Chinese饮食常用语

Getting a table and a menu

Popular restaurants book out fast — know how to reserve, then get a menu into your hands, ideally one you can read.

1. 1 我想预约今晚六点。 wǒ xiǎng yù yuē jīn wǎn liù diǎn — I'd like a reservation for tonight at six
2. 2 需要预约吗？ xū yào yù yuē ma — Do I need a reservation?
3. 3 请给我菜单。 qǐng gěi wǒ cài dān — The menu, please
4. 4 这家有英文菜单吗？ zhè jiā yǒu yīng wén cài dān ma — Do you have an English menu?

Ordering like a local

Ask what's good, point, and say 我要 — 'I want.' Direct is polite at a Chinese table; nobody expects flowery sentences at a noodle shop.

1. 5 菜单上有什么推荐？ cài dān shàng yǒu shén me tuī jiàn — Any recommendations?
2. 6 我要这个。 wǒ yào zhè ge — I want this one
3. 7 我要一碗牛肉面。 wǒ yào yī wǎn niú ròu miàn — A bowl of beef noodles, please
4. 8 再来一碗米饭。 zài lái yī wǎn mǐ fàn — Another bowl of rice, please
5. 9 请给我一杯绿茶。 qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi lǜ chá — A cup of green tea, please
6. 10 再来一瓶啤酒。 zài lái yī píng pí jiǔ — Another bottle of beer, please

Not too spicy — needs and preferences

Sichuan-level spice is no joke, and kitchens are happy to adjust — if you speak up before the wok does.

1. 11 请不要太辣。 qǐng bú yào tài là — Please don't make it too spicy
2. 12 我不吃肉。 wǒ bù chī ròu — I don't eat meat
3. 13 我想点一个素菜。 wǒ xiǎng diǎn yī ge sù cài — I'd like a vegetable dish
4. 14 请给我一杯水。 qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ — A glass of water, please
5. 15 这个菜太辣了。 zhè ge cài tài là le — This dish is too spicy
6. 16 汤太咸了。 tāng tài xián le — The soup is too salty

At the table

The four things standing between you and dinner. 请给我 ('please give me') plus any of these gets it brought over.

1. 17 筷子 kuài zi — Chopsticks

   Chopsticks come as a pair — ask for 一双筷子 (yī shuāng kuài zi).

2. 18 碗 wǎn — Bowl
3. 19 盘子 pán zi — Plate
4. 20 杯子 bēi zi — Cup

Compliments and the bill

Cooks genuinely glow when you say the food is 好吃. Then end the meal with the most satisfying two syllables in Chinese: 买单.

1. 21 这个菜很好吃。 zhè ge cài hěn hǎo chī — This dish is delicious
2. 22 好吃极了！ hǎo chī jí le — Insanely delicious!
3. 23 买单！ mǎi dān — Check, please!
4. 24 请给我账单。 qǐng gěi wǒ zhàng dān — The bill, please
5. 25 在中国不用给小费。 zài zhōng guó bú yòng gěi xiǎo fèi — In China, no need to tip

In real life: dinner at a noodle shop