Table of Contents
点菜 diǎn cài: to order food
Twenty real, everyday phrases you can use and recognise in a Chinese restaurant, from finding a table to paying the bill.

Ordering food in China rarely sounds like a tidy textbook dialogue. Staff speak quickly, questions are shortened, and scanning a QR code has replaced the paper menu in many restaurants. The good news is that a small set of flexible phrases can carry you through the whole meal.

Here are twenty expressions that locals actually use, with pinyin, meanings and the situations in which you are most likely to hear them.

Arriving and Getting a Table

The first exchange is usually very short. A member of staff may simply ask 几位？ rather than using a complete sentence. They want to know how many people are in your group.

  1. 几位？ (Jǐ wèi?): How many people?
  2. 有位置吗？ (Yǒu wèizhi ma?): Is there a table available?
  3. 请坐。 (Qǐng zuò.): Please sit.
  4. 稍等。 (Shāo děng.): Please wait a moment.

To reply, give the number followed by 位, the polite measure word for people: 两位，谢谢 (liǎng wèi, xièxie) means “Two people, thank you.”

Looking at the Menu

A diner scanning a table QR code with a smartphone Scanning a table QR code is now a common way to order in many Chinese restaurants.

In many city restaurants, a QR code is the menu. If you would rather see a paper menu, asking for one is perfectly reasonable.

  1. 可以扫码点餐。 (Kěyǐ sǎomǎ diǎn cān.): You can scan the QR code to order.
  2. 菜单。 (Càidān.): Menu.
  3. 今天推荐…… (Jīntiān tuījiàn...): Today’s recommendation is…
  4. 服务员！ (Fúwùyuán!): Excuse me! / Waiter!

Calling 服务员 is normal in casual restaurants. Say it clearly in a friendly tone when you need someone’s attention; it is not rude in the way that shouting “waiter” might sound in some English-speaking settings.

Ordering and Making Requests

When the menu is difficult to read, pointing is useful. 我要这个 works naturally with a printed menu, a phone screen or a dish you can see nearby.

  1. 我要这个。 (Wǒ yào zhège.): I’ll have this one.
  2. 不要辣。 (Bú yào là.): No spice, please.
  3. 再来一份。 (Zài lái yí fèn.): One more portion, please.
  4. 加水。 (Jiā shuǐ.): More water, please.
  5. 好吃！ (Hǎochī!): Delicious!

For a softer request, add 麻烦 (máfan) at the beginning or 谢谢 (xièxie) at the end: 麻烦不要辣，谢谢 means “Please make it not spicy, thank you.”

A server placing a freshly cooked Chinese dish on a shared table Trying the day’s recommendation is an easy way to discover a local speciality.

✨ Did you know?
“Not spicy” can vary by restaurant and region. If you are very sensitive to chilli, say 一点辣都不要 (yìdiǎn là dōu bú yào): no spice at all.

Paying, Packing Up and Leaving

When you are ready to leave, 买单 is the standard, neutral way to ask for the bill. It may look direct in an English translation, but it does not need a longer or more formal sentence.

  1. 买单。 (Mǎi dān.): The bill, please.
  2. 一共多少钱？ (Yígòng duōshao qián?): How much is it altogether?
  3. 刷卡还是现金？ (Shuā kǎ háishì xiànjīn?): Card or cash?
  4. 打包。 (Dǎ bāo.): Pack it to take away, please.
  5. 慢走。 (Màn zǒu.): Take care.
  6. 欢迎下次光临。 (Huānyíng xiàcì guānglín.): We hope to see you again.
  7. 点菜。 (Diǎn cài.): To order food.

You might hear 慢走 as you walk out. Literally it means “walk slowly”, but its natural meaning is closer to “take care” or “have a safe journey”.

A customer paying by phone at a Chinese restaurant counter At the end of the meal, 买单 is the natural way to ask to pay.

All 20 Phrases at a Glance

  • 几位？Jǐ wèi?How many people?
  • 有位置吗？Yǒu wèizhi ma?Is there a table?
  • 请坐Qǐng zuòPlease sit
  • 稍等Shāo děngPlease wait a moment
  • 可以扫码点餐Kěyǐ sǎomǎ diǎn cānYou can scan to order
  • 菜单CàidānMenu
  • 今天推荐Jīntiān tuījiànToday’s recommendation
  • 服务员FúwùyuánWaiter / waitress
  • 我要这个Wǒ yào zhègeI’ll have this one
  • 不要辣Bú yào làNo spice, please
  • 再来一份Zài lái yí fènOne more portion
  • 加水Jiā shuǐMore water, please
  • 好吃HǎochīDelicious
  • 买单Mǎi dānThe bill, please
  • 一共多少钱？Yígòng duōshao qián?How much altogether?
  • 刷卡还是现金？Shuā kǎ háishì xiànjīn?Card or cash?
  • 打包Dǎ bāoPack it to take away
  • 慢走Màn zǒuTake care
  • 欢迎下次光临Huānyíng xiàcì guānglínWe hope to see you again
  • 点菜Diǎn càiTo order food

A Quick Restaurant Conversation

Staff: 几位？
Jǐ wèi?
How many people?

Customer: 两位，谢谢。有位置吗？
Liǎng wèi, xièxie. Yǒu wèizhi ma?
Two people, thank you. Is there a table?

Staff: 有，请坐。可以扫码点餐。
Yǒu, qǐng zuò. Kěyǐ sǎomǎ diǎn cān.
Yes, please sit. You can scan the code to order.

Customer: 好的。我要这个，麻烦不要辣。
Hǎo de. Wǒ yào zhège, máfan bú yào là.
Okay. I’ll have this one; no spice, please.

How to Practise These Phrases

Start by learning to recognise the questions staff ask: 几位？, 可以扫码点餐, and 刷卡还是现金？ Then practise three customer phrases that work in many situations: 我要这个, 不要辣, and 买单.

You do not need perfect tones to make progress. Pointing at the menu, listening for key words and adding a friendly 谢谢 will take you a long way.

Final Takeaway

You do not need to memorise all twenty phrases before your next meal. Recognising a handful of them will make the rhythm of a Chinese restaurant much easier to follow, and every real interaction will make the words feel more natural.

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