Chinese Restaurant Phrases: What Are the Terms and Etiquette for Dining Out in China?

The menu is a word salad, and every dish looks—and sounds—mysterious. That's a common experience of going through a menu in a foreign language! Do you point randomly and hope for the best? Not anymore. To learn Chinese with just a handful of key phrases, you can transform from a confused outsider into a confident guest. This is your practical guide to ordering confidently, communicating clearly, and enjoying a good time at Chinese restaurants!

The Chinese phrases you need for booking and taking seats

A smooth start sets the tone for your entire meal. In busy or popular restaurants, securing a table in advance is wise. Most of the Chinese restaurants have WeChat official accounts for reservation, or customers can reserve through app like or . In any case, if you need to call, the key phrase is: (I would like to make a reservation for...). Be prepared to state the time, date, and most importantly, your party size using numbers: for four people, for example.

Upon arrival, confidently approach the waiter. If you have a booking, announce: (We have a reservation. The name is...). If walking in, a simple and clear (Two people), or (Please give us a table), will suffice.

Don't hesitate to make polite requests to get comfortable. Want a quieter booth or a round table for a group? Use the versatile phrase (Excuse me, may we have...?) Filling in the blank with (A private room) or (A window seat) shows foresight and can greatly enhance your dining experience.

How to read a Chinese restaurant menu and order food

Here is a general rule for you to grasp the main structure of a Chinese menu! Different from the Western menu, which is categorized as side dishes, appetizers, and main dishes, Chinese menus are categorized based on the features of the dishes: (Cold dish), (Main dish), (Stir fry), (Deep fry), (Signature dish). Different restaurants may arrange the menu in their own way, but generally speaking, the menu does not follow the dining sequence.

If you are not sure what to order, your most powerful tool is the simple question: (What do you recommend?) This directly invites the waiter to guide you to the freshest ingredients, the chef’s specialty, or beloved local dishes that might not be prominently featured.

When you see a dish that catches your eye, you can tell the waiter how many of this dish you'd like to order by saying (One of this), for example. Some restaurants feature portion size, such as Haidilao Hot Pot. You need to clarify portion sizes by adding (Small portion) or (Large portion) to your request.

Dishes are generally served to share, following a loose sequence: cold appetizers first, followed by hot main dishes, a soup, and finally rice. This sequence is up to change depending on what kind of restaurants you go to. Usually, customers can ask the restaurant to serve rice at any time. Other than that, there are no strict rules about the serving sequence!

This is a sample menu of Haidilao Hot Pot Restaurant! As you can see, the categorization is in the left panel, and the dishes have half portion size and full portion size. To learn Mandarin, it is very good practice to go through different restaurant menus and try to translate them!

Restaurant phrases for dietary needs and allergies

In China, the kitchen often expects guidance on your meal's flavor profile. The essential terms are (Do not put...), (Put more of...), or (Mild/ Medium/ Extra). For example, to manage spice, the essential commands are (Not spicy), (Mild spice), or (Medium spicy).

For dietary restrictions and allergies, clarity and simplicity are paramount for your safety. To state an avoidance, use the direct phrase (I don't eat…) followed by the ingredient, such as (Meat) or (Seafood). To convey a serious allergy, it is crucial to be more emphatic: This translates to "I am allergic to…, please do not add it."

Some other common allergens in Mandarin Chinese are:

Essential terms to pay bills at restaurants in China

To request the bill, the universal and concise phrase is or (Literally, "settle the account"). For a more polite tone, you can preface it with (Sorry to trouble you).

When the bill arrives, you can specify to split the bill, or pay for the party by saying (I'll pay). Then, you need to state your method: for cash, or the dominant digital options (Alipay) and (WeChat Pay). Some key expressions for using Alipay and WeChat Pay are:

Some restaurants also allow you to pay via debit or credit cards, but you may need to ask them if they support Visa or Mastercard. This is because most of the transaction in China is done via Alipay or WeChat Pay, and Visa and Mastercard are not widely accepted in mainland China.

Watch dramas to get used to the authentic Chinese restaurant conversations!

Equip yourself with phrases for ordering at a restaurant in China via Chinese dramas and movies! For example, this cut from Ode to Joy can help you get a rough idea of how to order food at a Chinese restaurant! Migaku app can help you understand the conversation by generating subtitles and creating flashcards for sentences!

FAQs

And no, you don't need to give tips at restaurants in China

Don't forget that you don't need to leave tips! Even if you offer to pay, the waiter or waitress might just refuse and feel very bewildered. All in all, there are no infinite numbers of restaurant phrases for Chinese learners, and you will get them after watching a few restaurant cuts from dramas and movies!

Cast your language spell. Your meal will be ready in no time!