Here is a basic description of the different types of ordering systems at restaurants and some helpful terms.

 

 

Order using a menu and pay the waiter or waitress when you are done. Servers will generally wait with you while you decide on what to order.  They are there to answer questions and make suggestions.

 

If you need something go ahead and call a server over.  You may need to call loudly; don't be afraid to do so, you will certainly see other Chinese customers yell for a staff member.

 

Some useful terms:

Mai dan (买单)  = cheque please

Fuwuyuan (服务员) = server.  Used to call waiters of waitresses over. 

By the end, you might thinking about how to tip in a restaurants.

 

 

These locales are just like a standard fast food restaurant anywhere in the world.  Give them the money and they give you the food.  Drive thru restaurants are very rare though.

 

 

Some restaurants have food on display in addition to their menus.  This is great for people that can’t read the menus, because all you have to do is point!

 

Learning the following two phrases is highly recommended:

Yao (要) = want

Bu Yao (不要) = don’t want

 

 

These are found in some places that sell only a few items.  It’s kind of like a fast food restaurant in that you order at the till. However, they will give you a token that you should take to a server or directly to the cooks.