To order food in Chinese, call the server with 服务员 (fúwùyuán), order with 我要 (wǒ yào) "I'd like" or 来一个 (lái yí gè) "bring one," say 不要辣 (bú yào là) for no spice, and ask for the check with 买单 (mǎidān). The phrases below cover a full meal in mainland China, from the door to paying.
The first thing you will hear is 几位？ (Jǐ wèi?) "How many people?" 位 (wèi) is a polite measure word for people, so staff use it for you. Answer with the number plus 个 (gè), with or without 人 (rén): 两个 (liǎng gè) "two," 四个人 (sì gè rén) "four people." Remember 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr), for "two" before a measure word.
If you're alone, 一个人 (yí gè rén) "just one" works. You may also be asked 有预订吗？ (Yǒu yùdìng ma?) "Do you have a reservation?" Answer 有 (yǒu) "yes" or 没有 (méiyǒu) "no."
Mainland diners usually call out to staff instead of waiting for eye contact. A clear 服务员！ (Fúwùyuán!) "Server!" is normal and not rude, even if it feels loud to an American. A plain 你好 (nǐ hǎo) with a raised hand also works. Older textbooks teach 小姐 (xiǎojiě) "miss" for female servers, but in mainland China it can carry an unwanted meaning, so skip it.
English speakers pile on softeners: "Could I possibly get..." Translating that into Mandarin sounds stiff. Ordering phrases are short and direct, and that is polite enough.
| Mandarin | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 菜单 (càidān) | menu | 可以看一下菜单吗？ (Kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma?) "Can I see the menu?" |
| 点菜 (diǎn cài) | to order | 我们要点菜。 (Wǒmen yào diǎn cài.) "We're ready to order." |
| 我要…… (wǒ yào...) | I'd like... | The all-purpose ordering phrase |
| 来一个…… (lái yí gè...) | bring one... | Very common and casual for dishes |
| 来一份…… (lái yí fèn...) | one portion of... | Used for portions and set items |
| 这个 (zhège) | this one | Point at the menu or a photo |
| 有什么推荐的？ (Yǒu shénme tuījiàn de?) | What do you recommend? | When the menu is overwhelming |
| 招牌菜 (zhāopái cài) | house specialty | 你们的招牌菜是什么？ "What's your specialty?" |
| 就这些。 (Jiù zhèxiē.) | That's all. | To finish the order |
Many restaurants now have you order by scanning a QR code at the table, 扫码点餐 (sǎo mǎ diǎn cān). If you see a code sticker on the table and nobody brings a menu, that is why. You can still ask for a paper menu.
This is the part travelers need most. In Sichuan, Hunan and Chongqing restaurants especially, assume a dish is spicy unless you say otherwise.
| Mandarin | English |
|---|---|
| 不要辣。 (Bú yào là.) | No spice, please. |
| 一点辣都不要。 (Yìdiǎn là dōu bú yào.) | Not even a little spice. |
| 微辣 (wēi là) | mildly spicy |
| 少放辣。 (Shǎo fàng là.) | Go easy on the spice. |
| 这个辣不辣？ (Zhège là bu là?) | Is this spicy? |
| 不要香菜。 (Bú yào xiāngcài.) | No cilantro. |
| 我吃素。 (Wǒ chī sù.) | I'm vegetarian. |
| 我不吃肉。 (Wǒ bù chī ròu.) | I don't eat meat. |
| 我对花生过敏。 (Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn.) | I'm allergic to peanuts. |
Two warnings. First, 不要辣 (bú yào là) can still produce a dish with some chili in a kitchen where spice is the default, so if you truly can't handle it, use the stronger 一点辣都不要. Second, 麻 (má) is not the same as 辣 (là). 麻辣 (málà) dishes have a numbing tingle from Sichuan peppercorns as well as chili heat. Asking 不要麻 (bú yào má) removes the numbing part.
"Vegetarian" can be tricky. 我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) is clear to staff, but a vegetable dish may still be cooked with meat broth or have bits of pork. Add 不要放肉 (bú yào fàng ròu) "don't add meat" to be safe.
In the US, everyone orders their own plate. At a typical Chinese restaurant, the table orders several dishes, 菜 (cài), and everyone shares them, with individual bowls of rice. A common rule of thumb is one dish per person, plus a soup. If you order one dish each and expect your own plate, you'll get a confused look or simply a shared table.
Rice doesn't always arrive automatically. Ask for 米饭 (mǐfàn) "rice," or say 两碗米饭 (liǎng wǎn mǐfàn) "two bowls of rice." Water may come as hot water or tea by default. If you want cold water, ask for 冰水 (bīng shuǐ) "ice water," though not every place has it.
Other useful items: 筷子 (kuàizi) "chopsticks," 勺子 (sháozi) "spoon," 餐巾纸 (cānjīnzhǐ) "napkins," 再来一瓶啤酒 (zài lái yì píng píjiǔ) "another bottle of beer." Don't leave chopsticks standing upright in your rice. It looks like incense at a funeral and many people find it unlucky.
| Mandarin | English |
|---|---|
| 买单！ (Mǎidān!) | Check, please! |
| 结账。 (Jiézhàng.) | I'd like to pay. |
| 可以刷卡吗？ (Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?) | Can I pay by card? |
| 可以扫码吗？ (Kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma?) | Can I pay by scanning the code? |
| 打包。 (Dǎbāo.) | To go, or a box for leftovers. |
| 多少钱？ (Duōshao qián?) | How much is it? |
Paying with a phone by scanning a QR code is the default in most of mainland China, and some small places are not set up for foreign cards, so have a backup. Tipping is not customary at ordinary restaurants. Don't be surprised if friends argue over who pays: competing to pick up the bill is a normal show of generosity, and splitting it evenly is less common than in the US, although younger people do it more and more.
The phrases come out more smoothly once you've said them aloud a few times. Run through a whole meal with a tutor first, from 几位 to 买单, so that at the real table you're listening to the server, not searching for words.
Say 买单 (mǎidān) or 结账 (jiézhàng). Both are understood everywhere in mainland China. You can raise your hand and call 服务员, 买单 to get the server's attention first.
Say 不要辣 (bú yào là). If the kitchen still adds chili, use the stronger 一点辣都不要 (yìdiǎn là dōu bú yào), not even a little spice. For the numbing Sichuan pepper, say 不要麻 (bú yào má).
No. In mainland China it is a normal way to get attention in a busy restaurant, and staff expect it. Say it clearly and politely; there is no need to wait for eye contact.
Not at ordinary restaurants in mainland China. Some upscale or hotel restaurants add a service charge to the bill, so check before adding anything extra.
