Ordering food in China can be challenging if you do not speak Chinese, especially when menus are only in Chinese.
This page provides simple and practical Chinese phrases for ordering food in restaurants.
You can use these phrases directly or show them on your phone to restaurant staff.
🍽 I would like to order.
Chinese: 我要点餐。
Pinyin: wǒ yào diǎn cān
English: I would like to order.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Excuse me, I would like to order.
A: 你好，我要点餐。
B: Okay, here is your menu.
B: 好的，这是您的菜单。
💡 Tip:
Use this sentence to call the waiter/waitress and tell them you are ready to order food.
🍽 Please give me the menu.
Chinese: 请给我菜单。
Pinyin: qǐng gěi wǒ cài dān
English: Please give me the menu.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Please give me the menu.
A: 请给我菜单。
B: Sure, wait a minute.
B: 好的，请稍等。
💡 Tip:
Say this when you sit down and haven’t received the menu yet.
🍽 I don’t understand the menu.
Chinese: 我看不懂菜单。
Pinyin: wǒ kàn bù dǒng cài dān
English: I don’t understand the menu.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I don’t understand the menu. Can you help me?
A: 我看不懂菜单，你能帮帮我吗？
B: No problem, I can introduce our dishes.
B: 没问题，我可以给您介绍菜品。
💡 Tip:
Use it when the menu is written in a language you cannot read.
🍽 What do you recommend?
Chinese: 你有什么推荐的？
Pinyin: nǐ yǒu shén me tuī jiàn de
English: What do you recommend?
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: What do you recommend?
A: 你有什么推荐的？
B: Our steak is very popular.
B: 我们的牛排很受欢迎。
💡 Tip:
Ask the server this question when you do not know which dish to choose.
🍽 I want this one.
Chinese: 我要这个。
Pinyin: wǒ yào zhè ge
English: I want this one.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I want this one, thank you.
A: 我要这个，谢谢。
B: Alright, one tomato pasta.
B: 好的，一份番茄意面。
💡 Tip:
Point at the food on the menu and say this to confirm your choice.
🍽 No spicy food, please.
Chinese: 麻烦不要放辣。
Pinyin: má fan bú yào fàng là
English: No spicy food, please.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I want the hot pot, no spicy food, please.
A: 我要火锅，麻烦不要放辣。
B: Got it, clear broth for you.
B: 明白，给您上清汤锅底。
💡 Tip:
Tell the waiter this if you cannot eat chili or spicy flavors.
🍽 I am allergic to this.
Chinese: 我对这个过敏。
Pinyin: wǒ duì zhè ge guò mǐn
English: I am allergic to this.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Don’t add peanuts, I am allergic to this.
A: 不要加花生，我对这个过敏。
B: I will remind the kitchen.
B: 我会提醒后厨的。
💡 Tip:
Say this clearly to avoid ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.
🍽 Same as that.
Chinese: 和那个一样。
Pinyin: hé nà ge yí yàng
English: Same as that.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I’ll have same as that.
A: 我要和那个一样的。
B: One set meal same as your friend’s, okay?
B: 和您朋友一样的套餐一份，可以吗？
💡 Tip:
Use this when you want to order the same dish as another person at your table.
Travel Tip
In China, pointing at dishes and using simple phrases is very common and effective.
You do not need perfect Chinese — showing written text or pictures is usually enough for communication in restaurants.