How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese

The menu landed on my table in Xi'an. Forty items. All Chinese characters. No pictures. No English. No numbers.

The server stood waiting.

I pulled out my phone, opened Google Translate, pointed the camera at the menu, and watched "油泼面" transform into "oil-splashed noodles."

Those noodles became one of the best meals of my trip. And I ordered them without speaking a word of Chinese.

Here's exactly how we ate for 14 days across three cities.

Forget What You Know About Chinese Food

First, let's reset expectations.

These don't exist in China:

• General Tso's chicken
• Fortune cookies
• Crab rangoon
• Sweet and sour chicken (the Western version)
• Chop suey

What you'll actually find is radically different—and significantly better. Fresh ingredients cooked to order. Regional cuisines that taste nothing alike. Dumplings that ruin every dumpling you'll ever eat after.

Method 1: Camera Translation (Primary)

This is your main weapon.

How It Works

1. Open Google Translate (or Baidu Translate if VPN fails)
2. Tap the camera icon
3. Point at the menu
4. Watch characters transform into English
5. Screenshot dishes that look interesting
6. Show screenshots to server

Tips for Better Translations

• Good lighting helps — use your phone flashlight if needed
• Hold steady for 2-3 seconds
• Get close for clearer characters
• If live translation is gibberish, take a photo and translate the still image
• Screenshot results for reference when ordering

Translation Caveats

Translations aren't perfect. "Husband and wife lung slices" is a real dish (thinly sliced beef and offal in chili oil). "Ants climbing a tree" is minced pork with glass noodles.

When in doubt, order it anyway. Worst case, you'll have a story.

Method 2: Point and Show (Backup)

When technology fails—and it will—pointing works.

At the Table

1. Find dishes on other tables that look good
2. Point at them
3. Hold up fingers for quantity
4. Nod when server confirms

In the Kitchen

Some restaurants have open kitchens or display areas.

1. Walk toward the food
2. Point at what you want
3. Gesture quantity
4. Confirm price on your phone's calculator

We did this twice when phones died. It worked perfectly.

Method 3: QR Menu Ordering (Modern Restaurants)

Many restaurants—especially in cities—use QR code ordering.

How It Works

1. Scan the QR code on your table with Alipay or WeChat
2. A mini-program opens with the menu
3. Browse dishes (usually with photos)
4. Add to cart
5. Submit order
6. Pay in-app

The Magic

• No speaking required
• Photos help you choose
• Quantity is easy to adjust
• Payment is automatic

The Catch

• Interface is often Chinese-only
• Some require a Chinese phone number (try switching apps)
• Translation within mini-programs is hit-or-miss

Tip: Use Alipay's floating translation feature or screenshot and translate with Google.

Method 4: Delivery Apps (Lazy Days)

When you don't want to leave the hotel, delivery is your friend.

Main Apps

• Meituan (美团) — yellow delivery riders
• Ele.me (饿了么) — blue delivery riders

Both work as Alipay or WeChat mini-programs. No separate download needed.

How to Order

1. Open Alipay
2. Search 美团外卖 (Meituan) or 饿了么 (Ele.me)
3. Allow location
4. Browse restaurants (photos everywhere)
5. Add items to cart
6. Enter hotel address (ask reception to write it in Chinese)
7. Checkout with Alipay
8. Track delivery

Delivery time: Usually 20-40 minutes.

Tip: Select 无接触配送 (contactless delivery) and write 放门口 (leave at door) if you want it left outside.

Essential Food Phrases

You don't need to speak Chinese. But these phrases help:

| Chinese | Pronunciation | Meaning | |---------|---------------|---------| | 这个 | zhè ge | This one | | 不要辣 | bú yào là | Not spicy | | 少辣 | shǎo là | Less spicy | | 买单 | mǎi dān | Check please | | 好吃 | hǎo chī | Delicious | | 菜单 | cài dān | Menu |

Spice warning: If you see 火 (fire) or 辣 (spicy) on a menu, expect heat.

