The article below is the translated version of the original content in Japanese:
https://gegegegensan.com/2019/11/10/mandarin-taiwan-restaurant/
Ordering at Taiwanese Restaurants
I remember visiting Taiwan for the first time a few years ago, not knowing Chinese or Taiwanese and unable to communicate in English, and ordering with gestures because I didn’t know how to order. I regretted not preparing even a little for how to order in a Taiwanese restaurant at that time. Fast forward five years, I now live in Taiwan and want to introduce some expressions that can be used when eating out in Taiwan, along with audio. Taiwanese Chinese Expressions that can be used at Taiwanese Restaurants.
The picture above shows Lu Rou Fan in the middle, Clam Soup on the right, and an order sheet that is usually found in a typical Taiwanese local shop on the left. To order, take this piece of paper and write “一” for one order on the right side of the dish you want to eat, write “丁” for two orders, write the word “正” for five orders, and note that you don’t need to write numbers or check marks (although they will understand even if you do, and you won’t be overcharged just because you are a traveler). The following expressions are covered in this post:
- 外帶，帶走 (Wài dài, dài zǒu) Takeout, to go
- 內用，這邊吃 (Nèi yòng, zhè biān chī) Eat here, dine in
- 你好，幾位用餐？(Nǐ hǎo, jǐ wèi yòng cān?) Hello, how many in your party?
- 一位，兩位，三位 (Yī wèi, liǎng wèi, sān wèi) One person, two people, three people
- 你好，我有預約 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yǒu yù yuē) Hello, I have a reservation
- 我沒有預約 (Wǒ méi yǒu yù yuē) I don’t have a reservation
- 可以給我菜單嗎？(Kě yǐ gěi wǒ cài dān ma?) Can I have the menu, please?
- 可以推薦一下這邊的特色菜嗎？(Kě yǐ tuī jiàn yī xià zhè biān de tè sè cài ma?) Can you recommend any specialty dishes here?
- 不好意思，可以給我一附碗筷嗎？(Bù hǎo yì sī, kě yǐ gěi wǒ yī fù wǎn kuài ma?) Excuse me, can I have a pair of chopsticks and a bowl, please?
- 不好意思，幫我加一下水 (Bù hǎo yì sī, bāng wǒ jiā yī xià shuǐ) Excuse me, can you add some water for me, please?
Some Chinese phrases to use when dining out
This article introduces some phrases that can be used when dining out, but they are not necessarily phrases that are actually used in restaurants.
“去餐廳用餐會用的一些中文” means “Chinese phrases that can be used when going to a restaurant.”
外帶，帶走
When you go to a restaurant in Taiwan, the first thing the waiter or waitress will ask you is “內用外帶？(nei4 yong4 wai4 dai4?),” which means “eat in or take out?” In Taiwan, almost all restaurants offer take-out service, so if you want to eat outside, on the go, or bring the food back to your hotel, you can say “外帶 (wai4 dai4)” or “帶走 (dai4 zou3).”
內用，這邊吃
“內用，這邊吃” means “eat inside the restaurant” or “eat in,” and it is usually the response to “內用外帶？(nei4 yong4 wai4 dai4?)” At local Taiwanese restaurants, you will hear “內用外帶？(nei4 yong4 wai4 dai4?)” more often, but at upscale restaurants, they will often ask “何人ですか? (How many people?)”
你好，幾位用餐？
“幾位? (ji3 wei4?)” means “How many people?” In the audio above, the polite version is “你好，幾位用餐？(Hello, how many people are dining with you?),” but usually, they will just ask “幾位? (ji3 wei4?)”, so it’s good to remember this phrase.
一位，兩位，三位…
When asked “幾位? (ji3 wei4?),” you can respond with “一位 (yi1 wei4),” which means “one person,” “兩位 (liang3 wei4),” which means “two people,” and so on.
你好，我有預約
If your friend or hotel has made a reservation for you, you can say “我有預約 (wo3 you3 yu4 yue1),” which means “I have a reservation.”
