Are you intimidated by Chinese menus? Do you find yourself pointing at random dishes hoping for the best? Fear not!
This post will guide you through the basics of understanding different menu sections and common dishes as well as how to order them from the waiter.
Learning Mandarin: Ordering Food from a Chinese Menu
Welcome to today’s Mandarin Chinese learning blog post! Whether you're planning a trip to China or simply heading to your local Chinese restaurant, knowing how to read a menu and place an order is essential. Let’s dive in!
Section 1: Understanding the Menu
When you open a Chinese menu, you’ll usually find several sections. Here are some common categories:
- 开胃菜 (Kāiwèicài) - Appetizers
- 主菜 (Zhǔcài) - Main Dishes
- 素菜 (Sùcài) - Vegetarian Dishes
- 汤 (Tāng) - Soups
- 饮料 (Yǐnliào) - Beverages
- 甜点 (Tiándiǎn) - Desserts
Each section has its own specialties, so let's explore them!
Section 2: Appetizers (开胃菜)
Appetizers are a great way to start your meal. Here are some popular choices:
- 春卷 (Chūnjuǎn) - Spring Rolls
Crispy fried rolls filled with vegetables or meat. - 锅贴 (Guōtiē) - Potstickers
Pan-fried dumplings, typically filled with pork or vegetables. - 凉拌黄瓜 (Liángbàn Huángguā) - Cold Cucumber Salad
A refreshing dish that’s perfect for beginning your meal.
Section 3: Main Dishes (主菜)
Next up, let’s look at some delicious main dishes:
- 宫保鸡丁 (Gōngbǎo Jīdīng) - Kung Pao Chicken
A spicy stir-fry with chicken, peanuts, and chili peppers. - 北京烤鸭 (Běijīng Kǎoyā) - Peking Duck
Famous for its crispy skin and tender meat. - 麻辣火锅 (Málà Huǒguō) - Spicy Hot Pot
A fun dining experience where you cook your own ingredients in a spicy broth.
Section 4: Vegetarian Dishes (素菜)
For those who prefer vegetarian options, here are some tasty dishes:
- 炒青菜 (Chǎo Qīngcài) - Stir-Fried Greens
Usually made with garlic and leafy vegetables. - 豆腐 (Dòufu) - Tofu
A versatile protein made from soybeans, great in many dishes. - 素炒饭 (Sù Chǎofàn) - Vegetarian Fried Rice
Fried rice with a mix of vegetables.
Section 5: Soups (汤)
Now, let’s talk about soups. Here are some favorites:
- 酸辣汤 (Suānlà Tāng) - Hot and Sour Soup
A tangy and spicy soup that’s very popular. - 蛋花汤 (Dànhuā Tāng) - Egg Drop Soup
A simple soup made with beaten eggs. - 排骨汤 (Páigǔ Tāng) - Pork Rib Soup
A hearty soup with tender pork ribs.
Section 6: Beverages (饮料)
Now, let’s explore some beverages you might enjoy:
- 绿茶 (Lǜchá) - Green Tea
A refreshing drink often served in Chinese restaurants. - 可乐 (Kělè) - Cola
A popular carbonated drink. - 果汁 (Guǒzhī) - Fruit Juice
Freshly squeezed juices are always a great choice!
Section 7: Desserts (甜点)
Finally, let’s look at desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth:
- 蛋挞 (Dàntà) - Egg Tart
A flaky pastry filled with egg custard. - 糖水 (Tángshuǐ) - Sweet Soup
A sweet dessert soup made with sugar and fruit. - 绿豆汤 (Lǜdòu Tāng) - Mung Bean Soup
A traditional sweet soup made with mung beans.
Section 8: Ordering Food
Now that we’ve covered the menu, it’s time to practice ordering food! Here are some useful phrases:
- 我想要这个 (wǒ xiǎng yào zhège) - I want this one.
- 请给我... (qǐng gěi wǒ...) - Please give me...
- 这个好吃吗？(zhège hǎo chī ma?) - Is this delicious?
- 我可以点菜了吗？(wǒ kěyǐ diǎn cài le ma?) - Can I order now?
- 可以推荐几道特色菜吗？ - Can you recommend some specialty dishes?
- 服务员，买单！ - Waiter, the bill please!
- 服务员，请打包！ - Waiter, please pack this to go!
Role-Play Practice
Let’s put this into practice! Imagine you’re at a Chinese restaurant:
Customer:
"你好！我可以点菜了吗？(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ kěyǐ diǎn cài le ma?)"
Hello! Can I order now?
Waiter:
"可以！您想要什么？(Kěyǐ! Nín xiǎng yào shénme?)"
Of course! What would you like?
Customer:
"我想要宫保鸡丁和牛肉面。(Wǒ xiǎng yào gōng bǎo jī dīng hé niú ròu miàn.)"
I want Kung Pao Chicken and Beef Noodle Soup.
Waiter:
"好的！还需要其他吗？(Hǎo de! Hái xūyào qítā ma?)"
Okay! Do you need anything else?
Customer:
"就这些吧，谢谢！(Jiù zhèxiē ba, xièxiè!)"
That will be all, thank you!
Real Life Chinese at a Restaurant Dialogue Breakdown (from the video above)
Angel:
nǐ hǎo!
你好!
Hello!
wǒ yào diǎn cài.
我要点菜。
I want to order.
Waitress:
nǐ yào xuǎn zhòng kǒu wèi hái shì dàn yīdiǎn de?
你要选重口味还是淡一点的？
Do you want to choose something spicy or something lighter?
Angel:
wǒ yào dàn yīdiǎn de.
我要淡一点的。
I want something lighter.
Waitress:
dàn de.
淡的。
Lighter.
zhè zhǒng yě bǐjiào qīngdàn yīdiǎn.
这种也比较清淡一点。
This one is also relatively light.
Angel:
hǎo!
好！
Good!
wǒ yào yī gè hé táng yuè sè.
我要一个荷塘月色。
I want a "Lotus Pond Moonlight."
Waitress:
hǎo, hái shì yǒu diǎn nóng yīdiǎn?
好，还是有点浓一点？
Okay, or should it be a bit stronger?
zhè zhǒng yě hǎo.
这种也好。
This one is fine too.
Angel:
zhège shùn shùn xiāng pái.
这个顺顺香排。
This is "Smooth Fragrant Ribs."
Waitress:
hǎo, kěyǐ.
好，可以。
Good, that works.
Angel:
hái yào yī fèn
还要一份
Also, I want an order of
yī fèn nàgè
一份那个
one of that.
nàgè jiào sù xiàn bǐng.
那个叫素馅饼。
That's called a "Vegetable Stuffed Pie."
Waitress:
hǎo de.
好的。
Okay.
Angel:
hǎo.
好。
Good.
xièxiè nǐ!
谢谢你！
Thank you!
Waitress:
bú kèqì! xiān zuò yīxià a.
不客气！先坐一下啊。
You're welcome! Please take a seat first.
Angel:
hǎo de.
好的。
Okay.
And there you have it! A quick lesson on how to navigate a Chinese menu and order food.