How to Order Food in China: 25 Must-Know Phrases for Restaurants and Street Food
Updated June 2026 · 5 min read
Food is arguably the best reason to visit China. From hand-pulled noodles to dim sum, Sichuan hotpot to soup dumplings — Chinese cuisine is endlessly diverse. Most local restaurants have Chinese-only menus and staff who do not speak English. Here are 25 phrases that will unlock China's incredible food scene for you.
At a Restaurant — Getting Seated and Ordering
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|
| 几位 | Ji wei? | How many people? | The host will ask you this |
| 两个人 | Liang ge ren | Two people | Your answer |
| 有位子吗 | You wei zi ma? | Do you have seats? | Entering a busy restaurant |
| 我要点菜 | Wo yao dian cai | I would like to order | Flagging down a server |
| 这个 | Zhe ge | This one | Pointing at a menu item |
| 来一份 | Lai yi fen | One serving of this | Ordering a dish |
| 推荐什么 | Tui jian shen me? | What do you recommend? | Asking for best dish |
| 招牌菜是什么 | Zhao pai cai shi shen me? | Signature dish? | Specialty restaurants |
| 菜单 | Cai dan | Menu | Asking for a menu |
| 我要米饭 | Wo yao mi fan | I want rice | Basic staple order |
| 好吃 | Hao chi! | Delicious! | Complimenting the chef |
Street Food and Night Markets
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|
| 这是什么 | Zhe shi shen me? | What is this? | Pointing at mystery skewer |
| 辣的还是不辣的 | La de hai shi bu la de? | Spicy or not spicy? | They will ask you |
| 不辣 | Bu la | Not spicy | Your safe answer |
| 加辣 | Jia la | Add spice | If you are brave |
| 打包 | Da bao | Takeaway / To go | Taking food with you |
| 一串 | Yi chuan | One skewer | At BBQ stalls |
Dietary Restrictions and Allergies
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|
| 我是素食者 | Wo shi su shi zhe | I am vegetarian | Note: may include eggs/dairy |
| 我不吃肉 | Wo bu chi rou | I do not eat meat | More explicit |
| 我对花生过敏 | Wo dui hua sheng guo min | I am allergic to peanuts | Common ingredient |
| 不放味精 | Bu fang wei jing | No MSG please | For sensitive travelers |
| 有没有海鲜 | You mei you hai xian? | Does this contain seafood? | Shellfish allergies |
Paying the Bill
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|
| 买单 | Mai dan! | Check please! | Most useful phrase in this list |
| 可以刷信用卡吗 | Ke yi shua xin yong ka ma? | Can I pay by credit card? | Before ordering |
| 分开付 | Fen kai fu | Split the bill | Dutch treat |
| 一起付 | Yi qi fu | Pay together | One person covers all |
Practice These Phrases Before Your Trip
FlowChinese AI pronunciation coach will help you nail the tones so you order like a local on day one.
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