Essential Chinese Phrases for Restaurant Staff

In restaurants, clear and friendly communication is essential for providing great service. As more Chinese-speaking guests dine at restaurants around the world, knowing a few crucial Chinese phrases can help staff take orders smoothly, handle requests confidently, and create a welcoming dining experience.

The good news? You don’t need to be fluent in Chinese. Learning simple, polite phrases for common situations is enough to handle most guest interactions professionally.

Below are essential Chinese phrases every restaurant staff member should know.

1. Greeting Guests & Seating

First impressions matter in hospitality. A polite greeting sets the tone for the entire meal.

• 您好，歡迎光臨 (Nín hǎo, huānyíng guānglín)
  Hello, welcome.
  
• 請問幾位？(Qǐngwèn jǐ wèi?)
  How many people?
  
• 這邊請 (Zhè biān qǐng)
  This way, please.
  
• 請稍等一下 (Qǐng shāoděng yíxià)
  Please wait a moment.

Using 您好 instead of 你好 sounds more polite and professional in restaurants.

2. Giving Menus & Explaining Ordering

Helping guests understand the menu improves comfort and satisfaction.

• 這是菜單 (Zhè shì càidān)
  This is the menu.
  
• 請慢慢看 (Qǐng mànmàn kàn)
  Please take your time.
  
• 需要我介紹嗎？(Xūyào wǒ jièshào ma?)
  Would you like me to introduce the dishes?
  
• 這是本店推薦 (Zhè shì běndiàn tuījiàn)
  This is a house recommendation.

3. Taking Orders

Clear ordering phrases help avoid mistakes.

• 請問要點什麼？(Qǐngwèn yào diǎn shénme?)
  What would you like to order?
  
• 好的 (Hǎo de)
  Okay.
  
• 還需要其他的嗎？(Hái xūyào qítā de ma?)
  Would you like anything else?
  
• 請稍等一下 (Qǐng shāoděng yíxià)
  Please wait a moment.

4. Handling Food Preferences & Allergies

Guests may ask about ingredients or dietary needs.

• 這道菜有辣嗎？(Zhè dào cài yǒu là ma?)
  Is this dish spicy?
  
• 可以不要辣 / 少辣 (Kěyǐ bú yào là / shǎo là)
  No spicy / Less spicy.
  
• 有過敏嗎？(Yǒu guòmǐn ma?)
  Do you have any allergies?
  
• 我幫您確認一下 (Wǒ bāng nín quèrèn yíxià)
  Let me check for you.

5. Serving Food & Checking In

Checking in politely shows care and professionalism.

• 您的餐點來了 (Nín de cāndiǎn lái le)
  Your food is here.
  
• 請慢用 (Qǐng màn yòng)
  Enjoy your meal.
  
• 餐點還可以嗎？(Cāndiǎn hái kěyǐ ma?)
  Is everything okay with the food?

6. Handling Complaints Politely

Even simple apologies can calm situations.

• 不好意思 (Bù hǎo yìsi)
  Sorry.
  
• 非常抱歉 (Fēicháng bàoqiàn)
  We’re very sorry.
  
• 我幫您處理 (Wǒ bāng nín chǔlǐ)
  I’ll take care of it.

7. Billing & Payment

Ending the meal smoothly leaves a good final impression.

• 需要買單嗎？(Xūyào mǎidān ma?)
  Would you like the bill?
  
• 這是帳單 (Zhè shì zhàngdān)
  This is the bill.
  
• 可以刷卡或付現金 (Kěyǐ shuākǎ huò fù xiànjīn)
  You can pay by card or cash.
  
• 謝謝，歡迎再來 (Xièxiè, huānyíng zài lái)
  Thank you, please come again.

Why These Phrases Matter

Using polite, practical Chinese helps restaurant staff:

• Serve guests more confidently
  
• Reduce ordering mistakes
  
• Improve guest satisfaction
  
• Create a welcoming dining atmosphere
  
• Stand out professionally in hospitality roles

Even a few phrases can make a big difference.

Learn Restaurant Chinese That Works in Real Service

Memorizing phrases is a great start, but practice builds confidence.

With TutorABC Chinese, restaurant professionals can:

• Practice real service and ordering scenarios
  
• Learn polite customer-service language
  
• Improve listening for real guest requests
  
• Study flexibly around shift schedules

Build confidence in Restaurant Chinese. Book a free level placement session with TutorABC Chinese today.

FAQ: Essential Chinese for Restaurant Staff

1. Do restaurant staff need to be fluent in Chinese to serve guests well?

No. Restaurant staff don’t need full fluency. Learning common phrases for greeting guests, taking orders, handling requests, and billing is usually enough to communicate effectively and provide a positive dining experience.

2. What type of Chinese should restaurant staff focus on first?

Restaurant staff should focus on spoken Mandarin and practical service phrases. Listening and speaking skills are far more important than reading or writing, especially during busy service hours.

3. How can restaurant staff practice Chinese while working shifts?

Short, role-based practice works best. Learning through real service scenarios, such as taking orders or handling complaints, helps staff remember phrases quickly. Platforms like TutorABC Chinese offer flexible lessons designed for shift-based hospitality workers.