How to order in a restaurant when you can’t read the menu?

In China, walking into a local restaurant with no English menu and no English‑speaking staff is often the gateway to truly authentic food — but it can also feel intimidating. The good news is that this is not a serious problem at all. With a few simple, practical tricks, you can confidently order delicious dishes even if you can’t read a single Chinese character.

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1. Ultimate tip: make full use of your smartphone

In modern China, your phone is the most powerful tool for solving the “I can’t read the menu” problem.

• Tip 1: use the “photo translation” feature in translation apps

  • How it works:
    This is the most direct and almost magical method. Open a reliable translation app (make sure you install it before your trip), choose the camera or real‑time lens translation function, and point your phone at the Chinese menu. The English translation of the dish names and ingredients will appear on your screen.
  • Why it works well:
    It gives you a rough understanding of the menu, helping you identify main ingredients like chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetables so you can make confident choices.

• Tip 2: use a food app like “Dianping (大众点评)”

  • What it is:
    Dianping is similar to Yelp or TripAdvisor, but for China. One of its biggest strengths is the huge number of real photos of dishes.
  • How to use it:
    1. Find your restaurant in the app.
    2. Open the restaurant page and look for sections like “recommended dishes” or browse the photo gallery.
    3. You’ll see many clear photos uploaded by other diners.
    4. When the server comes to your table, simply show them the photos of the dishes you want on your phone and point.

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2. Classic method: the point‑and‑order technique

When your internet is weak or your phone battery is low, some simple “low‑tech” methods still work perfectly.

• Tip 3: point at pictures on the menu

  • Fortunately, many local restaurants without English menus still include photos for some or all of their dishes. Pictures are a universal language. Just point at the dishes that look good to you — it’s simple and effective.

• Tip 4: look around and point at other people’s food

  • This is one of the best ways to discover popular local dishes. Take a quick look at what people at nearby tables are eating. If you see something that looks especially delicious, politely get the server’s attention and point at that dish. They will immediately understand what you want.

• Tip 5: use the magic word — “这个 (Zhège)”

  • This is arguably the most useful Chinese word when ordering food. It means “this one.”
  • How to use it:
    Combine this word with your pointing. Point at a picture on the menu or at a dish on another table and say confidently: “这个 (Zhège)” — “This one.”
    If you want another serving, you can say: “再来一个，这个 (Zàilái yīgè, zhège)” — “I’ll have one more of this.”

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3. Basic backup: prepare a “food requirement card”

If you have special dietary needs or restrictions, preparation is especially important.

• Tip 6: write down your key requirements in Chinese in advance
  • Before your trip, ask a Chinese‑speaking friend or use a translation tool to write your important dietary needs on a card or in a note on your phone, in Chinese. For example:
    • 我吃素 (Wǒ chīsù) – I am a vegetarian.
    • 我不能吃辣 (Wǒ bùnéng chī là) – I cannot eat spicy food.
    • 我对花生过敏 (Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn) – I am allergic to peanuts.
  • When you order, show this card or note to the server. It greatly reduces the chance of misunderstandings.

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Ordering food in China is meant to be a culinary adventure, not a language exam. Local restaurant staff are used to serving guests who don’t speak Chinese and are usually very friendly and patient. Walk confidently into those lively, local places that seem to be “for locals only,” and with your apps, simple gestures, and that magic word “这个,” you will unlock a wonderful world of Chinese cuisine.