How to Order Food in Chinese at a Restaurant
HSK 2-3
Eating out in China is one of the best parts of any trip, and one of the best places to use your Mandarin. Staff are used to quick, simple requests, so you don't need perfect grammar, just the right short phrases.
In many restaurants today you scan a QR code on the table to see the menu and order. You still need to talk to staff to get a table, ask about dishes, say how spicy you want things, mention allergies and pay. This page covers all of it, with pinyin and a sample dialogue.
Learn the phrases, then practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so you can order without pointing and hoping.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 几位？ | Jǐ wèi? | How many people? The first thing staff usually ask. |
| 两位。 | Liǎng wèi. | Two people. Use 两, not 二, before a measure word. |
| 现在有位子吗？ | Xiànzài yǒu wèizi ma? | Do you have a table now? |
| 扫桌上的码点餐。 | Sǎo zhuō shang de mǎ diǎncān. | Scan the code on the table to order. What staff may tell you. |
| 有纸质菜单吗？ | Yǒu zhǐzhì càidān ma? | Do you have a paper menu? Handy if the QR menu is hard to read. |
| 你们的招牌菜是什么？ | Nǐmen de zhāopáicài shì shénme? | What's your signature dish? |
| 这个辣不辣？ | Zhège là bu là? | Is this spicy? |
| 微辣就行。 | Wēi là jiù xíng. | Mildly spicy is fine. Common levels: 微辣 mild, 中辣 medium, 特辣 extra hot. |
| 不要辣。 | Bú yào là. | Not spicy, please. |
| 不要香菜。 | Bú yào xiāngcài. | No cilantro, please. Also: 不要葱 (no scallions), 不要蒜 (no garlic). |
| 我对花生过敏。 | Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn. | I'm allergic to peanuts. Pattern: 我对……过敏. |
| 来一个这个。 | Lái yí ge zhège. | I'll have one of these. 来 is the casual verb for ordering. |
| 就这些。 | Jiù zhèxiē. | That's all. |
| 服务员！ | Fúwùyuán! | Excuse me! (to call staff) A simple 你好！ also works. |
| 我们的菜还没上。 | Wǒmen de cài hái méi shàng. | Our food hasn't come yet. |
| 这个帮我打包一下。 | Zhège bāng wǒ dǎbāo yíxià. | Could you box this up for me? |
| 买单。 | Mǎidān. | The bill, please. 结账 (jiézhàng) means the same. |
| 可以扫码吗？ | Kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma? | Can I pay by scanning? |
Sample dialogue
Staff: 欢迎光临！几位？
Huānyíng guānglín! Jǐ wèi?
Welcome! How many people?
You: 两位。
Liǎng wèi.
Two.
Staff: 这边请。扫桌上的二维码就可以点餐。
Zhè biān qǐng. Sǎo zhuō shang de èrwéimǎ jiù kěyǐ diǎncān.
This way, please. Scan the QR code on the table to order.
You: 有纸质菜单吗？
Yǒu zhǐzhì càidān ma?
Do you have a paper menu?
Staff: 有，给您。
Yǒu, gěi nín.
Yes, here you go.
You: 这个宫保鸡丁辣不辣？
Zhège gōngbǎo jīdīng là bu là?
Is this kung pao chicken spicy?
Staff: 有一点儿辣，可以做微辣。
Yǒu yìdiǎnr là, kěyǐ zuò wēi là.
A little. We can make it mild.
You: 好，要微辣。我对花生过敏，能不放花生吗？
Hǎo, yào wēi là. Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn, néng bú fàng huāshēng ma?
Great, mild please. I'm allergic to peanuts. Could you leave them out?
Staff: 可以，我跟厨房说一下。
Kěyǐ, wǒ gēn chúfáng shuō yíxià.
Sure, I'll tell the kitchen.
You: 再来两碗米饭，就这些。
Zài lái liǎng wǎn mǐfàn, jiù zhèxiē.
And two bowls of rice. That's all.
You: 服务员，买单。
Fúwùyuán, mǎidān.
Excuse me, the bill please.
Staff: 扫这个码就行，支付宝、微信都可以。
Sǎo zhège mǎ jiù xíng, Zhīfùbǎo, Wēixìn dōu kěyǐ.
Just scan this code. Alipay or WeChat Pay are both fine.
Tips
- Dishes are usually shared. A common rule of thumb is to order about one dish per person, plus rice or noodles.
- Rice is often not served automatically. Ask for it with 米饭 and the number of bowls (碗).
- If you have a serious allergy, say it clearly and early, and ask again when the dish arrives. Writing it down in Chinese can help.
- Tipping is not expected in most mainland Chinese restaurants.
- If the QR menu asks you to log in or choose a table number, the number is usually printed next to the code on the table.
Common mistakes
✗ 我要吃宫保鸡丁。
✓ 来一个宫保鸡丁。
我要吃 is understood but sounds blunt, like a child. 来一个 or 要一个 is how people normally order.
✗ 我是过敏花生。
✓ 我对花生过敏。
过敏 needs the pattern 对 + thing + 过敏, and no 是.
✗ 给我账单。
✓ 买单。
A word-for-word 'give me the bill' sounds odd. Just say 买单 or 结账.
FAQ
How do I say 'no cilantro' in Chinese?
Say 不要香菜 (bú yào xiāngcài). You can also say 不要放香菜, 'please don't put cilantro in'.
How do I ask for the bill in Chinese?
Call the staff with 服务员 or 你好, then say 买单 (mǎidān) or 结账 (jiézhàng). Many places let you pay by scanning a QR code.
Do I need to tip in Chinese restaurants?
No. Tipping is not customary in most restaurants in mainland China.
Practice this with an AI partner