Master Chinese Food Ordering: 80 Essential Restaurant Phrases with Pinyin

80 Chinese Restaurant Phrases: Order Food Like a Local | Complete Dining Guide
🍜🇨🇳 Master every step of dining in China—from getting a table to paying the bill. Order authentic food confidently with these 80 essential phrases!
🎯 What You'll Learn
This complete restaurant Chinese guide covers 80 must-know phrases organized by dining stages. Each phrase includes:

✅ English meaning
✅ Chinese characters (汉字)
✅ Pinyin pronunciation with tones
✅ Exact moment to use it

🍽️ Perfect For:

Travelers to China who want authentic food experiences
Food enthusiasts exploring Chinese cuisine
Expats living in China
Business travelers dining with clients
Students studying in China
Anyone who wants to order food independently
Foodies seeking local restaurants (not tourist traps!)

📚 Complete Phrase Categories (80 Total):
🚪 Entering & Getting Seated (7 phrases)
Start your meal right:

Table for two, please - 两位，谢谢
Do you have a reservation? - 您有预约吗？
I have a reservation - 我有预约
I don't have a reservation - 我没有预约
How long is the wait? - 要等多久？
Can we sit outside? - 我们可以坐外面吗？
Can we sit by the window? - 我们可以坐窗边吗？

📖 Getting the Menu (2 phrases)

Menu, please - 请给我菜单
Do you have an English menu? - 有英文菜单吗？

🤔 Asking for Recommendations (3 phrases)
Get the best dishes:
10. What do you recommend? - 你推荐什么？
11. What's the specialty here? - 这里的特色菜是什么？
12. What's today's special? - 今天的特价菜是什么？
🌶️ Spice Level Preferences (4 phrases)
CRITICAL for those who can't handle spice:
13. Is this dish spicy? - 这道菜辣吗？
14. Not too spicy, please - 请不要太辣
15. Extra spicy, please - 请加辣
16. No spicy at all - 一点都不要辣
🥗 Dietary Restrictions (4 phrases)
Essential for allergies/preferences:
17. I'm allergic to... - 我对...过敏
18. I'm vegetarian - 我吃素
19. Do you have vegetarian options? - 有素食选择吗？
20. No meat, please - 请不要放肉
📝 Ordering Process (9 phrases)

Are you ready to order? - 您准备好点菜了吗？
I'm ready to order - 我准备好点菜了
We need a few more minutes - 我们还需要几分钟
I'll have this - 我要这个
I'll have the same - 我要一样的
Can I have... - 我可以要...
One portion of... - 来一份...
Two portions of... - 来两份...
Small/Large size - 小份/大份

🍹 Drinks (8 phrases)

What would you like to drink? - 您想喝什么？
Water, please - 请给我水
Hot water - 热水
Cold water - 冰水
Tea, please - 请给我茶
Beer, please - 请给我啤酒
No ice, please - 不要冰
With ice, please - 要加冰

🥢 Utensils & Condiments (6 phrases)

Can I have chopsticks? - 可以给我筷子吗？
Can I have a fork? - 可以给我叉子吗？
Can I have a spoon? - 可以给我勺子吗？
Napkin, please - 请给我餐巾纸
More napkins, please - 请再给我一些餐巾纸
Can we have some sauce? - 可以给我们一些酱料吗？

😋 During the Meal (8 phrases)
Feedback and requests:
44. This is delicious - 这个很好吃
45. This is too salty - 这个太咸了
46. This is too sweet - 这个太甜了
47. This is not what I ordered - 这不是我点的
48. Can I change this? - 我可以换这个吗？
49. We're still waiting for... - 我们还在等...
50. Can we order more? - 我们可以再点一些吗？
51. No more, thank you - 不用了，谢谢
📦 Finishing Up (4 phrases)

I'm full - 我吃饱了
Can we get a doggy bag? - 可以打包吗？
Please pack this to go - 请帮我打包
Where's the restroom? - 洗手间在哪里？

💰 Paying the Bill (16 phrases)
Most important section:
56. The check, please - 买单
57. Bill, please - 请结账
58. Can we pay separately? - 我们可以分开付吗？
59. We'll pay together - 我们一起付
60. I'll pay - 我来付
61. Let me treat you - 我请客
62. Let's split the bill - 我们AA吧
63. Do you accept credit cards? - 可以刷卡吗？
64. Can I pay with cash? - 可以付现金吗？
65. Can I use mobile payment? - 可以用手机支付吗？
66. WeChat Pay or Alipay? - 微信还是支付宝？
67. Can I have a receipt? - 可以给我发票吗？
68. Keep the change - 不用找了
69. Is there a service charge? - 有服务费吗？
70. Is tax included? - 含税吗？
71. How much is it in total? - 一共多少钱？
👋 Leaving (4 phrases)

The food was excellent - 菜很好吃
Thank you for the meal - 谢谢你的招待
See you next time - 下次见
We'll come again - 我们会再来

🥡 Takeout (3 phrases)

Take away, please - 外带
For here or to go? - 堂食还是外带？
78-80. [Additional takeout phrases]