
What are some common phrases to use when ordering food in Russian
When ordering food in Russian, it’s helpful to know key phrases and vocabulary to communicate effectively. Here are some commonly used phrases and terms for various aspects of dining:
Basic Phrases for Ordering
- May I see the menu, please?
Можно посмотреть меню, пожалуйста? (Mozhno posmotret’ menyu, pozhaluysta?) - I would like to order [dish], please.
Я бы хотел заказать [блюдо], пожалуйста. (Ya by khotel zakazat’ [blyudo], pozhaluysta.)
(For women: Я бы хотела… - Ya by khotela…) - What do you recommend?
Что вы посоветуете? (Chto vy posovetuyete?) - Do you have a house specialty?
Есть ли у заведения фирменное блюдо? (Yest’ li u zavedeniya firmennoye blyudo?) - I’ll have [dish], please.
Я буду [блюдо], пожалуйста. (Ya budu [blyudo], pozhaluysta.) - How much does it cost?
Сколько стоит? (Skol’ko stoit?)
Interacting with the Waiter
- Are you ready to order?
Вы готовы заказать? (Vy gotovy zakazat’?) - Excuse me, we would like to order.
Извините, мы бы хотели сделать заказ. (Izvinite, my by khoteli sdelat’ zakaz.) - Could you bring us more napkins?
Можно принести ещё салфеток? (Mozhno prinesti eshchyo salfetok?) - The food was delicious!
Всё было очень вкусно! (Vso bylo ochen’ vkusno!)
Common Food Items
- Soup: Суп (Sup)
- Salad: Салат (Salat)
- Bread: Хлеб (Khleb)
- Meat: Мясо (Myaso)
- Fish: Рыба (Ryba)
- Dessert: Десерт (Desert)
Examples of popular Russian dishes:
- Borscht (Борщ) – Beet soup
- Pelmeni (Пельмени) – Dumplings
- Olivier Salad (Салат «Оливье») – Traditional potato salad
Requests and Preferences
- I don’t eat [specific food].
Я не ем [еда]. (Ya ne yem [eda].) - Can I have my meat well-done/medium/rare?
Я бы хотел моё мясо хорошо прожаренным/средней готовности/недожаренным.
(Ya by khotel moyo myaso khorosho prozharyennym/sredney gotovnosti/nedozharyennym.)
Paying the Bill
- Can I have the bill, please?
Принесите счёт, пожалуйста. (Prinesite schyot, pozhaluysta.) - Keep the change.
Оставьте сдачу себе. (Ostav’te sdachu sebe.) - I will pay for everything.
Я заплачу за всех. (Ya zaplachu za vsekh.)
Polite Expressions
- Thank you. That’s enough.
Спасибо, этого хватит. (Spasibo, etogo khvatit.) - Bon appétit!
Приятного аппетита! (Priyatnogo appetita!)
By practicing these phrases, you can comfortably navigate a dining experience in a Russian-speaking environment 1, 2, 4.
References
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How to Order Food in Russian: 65 Words and Phrases | FluentU
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How to order food in Russian: 50 plus food terms to know - Italki
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How to Order Food in Russian at a Restaurant • newgirlonthebloc.com
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Russian food metaphor as an object of ideographic lexicography
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Features of the Use of the Verb «open» in Chinese and Russian
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The Meanings of Idioms With the Word ‘Tongue’ in Russian Language
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In the bar or cafe. (Buying things) - Russian Language Lesson 4