好吃！Hǎo chī! It’s delicious! Chinese Restaurant Vocabulary
In this post we’ll learn some Chinese restaurant vocabulary. First, we’ll look at vocabulary and expressions that you can use when you arrive at a restaurant. Then we’ll turn to vocabulary related to ordering food. Next we’ll turn to special diets in case you need that vocabulary. After that we’ll look at vocabulary related to spice levels, which may or may not come in handy depending on what sort of food you like to eat. Finally, we’ll close with expressions that you can use if someone asks how your food is, or if there’s any problem with your order.
在餐厅。Zài cāntīng. At a restaurant.
First, let’s look at some Chinese restaurant vocabulary that you can use when you arrive at a restaurant.
- 一/两/三/四/五 位，谢谢。
yī / liǎng / sān / sì / wǔ wèi, xiè xie.
A table for one/two/three/four/five, please. - 你预约了吗？
Nǐ yùyuē le ma?
Do you have a reservation? - 我预约了。我们预约了。
Wǒ yùyuē le. Wǒmen yùyuē le.
I have a reservation. We have a reservation. - 我没预约。我们没预约。
Wǒ méi yùyuē. Wǒmen méi yùyuē.
I don’t have a reservation. We don’t have a reservation. - 你有菜单吗？
Nǐ yǒu càidān ma?
Do you have a menu? - 你有英文菜单吗？
Nǐ yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma?
Do you have a menu in English? - 你有酒单吗？
Nǐ yǒu jiǔdān ma?
Do you have a wine list?
Ordering Food
Now let’s turn to some vocabulary and expressions related to ordering food. For Chinese vocabulary related to the food itself, check out this post.
- 你准备好点餐了吗？
Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo diǎncān le ma?
Are you ready to order? - 我准备好点餐了。我们准备好点餐了。
Wǒ zhǔnbèi hǎo diǎncān le. Wǒmen zhǔnbèi hǎo diǎncān le.
I’m ready to order. We’re ready to order. - 我还没准备好点餐。我们还没准备好点餐。
Wǒ háiméi zhǔnbèi hǎo diǎncān. Wǒmen háiméi zhǔnbèi hǎo diǎncān.
I’m not ready to order. We’re not ready to order. - 请再给我们几分钟。
Qǐng zài gěi wǒmen jǐ fēnzhōng.
A few more minutes, please. - 你推荐什么？
Nǐ tuījiàn shénme?
What do you recommend? - 可以给我 餐巾纸/叉子/刀子/汤匙/筷子 吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ cānjīnzhǐ / chāzi / dāozi / tāngshi / kuàizi ma?
Could I have a napkin/fork/knife/spoon/chopsticks? - 可以给我一杯水吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yìbēi shuǐ ma?
Could I have a glass of water? - 买单，谢谢。
Mǎidān, xiè xiè.
Check, please. - 哪里买单？
Nǎlǐ mǎidān?
Where do I pay?
我吃素。Wǒ chī sù. I’m vegetarian.
Now let’s turn to special diets. If you’re on any kind of restricted diet, you may need to know these helpful expressions before you order.
- 我节食中。
Wǒ jiéshí zhōng.
I’m on a diet. - 我吃素。我不吃肉或鱼。
Wǒ chī sù. Wǒ bùchī ròu huò yú.
I’m vegetarian. I don’t eat meat or fish. - 我吃全素。我不吃动物制品。
Wǒ chī quán sù. Wǒ bùchī dòngwù zhìpǐn.
I’m vegan. I don’t eat any animal products. - 我不吃肤质。
Wǒ bù chī fūzhì.
I don’t eat gluten. - 我对花生过敏。
Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn.
I’m allergic to peanuts. - 我对奶制品过敏。
Wǒ duì nǎizhìpǐn guòmǐn.
I’m allergic to dairy products. - 我对坚果过敏。
Wǒ duì jiānguǒ guòmǐn.
I’m allergic to tree nuts. - 我对甲壳类海鲜过敏。
Wǒ duì jiǎkélèi hǎixiān guòmǐn.
I’m allergic to shellfish. - 我不喝有酒精的饮料。
Wǒ bù hē yǒu jiǔjīng de yǐnliào.
I don’t drink alcohol. - 我不喝有咖啡因的饮料。
Wǒ bù hē yǒu kāfēiyīn de yǐnliào.
I don’t drink caffeine. - 这是犹太食品认证的食物吗？
Zhèshì yóutài shípǐn rènzhèng de shíwù ma?
Is this food kosher? - 这是清真认证的食物吗？
Zhèshì qīngzhēn rènzhèng de shíwù ma?
Is this food halal?
别太辣。Bié tài là. Not too spicy.
Depending on what kind of food you’re going to eat, spice may be something you need to talk about. People can tolerate different levels of heat in their food, so you may want to say:
- 这个辣吗？
Zhège là ma?
Is this spicy? - 我喜欢吃辣。
Wǒ xǐhuān chī là.
I like spicy food. - 我不吃辣。
Wǒ bù chī là.
I don’t like spicy food. - 最辣，谢谢。
Zuìlà, xiè xiè.
Very spicy, please. - 中辣，谢谢。
Zhōnglà, xiè xiè.
Medium spicy, please. - 不辣，谢谢。
Búlà, xiè xiè.
Not spicy, please. - 这太辣了。
Zhè tài là le.
It’s too spicy.
你的菜怎么样？Nǐ de cài zěnmeyàng? How’s your food?
Finally, let’s wrap up our discussion of Chinese restaurant vocabulary with some expressions you can use to talk about your food. The four basic tastes are 咸的xián de (salty), 甜的tián de (sweet), 苦的kǔ de (bitter), 酸的suān de (sour). But if someone asks how your food is, you’ll probably want know a bit more than that.
- 很好吃。
Hěn hǎo chī.
It’s delicious. - 很棒。
Hěn bàng.
It’s great. - 菜非常美味。
Cài fēi cháng měi wèi.
This food is excellent. - 太辣了。
Tài là le.
It’s too hot. - 太冷了。
Tài lěng le.
It’s too cold. - 太甜了。
Tài tián le.
It’s too sweet. - 太咸了。
Tài xián le.
It’s too salty. - 没有味道。
Méi yǒu wèi dào.
It’s tasteless/bland. - 煮太久了。
Zhǔ tài jiǔ le.
It’s overcooked. - 没煮熟。
Méi zhǔ shú.
It’s undercooked. - 太油了。
Tài yóu le.
It’s oily/greasy.
Of course, you may prefer to stay in and cook. If so, check out this post. Either way, 请享用！Qǐng xiǎng yòng! Enjoy your meal!
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