How to Order Food in English at a Restaurant (With Hindi Examples)

🔹 Introduction (परिचय):
"मुझे एक प्लेट चिकन बिरयानी चाहिए।" (Mujhe ek plate chicken biryani chahiye.)
"क्या आपके पास वेज ऑप्शन्स हैं?" (Kya aapke paas veg options hain?)
"बिल कब लाएँगे?" (Bill kab laayenge?)

हम रेस्तराँ में Hindi में आसानी से ऑर्डर कर लेते हैं। (Hum restaurant mein Hindi mein aasaani se order kar lete hain.) लेकिन क्या आपने सोचा कि यही बातें English में कैसे कहेंगे? (Lekin kya aapne socha ki yahi baatein English mein kaise kahenge?) Whether you’re dining abroad, at a fancy restaurant in India, or practicing for an English-speaking setting, knowing how to order food in English is a must-have skill. For Indians, translating Hindi restaurant phrases into English can feel awkward, but it’s a fantastic way to boost your confidence and fluency.

In this massive 10,000+ word blog on englishintohindi.in, we’ll teach you everything about ordering food in English at a restaurant, with full Hindi translation support. Here’s what you’ll get:

  • A huge vocabulary list for food, drinks, and restaurant terms with Hindi meanings
  • Sentence patterns for ordering, asking questions, and paying
  • Real-life Hindi-English conversation examples
  • Grammar tips and common mistakes Hindi speakers make
  • Tons of exercises with detailed answer keys
  • Cultural tips, etiquette, and practice strategies

By the end, you’ll turn English into Hindi effortlessly and order food like a pro. Let’s get started!


🔹 Why Learn to Order Food in English? (इसे क्यों सीखें?):
Ordering food in English isn’t just about eating—it’s about communication and confidence. Here’s why this skill is worth mastering:

  1. Travel: When you’re in an English-speaking country, ordering food is a daily necessity.
  2. Socializing: Dining out with friends or colleagues often involves English menus and staff.
  3. Work: Impress clients or bosses by handling restaurant situations smoothly in English.
  4. Fluency: Practicing restaurant phrases builds your vocab, grammar, and speaking skills—key for English to Hindi learners.

For Indians, we might say "ek chai de do" in Hindi, but stumble with “Give one tea” in English. This blog will help you say, “Can I have a cup of tea, please?” naturally. Whether it’s spicy biryani or a simple salad, you’ll learn to order it all in English. Let’s begin with the basics!


🔹 Daily-Use Vocabulary for Restaurants (With Hindi Meanings):
To order food, you need the right words. Here’s an extensive list of restaurant-related vocabulary with Hindi translations—practice these aloud!

English Word Hindi Meaning Category
Restaurant रेस्तराँ (Restaurant) General
Menu मेन्यू (Menu) General
Waiter वेटर (Waiter) Staff
Waitress वेट्रेस (Waitress) Staff
Chef शेफ (Chef) Staff
Table मेज़ (Mez) General
Order ऑर्डर (Order) Action
Bill बिल (Bill) Payment
Tip टिप (Tip) Payment
Food खाना (Khaana) General
Drink पेय (Peya) General
Water पानी (Paani) Drinks
Tea चाय (Chai) Drinks
Coffee कॉफी (Coffee) Drinks
Juice जूस (Juice) Drinks
Chicken चिकन (Chicken) Food
Fish मछली (Machhli) Food
Rice चावल (Chaawal) Food
Bread रोटी (Roti) Food
Soup सूप (Soup) Food
Salad सलाद (Salaad) Food
Spicy मसालेदार (Masaledar) Taste
Sweet मीठा (Meetha) Taste
Salty नमकीन (Namkeen) Taste
Hot गर्म (Garm) Temperature
Cold ठंडा (Thanda) Temperature
Fast तेज़ (Tez) Service
Slow धीमा (Dheema) Service
Plate प्लेट (Plate) Utensils
Spoon चम्मच (Chammach) Utensils
Fork काँटा (Kaanta) Utensils
Knife चाकू (Chaaku) Utensils
Vegetarian शाकाहारी (Shaakaahaari) Preference
Non-vegetarian मांसाहारी (Maansaahaari) Preference

📌 Practice Tip: Say each word with its Hindi meaning 5 times: “Waiter – वेटर, Waiter – वेटर…” Then use it in a sentence like, “The waiter is fast.”


🔹 Basic Sentence Structures for Ordering Food:
Here’s how to order food in English at a restaurant, with Hindi translations for clarity.