有 (you3) means “have” and 預約 (yu4 yue1) means “reservation.”
我沒有預約 If asked “Do you have a reservation?” you can respond with “我沒有預約 (wo3 mei2 you3 yu4 yue1)” or simply “沒有 (mei2 you3),” which means “I don’t have a reservation.”
可以給我菜單嗎？
Can you give me the menu?
When you’ve been seated at your table but haven’t been given a menu, or if you’ve already ordered but want to take another look at the menu, say “可以給我菜單嗎？(Kěyǐ gěi wǒ càidān ma?)”.
可以 In this context, “可以” means “Can you…” and is used in the same way as the English phrase “Can you…?”.
給我 “給我” means “give me” and is equivalent to the English word “give”. Therefore, “給我菜單” means “give me the menu”.
菜單 “Càidān” is the Chinese word for the menu in a restaurant or shop.
可以推薦一下這邊的特色菜嗎？
Can you recommend some local specialties here?
If you don’t know what to order or want to try some local Taiwanese food, say “可以推薦一下這邊的特色菜嗎？(Kěyǐ tuījiàn yīxià zhè biān de tèsè cài ma?)”.
推薦 “Tuījiàn” is the Chinese word for “recommend” and has the same meaning as the Japanese word “suisen”.
一下 “Yīxià” is a Chinese phrase that can be translated as “a little” or “a bit”, and is often used in casual speech.
這邊的 “Zhè biān de” means “here” or “this place”, and is used to refer to the restaurant or shop you are currently in.
特色 “Tèsè” means “specialty” or “characteristic”, and can be used to refer to a dish that is unique or famous for a particular ingredient or cooking style.
不好意思，可以給我一附碗筷嗎？
Excuse me, can I have a pair of chopsticks and a bowl?
In Taiwan, it’s not common for restaurants to provide chopsticks and bowls unless they are of a certain quality or reputation. Therefore, you may need to bring your own or ask the staff to provide them.
To do so, you can say “不好意思，可以給我一附碗筷嗎？(Bù hǎoyìsi, kěyǐ gěi wǒ yī fù wǎn kuài ma?)” which means “Excuse me, can I have a pair of chopsticks and a bowl, please?”
不好意思 “Bù hǎoyìsi” is a common phrase used to apologize or get someone’s attention in Chinese, and can be translated as “excuse me” or “sorry”.
一附 “Yī fù” means “a pair of” and is used for chopsticks.
碗筷 “Wǎnkuài” refers to both a bowl and chopsticks, and is often used together to indicate a set of utensils.
不好意思，幫我加一下水
Excuse me, could you add some water for me?
When you have a glass of water in front of you and you want someone to pour more water in it, it’s good to say “不好意思，幫我加一下水” (Bu hao yi si, bang wo jia yi xia shui) which means “Excuse me, could you add some water for me?”.
“幫我” (bang wo) means “help me” and it’s an expression used to ask someone to do something for you.
“加一下” (jia yi xia) means “add a little” and it’s a colloquial expression similar to “a bit” or “a little”.
Summary of Expressions introduced in this post
Here are the expressions introduced in this post:
- 外帶，帶走 … takeaway
- 內用，這邊吃 … eat-in
- 你好，幾位用餐？ … Hello/Welcome, how many people?
- 一位，兩位，三位 … one person, two people, three people
- 你好，我有預約 … Hello, I have a reservation
- 可以給我菜單嗎？ … Can I have a menu, please?
- 可以推薦一下這邊的特色菜嗎？ … Can you recommend any specialty dishes here?
- 不好意思，可以給我一附碗筷嗎？ … Excuse me, can I have chopsticks and a bowl, please?
- 不好意思，幫我加一下水 … Excuse me, can you add some water, please?
Remembering these expressions may be useful when you need them in a situation. If you have trouble remembering them, you can write them down in a notebook and show them to the staff at the restaurant to use.
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(Translated by ChatGPT)