Mandarin Monday: A Cheat Sheet for Ordering in Mandarin
Some of us local Chinese and grizzled expat veterans of many a Mandarin class forget that a significant portion of the expat population recognizes so few Chinese characters that rocking up at a restaurant without an English menu can be a real challenge. While this quickie guide won't give you access to the deeper, darker corners of every Chinese menu, it's a start to at least make sure you don't accidentally order the Spicy Lung Slices or Large Intestine Soup!Food 食物 shíwù
Vegetables 蔬菜 shūcài
- Cabbage 白菜 báicài
- Scallion/green onion 葱 cōng
- Onion 洋葱 yángcōng
- Celery 芹菜 qíncài
- Coriander 香菜 xiāngcài
- Bamboo shoot 笋 sǔn
- Mushroom 蘑菇 mógū
- Tomato 西红柿/番茄 xīhóngshì/ fānqié
- Potato 土豆 tǔdòu
- Corn 玉米 yùmǐ
- Eggplant 茄子 qiézi
- Cucumber 黄瓜 huángguā
- Bean sprout 豆芽 dòuyá
- Spinach 菠菜 bōcài
Meat 肉 Ròu
- Pork 猪肉 zhūròu
- Beef 牛肉 niúròu
- Chicken 鸡肉 jīròu
- Lamb 羊肉 yángròu
- Ribs 排骨 páigǔ
- Pork belly 五花肉 wǔhuāròu
- Steak 牛排 niúpái
Seafood 海鲜 Hǎixiān
- Crab 螃蟹 pángxiè
- Shrimp 虾 xiā
- Fish 鱼 yú
- Lobster 龙虾 lóngxiā
- Spicy crawfish 麻辣小龙虾 málà xiǎo lóngxiā
Regional dishes 地方菜 dìfāngcài
- Peking duck 北京烤鸭 Běijīng kǎoyā
- Shanghai small steamed buns 上海小笼包 Shànghǎi xiǎolóng bāo
- Xi’an hamburger 西安肉夹馍 Xī’ān ròujiámó
- Sichuan hotpot 四川火锅 Sìchuān huǒguō
- Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles 兰州拉面 Lánzhōu lāmiàn
- Hangzhou braised pork belly 杭州东坡肉 Hángzhōu dōng pō ròu
- Changsha-style stinky tofu 长沙臭豆腐 Chǎngshā chòu dòufu
Drinks 饮品 yǐnpǐn
- Tea 茶 chá
- Red wine 红酒 hóng pútáojiǔ
- White wine 白葡萄酒 bái pútáojiǔ
- Beer 啤酒 píjiǔ
- Juice 果汁 guǒzhī
- Ice water 冰水 bīngshuǐ
- Coca-Cola 可乐 kělè
- Herbal tea 王老吉 wánglǎojí
Key ordering phrases
Hi, what do you want to order?
你好，请问你要点什么？ Nǐhǎo，qǐngwèn nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme？
I’d like to have __.
我想要__。 Wǒ xiǎngyào__.
Hi waiter, I’m a vegetarian. Can you recommend some vegetarian food to me?
你好，服务员， 我是素食主义者，请问你能推荐我一些素食菜给我吗？ Nǐhǎo, fúwùyuán, wǒ shì sùshízhǔyìzhě, qǐngwèn nǐ neng tuījiàn yìxiē sùshícài gěi wǒ ma?
I really like to eat _!
我很喜欢吃_! Wǒ hěn xǐhuan chī _!
READ: Michelin 2026 BJ Guide Sees Restaurants Awarded Drop to 32
Images: Pixabay
