How to Order Food in Chinese
Learn Mandarin phrases for menus, ordering dishes, and paying at restaurants.
Useful phrases
请给我菜单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
Please give me the menu.
我要这个菜。
Wǒ yào zhège cài.
I want this dish.
买单，谢谢。
Mǎidān, xièxie.
The bill, please.
How to use this pattern
Restaurant Chinese starts with “我要……” and “请给我……”, useful for ordering and asking for items.
Practice routine
Swap “这个菜” with rice, water, or menu to practice different needs.
Common mistake
Use “买单” for paying the bill. Do not translate “buy the bill” word for word.
FAQ
How do I call the waiter?
Say “不好意思” or “服务员” politely.
What if I cannot read the dish name?
Point to the menu and say “我要这个菜”.
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