Food problems and changing dishes
Report wrong dishes, cold food, missing dishes, too spicy food, foreign objects, or ask to change or cancel a dish. Your order at a Xi'an noodle house has arrived, but something isn't right.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
-
服务员，您好，这个菜有点问题。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, zhège cài yǒu diǎn wèntí.
Excuse me, there is a problem with this dish.
- 服务员Fúwùyuán
- 您nín
- 好hǎo
- 这个zhège
- 菜cài
- 有yǒu
- 点diǎn
- 问题wèntí
-
这不是我们点的菜。
Zhè bú shì wǒmen diǎn de cài.
This is not the dish we ordered.
- 这Zhè
- 不bú
- 是shì
- 我们wǒmen
- 点diǎn
- 的de
- 菜cài
-
我们好像少了一道菜。
Wǒmen hǎoxiàng shǎo le yí dào cài.
It seems we are missing one dish.
- 我们Wǒmen
- 好像hǎoxiàng
- 少shǎo
- 了le
- 一yí
- 道dào
- 菜cài
-
这个菜太辣了。
Zhège cài tài là le.
This dish is too spicy.
- 这个Zhège
- 菜cài
- 太tài
- 辣là
- 了le
-
可以帮我们换一份吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen huàn yí fèn ma?
Could you replace it with another portion for us?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 帮bāng
- 我们wǒmen
- 换huàn
- 一yí
- 份fèn
- 吗ma
-
可以帮我们取消这个菜吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen qǔxiāo zhège cài ma?
Could you cancel this dish for us?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 帮bāng
- 我们wǒmen
- 取消qǔxiāo
- 这个zhège
- 菜cài
- 吗ma
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
这个菜还没有上。
Zhège cài hái méiyǒu shàng.
This dish has not been served yet.
-
这个菜已经凉了。
Zhège cài yǐjīng liáng le.
This dish is already cold.
-
这个菜太咸了。
Zhège cài tài xián le.
This dish is too salty.
-
这个菜好像没熟。
Zhège cài hǎoxiàng méi shú.
This dish seems undercooked.
-
这个菜有异味。
Zhège cài yǒu yìwèi.
This dish has a strange smell.
-
这个菜里面好像有异物。
Zhège cài lǐmiàn hǎoxiàng yǒu yìwù.
There seems to be a foreign object in this dish.
-
可以帮我们看一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen kàn yíxià ma?
Could you take a look for us?
-
可以重新做一份吗？
Kěyǐ chóngxīn zuò yí fèn ma?
Could you make a new portion?
-
可以换成不辣的吗？
Kěyǐ huàn chéng bú là de ma?
Can you change it to a non-spicy one?
-
这个菜可以不要了吗？
Zhège cài kěyǐ bú yào le ma?
Could we cancel this dish?
-
这个菜还会收费吗？
Zhège cài hái huì shōufèi ma?
Will we still be charged for this dish?
-
请从账单里去掉这个菜。
Qǐng cóng zhàngdān lǐ qùdiào zhège cài.
Please remove this dish from the bill.
-
可以请经理过来一下吗？
Kěyǐ qǐng jīnglǐ guòlái yíxià ma?
Could you ask the manager to come over?
-
我们想解决这个问题。
Wǒmen xiǎng jiějué zhège wèntí.
We would like to resolve this issue.
-
请帮我们确认一下订单。
Qǐng bāng wǒmen quèrèn yíxià dìngdān.
Please help us confirm the order.
-
请帮我写下来。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.
Please write it down for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
-
Staff
怎么了？Zěnme le?
What's wrong?
You
这不是我们点的菜。Zhè bú shì wǒmen diǎn de cài.
This is not the dish we ordered.
-
Staff
不好意思，我马上给您换。Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ mǎshàng gěi nín huàn.
I'm so sorry, I'll change it for you right away.
You
谢谢您的帮助。Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
Play the scene
Your order at a Xi'an noodle house has arrived, but something isn't right.
-
You
服务员，您好，这个菜有点问题。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, zhège cài yǒu diǎn wèntí.
Excuse me, there is a problem with this dish.
What do you say?
-
Staff
怎么了？
Zěnme le?
What's wrong?
-
You
这不是我们点的菜。
Zhè bú shì wǒmen diǎn de cài.
This is not the dish we ordered.
What do you say?
-
Staff
不好意思，我马上给您换。
Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ mǎshàng gěi nín huàn.
I'm so sorry, I'll change it for you right away.
-
You
我们好像少了一道菜。
Wǒmen hǎoxiàng shǎo le yí dào cài.
It seems we are missing one dish.
What do you say?
