Ordering food and asking for recommendations
Ask for a menu, order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, best sellers, portions, and signature dishes. A Peking duck restaurant in Beijing. The menu is long, and it's all in Chinese.
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.
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
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.
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Staff
我们的招牌菜是烤鸭。Wǒmen de zhāopáicài shì kǎoyā.
Our signature dish is the roast duck.
You
我要一份这个。Wǒ yào yí fèn zhège.
I would like one portion of this.
-
Staff
还要别的吗？Hái yào bié de ma?
Anything else?
You
先点这些。Xiān diǎn zhèxiē.
We’ll order these for now.
Play the scene
A Peking duck restaurant in Beijing. The menu is long, and it's all in Chinese.
-
Staff
您好，这是菜单。现在点菜吗？
Nínhǎo, zhè shì càidān. Xiànzài diǎn cài ma?
Hello, here's the menu. Ready to order?
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You
你们有什么推荐菜？
Nǐmen yǒu shénme tuījiàn cài?
What dishes do you recommend?
What do you say?
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Staff
我们的招牌菜是烤鸭。
Wǒmen de zhāopáicài shì kǎoyā.
Our signature dish is the roast duck.
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You
这个菜大概几个人吃？
Zhège cài dàgài jǐ ge rén chī?
About how many people is this dish for?
What do you say?
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Staff
一只烤鸭够三四个人吃。
Yì zhī kǎoyā gòu sān sì ge rén chī.
One whole duck is enough for three or four people.
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You
我要一份这个。
Wǒ yào yí fèn zhège.
I would like one portion of this.
What do you say?
-
Staff
还要别的吗？
Hái yào bié de ma?
Anything else?
-
You
先点这些。
Xiān diǎn zhèxiē.
We’ll order these for now.
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Portion size
Chinese restaurant portions can vary a lot. Ask whether one dish is enough for one person or for sharing.
What do you say to order one portion of this?
Show the answer
我要一份这个。 — I would like one portion of this.
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
菜单 A menu. In China, some restaurants use paper menus, picture menus, tablets, or QR-code ordering.
英文菜单 An English menu. Not every restaurant has one, so a picture menu or translation app can help.
扫码点餐 To scan a QR code to order food. You may need a phone, mobile payment app, or local mini program.
推荐菜 Recommended dishes. Ask this when you are not sure what to order.
招牌菜 A signature dish or house specialty. It is often what the restaurant is known for.
份量 Portion size. Use this to ask whether a dish is enough for your group.
Ordering Flow
Step 1: Get a menu
Ask for a paper menu, English menu, or picture menu. If the restaurant uses QR ordering, ask staff for help if needed.
Step 2: Ask for recommendations
If you do not know what to order, ask for recommended, signature, or popular dishes.
Step 3: Check ingredients and portion
Ask what is in the dish and how many people it serves, especially if you have allergies or dietary needs.
Step 4: Order and confirm
Point at the menu and say 我要一份这个 or 我们想点这个. Before finishing, ask staff to confirm the order.
Useful Ordering Patterns
有……吗？ Use this to ask whether the restaurant has something.
这个……是什么？ Use this to ask what something on the menu is.
这个菜里面有什么？ Use this to ask what ingredients are in a dish.
我要一份…… Use this to order one portion of a dish.
先点这些。 Use this when you are done ordering for now but may order more later.
Recommendations and Portion Tips
Recommended dish
推荐菜 may be what the staff thinks is good, seasonal, or suitable for most visitors.
Signature dish
招牌菜 is often a restaurant’s famous dish. It is a good choice if you want to try what the restaurant is known for.
Most popular dish
最受欢迎的菜 means the dish many customers order. It is useful when you want a safe choice.
Portion size
Chinese restaurant portions can vary a lot. Ask whether one dish is enough for one person or for sharing.
Drink Ordering Tips
Water
In many restaurants, water may be bottled, hot, cold, free, or paid. Ask clearly if needed.
Tea
Tea may be served by cup, pot, or person. Some restaurants charge a tea or table service fee.
Measure words
Use 一瓶水 for one bottle of water, 两杯茶 for two cups of tea, and 一份菜 for one portion of a dish.
Interactive Scenarios
Getting a menu
- Traveler请给我菜单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
Please give me the menu.
- Traveler有英文菜单吗？
Yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma?
Do you have an English menu?
- Traveler有图片菜单吗？
Yǒu túpiàn càidān ma?
Do you have a picture menu?
Asking for recommendations
- Traveler你们有什么推荐菜？
Nǐmen yǒu shénme tuījiàn cài?
What dishes do you recommend?
- Traveler你们的招牌菜是什么？
Nǐmen de zhāopái cài shì shénme?
What is your signature dish?
- Traveler这里最受欢迎的菜是什么？
Zhèlǐ zuì shòu huānyíng de cài shì shénme?
What is the most popular dish here?
Ordering by pointing
- Traveler我们想点这个。
Wǒmen xiǎng diǎn zhège.
We would like to order this.
- Traveler我要一份这个。
Wǒ yào yí fèn zhège.
I would like one portion of this.
- Traveler先点这些。
Xiān diǎn zhèxiē.
We’ll order these for now.
Mini Quiz
How do you ask for a menu?
- 请给我菜单。 ✓ Answer
- 请给我房卡。
- 请给我发票。
Which phrase asks for a signature dish?
- 你们的招牌菜是什么？ ✓ Answer
- 这个菜份量大吗？
- 我们还需要再看一下。
What do you say to order one portion of this?
- 我要一份这个。 ✓ Answer
- 我要两杯茶。
- 我要一个座位。
Which phrase means “We’ll order these for now”?
- 先点这些。 ✓ Answer
- 可以稍等一下吗？
- 这个菜是什么？