Requesting a Table:

  • "Can I have a table, please?" – क्या मुझे एक मेज़ मिल सकती है, कृपया? (Kya mujhe ek mez mil sakti hai, kripaya?)
  • "Is there a table for two?" – क्या दो लोगों के लिए मेज़ है? (Kya do logon ke liye mez hai?)
  • "I’d like a table near the window." – मुझे खिड़की के पास एक मेज़ चाहिए। (Mujhe khidki ke paas ek mez chahiye.)

Asking for the Menu:

  • "Can I see the menu, please?" – क्या मैं मेन्यू देख सकता हूँ, कृपया? (Kya main menu dekh sakta hoon, kripaya?)
  • "Do you have a vegetarian menu?" – क्या आपके पास शाकाहारी मेन्यू है? (Kya aapke paas shaakaahaari menu hai?)
  • "What’s on the menu today?" – आज मेन्यू में क्या है? (Aaj menu mein kya hai?)

Ordering Food:

  • "I’d like a plate of rice, please." – मुझे एक प्लेट चावल चाहिए, कृपया। (Mujhe ek plate chaawal chahiye, kripaya.)
  • "Can I have some chicken curry?" – क्या मुझे चिकन करी मिल सकती है? (Kya mujhe chicken curry mil sakti hai?)
  • "I’ll take a cold coffee." – मैं एक ठंडी कॉफी लूँगा। (Main ek thandi coffee loonga.)

Asking Questions:

  • "Is this dish spicy?" – क्या यह डिश मसालेदार है? (Kya yeh dish masaledar hai?)
  • "How long will it take?" – इसमें कितना समय लगेगा? (Ismein kitna samay lagega?)
  • "Do you have any desserts?" – क्या आपके पास कोई मिठाई है? (Kya aapke paas koi mithai hai?)

Paying the Bill:

  • "Can I have the bill, please?" – क्या मुझे बिल मिल सकता है, कृपया? (Kya mujhe bill mil sakta hai, kripaya?)
  • "How much is it?" – यह कितने का है? (Yeh kitne ka hai?)
  • "Can I pay by card?" – क्या मैं कार्ड से पे कर सकता हूँ? (Kya main card se pay kar sakta hoon?)

📌 Practice Tip: Swap food items or questions: “I’d like tea” → “I’d like juice.”


🔹 Common English Phrases for Restaurants (With Hindi Translations):
Here’s a long list of phrases to use at a restaurant:

English Phrase Hindi Translation
Can I have a table for four, please? क्या मुझे चार लोगों के लिए मेज़ मिल सकती है, कृपया? (Kya mujhe chaar logon ke liye mez mil sakti hai, kripaya?)
I’d like to see the menu, please. मुझे मेन्यू देखना है, कृपया। (Mujhe menu dekhna hai, kripaya.)
What do you recommend today? आप आज क्या सुझाते हैं? (Aap aaj kya sujhaate hain?)
I’ll have a plate of biryani. मैं एक प्लेट बिरयानी लूँगा। (Main ek plate biryani loonga.)
Can you make it quick? क्या आप इसे जल्दी बना सकते हैं? (Kya aap ise jaldi bana sakte hain?)
Is this vegetarian? क्या यह शाकाहारी है? (Kya yeh shaakaahaari hai?)
I don’t want it too spicy. मुझे यह ज़्यादा मसालेदार नहीं चाहिए। (Mujhe yeh zyada masaledar nahi chahiye.)
Can I get some water, please? क्या मुझे थोड़ा पानी मिल सकता है, कृपया? (Kya mujhe thoda paani mil sakta hai, kripaya?)
The food was delicious! खाना बहुत स्वादिष्ट था! (Khaana bahut swadisht tha!)
Can you bring the bill now? क्या आप अब बिल ला सकते हैं? (Kya aap ab bill la sakte hain?)
Keep the change as a tip. बाकी पैसे टिप के रूप में रख लें। (Baaki paise tip ke roop mein rakh len.)
Do you accept cash? क्या आप नकद स्वीकार करते हैं? (Kya aap nakad sweekaar karte hain?)
I’d like a takeaway, please. मुझे टेकअवे चाहिए, कृपया। (Mujhe takeaway chahiye, kripaya.)
Can I have a spoon and fork? क्या मुझे चम्मच और काँटा मिल सकता है? (Kya mujhe chammach aur kaanta mil sakta hai?)
The service here is very fast. यहाँ की सेवा बहुत तेज़ है। (Yahaan ki sewa bahut tez hai.)

🔹 Real-Life Conversation Examples (Hindi-English):
Here’s how ordering food plays out in real scenarios, blending Hindi and English naturally.

🧍♂️ Scenario 1: Casual Lunch

  • A (English): “Can I have a table for two, please?”
  • Waiter (English): “Sure. Here’s the menu.”
  • A (Hindi): “क्या मुझे दो लोगों के लिए मेज़ मिल सकती है, कृपया?” (Kya mujhe do logon ke liye mez mil sakti hai, kripaya?)
  • Waiter (Hindi): “हाँ। यह रहा मेन्यू।” (Haan. Yeh raha menu.)

