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Beginner · English for daily life · topic 20 of 59 · 15 min

Ordering food

Explanation

To order food, say "Can I have...?" or "I'd like...". Ask "What do you recommend?" if you are not sure. At the end, ask for the bill. The same phrases work at a dhaba, a restaurant and on a call to a delivery shop. खाना ऑर्डर करना सीखें।

Ordering food is a short, friendly conversation. The waiter (or server) asks, you answer politely. The two magic starters are "Can I have...?" and "I'd like..." ("I'd" = I would). They sound much nicer than "Give me...".

Getting a table

A table for four, please.

Say it: a TAY-bul for FOR, pleez

चार लोगों के लिए एक टेबल, प्लीज़।

Can we see the menu, please?

Say it: kan wee SEE the MEN-yoo, pleez?

क्या हमें मेन्यू मिल सकता है?

Ordering

I'd like a masala dosa and a filter coffee.

Say it: aid LYK a ma-SAA-la DOH-sa and a FIL-ter KOF-ee

मुझे एक मसाला डोसा और एक फ़िल्टर कॉफ़ी चाहिए।

Can I have two plates of chole bhature?

Say it: kan ai HAV too PLAYTS ov CHOH-lay ba-TOO-ray?

क्या मुझे दो प्लेट छोले भटूरे मिल सकते हैं?

What do you recommend?

Say it: wot doo yoo rek-a-MEND?

आप क्या सुझाव देंगे?

A great question when you do not know the dishes.

Is it very spicy?

Say it: iz it VE-ree SPY-see?

क्या यह बहुत तीखा है?

Less spicy, please, and no onions.

Say it: LES SPY-see, pleez, and NO UN-yunz

कम तीखा, प्लीज़, और प्याज़ नहीं।

Can we have some water, please?

Say it: kan wee hav sum WAW-ter, pleez?

क्या हमें थोड़ा पानी मिलेगा?

Finishing

Can we have the bill, please?

Say it: kan wee hav the BIL, pleez?

बिल ले आइए, प्लीज़।

In the US: "Can we have the check, please?"

Can I get this packed, please?

Say it: kan ai get this PAKT, pleez?

क्या आप इसे पैक कर देंगे?

In India, "parcel" and "packed" are common. Abroad: "Can I get this to go?" or "Can I have a takeaway box?"

Think of it like this: Ordering food is like filling a form: table, menu, order, special requests, bill. Learn one line for each box and you can fill the "form" at any restaurant in the world.
Careful: Avoid "Give me one dosa" and "Bring water". They sound rude in English. Add "Can I have..." or "please".
Careful: "Veg" and "non-veg" are Indian words. Abroad, say "vegetarian" and "Does this have meat in it?"
Tip: Next time you eat out or order by phone, use at least two full English sentences, even if the rest is in Hindi.

Watch the lesson

Ordering food · 1/7

Ordering food

Hello! Today you will learn how to order food in English, politely and easily.

Prefer a video by a teacher? Find free videos on “ordering food in restaurant english conversation in hindi” on YouTube ↗

In real life: At a South Indian restaurant

Waiter: Good evening. How many people? Karan: A table for two, please. Waiter: This way, please. Here is the menu. Karan: Thank you. What do you recommend? Waiter: Our rava dosa is very popular. Karan: Okay, I'd like one rava dosa. And can I have an idli plate for my friend? Waiter: Anything to drink? Karan: Two filter coffees, please. Less sugar. (Later) Karan: Excuse me, can we have the bill, please?

Practice (0/4 done)

Task 1 · Speak

Order politely.

I'd like a masala dosa and a filter coffee, please. Less sugar.

मुझे एक मसाला डोसा और एक फ़िल्टर कॉफ़ी चाहिए। चीनी कम।

Press Speak, then say the sentence.
Task 2 · Listen and type

Listen and type the sentence.

Task 3 · Practice

Write a dialogue (six to eight lines) between you and a waiter. Ask for a table, ask for a recommendation, order, make one special request, and ask for the bill.

Task 4 · Question

Which order sounds the most polite?

Quick quiz

Question 1

1."I'd like" means...

Question 2

2.You do not know what to order. You ask:

Question 3

3.In the US, the "bill" at a restaurant is often called the...

Question 4

4.Complete: "A table ___ two, please."

Pass the quiz (60% or more) or mark this topic as done when you are ready.

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