If you’re living, travelling, or studying in China, one of the first real-life skills you’ll use is ordering food in Chinese.
Menus may look confusing at first, but once you know a few essential Chinese food words, ordering becomes easy — and much more fun!
Here are some of the most common Chinese menu terms that will help you order confidently at restaurants, street food stalls, or when using delivery apps.
1. 米饭 (mǐfàn) – Rice 🍚
Rice is the staple food of China. Steamed, fried, or mixed into dishes — you’ll see it everywhere.
📖 Example:
我想要一碗米饭。
Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng yào yì wǎn mǐfàn.
Translation: I want a bowl of rice.
2. 面条 (miàntiáo) – Noodles 🍜
Noodles vary widely across China — from Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles to Sichuan spicy noodles.
📖 Example:
我喜欢吃拉面。
Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān chī lāmiàn.
Translation: I like eating hand-pulled noodles.
3. 牛肉 (niúròu) – Beef 🥩
Beef is popular in many Chinese regions, especially in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Northern cuisine.
📖 Example:
我要一份牛肉面。
Pinyin: Wǒ yào yí fèn niúròu miàn.
Translation: I want a serving of beef noodles.
4. 辣 (là) – Spicy 🌶
Many Chinese dishes can be quite spicy — especially Sichuan, Hunan, and Chongqing dishes.
If you don’t like spicy food, make sure to ask!
📖 Example:
这个菜辣吗？
Pinyin: Zhège cài là ma?
Translation: Is this dish spicy?
5. 汤 (tāng) – Soup 🍲
Soup is an important part of Chinese meals — it can be light, spicy, sour, or hearty.
📖 Example:
我可以要一碗酸辣汤吗？
Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yào yì wǎn suān là tāng ma?
Translation: Can I have a bowl of hot and sour soup?
6. 饺子 (jiǎozi) – Dumplings 🥟
Dumplings are a traditional favorite and a must-try for anyone in China.
They are eaten year-round, not just during Chinese New Year.
📖 Example:
我想要一盘饺子。
Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng yào yì pán jiǎozi.
Translation: I want a plate of dumplings.
7. 服务员 (fúwùyuán) – Waiter/Waitress 👨🍳
Use this when calling service staff at a restaurant — either to order, ask questions, or pay the bill.
📖 Example:
服务员，请给我菜单。
Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
Translation: Waiter, please give me the menu.
⭐ Final Thoughts: Ordering Food in China Made Easy
With these essential Chinese menu vocabulary words, you’ll be ready to order food confidently, whether you’re dining in a restaurant, visiting a food court, or using delivery apps like Meituan and Ele.me.
This is just the first part of our Must-Know Chinese Menu Words series — stay tuned for more useful terms!
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