Ordering Food Like a Local (Survival Chinese)

Walking into a bustling Taiwanese restaurant or night market stall can be intimidating if you don't speak Mandarin. The menus are often entirely in Chinese, there's a line forming behind you, and the staff works at lightning speed.

But fear not! You don't need to be fluent. You just need to know a few key phrases to navigate the process smoothly. Here is your survival guide to ordering food like a local.

Step 1: Entering the Restaurant

When you walk in, the boss or waitstaff (often affectionately called A-yi - Auntie) will likely yell a greeting and immediately ask:

• "Ji Wei?" (幾位?): How many people?
  • Your reply: Hold up your fingers, or say "Liang Wei" (兩位 - Two people), "San Wei" (三位 - Three people), etc.

Next, they will ask the most important question of the transaction:

• "Nei Yong hai shi Wai Dai?" (內用還是外帶?): Dine-in or Take-out?
  • Your reply: "Nei Yong" (內用) if you want to eat there. "Wai Dai" (外帶) if you want it to go.

Step 2: The Menu & Ordering

Many casual restaurants use a paper-and-pencil system. You grab a menu (菜單 - cài dān), mark what you want, and hand it to the counter.

If you are ordering at a stall or a place without a paper menu and you can't read the signs, the universal point-and-nod method works. But you can elevate it:

• "Wo yao zhe ge" (我要這個): I want this one. (While pointing).
• "Yi ge" (一個), "Liang ge" (兩個): One of these, two of these.

Customizing Your Meal

Taiwanese food is highly customizable. The staff will often ask if you want it spicy or if you want certain ingredients omitted.

• "Yao la ma?" (要辣嗎?): Do you want it spicy?
  • Your reply: "Bu yao la" (不要辣) - Not spicy. "Xiao la" (小辣) - Little spicy. "Zhong la" (中辣) - Medium spicy. "Da la" (大辣) - Very spicy.
• "Bu Yao Xiang Cai" (不要香菜): No cilantro! Memorize this if you have the soap-tasting gene. It is a very common garnish on dishes like pork blood cake or night market snacks.
• "Bu yao cong" (不要蔥): No green onions.

Step 3: Mastering the Drink Shop (Hand-Shaken Teas)

Ordering a boba or iced tea in Taiwan is a multi-step process because everything is customizable. Once you choose your drink (e.g., Pearl Milk Tea - 珍珠奶茶 - zhen zhu nai cha), they will ask you two rapid-fire questions:

1. Sugar Level (甜度 - tián dù):
   • 100%: Normal sugar (正常甜 - zhèng cháng tián) - Warning: Usually very sweet!
   • 70%: Less sugar (少糖 - shǎo táng)
   • 50%: Half sugar (半糖 - bàn táng) - The standard recommendation.
   • 30%: Quarter sugar (微糖 - wéi táng)
   • 0%: No sugar (無糖 - wú táng)
2. Ice Level (冰塊 - bīng kuài):
   • 100%: Normal ice (正常冰 - zhèng cháng bīng)
   • 70%: Less ice (少冰 - shǎo bīng)
   • 30%: Quarter ice/Lite ice (微冰 - wéi bīng)
   • 0%: No ice (去冰 - qù bīng) - Note: The drink will still be cold!

Example order: "Zhen zhu nai cha, ban tang, shao bing" (Pearl milk tea, half sugar, less ice).

Final Tips

• Paying: Pay attention to whether you pay before or after you eat. At fast-casual places and night markets, you pay immediately. In sit-down breakfast shops or noodle joints, you often pay after eating.
• Keep trying: Taiwanese people are incredibly forgiving and encouraging when foreigners try to speak Mandarin. Even if you mess up the tones, they will appreciate the effort!

Armed with these phrases, you are ready to tackle a traditional Taiwanese breakfast or navigate a chaotic Re Chao restaurant with confidence.