How To Order Food In China When You Don’t Speak Chinese
One of the most exciting (and sometimes intimidating) parts of travelling in China is the food. From steaming bowls of hand-pulled noodles to spicy Sichuan hotpot, there’s no shortage of incredible dishes to try.
But what if you don’t speak Chinese? Will you be stuck eating only in touristy restaurants with English menus? The good news is: absolutely not. With a few simple tricks, you can eat like a local — even if you don’t know a single word of Mandarin.
Here are my top tips for ordering food in China without speaking Chinese.
Use a translation app
Use the app to scan the menu so you can translate it into your language. You can use Google Translate and download the Chinese translation so that you can use it offline; this way, you won’t need a VPN or data.
If you have WeChat, then there is also a function on there for translating, and I think this is the best translation tool. Sometimes the menu translations aren’t the most accurate, as dishes often have different names than just what is inside the dish.
For instance, there is a dish from Yunnan called Crossing the Bridge Noodles, which would be a strange translation, as you would think, “What are Yunnan bridge noodles?”
You don’t just have to stick to menus of course, the translation app will help you with anything you need to read which is in Chinese.
2. Choose a restaurant with a photo menu
Many Chinese restaurants — especially in busy areas — have menus with pictures of every dish. This makes ordering so much easier.
Look for places that display their menu outside or have photos in the menu. That way, you can just point to what you like. You might want to translate the dishes, or you might want to take a lucky dip and go for what you think looks good in the pictures.
3. Point at what you want
Don’t be shy, it is the best way to order what you want.
Point at what you want in the counter, the dish you want on the menu, or the food displayed on the wall. You can even point to what someone else is eating in the restaurant if it looks tasty - we have done this many times before, as the locals always know the best dishes to eat!
Don’t worry, most people won’t think it is strange; they want to help you get the best experience.
4. Use Dianping, the best food app in China!
TripAdvisor won’t help you much in China, but Dianping (大众点评) is where locals find the best places to eat. It’s packed with reviews, ratings, and, most importantly, food photos.
You can translate the app, but sometimes it doesn’t do everything. Even if you can’t read the Chinese reviews, you can:
Look at star ratings
See which dishes are most popular
Choose what looks good from the pictures
Use the pictures to show the server what you want to order
5. Show photos of what you want to order
If you know you want dumplings, noodles, or famous dishes like mapo tofu or peking duck, save a few screenshots on your phone in advance. You can simply show the staff the picture, and they’ll understand.
This works especially well for regional specialities you’ve read about but don’t know how to pronounce.
Also, if you take pictures when you go to a restaurant, you can easily order the same dish again if you return to the same place.
6. Eat at street food stalls
The food is usually laid out so you can see what the seller is cooking. You can point to the ingredients that you want included in your dish. This is a great choice for a more customisable meal as it is made fresh in front of you.
7. Pick restaurants with a QR code menu
Some restaurants will have a QR code on the table which you use to order. Usually, you will need Alipay or WeChat set up to use this and also mobile data, so you can do it all on your phone. If you have these, then you are all set. You scan the QR code and the menu pops up, instead of having to tell the server what you want, you order and pay using your phone - easy!
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8. Go at off-peak times
If you’re nervous about ordering, try going a little earlier or later than the lunch/dinner rush. Staff will have more time (and patience) to help you figure things out.
Ordering food in China without speaking the language might feel daunting at first, but it’s all part of the adventure. Between translation apps, pointing, photo menus, and a little creativity, you’ll discover that it’s easier than you think.
In fact, some of your best food experiences may come from stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something unexpected.
Top Tips:
Download the translation devices and Dianping on your phone before you go to China.
Save a few dishes that are local to the city you are visiting, and look out for them so you can order them easily.
If you want to customise your dishes, then think about learning a few important foodie words before you go like - 不要辣 (bú yào là) = No spice
First time in China? Then check out my ‘China 101 ebook for First Time Travellers’, it will give you all the tips you need to help you with your trip to China.
If you need some extra help planning your trip, then get in touch, and I can help you!