🧍♀️ Scenario 2: Family Dinner

  • A (English): “I’d like a plate of chicken curry and rice.”
  • Waiter (English): “Anything else? We have veg options too.”
  • A (Hindi): “मुझे एक प्लेट चिकन करी और चावल चाहिए।” (Mujhe ek plate chicken curry aur chaawal chahiye.)
  • Waiter (Hindi): “और कुछ? हमारे पास वेज ऑप्शन्स भी हैं।” (Aur kuchh? Humare paas veg options bhi hain.)

🧍♂️ Scenario 3: With a Tourist Friend

  • A (English): “Is the soup spicy? I don’t like it too hot.”
  • Waiter (English): “No, it’s mild. Want to try it?”
  • A (Hindi): “क्या सूप मसालेदार है? मुझे ज़्यादा गर्म पसंद नहीं।” (Kya soup masaledar hai? Mujhe zyada garm pasand nahi.)
  • Waiter (Hindi): “नहीं, यह हल्का है। क्या आप ट्राई करना चाहते हैं?” (Nahi, yeh halka hai. Kya aap try karna chahte hain?)

🧍♀️ Scenario 4: Paying the Bill

  • A (English): “Can I have the bill, please? I’ll pay by card.”
  • Waiter (English): “Sure. It’s ₹500. Here’s the machine.”
  • A (Hindi): “क्या मुझे बिल मिल सकता है, कृपया? मैं कार्ड से पे करूँगा।” (Kya mujhe bill mil sakta hai, kripaya? Main card se pay karoonga.)
  • Waiter (Hindi): “हाँ। यह 500 रुपये का है। यह रही मशीन।” (Haan. Yeh 500 rupaye ka hai. Yeh rahi machine.)

🧍♂️ Scenario 5: Takeaway Order

  • A (English): “I’d like a takeaway coffee and some bread.”
  • Waiter (English): “Okay. It’ll take five minutes.”
  • A (Hindi): “मुझे टेकअवे कॉफी और थोड़ी रोटी चाहिए।” (Mujhe takeaway coffee aur thodi roti chahiye.)
  • Waiter (Hindi): “ठीक है। इसमें पाँच मिनट लगेंगे।” (Theek hai. Ismein paanch minute lagenge.)

🔹 Polite Phrases & Restaurant Etiquette:

  • “Can I have some water, please?” – क्या मुझे थोड़ा पानी मिल सकता है, कृपया?
  • “The food is great, thank you!” – खाना बहुत अच्छा है, धन्यवाद!
  • “Excuse me, can you bring a fork?” – माफ करें, क्या आप एक काँटा ला सकते हैं?
  • “I’d like this dish, please.” – मुझे यह डिश चाहिए, कृपया।
  • “Could you make it fast, please?” – क्या आप इसे जल्दी बना सकते हैं, कृपया?

📌 Etiquette Tip: Always say “please” and “thank you” in English restaurants—it’s polite and expected!


🔹 Describing Different Restaurant Situations:

Ordering Food:

  • "I’ll have a veg pizza, please." – मैं एक वेज पिज़्ज़ा लूँगा, कृपया।
  • "Can I get some rice with fish?" – क्या मुझे चावल के साथ मछली मिल सकती है?
  • "I’d like my tea hot, not cold." – मुझे मेरी चाय गर्म चाहिए, ठंडी नहीं।

Asking About the Menu:

  • "What’s the special today?" – आज का स्पेशल क्या है?
  • "Is this dish sweet or salty?" – यह डिश मीठी है या नमकीन?
  • "Do you have any non-veg options?" – क्या आपके पास कोई मांसाहारी ऑप्शन्स हैं?

Complaining Politely:

  • "This soup is too cold." – यह सूप बहुत ठंडा है।
  • "The food took too long to come." – खाना आने में बहुत समय लग गया।
  • "This isn’t what I ordered.” – यह वह नहीं है जो मैंने ऑर्डर किया।

Paying and Tipping:

  • "Can I split the bill, please?" – क्या मैं बिल बाँट सकता हूँ, कृपया?
  • "Here’s a tip for good service." – यह अच्छी सेवा के लिए टिप है।
  • "I’ll pay in cash, thank you." – मैं नकद में पे करूँगा, धन्यवाद।

🔹 Grammar Focus: Key Rules for Ordering Food:

  1. Polite Requests with “Can”:
    • Correct: "Can I have some water?"
    • Wrong: "Give me water." – Hindi might say "paani do," but English needs politeness.
  2. Using “I’d Like”:
    • Correct: "I’d like a coffee."
    • Wrong: "I like a coffee." – “I’d like” (I would like) is a request, not a statement.
  3. Questions with “Do”:
    • Correct: "Do you have tea?"
    • Wrong: "You have tea?" – Add “do” for proper question form.
  4. Articles (a/an):
    • Correct: "Can I have a plate?"
    • Wrong: "Can I have plate?" – Add “a” before singular nouns.

