Menus in Chinese

Hello, I’m Tiffany from OneDotDot Chinese.

Today, let’s explore some Chinese vocabulary related to menus. 😋 When dining at a restaurant in China, how can you tell the main dishes from the side dishes? And if you want to order à la carte or opt for a set menu, how would you express that?

Menu – càidān

菜單càidān菜单càidān

可以kěyǐ再zài多duō給gěi我wǒ一份yífèn菜單càidān嗎ma？ 可以kěyǐ再zài多duō给gěi我wǒ一份yífèn菜单càidān吗ma？
May I have one more menu please?

Combo meal – tàocān

套餐tàocān套餐tàocān

In restaurants, if they offer a set menu or set meal, it could be called a “雙双人套餐” or a “四人套餐”

請qǐng給gěi我wǒ一份yífèn五號wǔhào(套)餐(tào)cān请qǐng给gěi我wǒ一份yífèn五号wǔhào(套)餐(tào)cān

à la carte – dāndiǎn

單點dāndiǎn单点dāndiǎn

菜單càidān上shàng的de品項pǐnxiàng可以kěyǐ單點dāndiǎn嗎ma？ 菜单càidān上shang的de品项pǐnxiàng可以kěyǐ单点dāndiǎn吗ma？
Can we order the items on the menu à la carte？

我wǒ想要xiǎngyào單點dāndiǎn一個yíge漢堡hànbǎo我wǒ想要xiǎngyào单点dāndiǎn一个yíge汉堡包hànbǎobāo
I would like to order a single hamburger.

Appetizer – kāiwèicài

開胃菜kāiwèicài开胃菜kāiwèicài

開开胃菜 kāiwèicài in Chinese is also commonly referred to as 前菜 qiáncài (starters).

所有的suǒyǒude前菜qiáncài皆jiē附有fùyǒu麵包miànbāo所有的suǒyǒude前菜qiáncài皆jiē附有fùyǒu面包miànbāo
All starters are served with bread.

Soup – tāng

湯tāng汤tāng

In traditional Chinese dining etiquette, soup often marks the final course before dessert. Our soups are generally clear, not creamy, intended to balance the richness of our main dishes. This serves to ease the palate before moving on to sweet treats.

Salad – shālā

沙拉shālā沙拉shālā

Salads aren’t traditionally a prominent part of Chinese dining etiquette. In more modern times and in certain contexts, salads have gained popularity as appetizers or light dishes in Chinese cuisine.

Main course – zhǔcān

主餐zhǔcān主餐zhǔcān

In Chinese cuisine, there isn’t typically a distinct concept of a “main course” as found in Western dining. Chinese dining culture tends to revolve around a shared eating experience, featuring multiple dishes that collectively form a meal. Therefore, Chinese cuisine leans towards family-style dining where the harmony and balance among dishes are more important, and there isn’t a clear-cut concept of a “main course” as seen in Western meals.

On the side – pèicài

配菜pèicài配菜pèicài

配菜 pèicài in Chinese refers to “side dishes” or “accompaniments.”

我wǒ要yào一個yíge漢堡hànbǎo， 然後ránhòu配菜pèicài選xuǎn薯條shǔtiáo我wǒ要yào一个yíge汉堡包hànbǎobāo， 然后ránhòu配菜pèicài选xuǎn薯条shǔtiáo
I’d like a hamburger, and for the side dish, I’ll have french fries.

小菜xiǎocài小菜xiǎocài

In Chinese, 小菜 xiǎocài means side dishes. What sets Taiwan’s practice apart from the West is that these side dishes are typically not served together on the same plate as the main course. Instead, they are brought separately in small dishes.

老闆lǎobǎn， 小菜xiǎocài我wǒ要yào切qiē一份yífèn豆乾dòugān老板lǎobǎn， 小菜xiǎocài我wǒ要yào切qiē一份yífèn豆干dòugān
(the way to call the store owner) I’d like an order of sliced dried tofu for the side dish.