What to Actually Order

Safe Bets for First-Timers

• 饺子 (jiǎozi) — dumplings, any filling
• 包子 (bāozi) — steamed buns with meat or veggie filling
• 炒饭 (chǎo fàn) — fried rice
• 拉面 (lā miàn) — hand-pulled noodles
• 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng) — kung pao chicken (the real version)

Must-Try By Region

Beijing:

• 北京烤鸭 (Peking duck)
• 炸酱面 (zhajiangmian noodles)
• 饺子 (dumplings)

Xi'an:

• 油泼面 (biangbiang noodles)
• 肉夹馍 (roujiamo — Chinese "burger")
• 凉皮 (liangpi cold noodles)

Shanghai:

• 小笼包 (xiaolongbao soup dumplings)
• 生煎包 (shengjian pan-fried buns)
• 红烧肉 (red-braised pork)

Sichuan/Chengdu:

• 麻婆豆腐 (mapo tofu)
• 担担面 (dan dan noodles)
• 火锅 (hot pot)

Handling Dietary Restrictions

Dietary awareness in China is lower than in the West. You'll need to be proactive.

Vegetarian

Harder than you'd expect. Many "vegetable" dishes include animal fat, oyster sauce, or meat stock.

Phrase: 我是素食者 (wǒ shì sù shí zhě) — I'm vegetarian

Strategy: Look for 素食 (sùshí) restaurants or Buddhist restaurant chains. Check HappyCow for verified options.

Allergies

Carry a printed card in Chinese:

我对[过敏原]过敏。
我不能吃任何含有[过敏原]的食物。
这非常重要。

(I'm allergic to [allergen]. I cannot eat any food containing [allergen]. This is very important.)

Common allergy translations:

• Peanut: 花生 (huāshēng)
• Shellfish: 海鲜 (hǎixiān)
• Dairy: 乳制品 (rǔzhìpǐn)
• Egg: 鸡蛋 (jīdàn)
• Gluten: 麸质 (fūzhì)

Ask hotel reception to verify your allergy card translation.

Spice Tolerance

If you can't handle heat, avoid Sichuan and Hunan cuisine. Stick to northern or Cantonese food.

Even with "不辣" (not spicy), some dishes may still have chili oil. Ask for 完全不辣 (wán quán bú là) — absolutely no spice.

Street Food: Is It Safe?

Short answer: Yes, with common sense.

Good Signs

• Long lines of locals
• High turnover (food doesn't sit)
• Cooked fresh in front of you
• Clean workspace
• Piping hot when served

Red Flags

• Food sitting at room temperature
• No customers
• Dirty preparation area
• Pre-cooked meat sitting out
• Swarms of flies

Safe Street Foods to Try

• 羊肉串 (lamb skewers) — grilled to order
• 煎饼 (jianbing) — savory crepe with egg
• 包子 (baozi) — steamed buns
• 烤红薯 (roasted sweet potato)
• Fresh fruit (peel it yourself)

Food Safety Basics

• Bottled water only — never tap water, even for brushing teeth
• Check the seal — make sure bottles haven't been refilled
• Skip ice in drinks unless you're at a proper restaurant
• Busy restaurants are safer (higher turnover)
• Hot, freshly cooked is always safer than room temperature
• Peel your own fruit — avoid pre-cut fruit from vendors

Paying the Bill

No tipping. Ever. It can actually create confusion.

How to Pay

Say 买单 (mǎi dān) or make a writing-in-air gesture.

Most restaurants accept Alipay or WeChat Pay. Scan the QR code, enter the amount, show the green checkmark.

Some street vendors are cash-only. Keep small bills (¥5, ¥10) on hand.

Our Experience After 14 Days

What Worked

• Camera translation handled 90% of menus
• Delivery apps were lifesavers on long days
• Following crowds for street food never failed
• QR ordering eliminated awkward interactions

What Surprised Us

• Portions are huge — one meat + one vegetable feeds two
• Dumpling addiction is real
• Regional cuisines are shockingly different
• We had zero stomach issues following basic rules

What We'd Do Differently

• Learn "less spicy" from day one
• Research regional specialties before arriving
• Pack antacids just in case

If This Feels Overwhelming

Between translation apps, allergy cards, and QR ordering—there's a lot to manage while you're hungry.

If you'd rather have someone available to help translate a tricky menu or answer food questions at midnight, our Guardian package includes 24/7 WeChat support for $19. One message away when you can't figure out what 夫妻肺片 is.

(It's husband and wife lung slices. It's delicious. Don't ask more questions.)

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Related Guides:

• Surviving the Language Barrier in China
• How to Use Alipay for Foreigners
• China Travel Tech Setup