← Guides By Ray Lei Published 2026-11-14

How to order food in China without speaking Chinese

Q: Can I order food in China without speaking Chinese?

Yes. Many restaurants in Chinese cities use photo menus, plastic display menus, or tablet-based QR ordering systems where you can tap pictures directly. For restaurants with text-only menus, pointing at a neighboring table's dish and saying 'zhège' (这个, meaning 'this one') is widely understood. A few basic phrases and a willingness to gesture go a long way. Larger tourist-facing cities and high-end hotels often have bilingual menus available on request.

Q: How does QR code ordering work in Chinese restaurants?

Most mid-range and casual restaurants in mainland China now use a WeChat Mini Program ordering system. You scan a QR code on the table, the restaurant's ordering menu opens inside WeChat, and you browse photos of each dish, tap to add items, and submit the order directly — without involving a staff member at all. The menu is typically in Chinese only, but photos accompany most dishes. Many items include a brief character name you can photograph and translate. Payment at the end is usually via WeChat Pay or Alipay.

Q: What are the most useful Mandarin phrases for ordering food?

The highest-value phrases are: 'Zhège' (这个) — this one; 'Yī gè' (一个) — one of these; 'Bù là' (不辣) — not spicy; 'Méiyǒu ròu' (没有肉) — without meat; 'Wǒ yào zhège' (我要这个) — I want this one; and 'Mǎidān / jiézhàng' (买单 / 结账) — the bill please. These seven phrases, combined with pointing and showing photos, cover the vast majority of ordering situations in a Chinese restaurant.

Q: What if the restaurant has no photo menu and no English?

Several strategies work: First, look at what other diners are eating and point to a dish that looks good while saying 'Zhège' (this one). Second, photograph the menu and use a translation app such as Google Translate photo mode (note: Google services require a VPN in mainland China; Baidu Translate works without one). Third, ask a local nearby — in Chinese cities there is often someone nearby willing to help translate. Fourth, use a menu-scanning app like ChefBear that works offline or without Google services.

Q: Is it easy to find vegetarian or pork-free options in China?

Vegetarian options exist but require active communication. The phrase 'Wǒ chī sù' (我吃素) means 'I eat vegetarian/vegan.' 'Méiyǒu ròu' (没有肉) means 'without meat.' Be aware that many Chinese stir-fries include small amounts of pork or oyster sauce even in ostensibly vegetable dishes. For pork-free needs (halal travelers, for example), look for 清真 (qīngzhēn) restaurants, which are halal-certified and common in cities with significant Muslim communities such as Xi'an. Say 'Méiyǒu zhūròu' (没有猪肉) — no pork.

Point at dishes other diners are eating and say zhège (这个, "this one"). Most casual restaurants use photo menus or WeChat QR ordering with pictures. A handful of Mandarin phrases — especially bù là (not spicy) and méiyǒu ròu (no meat) — cover the most common needs.

What menu formats you will encounter

Chinese restaurants use several different menu systems, and knowing which you are dealing with shapes how you order.

Photo menu (图片菜单)

Many casual and family-style restaurants use laminated menus with large photographs of every dish alongside the Chinese name and a price. This is the easiest format for non-Chinese speakers. Point to the photo you want. No language is required beyond showing how many fingers to indicate quantity.

WeChat QR ordering (扫码点餐)

Most mid-range restaurants in Chinese cities now use a QR code on each table. Scanning it opens a WeChat Mini Program where you browse photos, tap dishes to add them to your order, and submit directly from your phone. Payment at the end is via WeChat Pay or Alipay. If you have WeChat installed, this system works without speaking to a staff member at all. Photos accompany most dishes; character names can be photographed and translated.

Plastic display menus or counter boards

Noodle shops, dumpling shops, and small rice-box restaurants often display plastic or printed photos at the counter. Point to what you want and hold up fingers for quantity. The staff will usually hold up fingers back to confirm the quantity before preparing your order.

Text-only menus (菜单)

Traditional restaurants, especially older establishments, may use text-only menus with no photos. This is the most challenging format. Options include photographing the menu and using Baidu Translate's camera mode, looking at neighboring tables and pointing, or asking a nearby local for help.

