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餐廳用語餐厅用语 · Restaurant Words in Chinese
From walking in the door to splitting the bill — the essential phrases you actually need at a Chinese restaurant.
餐廳人員稱呼餐厅人员称呼 · Restaurant People
Calling the waitstaff (Taiwan usage)
Calling the waitstaff (China usage)
In Guangdong / Hong Kong
Restaurant Owner (male)
Restaurant Owner (female)
In Taiwanese restaurants, people rarely call out loudly right away. Instead, it is customary to raise your hand quietly and wait for eye contact with a server. Calling out (不好意思不好意思 / 先生先生 / 小姐小姐) is usually reserved for when you are seated in a secluded corner or when the restaurant is extremely busy.
入座與登記入座与登记 · Entering the Restaurant
How many people in your party?
For here, or to go? (Dining Options)
- Dine-in / Takeout： 內用 / 外帶 堂食 / 打包
Do you have a reservation?
- Reservation： 訂位订位
Are any seats available?
I would like to take away.
Can we sit here?
Table for six?
Do you have a private room?
- Private room： 包廂单间
Please give me a table near the window.
This seat is not good, may I change?
點餐用語点餐用语 · Ordering Food
Please give me the menu.
- Menu： 菜單菜单
Do you have an English menu?
Do you have any recommendations?
- Recommendation： 推薦推荐
- Signature dish： 招牌菜招牌菜
Do you serve vegetarian food?
- Vegetarian food：素食素菜
- Milk & egg OK：蛋奶素蛋奶素
- No allium at all：全素全素
- Vegan：五辛素五辛素
I am allergic to seafood.
- Allergic：過敏过敏
- Seafood：海鮮海鲜
- Shellfish：貝類贝类
- Crustacean：甲殼類甲壳类
- Egg：雞蛋鸡蛋
- Gluten：麩質麸质
Would that be a set meal, or à la carte?
I would like a Mapo tofu.
That will be all for now.
用餐期間用餐期间 · During the Meal
May I have a refill (tea)?
Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
- Paper napkin：衛生紙纸巾
- Wet wipe：濕紙巾湿纸巾
- Spoon：湯匙汤匙
- Fork：叉子叉子
My order hasn’t arrived yet.
Any idea how much longer it will be?
Unless you are dining at a high-end restaurant, dishes are served sequentially as soon as each is cooked, rather than arriving simultaneously for everyone at the table. Dishes for you and your dining companions can occasionally arrive 20 to 30 minutes apart. In Taiwanese and Chinese dining etiquette, it is polite for the person still waiting to tell their companion: “你先吃沒關係，冷了就不好吃了你先吃没关系，冷了就不好吃了” (Please go ahead and eat while it’s hot; don’t wait for mine)” so they can comfortably enjoy their meal without feeling awkward.
I did not order this dish.
This dish is too spicy.
- Too salty：太鹹了太咸了
- Is cold：冷了冷了
- Overcooked：太老了太老了
In local eateries, it is polite to provide feedback discreetly rather than complaining loudly. Constructive, quiet remarks are always handled with better care by the kitchen staff!
Can you pack my leftovers to go?
In both Taiwan and mainland China, asking to take home leftovers (打包打包) is completely normal and encouraged to avoid food waste — even if you only have half a cup of coffee or a few bites left. Most dining establishments provide takeout boxes and bags free of charge, though some places may charge a nominal packing fee (打包費打包费).
結帳買單结账买单 · Settling the Bill
Bill, please.
It’s my treat!
Let’s split the bill (go Dutch).
Do you accept credit cards / mobile pay?
- Credit card：信用卡信用卡
- Mobile payment：電子支付电子支付
- Cash：現金现金
• Mainland China: Almost entirely cashless. Mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay are ubiquitous everywhere from luxury restaurants to roadside street stalls. Traditional credit cards and cash are rarely used in daily dining.
• Taiwan: While mobile wallets (LINE Pay, JKOPAY) and credit cards are widely accepted at department stores and chain eateries, cash remains essential for traditional night markets, street vendors, and local diners (小吃店小吃店).
We would like to pay separately.
There appears to be a mistake on the bill.
May I have a receipt / invoice, please?
