Day 13: At the Restaurant — Learn Chinese in 30 Days

What You’ll Learn Today

The restaurant is where Chinese language skills feel most rewarding. Today you’ll learn a complete set of phrases — from getting a table through paying the bill — so you can navigate any Chinese dining experience with confidence.

Getting Started

Entering the restaurant:

几位？— Jǐ wèi? — How many people? (what the host will ask) 两位。— Liǎng wèi. — Two people.

Getting the menu:

请给我菜单。— Qǐng gěi wǒ cài dān. — Please give me the menu. 服务员！— Fú wù yuán! — Waiter! (just call out — this is normal in China)

Ordering

Basic order:

我要一碗米饭和一份宫保鸡丁。— Wǒ yào yī wǎn mǐ fàn hé yī fèn gōng bǎo jī dīng. — I want a bowl of rice and one kung pao chicken.

Useful measure words for ordering:

• 碗 (wǎn) — bowl (for rice, noodles, soup)
• 份 (fèn) — portion/order (for dishes)
• 杯 (bēi) — cup (for drinks)
• 瓶 (píng) — bottle

If you need more time:

再等一下。— Zài děng yī xià. — Wait a moment. (Tell the waiter you’re not ready)

Dietary Restrictions

Restriction	Chinese	Pinyin
Vegetarian	我是素食者	Wǒ shì sù shí zhě
No meat	我不吃肉	Wǒ bù chī ròu
No pork	我不吃猪肉	Wǒ bù chī zhū ròu
No shellfish	我不吃海鲜	Wǒ bù chī hǎi xiān
Peanut allergy	我对花生过敏	Wǒ duì huā shēng guò mǐn
Gluten-free	我不能吃面筋	Wǒ bù néng chī miàn jīn

The Toast: 干杯

When raising glasses: 干杯！ (Gān bēi!) — literally “dry cup” — means everyone should drain their glass. At formal dinners, you can sip instead of drain, but your host may insist.

For a lighter alternative: 随意 (suí yì) — “as you like” — lets people drink as much or as little as they want.

Paying the Bill

In Chinese dining culture, one person typically pays for everyone — fighting over the bill is a social ritual. The phrase “going Dutch” (AA制, AA zhì) is used by younger generations but can feel uncomfortable in traditional settings.

买单！— Mǎi dān! — Check please! 我来付。— Wǒ lái fù. — I’ll pay.

Cultural Note

Ordering for the table, not yourself is the norm. A group of 4 might order 6–8 dishes that rotate around a Lazy Susan in the center. The host usually does the ordering and picks dishes to balance flavors and textures.

Leftover food is commonly packed up to take home. Don’t be shy about asking for a 打包盒 (dǎ bāo hé) — a to-go box. Wasting food is increasingly frowned upon due to national campaigns against food waste.

Practice Exercise

Role-play: You’re at a Chinese restaurant with a friend.

1. Get the waiter’s attention.
2. Ask for the menu.
3. Order two bowls of noodles and one beer.
4. Your friend is vegetarian — how do you tell the waiter?
5. Ask for the bill at the end.

Answers: 1) 服务员！ 2) 请给我菜单。 3) 我要两碗面条和一瓶啤酒。 4) 我朋友是素食者，不吃肉。 5) 买单！