Asia Expats Forum

Wocca · Scribe Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 970 Location:

Firstly, thanks must go to English expat Mr Carey Harmer in Chengdu for his time, effort and thoughtfulness in producing and sharing the following information so that newcomers may feel more at ease when ordering food in Chinese restaurants. Well done, Carey !

ORDERING IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT FOR NEWCOMERS

Print this out & carry it with you. Point to the Chinese phrases.
These are all common dishes that most Westerners like.

1. SMALL EATERY MEALS good

For quick meals. Sometimes surprisingly good. Most dishes about 4 yuan to 10 yuan, menu written on the wall. Individual bowls or plates, each person chooses their own, can be all different. You can use a tissue to wipe the table and your chopsticks. Never mind the state of the walls or floor, you don’t eat off them. If they don’t give you tea, there's no point in asking for it. Usually a watery soup supplied free with the rest. In some larger places you have to order and pay near the entrance, then go in, sit down and give the ticket to the waitress.

鸡蛋炒饭 egg fried rice
肉丝面 pork noodles
牛肉炒饭 beef fried rice
鸡蛋面 egg noodles

西红柿炒鸡蛋 fried egg + tomatoes
牛肉面 beef noodles
鸡蛋炒葱 fried egg + onions
猪肉炒饭 pork fried rice

牛肉刀削面 beef thick noodle soup
a. (不要辣椒 don’t want it full of chilli)
b. (我吃辣 hot is OK)

Only some eateries (restaurants never) serve
dumplings, but they are worth asking for.

二两 is a normal portion.
你有没有饺子? do you have dumplings?

肉饺 meat dumplings
菜饺 vegetable dumplings
锅贴, 炸饺 fried dumplings
抄手 dumplings with soup

SOUPS (usually a large bowl, thin soup)

番茄鸡蛋汤 egg + tomato soup
三鲜汤 3-flavour soup (includes meat)
豆腐汤 bean curd soup with veg (vegetarian)
鸡蛋汤 egg soup
漂汤 soup with assorted meat &vegetables

PANCAKE TYPE DISHES

南瓜饼 pumpkin pie (sweet)
葱油饼 onion pancake
玉米薄饼 sweet corn pancake

When you have finished ordering the main dishes
还要米饭 we also want rice.

DRINKS occasion

橙汁 orange juice
喝冷水 cold water
雪碧 Sprite
豆浆 bean ‘milk’
可乐 Coke
西瓜汁 melon juice

PLEASE BRING:

Please bring the bill: 买单
Please bring toothpicks: 牙签
Please bring more bowls (for the soup)：空碗

You can ask for a ‘doggy bag’ 请打包 to take uneaten food home.
This is quite normal. Indicate which dishes.

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TOILET SIGNS: uhm

卫生间 or 厕所 male 男 female女
Where is the toilet? 卫生间在那儿？
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EXPAT IN CHINA