-
Staff
那道菜马上就好。
Nà dào cài mǎshàng jiù hǎo.
That dish will be ready in a moment.
-
You
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Wrong dish
If the dish is not what you ordered, do not start eating it. Call staff and explain clearly.
How do you say “This is not the dish we ordered”?
Show the answer
这不是我们点的菜。 — This is not the dish we ordered.
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
这个菜有点问题 A polite general way to say there is a problem with a dish. After this, explain the specific issue.
上错菜 The restaurant served the wrong dish. You can say 这不是我们点的菜.
少了一道菜 One dish is missing from your order. 道 is a measure word for dishes.
异物 A foreign object in food, such as hair, plastic, metal, insects, or other unwanted objects. This is a serious food safety issue.
换一份 To replace a dish with another portion of the same dish. Use this when the dish has a problem but you still want the dish.
重新做一份 To make a new portion again. This is useful when the dish is cold, undercooked, too salty, or has a food safety issue.
How to Handle a Food Problem
Step 1: Get staff attention politely
Start with 服务员，您好. This keeps the conversation calm and respectful.
Step 2: Explain the specific problem
Use clear phrases: 这不是我们点的菜, 这个菜已经凉了, 这个菜太咸了, or 这个菜里面好像有异物.
Step 3: Ask staff to check
Say 可以帮我们看一下吗？ before asking for replacement or cancellation.
Step 4: Request a solution
Depending on the issue, ask to replace it, remake it, change it to a non-spicy one, cancel it, or remove it from the bill.
Useful Complaint Patterns
这个菜…… Use this pattern to describe a problem with a dish.
这不是我们点的…… Use this when the restaurant served something different from your order.
可以帮我们……吗？ Use this to politely ask staff to help solve a problem.
请从账单里去掉…… Use this to ask staff to remove an item from the bill, usually after a serious issue or cancellation.
Common Food Problems
Wrong dish
If the dish is not what you ordered, do not start eating it. Call staff and explain clearly.
Missing dish
If one dish has not arrived, ask whether it is still being prepared before canceling it.
Cold or undercooked food
For cold or undercooked food, ask the restaurant to remake it or heat it again, depending on the dish.
Foreign object or strange smell
This is a more serious issue. Ask staff to check it, and if needed, ask for the manager.
Solution Options
Replace the dish
Use 可以帮我们换一份吗？ when you want the same dish replaced with a new one.
Remake the dish
Use 可以重新做一份吗？ when the dish quality is unacceptable.
Cancel the dish
Use 可以帮我们取消这个菜吗？ if the dish has not arrived, is wrong, or you no longer want it because of a problem.
Remove from bill
Use 请从账单里去掉这个菜 if the restaurant agrees not to charge for the problem dish.
Interactive Scenarios
Wrong dish served
- Traveler服务员，您好，这个菜有点问题。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, zhège cài yǒu diǎn wèntí.
Excuse me, there is a problem with this dish.
- Traveler这不是我们点的菜。
Zhè bú shì wǒmen diǎn de cài.
This is not the dish we ordered.
- Traveler请帮我们确认一下订单。
Qǐng bāng wǒmen quèrèn yíxià dìngdān.
Please help us confirm the order.
Dish quality problem
- Traveler这个菜已经凉了。
Zhège cài yǐjīng liáng le.
This dish is already cold.
- Traveler可以帮我们看一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen kàn yíxià ma?
Could you take a look for us?
- Traveler可以重新做一份吗？
Kěyǐ chóngxīn zuò yí fèn ma?
Could you make a new portion?
Serious food safety issue
- Traveler这个菜里面好像有异物。
Zhège cài lǐmiàn hǎoxiàng yǒu yìwù.
There seems to be a foreign object in this dish.
- Traveler可以请经理过来一下吗？
Kěyǐ qǐng jīnglǐ guòlái yíxià ma?
Could you ask the manager to come over?
- Traveler我们想解决这个问题。
Wǒmen xiǎng jiějué zhège wèntí.
We would like to resolve this issue.
Mini Quiz
How do you say “This is not the dish we ordered”?
- 这不是我们点的菜。 ✓ Answer
- 这个菜已经凉了。
- 这个菜还没有上。
Which phrase means “It seems we are missing one dish”?
- 我们好像少了一道菜。 ✓ Answer
- 这个菜太咸了。
- 我们想平均分摊。
What do you say to ask for a new portion?
- 可以重新做一份吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以分开付款吗？
- 可以坐这里吗？
Which phrase asks to remove this dish from the bill?
- 请从账单里去掉这个菜。 ✓ Answer
- 请给我们账单。
- 请给我们公筷。