這zhè家jiā店diàn的de小菜xiǎocài可以kěyǐ免費miǎnfèi續xù盤pán这zhè家jiā店diàn的de小菜xiǎocài可以kěyǐ免费miǎnfèi续xù盘pán
The side dishes in this restaurant can be refilled for free.

加料jiāliào加料jiāliào

加料 jiāliào in Chinese generally refers to “extra ingredients” or “additional toppings.”

我wǒ要yào一杯yìbēi珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá， 另外lìngwài加料jiāliào10 塊kuài錢qián的de芋圓yùyuán我wǒ要yào一杯yìbēi珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá， 另外lìngwài加料jiāliào10 块kuài钱qián的de芋圆yùyuán
One pearl milk tea, and additionally, I’d like to add taro balls for an extra charge of NTD 10.

請問qǐngwèn我的wǒde披薩pīsà可以kěyǐ加料jiāliào兩倍liǎngbèi起司qǐsī嗎ma？ 请问qǐngwèn我的wǒde披萨pīsà可以kěyǐ加料jiāliào两倍liǎngbèi芝士zhīshì吗ma？
Can I double the cheese toppings on my pizza, please?

Dessert – tiándiǎn

甜點tiándiǎn甜点tiándiǎn

Traditional Chinese desserts often include fruits or sweet soups. Examples include sweet rice balls with red bean paste, white fungus soup, and osmanthus fermented rice soup.

Sweet rice balls are made from glutinous rice flour, usually filled with sweet red bean paste and served in a sweet soup. White fungus soup consists of white fungus, rock sugar, and other ingredients. Osmanthus fermented rice soup are made from osmanthus, glutinous rice, and fermented rice, commonly enjoyed during special occasions or celebrations. These desserts are typically served at the end of a meal or during festive events.

Beverage – yǐnliào

飲料yǐnliào饮料yǐnliào – beverage or drink

無wú酒精jiǔjīng无wú酒精jiǔjīng – non-alcoholic

無wú咖啡因kāfēiyīn无wú咖啡因kāfēiyīn – decaffeinated

調酒tiáojiǔ调酒tiáojiǔ – cocktail

When in Taiwan, don’t miss out on trying some of the unique Taiwanese cocktails. Some are crafted with vodka as a base, mixed with the aromatic Tieguanyin tea and fresh milk, then topped off with pearl shots. There’s also the Red Jade Tea Liquor made by blending Nantou’s Sun Moon Lake Red Jade Tea with vodka. Another option includes a cocktail using bourbon whiskey as the base, combined with fresh passion fruit puree, and finally garnished with gummy candies.

果汁guǒzhī果汁guǒzhī – juice

咖啡kāfēi咖啡kāfēi – coffee

茶chá茶chá – tea

Chinese tea holds significant cultural and historical importance in China. It’s more than just a beverage; it’s deeply rooted in Chinese traditions, ceremonies, and daily life. There’s a wide variety of Chinese teas, each with unique flavors, aromas, and health benefits. Some of the most famous types of Chinese tea include:

1. Green Tea (綠茶lǜchá绿茶lǜchá): Known for its fresh and grassy taste, green tea undergoes minimal oxidation during processing.
2. Black Tea (紅茶hóngchá红茶hóngchá): Known for its robust flavor, black tea is fully oxidized and offers a stronger taste compared to green tea.
3. Oolong Tea (烏龍茶wūlóngchá乌龙茶wūlóngchá): Oolong teas are semi-oxidized, providing a balance between green and black tea with a wide range of flavors.
4. White Tea (白茶báichá白茶báichá): White tea is minimally processed and features delicate flavors, often with a subtle sweetness.
5. Pu-erh Tea (普洱茶pǔěrchá普洱茶pǔěrchá): This tea is fermented and aged, resulting in a complex and rich flavor profile.

Cooking way

生的shēngde生的shēngde – raw

這zhè道dào料理liàolǐ的de魚yú是shì生的shēngde嗎ma？ 这zhè道dào料理liàolǐ的de鱼yú是shì生的shēngde吗ma？
Is the fish in this dish raw?