Essential Mandarin phrases for ordering

Phrase (Pinyin)	Characters	Meaning	When to use
Zhège	这个	This one	Point at a dish and say this to order it
Yī gè / liǎng gè	一个 / 两个	One / two of these	Indicate quantity after pointing
Wǒ yào zhège	我要这个	I want this one	More complete ordering phrase
Bù là	不辣	Not spicy	Critical for Sichuan, Hunan, or spicy regional food
Wēi là	微辣	Mildly spicy	If you want just a little heat
Méiyǒu ròu	没有肉	Without meat	Vegetarian request (may still include fish)
Wǒ chī sù	我吃素	I eat vegetarian	Stronger vegetarian statement
Méiyǒu zhūròu	没有猪肉	No pork	For halal or pork-free needs
Nǎlǐ fùkuǎn?	哪里付款？	Where do I pay?	Some restaurants pay at a separate counter
Mǎidān / jiézhàng	买单 / 结账	The bill please	Signal you are ready to pay

The pointing strategy

The simplest ordering technique in China is observation and pointing. When you arrive at a restaurant, look around at what other tables are eating. When you see something you want to try, make eye contact with the waiter, point at the dish at the other table, and say zhège. Waitstaff in Chinese restaurants understand this immediately — it is a common way even domestic diners order when unsure of the menu. Indicate how many portions you want by holding up fingers.

If you are ordering from a menu with photos, the same principle applies. Point to the photo, say zhège, hold up fingers for quantity, and the transaction is complete.

Translation apps that work in mainland China

Google Translate's camera mode works for translating menus but requires a working VPN connection in mainland China (Google services are blocked without one). If you do not have a VPN, these alternatives work directly:

Baidu Translate (百度翻译): Works without a VPN, available as an app, and has a camera mode that translates photos of text. Accurate for menu Chinese.
WeChat translation: Within WeChat, pressing and holding a text message brings up a translation option. Some restaurant mini-programs also have built-in translation for international users.
ChefBear: Designed specifically for menu scanning — photograph a menu and get structured dish information with ingredients and descriptions.

QR code ordering step by step

If the restaurant uses WeChat QR ordering:

Open WeChat and use the Scan (扫一扫) function to scan the QR code on your table.
The menu opens in a Mini Program. Browse by category tabs at the top.
Tap a dish to see a photo and description. Tap the plus (+) button to add it to your cart.
When done, tap the cart icon and review your order. Submit it.
When you are ready to leave, either pay through the same Mini Program or flag down a staff member for the bill (mǎidān / 买单).

Note: WeChat Pay requires a Chinese bank card for full functionality. Without one, you may need to pay cash or find a restaurant that accepts international credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order food in China without speaking Chinese?

Yes. Photo menus, QR ordering systems with pictures, pointing at other diners' dishes, and the word zhège (this one) are all effective strategies in the vast majority of casual restaurants. Larger cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou have many restaurants with bilingual menus or English-speaking staff. Smaller cities and rural areas require more creative signaling, but pointing and gesturing remain universally understood.

How does QR code ordering work in Chinese restaurants?

Scan the QR code on your table with WeChat's scan function. A Mini Program opens inside WeChat showing the full menu with photos. Tap dishes to add them and submit your order directly. No verbal interaction is required. This system now covers the majority of casual and mid-range restaurants in Chinese cities and is the default for ordering in many establishments. Some restaurants still require you to pay at the counter after eating.

What are the most useful Mandarin phrases for ordering food?

Zhège (this one), yī gè (one), bù là (not spicy), méiyǒu ròu (no meat), and mǎidān (the bill). These five cover ordering, quantity, spice adjustment, dietary restriction, and payment. With these phrases and the ability to point, you can navigate most Chinese restaurant situations without additional language skills.

What if the restaurant has no photo menu and no English?

Point at a dish another diner is eating, photograph the menu for Baidu Translate's camera mode, or ask someone nearby to help interpret. In China, it is common for someone at an adjacent table to offer help if they see you struggling with a menu — accepting this help is culturally normal and appreciated. You can also show pictures from a food search to describe what you are looking for.

Is it easy to find vegetarian or pork-free options in China?

Vegetarian options vary by region. The phrase wǒ chī sù (I eat vegetarian) is understood, though many dishes marked as vegetable dishes may contain oyster sauce or small amounts of meat stock. For strict vegetarian or vegan needs, look for restaurants displaying 素食 (sùshí, vegetarian food). For pork-free eating, look for 清真 (qīngzhēn, halal) restaurants — common in cities like Xi'an, Urumqi, and in Muslim neighborhoods across China. These serve lamb, beef, and chicken without pork.