Home/ Explore/ Food Guide

🍲

China Food Guide

How to order food in China: menu translation, ordering methods, and what to expect. Plus Shenzhen food tips from a local.

💡 Three ways to order: (1) Scan QR code on your phone, (2) Point at a paper menu, (3) Hotpot self-service. Each explained below.

📖 Menu Translation Dictionary

🍖 Meat & Protein

Chinese	Pinyin	English
猪肉	zhū ròu	Pork
鸡肉	jī ròu	Chicken
牛肉	niú ròu	Beef
羊肉	yáng ròu	Lamb
鱼	yú	Fish
虾	xiā	Shrimp / Prawn
豆腐	dòu fu	Tofu
鸡蛋	jī dàn	Egg

🍲 Cooking Methods

Chinese	Pinyin	English
熬	chāo	Stir-fried
燎	zhéng	Steamed
炒	zhá	Deep-fried
烤	kǎo	Grilled / Roasted / Baked
烹	dūn	Stewed / Braised
汤	tāng	Soup
冷盘	lěng pán	Cold dish / Appetizer
火锅	huǒ guō	Hotpot

🍴 Taste & Dietary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
辣	là	Spicy ⚠️
微辣	wēi là	Mild spicy (still spicy!)
不辣	bù là	Not spicy
酸甜醋	suān tián cù	Sweet and sour
盐	yán	Salty
甜	tián	Sweet
苦	kǔ	Bitter
清清的	qīng dàn de	Light / mild flavor
宿食主义者	sù shí zhǔ yì zhē	Vegetarian

🍸 Drinks

Chinese	Pinyin	English
热水	rè shuǐ	Hot water (commonly served)
茶	chá	Tea
茶可乐	kě kě lè	Cola / Soda
水果浆	shuǐ guǒ zhī	Fruit juice
啤酒	pí jiǔ	Beer
白酒	báijiǔ	Baijiu (Chinese liquor) ⚠️ Very strong!

📅 Phrases for the Waitstaff

Chinese	Pinyin	When to Use
点菜	diǎn cài	"Order food" — flag down a waiter
我想要...	wǒ xiǎng yào...	"I would like..."
这个	zhè ge	"This one" — point at menu item
不要辣	bù yào là	"No spice, please"
小粒	xiǎo zhǐ	"Small portion" (great for solo diners)
买单	mǎi dān	"Check, please"
撒手 / CTRL+Z	[gesture]	"Cancel my last order" — show phone screen

📌 3 Ways to Order Food

📱

Method 1: Scan QR to Order

Most Common in 2026

Most restaurants in China now use QR code ordering. Here's how it works:

Sit down at a table. Look for a QR code sticker on the table or a small card.
Open WeChat or Alipay → tap 扫一扫 (Scan)
Scan the QR code — a digital menu opens in your phone (mini program or webpage).
Use Google Translate's camera mode to scan the menu if it's in Chinese.
Tap items to add to your cart, then tap 提交订单 (Submit Order).
The kitchen gets your order directly. Food arrives at your table.

💡 Pro tip: WeChat mini program menus often have photos. Use the photo to identify the dish, then check the Chinese name against our dictionary above!

⚠️ Privacy note: Some QR menus ask for your WeChat profile or require you to follow the restaurant's official account before ordering. This is normal — you can usually skip this by tapping 跳过 (skip) or 暂不关注 (don't follow). If you're asked for your phone number, you can say no — the order still goes through. If you're uncomfortable with QR ordering, use Method 2 (paper menu) below.

📝

Method 2: Paper Menu + Pointing

Traditional Method

Works for older restaurants, street stalls, and smaller cities:

Ask for 点菜 (diǎn cài = order food).
When the menu arrives, open Google Translate camera mode and point at the menu.
Use your finger to point at the item and say "这个" (zhè ge = this one).
For quantity, hold up fingers: "两个" (liǎng ge = two of these).
To signal you're done: "就这些" (jiù zhè xiē = that's all).

💡 Technique: Many Chinese menus have photos. You can literally point at a picture and the waiter understands. Don't be shy!

🍲

Method 3: Hotpot (火锅)

Social Experience

Hotpot is a social dining experience. Here's how it works for foreigners:

Choose your broth: 辣锅 (spicy pot / red) vs 清锅 (clear pot / white). Or choose a 鳺香锅 (split pot — half spicy, half clear).
Pick your dipping sauce: Go to the sauce bar. Mix sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, soy sauce, vinegar.
Order ingredients: Meat slices (牛肉/羊肉), vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, noodles.
Cook it yourself: Dip items in the boiling broth. Thin meat takes 10-15 seconds. Veggies take 2-3 minutes.
Eat: Dip cooked food in your sauce. Enjoy with beer (啤酒).

⚠️ Hotpot warning: The spicy broth is INTENSE. If you're not used to Sichuan spice, go with the split pot (鳺香锅) so you have a non-spicy side.

⚠️ Danger Zone: Food Edition

🌶

微辣 (Mild Spicy) Is Still Spicy

In China, "mild spicy" is what many Westerners would call "very spicy". If you really can't handle spice, say "不要辣" (bù yào là) clearly, or "一点辣都不要" (don't want any spice at all).

😷

Don't Drink Tap Water

Chinese tap water is NOT drinkable. Restaurants serve 热水 (hot water) or 茶 (tea). Bottled water is cheap. Ice in drinks is usually made from filtered water in reputable places, but be cautious at street stalls.

🧀

"Exotic" Meat Surprises

Some Chinese restaurants serve dog, snake, or other unusual meats. If you want to avoid surprises, stick to chicken (鸡), pork (猪), beef (牛), and fish (鱼). When in doubt, ask the waiter or point at something that has a photo.

🍸

白酒 (Baijiu) Traps

Baijiu is China's national liquor — 40-60% alcohol. Business dinners may involve "敬酒" (toasting). You don't have to drink it. Say "我不会喝酒" (wǒ bù huì hē jiǔ) = "I don't drink." If you do try it, sip don't shoot.

Was this guide helpful?

Share this guide

💬 WhatsApp 🐦 Twitter/X

🔗 Related Guides

🥚 Meituan Delivery

Order food delivery like a local

🌎 Cities Guide

Where to eat in Shenzhen & more

🔧 Chinese App Buttons

Universal UI terms dictionary

⚠️ Important

Food allergies are taken seriously in China, but language can be a barrier. If you have a serious allergy, write it down in Chinese and show it to the staff. For peanut allergy: "我对花生过敏" (wǒ duì huāshēng guò mǐn). Carry a translation card.

Last updated: June 12, 2026