for now. (Avoid "够了", gòu le, which can sound like "enough!")
"买单" (mǎidān) or "结账" (jiézhàng) - the bill, please. In China you'll usually pay by scanning a QR code with WeChat Pay or Alipay.
For everyday phrases beyond the restaurant, see our list of 10 essential phrases in Chinese.
What's the right way to say 'I would like to order' in a Chinese restaurant setting?
"我想点菜" (wǒ xiǎng diǎncài) - a polite way to say "I would like to order."
"我要点菜" (wǒ yào diǎncài) - a more direct way to say "I want to order." Both are perfectly normal in a restaurant.
Put "麻烦您" (máfan nín, literally "may I trouble you") before a request to make it extra courteous, for example "麻烦您，再来一碗米饭" (máfan nín, zài lái yì wǎn mǐfàn - one more bowl of rice, please). Tones matter in all of these phrases: our guide to tones in Chinese explains how to get them right.