🍜 How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese

Updated: January 3, 2025 • 8 min read

Food is one of the highlights of any China trip, but ordering when you don't speak Chinese can be intimidating. Don't worry - with these strategies, you'll be enjoying authentic Chinese cuisine in no time!

Strategy 1: Picture Menus Are Your Best Friend

Most restaurants in tourist areas have menus with photos. Even local spots often have pictures.

Strategy 2: Use Translation Apps

• Google Translate Camera: Point your camera at the menu for instant translation
• Pleco: Chinese dictionary with OCR (scan Chinese characters)
• WeChat: Has built-in translation feature

Strategy 3: Follow the Crowd

See what other tables are eating? Point to their dishes and say "我要这个" (wǒ yào zhège - "I want this").

Essential Food Phrases

Communicating Dietary Restrictions

Vegetarian (素食 sù shí)

• "我是素食者" (wǒ shì sù shí zhě) - I'm vegetarian
• "不要肉" (bù yào ròu) - No meat

Vegan

• "我不吃肉，不吃蛋，不吃奶" (wǒ bù chī ròu, bù chī dàn, bù chī nǎi)
• I don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy

Allergies

• "我对___过敏" (wǒ duì ___ guò mǐn) - I'm allergic to ___
• Peanuts: 花生 (huā shēng)
• Shellfish: 贝类 (bèi lèi)
• Eggs: 鸡蛋 (jī dàn)

Using Food Delivery Apps

Meituan (美团) and Ele.me (饿了么)

• Both have some English support
• Photos help identify dishes
• Delivery to hotel is easy
• Payment through Alipay/WeChat Pay

Types of Restaurants & How to Order

Fast Food / Casual Chains

Examples: KFC, McDonald's, Ajisen Ramen, Yoshinoya

• Usually have picture menus
• Order at counter
• Often have English or number ordering

Sit-Down Restaurants

• Waiter will bring menu
• Point to items you want
• They'll confirm with you
• Pay at cashier after eating (or sometimes at table)

Hot Pot (火锅)

• Choose soup base (spicy, non-spicy, or split pot)
• Order ingredients from menu
• Cook items yourself in the pot
• Usually all-you-can-eat or pay-by-item

Street Food

• Point at what you want
• Use fingers to show quantity
• Pay with cash or scan QR code
• Great for trying local specialties!

Payment Tips

1. Mobile payment: Scan QR code with Alipay or WeChat Pay
2. Cash: Always accepted, but less common
3. Credit cards: Major chains accept, small places usually don't
4. Tipping: NOT expected in China!

What to Expect

• Shared plates: Chinese meals are family-style, everyone shares
• Hot water or tea: Usually free
• Wet towels: For cleaning hands before eating
• No napkins: Use tissues (bring your own)
• Bones on table: It's normal to leave bones/shells on table

Popular Dishes to Try (Safe Bets)

• 炒饭 (chǎo fàn) - Fried rice
• 炒面 (chǎo miàn) - Fried noodles
• 饺子 (jiǎo zi) - Dumplings
• 小笼包 (xiǎo lóng bāo) - Soup dumplings
• 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng) - Kung Pao chicken
• 麻婆豆腐 (má pó dòu fu) - Mapo tofu

Advanced Tips

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Ordering too much - dishes are meant to share
• ❌ Expecting mild spice - Chinese spicy is VERY spicy
• ❌ Assuming vegetarian means vegan - often contains eggs/dairy
• ❌ Being afraid to try new things - some of the best food looks unusual!

Final Encouragement

Chinese people are incredibly patient and helpful with foreigners trying to order food. Don't be afraid to point, gesture, and use your phone. The worst that happens is you get an unexpected dish - which might become your new favorite!

Enjoy exploring China's incredible food scene! 🥢