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🍽️English scenario

Ordering Food at a Restaurant

How to order dishes, ask about menu items, and request modifications.

Scenario Goal

You will be able to order meals, ask about ingredients, and request changes politely.

Practice Flow

1

Start with the keywords that show up most often in this situation.

2

Learn the core phrase patterns before you try to respond on your own.

3

Then move into a dedicated practice session for scenario-specific feedback.

Keywords

The words most worth learning first for this situation.

1 / 12
Key Word
📖

menu

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

Can I see the menu, please?

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Details

menu

菜单(列出菜品和饮料的清单)

使用说明

在餐厅你会拿到 menu 来决定点什么,把注意力放在 category(appetizers, mains, desserts)上会更快。

例句

Can I see the menu, please?

我可以看一下菜单吗?

📝

specials

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

What are the specials today?

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Details

specials

今日推荐/特价菜(不一定写在菜单上)

使用说明

服务员常会口头告诉你 specials,通常是当天新鲜或限量的菜。问 specials 可以发现隐藏好菜。

例句

What are the specials today?

今天有什么推荐菜?

🍲

soup of the day

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

What's the soup of the day?

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Details

soup of the day

本日汤品(每天可能不同)

使用说明

很多餐厅会有 soup of the day,点汤时要问清楚是什么口味和是否含特殊食材。

例句

What's the soup of the day?

今天的例汤是什么?

🧑‍🍳

server

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

Our server recommended the fish.

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Details

server

服务员(负责点单和上菜的人)

使用说明

在美式餐厅常叫 server 或 waiter/waitress,跟服务员互动时可以用上面那些表达询问菜品和要求改动。

例句

Our server recommended the fish.

我们的服务员推荐了那道鱼。

🍟

side dish

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

Could I substitute the fries with a side salad?

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Details

side dish

配菜(主菜外的搭配食物)

使用说明

菜单上常有 sides 可以单点或替换配菜,中国菜里少见单列 sides 的概念,要学会单独点或替换。

例句

Could I substitute the fries with a side salad?

我可以把薯条换成配菜沙拉吗?

↩️

on the side

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

Can I get the sauce on the side?

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Details

on the side

把某样东西放在旁边(不和主菜混在一起)

使用说明

用于酱汁、调味料或配料想单独放置时,比说“don't add”更礼貌也更具体。

例句

Can I get the sauce on the side?

我可以把酱放在旁边吗?

🔁

substitute

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

Can I substitute the potatoes for steamed vegetables?

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Details

substitute

替换(把菜单上的某个配菜或成分换成别的)

使用说明

很多餐厅允许替换配菜,但有时会收费,点单前可以问清楚:Is it possible to substitute...?

例句

Can I substitute the potatoes for steamed vegetables?

我可以把土豆换成蒸蔬菜吗?

🚫🌾

gluten-free

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

Is this dish gluten-free?

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Details

gluten-free

无麸质(对麸质过敏或不吃麦类的人需要)

使用说明

现在很多餐厅有 gluten-free 选项,但交叉污染仍可能发生,过敏要明确说明并确认做法。

例句

Is this dish gluten-free?

这道菜是无麸质的吗?

🥩

medium-rare

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

I'd like my steak medium-rare.

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Details

medium-rare

五分熟(牛排熟度的一种)

使用说明

西餐会具体要求熟度(rare, medium-rare, medium, well-done),点牛排时要知道这些词的区别。

例句

I'd like my steak medium-rare.

我的牛排要五分熟。

🥡

to-go box

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

Can I get a to-go box for this?

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Details

to-go box

打包盒(把吃不完的食物带走)

使用说明

美国人常把剩菜打包,服务员会用 to-go box 或 doggy bag 这个词;有时你需要自己提出。

例句

Can I get a to-go box for this?

我可以要一个打包盒吗?

💳

split the check

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

Can we split the check?

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Details

split the check

分开付账(把总账按人分)

使用说明

和朋友吃饭时常用,比把账算到一个人名下再转账更直接。提前说清楚可以避免结账麻烦。

例句

Can we split the check?

我们可以分开付账吗?

💸

gratuity

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

Is gratuity included on the bill?

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Details

gratuity

小费/服务费(服务员的酬劳)

使用说明

在美国许多餐厅习惯给小费(gratuity),有时大桌会自动加 gratuity,结账时要注意账单里是否包含。

例句

Is gratuity included on the bill?

账单里包含小费吗?

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How To Say It

Use these natural phrases to sound confident in real situations.

1Survival phrases
Cankey phrase I see the menu?
💡

Why it works

This phrase is clear, natural, and easy to use in this situation.

Don't Say This

Common mistakes and how to sound more natural.

I want this one.

Say instead

I'll have this.

This have peanuts?

Say instead

Does this contain peanuts?

Can I to go?

Say instead

Can I get a to-go box?

Medium please.

Say instead

Medium, please.

Quick Recap

Keep these points in mind before you start.

Key Takeaways

🎯

Situation goal

You will be able to order meals, ask about ingredients, and request changes politely.

🗣️

Useful phrase

Start with a line like "Can I see the menu?".

Stay natural

Use clear, polite wording that matches the context instead of translating too literally.

Key Phrases to Know

  1. 1

    Can I see the menu?

  2. 2

    Could I get that without onions?

  3. 3

    Can we split the check?

Cultural Note

在英语国家就餐时,说出你不吃或过敏的食物(比如 nuts, dairy, gluten)非常重要;如果想分开付账(split the check),最好在点菜或上菜前说明,这样服务员结账时会更方便。

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