Eating Out in HK — Building Blocks

What you will learn

Dive into Hong Kong food culture! Learn how to order at cha chaan tengs and dai pai dongs, ask about dishes, make special requests, and handle the bill — all in authentic Cantonese.

Order food and drinks at local eateries
Ask about ingredients and make requests
Handle the bill and tipping
Use food-related measure words and classifiers

Dialogue

Conversation

A

呢度有冇位呀？兩位。

ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 wai2 aa3? loeng5 wai2.

Do you have seats? Two people.

B

有呀，坐呢邊啦。想飲咩先？

jau5 aa3, co5 ni1 bin1 laa1. soeng2 jam2 me1 sin1?

Yes, sit over here. What would you like to drink first?

A

要一杯凍檸茶同一杯熱奶茶。

jiu3 jat1 bui1 dung3 ning4 caa4 tung4 jat1 bui1 jit6 naai5 caa4.

An iced lemon tea and a hot milk tea please.

B

好，食咩嘢呀？

hou2, sik6 me1 je5 aa3?

OK, what would you like to eat?

A

呢個乾炒牛河係咪招牌嚟㗎？

ni1 go3 gon1 caau2 ngau4 ho2 hai6 mai6 ziu1 paai4 lai4 gaa3?

Is this dry-fried beef hor fun the signature dish?

B

係呀，好多人叫嘅。你要唔要加辣？

hai6 aa3, hou2 do1 jan4 giu3 ge3. nei5 jiu3 m4 jiu3 gaa1 laat6?

Yes, lots of people order it. Do you want it spicy?

A

少辣啦。再要一碟菠蘿油同一個公仔麵。

siu2 laat6 laa1. zoi3 jiu3 jat1 dip6 bo1 lo4 jau4 tung4 jat1 go3 gung1 zai2 min6.

A little spicy. Also a pineapple bun with butter and an instant noodle.

B

好，等一陣就嚟。要唔要加底呀？

hou2, dang2 jat1 zan6 zau6 lai4. jiu3 m4 jiu3 gaa1 dai2 aa3?

OK, coming soon. Do you want an extra portion of noodles?

Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

凍檸茶

dung3 ning4 caa4

iced lemon tea

熱奶茶

jit6 naai5 caa4

hot milk tea

乾炒牛河

gon1 caau2 ngau4 ho2

dry-fried beef hor fun

菠蘿油

bo1 lo4 jau4

pineapple bun with butter

公仔麵

gung1 zai2 min6

instant noodles

招牌

ziu1 paai4

signature / specialty

加辣

gaa1 laat6

add spice / make spicy

少辣

siu2 laat6

a little spicy / mild

加底

gaa1 dai2

extra portion of noodles/rice

埋單

maai4 daan1

get the bill

外賣

ngoi6 maai6

takeaway

堂食

tong4 sik6

dine in

Grammar

Language Patterns

係咪 ... 嚟㗎？ (confirming identity/nature)

係咪...嚟㗎 (hai6 mai6...lai4 gaa3) asks to confirm what something is, similar to "Is this the...?" The 嚟㗎 adds emphasis that you are asking about the nature of the thing.

呢個係咪招牌嚟㗎？

ni1 go3 hai6 mai6 ziu1 paai4 lai4 gaa3?

Is this the signature dish?

你係咪香港人嚟㗎？

nei5 hai6 mai6 hoeng1 gong2 jan4 lai4 gaa3?

Are you from Hong Kong?

要唔要 + verb (do you want to)

要唔要 (jiu3 m4 jiu3) is the A-not-A form of 要 used to ask "do you want to" or "would you like to". Very common when offering choices.

要唔要加冰？

jiu3 m4 jiu3 gaa1 bing1?

Do you want to add ice?

要唔要打包？

jiu3 m4 jiu3 daa2 baau1?

Do you want it wrapped up?

再要 (additionally want)

再要 (zoi3 jiu3) means "also want" or "additionally want". Use it when adding more items to your order.

再要一碗湯。

zoi3 jiu3 jat1 wun2 tong1.

Also a bowl of soup.

再要兩杯水。

zoi3 jiu3 loeng5 bui1 seoi2.

Also two glasses of water.

Food measure words: 杯、碟、碗、個

Different foods use different measure words: 杯 (bui1) for cups/glasses, 碟 (dip6) for plates, 碗 (wun2) for bowls, 個 (go3) for individual items. Using the right one sounds natural.

一杯奶茶

jat1 bui1 naai5 caa4

a cup of milk tea

一碟炒飯

jat1 dip6 caau2 faan6

a plate of fried rice

Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1

一 ___ 凍檸茶 (measure word for drinks)

杯
碟
碗
個

Answer

杯

Translate · Question 2

Do you want it spicy?

Answer

你要唔要加辣？

Choice · Question 3

What does 埋單 mean?

Get the bill
Order food
Sit down
Leave a tip

Answer

Get the bill

Fill_blank · Question 4

呢個 ___ 係咪招牌嚟㗎？ (dry-fried beef hor fun)

乾炒牛河
公仔麵
菠蘿油
奶茶

Answer

乾炒牛河

Translate · Question 5

Dine in or takeaway?

Answer

堂食定外賣？

Dive into Hong Kong food culture! Learn how to order at cha chaan tengs and dai pai dongs, ask about dishes, make special requests, and handle the bill — all in authentic Cantonese.

Conversation

Key Words & Phrases

Language Patterns

係咪 ... 嚟㗎？ (confirming identity/nature)

要唔要 + verb (do you want to)

再要 (additionally want)

Food measure words: 杯、碟、碗、個

Test Your Knowledge

Finished this lesson?