Taste of China: A Guide to Ordering Food & Drinks in Chinese Restaurants
To order food and drinks in a Chinese restaurant, the most useful pattern is verb + quantity + measure word + dish or drink name. The safest beginner phrases are 我要 (wǒ yào), 给我来个 (gěi wǒ lái ge), and 点菜 (diǎn cài), which work well in fast-paced restaurant settings.
Core ordering patterns
Chinese restaurant orders often use measure words, and that is the main difference from English. For dishes, 份 (fèn) is the standard measure word for a portion or serving, while for drinks, 杯 (bēi) is commonly used for cups or glasses.
- 我要 (wǒ yào) + number + 份 (fèn, measure word for dishes) + dish name — “I want [number] orders of [dish].”
- 给我来个 (gěi wǒ lái ge) + dish — “Give me a [dish].”
- 点菜 (diǎn cài) — “I would like to order.”
For drinks, replace 份 (fèn) with 杯 (bēi, measure word for cups or glasses):
- 我要 (wǒ yào) + number + 杯 (bēi) + drink — “I want [number] glasses of [drink].”
In spoken Chinese, these phrases are direct but normal, especially in casual restaurants, noodle shops, and street-food places. In more formal dining rooms, adding 请 (qǐng) or 麻烦 (máfan) can sound softer, but the basic pattern remains the same.
Ordering from the menu
When the dish name is unfamiliar or hard to pronounce, pointing is completely normal. A simple pointing phrase avoids mistakes and keeps the order moving.
- 我要一份这个 (wǒ yào yí fèn zhè ge) — “I would like one order of this.”
This phrase is especially useful with picture menus, which are common in many Chinese restaurants. It also works when a dish has a long name or when the menu includes regional specialties that are hard to read aloud.
Useful words for restaurant conversation
Some words come up repeatedly when ordering, paying, or asking for adjustments:
- 请给我们… (qǐng gěi wǒmen) — “Please give us…”
- 服务员 (fúwùyuán) — “Waiter/Waitress” (to call the server)
- 菜单 (càidān) — “Menu”
- 辣 (là) — “Spicy” (ask for level of spiciness)
- 干杯 (gānbēi) — “Cheers!”
- 谢谢 (xièxiè) — “Thank you”
服务员 is useful as a direct call to attention, similar to “Excuse me” in English restaurant speech. 菜单 can be said when asking for the menu at the beginning of the meal or when ordering another round of food later.
Asking for spice level
Spice level matters in Chinese menus because the same dish can vary a lot by region and restaurant. 辣 (là) is the key word for “spicy,” and it can be combined with dish names or simple follow-up questions such as 不辣 (bù là) for “not spicy.”
That makes it possible to order more precisely and avoid surprises, especially with Sichuan-style dishes, chili oil noodles, or stir-fries that may be much hotter than expected. In many places, servers understand a simple request for less spice, and some menus mark dishes with chili icons or labels.
Example orders
Example of ordering one spicy chicken dish and two beer:
我要一份辣子鸡 (wǒ yào yí fèn làzi jī) — “I want one order of spicy chicken.”
我要两杯啤酒 (wǒ yào liǎng bēi píjiǔ) — “I want two glasses of beer.”
These examples show the basic structure clearly: quantity first, then the measure word, then the item. That pattern works with many common foods and drinks, including rice dishes, soups, tea, soda, and local beers.
Asking for the menu
Polite way to ask for the menu:
服务员，来一份菜单 (fúwùyuán, lái yí fèn càidān) — “Waiter, may I have a menu, please?”
In everyday speech, the same request may be shortened or made even more casual, but this version is clear and broadly usable. In busy restaurants, a short call such as 服务员 followed by the request is usually enough to get attention.
Finishing the order
To confirm you have finished ordering, say:
就这些 (jiù zhèxiē) — “That’s all.”
This phrase is especially practical because it signals that no more items are coming. In group dining, it helps servers know the order is complete without needing a long explanation.
Pronunciation and speaking tips
Chinese restaurant phrases are easier to use when the rhythm is kept simple and steady. The most important tones in these expressions are often the quantity words and the item names, not the entire sentence. For example, 两杯啤酒 is easier to remember as “two cups of beer” than as four separate vocabulary items.
A useful habit is to pair speech with pointing, numbers, and eye contact. That combination reduces confusion, especially when accents, background noise, or regional vocabulary make pronunciation harder to hear. Regular conversation practice helps these phrases become automatic more quickly than passive memorization alone.
Quick order formula
A simple restaurant formula is:
我要 + number + measure word + item
Examples:
- 我要一份面 (wǒ yào yí fèn miàn) — one portion of noodles
- 我要两杯茶 (wǒ yào liǎng bēi chá) — two cups of tea
- 我要一个这个 (wǒ yào yí ge zhè ge) — one of this one
For drinks, 杯 is common; for many foods, 份 works well; and for single countable items, 个 (ge) often appears in everyday speech. When in doubt, pointing plus 这个 is one of the most reliable strategies in a restaurant.
These phrases will help in ordering food and drinks efficiently in a Chinese restaurant. Pointing to dishes on the menu and using simple numbers with measure words makes communication easier, especially if pronunciation is challenging.