一分yìfēn熟shóu一分yìfēn熟shú – rare

請問qǐngwèn您nín想要xiǎngyào幾分jǐfēn熟shóu？ 请问qǐngwèn您nín想要xiǎngyào几分jǐfēn熟shú？
How would you like it cooked?

三分sānfēn熟shóu三分sānfēn熟shú – medium-raw

我的wǒde牛排niúpái要yào三分sānfēn熟shóu我的wǒde牛排niúpái要yào三分sānfēn熟shú
I’d like to have my steak medium-rare.

五分wǔfēn熟shóu五分wǔfēn熟shú – medium

七分qīfēn熟shóu七分qīfēn熟shú – medium-well

全quán熟shóu全quán熟shú – well-done

Dietary Restrictions

無wú堅果jiānguǒ无wú坚果jiānguǒ – Nut-free

• 核桃hétáo核桃hétáo – Walnut
• 杏仁xìngrén杏仁xìngrén – Almond
• 腰果yāoguǒ腰果yāoguǒ – Cashew
• 花生huāshēng花生huāshēng – Peanut
• 栗子lìzi栗子lìzi – Chestnut
• 松子sōngzǐ松子sōngzǐ – Pine nut
• 開心果kāixīnguǒ开心果kāixīnguǒ – Pistachio
• 榛果zhēnguǒ榛果zhēnguǒ – Hazelnut

無wú麩質fūzhí无wú麸质fūzhí – Gluten-free

無wú甲殼類jiǎkélèi无wú甲壳类jiǎkélèi – Shellfish-free

他tā對duì甲殼類jiǎkélèi過敏guòmǐn， 請qǐng一定yídìng要yào確認quèrèn今天jīntiān的de餐點cāndiǎn無wú甲殼類jiǎkélèi他tā对duì甲壳类jiǎkélèi过敏guòmǐn， 请qǐng一定yídìng要yào确认quèrèn今天jīntiān的de餐点cāndiǎn无wú甲壳类jiǎkélèi
He’s allergic to shellfish, please make sure today’s meal does not contain any shellfish.

素食sùshí素食sùshí

素食 sùshí is also called 蔬食 shūshí. Taiwan offers a wide range of vegetarian options influenced by religious practices. Definitions of vegetarian diets here may differ from those in the West. Therefore, if you’re a vegetarian, it’s best to carefully review the details to ensure they align with your dietary preferences.

• 全素quánsù全素quánsù：This is vegetarian food specifically designed for Taiwanese Buddhists. The entire restaurant doesn’t serve any meat products, and the kitchen utensils like pots, cutting boards, and knives have never been used for meat. Additionally, the seasoning for the dishes doesn’t include green onions, garlic, or chili. So if you’re vegan, you can say, “I eat 全素 quánsù, but I can consume green onions, garlic, and chili.

• 蛋奶素dànnǎisù蛋奶素dànnǎisù：In the Chinese categorization of vegetarian diets, there isn’t a separate classification for ovo-vegetarian and lacto-vegetarian. Instead, we group them together and refer to them collectively as 蛋奶素 dànnǎisù. These individuals abstain from meat and seafood but include eggs and dairy in their diet.

• 鍋邊素guōbiānsù锅边素guōbiānsù：This type of vegetarianism is more adaptable. These individuals essentially avoid eating meat themselves. For instance, if presented with a dish like “Stir-fried Green Peppers with Shredded Pork,” they might simply pick out the green peppers to eat. Similarly, in a dish like “Stir-fried Shrimp with Eggs,” they might choose to only have the eggs.

不辣búlà不辣búlà

請問qǐngwèn可以kěyǐ做zuò成chéng不辣的búlàde嗎ma？ 请问qǐngwèn可以kěyǐ做zuò成chéng不辣的búlàde吗ma？
Could it be made without spice?

我wǒ想要xiǎngyào辣là一點yìdiǎn， 謝謝xièxie我wǒ想要xiǎngyào辣là一点yìdiǎn， 谢谢xièxie
I’d like it a bit more spicy, thank you.