。
Xiaoming went to the night market.
Chinese Food: Hotpot, Street Food, and Ordering
Learn everyday Chinese phrases for ordering street food, navigating night market stalls, reading menus, and dining at restaurants.
Quick answer
To order food at a restaurant, street stall, or night market in Chinese, use polite everyday phrases to ask about menu items, request dishes like dumplings or noodles, and confirm your meal. As you progress, you can also navigate business dinners and chat with friendly vendors about local snacks.
- Order food and dumplings politely at a restaurant or snack shop
- Ask about food options and snacks at a busy night market
- Read restaurant menus to find and identify local dishes
- Politely order food and host clients during a business dinner
Read a Real Lesson
This is a complete Bubblegum lesson, with the same tools you get in the app.
- Tap any word to see its meaning and how it is read.
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Level 1: Short sentences with everyday words. Greetings, names, and simple questions.
Not sure? or pick the level where you understand most of the lesson but still meet a few new words.
Night Market Snacks
小明
，？
Boss, do you have dumplings?
老板
。
No dumplings.
小明
？
Don't you have steamed buns?
老板
。？
We have steamed buns. Have you eaten yet?
小明
。
I ate steamed buns.
老板
！
They are very delicious!
New to Chinese (Mainland)? If you are completely new to Chinese, start with the Level 1 lessons on ordering dumplings, street food, and night market snacks. These build your confidence with basic vocabulary for talking about menus and everyday meals.
About This Guide
Welcome! This page brings together lessons on Chinese food, ranging from quick street snacks and night market stalls to restaurant menus and business dinners. Use Level 1 variants to build foundational vocabulary for ordering basic meals, and move into higher levels to handle detailed menu reading and formal dining situations.
More Level 1 Lessons(10)
Ordering Food
Learn everyday phrases for ordering dumplings and confirming your meal at a restaurant!
Ordering at a Snack Shop
Learn a simple conversation about asking for food at a local snack shop!
Ordering Coffee and Tea
Learn how to order coffee, tea, and treats at a cafe!
Ordering at the Night Market
Learn how to ask about food options and order a delicious meal at a busy night market stall.
Buying Snacks at the Night Market
Join Xiaomei as she buys pan-fried dumplings and green tea at the night market!
Buying a Snack
Have a friendly chat with the shop owner about today's tasty treats!
Summer Foods
Learn to talk about your favorite refreshing foods and desserts in Chinese during the hot summer!
Ordering Noodles
Learn how to order noodles and greet the owner with friendly, everyday phrases!
Buying Dumplings at the Night Market
Join Xiaoming at the bustling night market and learn how to buy delicious dumplings in Chinese!
Reading a Teahouse Menu
Join Xiao Wang to explore a teahouse menu and discover wonderful teas!
Questions Learners Ask
How do I order food at a night market stall?
You can ask about available food options and order a delicious meal by using simple phrases practiced in night market and street food lessons.
Can I learn how to read restaurant menus in Chinese?
Yes, specific lessons guide you through reading Beijing restaurant menus so you can easily find and identify your favorite local dishes.
How do business dinners differ from casual ordering?
Business dinner lessons focus on how to politely order food and host clients in a professional setting, whereas other lessons cover casual restaurant visits and street food.
Start With the Script
Learn to read Mainland China with pictures, real audio, and short practice.
Read at Your Level
Real Mainland China lessons with word lookups, notes, and audio. Switch levels on any guide.