Chinese Vocabulary for: Ordering at a restaurant
Ordering at a restaurant in Mandarin is one of the most practical skills for intermediate learners. Whether you're in Taiwan, mainland China, or a Chinese-speaking community, knowing how to ask for the menu, request modifications, and pay the bill will make dining out much smoother. This page focuses on vocabulary and phrases you'll hear and use in real sit-down restaurants—from reading the menu to splitting the check. The sentences are tuned for A2–B2 learners and align with HSK 3–6, so you get real-life language without overwhelming grammar. Use this alongside spaced repetition so the phrases stick.
When you'd use this
You'll use this vocabulary when eating at sit-down restaurants, reading menus, asking about dishes, requesting the bill, and discussing preferences (spicy, vegetarian, allergies). It also helps when making reservations or asking for a table.
Key vocabulary
- 菜单cài dān• menu
- 点菜diǎn cài• to order food
- 服务员fú wù yuán• waiter / server
- 招牌菜zhāo pai cài• signature dish
- 辣là• spicy
- 不辣bù là• not spicy
- 味道wèi dào• taste / flavor
- 结账jié zhàng• to pay the bill
- 打包dǎ bāo• to take away / doggy bag
- 推荐tuī jiàn• to recommend
- 份fèn• portion / serving
- 加辣jiā là• add spicy
- 买单mǎi dān• to pay (bill)
- 筷子kuài zi• chopsticks
- 饮料yǐn liào• drinks
Example sentences
请给我菜单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ cài dān.
Please give me the menu.
有什么招牌菜？
Yǒu shén me zhāo pai cài?
What are the signature dishes?
这道菜有点辣。
Zhè dào cài yǒu diǎn là.
This dish is a bit spicy.
我们要结账。
Wǒ men yào jié zhàng.
We'd like to pay the bill.
可以打包吗？
Kě yǐ dǎ bāo ma?
Can we get this to go?
请推荐一道菜。
Qǐng tuī jiàn yī dào cài.
Please recommend a dish.
我们各付各的。
Wǒ men gè fù gè de.
We'll pay separately.
Common mistakes / natural phrasing
Avoid saying only '辣' when you mean 'make it spicy'—say '加辣' or '要辣一点'. '买单' and '结账' are both used for paying; '买单' is more casual. Don't confuse '份' (portion) with '个' (piece)—e.g. '一份炒饭' is one order of fried rice.
Ready to learn this vocabulary with level-tuned sentences and a daily review loop? Start your Topic Island and we'll generate words and examples for you.