How do I ask for a table at a restaurant in English?

Walk up to the host and say 'Hi, table for two, please' or 'Do you have a table available for two?' If they're busy, they may say 'There's a 20-minute wait' — you can reply 'That's fine, we'll wait.'

How do I tell the waiter about food allergies?

Say 'I'm allergic to [item]' clearly. For example: 'I'm allergic to peanuts — does this dish contain any?' or 'I can't eat gluten. What do you recommend?' Restaurants take allergies very seriously in English-speaking countries.

How much should I tip at a restaurant abroad?

In the US, 15-20% is standard. In the UK, 10-15% or check if service charge is included. In Australia, tipping is optional but 10% is appreciated for good service. Always check the bill first.

How to Order Food in English at Any Restaurant

The restaurant journey, step by step

Eating out is one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling — and one of the most stressful if you're not confident in English. This guide walks you through every step with the exact phrases you need.

Getting seated

When you arrive at a restaurant, look for the host stand near the entrance.

"Hi, table for two, please."

你好，两位，麻烦了。

If you have a reservation: "I have a reservation under [your name]." (我预约了，名字是[你的名字])

Reading the menu

Don't panic if you can't understand everything. These phrases help:

"What do you recommend?" — 你推荐什么？
"What's the most popular dish?" — 什么菜最受欢迎？
"Is this spicy?" — 这个辣吗？
"What's in this dish?" — 这道菜里有什么？

Ordering

When the waiter comes:

"I'll have the [dish name], please."

我要[菜名]，谢谢。

For drinks: "Could I get a glass of water / a beer / a coffee?"

Dietary needs

| Situation | English Phrase | 中文 | |-----------|---------------|------| | Vegetarian | "I'm vegetarian" | 我吃素 | | Vegan | "I'm vegan — no meat, dairy, or eggs" | 我是纯素食者 | | Allergy | "I'm allergic to [item]" | 我对[食物]过敏 | | No spice | "Not spicy, please" | 不要辣 | | Gluten-free | "Do you have gluten-free options?" | 有无麸质的选择吗？ |

During the meal

"Excuse me" + raise hand = get the waiter's attention
"Could I have some more water?" — 可以再来点水吗？
"This is delicious!" — 很好吃！(Great way to make friends)

Paying the bill

"Could I have the check, please?" (US) or "The bill, please" (UK)

可以买单吗？

Tip: In the US, tip 15-20%. In the UK, check if "service charge" is already on the bill. In Australia, tipping is optional.

Practice makes perfect

These phrases become second nature after practicing them a few times. TalkBuddy has 50+ restaurant scenes covering everything from fast food to fine dining, with cultural notes for different countries.