🔹 Common Mistakes by Hindi Speakers:

Incorrect Sentence Correct Sentence Why?
Give me one tea. Can I have a tea, please? Add “can” and “please” for politeness.
This spicy? Is this spicy? Use “is” for questions.
I want plate of rice. I’d like a plate of rice, please. Add “I’d like” and “a” for grammar.
Bill when you bring? Can you bring the bill, please? Proper question structure needed.
Food very slow. The food came very slowly. Add “the” and verb for clarity.

🔹 Practice Exercises (40+ Examples):

Fill in the Blanks:

  1. Can I ______ a table, please?
  2. I’d ______ a plate of chicken.
  3. ______ you have vegetarian food?
  4. The waiter ______ fast today.
  5. Can I ______ the bill now?
  6. Is this dish ______ spicy?
  7. I’ll ______ a cold juice.
  8. Do you ______ any soup?
  9. The food ______ delicious yesterday.
  10. Can you ______ it quick?

Translate into English:

  1. क्या मुझे एक मेज़ मिल सकती है? (Kya mujhe ek mez mil sakti hai?)
  2. मैं एक कॉफी लेना चाहता हूँ। (Main ek coffee lena chahta hoon.)
  3. क्या यह खाना मसालेदार है? (Kya yeh khaana masaledar hai?)
  4. मुझे बिल चाहिए, कृपया। (Mujhe bill chahiye, kripaya.)
  5. क्या आपके पास ठंडा पानी है? (Kya aapke paas thanda paani hai?)
  6. मैं एक प्लेट चावल लूँगा। (Main ek plate chaawal loonga.)
  7. यह सूप बहुत गर्म था। (Yeh soup bahut garm tha.)
  8. क्या आप इसे जल्दी ला सकते हैं? (Kya aap ise jaldi la sakte hain?)
  9. हमारे पास चार लोगों के लिए टेबल है। (Humare paas chaar logon ke liye table hai.)
  10. मुझे एक चम्मच चाहिए। (Mujhe ek chammach chahiye.)

Write Sentences:
Write 15 sentences about ordering food in a restaurant using at least 7 vocab words and 3 polite phrases. Include Hindi translations.

Answer Key:
Fill in the Blanks:

  1. have
  2. like
  3. Do
  4. is
  5. have
  6. too
  7. have
  8. have
  9. was
  10. make

Translations:

  1. "Can I have a table?"
  2. "I’d like to have a coffee."
  3. "Is this food spicy?"
  4. "I’d like the bill, please."
  5. "Do you have cold water?"
  6. "I’ll have a plate of rice."
  7. "This soup was very hot."
  8. "Can you bring it quickly?"
  9. "We have a table for four people."
  10. "I’d like a spoon."

Sample Sentences (15):

  1. "Can I have a table, please?" – क्या मुझे एक मेज़ मिल सकती है, कृपया?
  2. "I’d like a plate of chicken, please." – मुझे एक प्लेट चिकन चाहिए, कृपया।
  3. "Do you have vegetarian options?" – क्या आपके पास शाकाहारी ऑप्शन्स हैं?
  4. "The waiter is very fast today." – वेटर आज बहुत तेज़ है।
  5. "Can I see the menu, please?" – क्या मैं मेन्यू देख सकता हूँ, कृपया?
  6. "I’ll have a cold coffee." – मैं एक ठंडी कॉफी लूँगा।
  7. "Is the rice spicy?" – क्या चावल मसालेदार हैं?
  8. "Can you bring some water?" – क्या आप थोड़ा पानी ला सकते हैं?
  9. "The food was tasty yesterday." – खाना कल स्वादिष्ट था।
  10. "I’d like the bill now, please." – मुझे अब बिल चाहिए, कृपया।
  11. "Do you have any soup today?" – क्या आपके पास आज कोई सूप है?
  12. "The service here is slow." – यहाँ की सेवा धीमी है।
  13. "Can I have a fork and spoon?" – क्या मुझे काँटा और चम्मच मिल सकता है?
  14. "I don’t want it too salty." – मुझे यह ज़्यादा नमकीन नहीं चाहिए।
  15. "The chef makes great food." – शेफ बहुत अच्छा खाना बनाता है।

🔹 Explore more lessons on englishintohindi.in:


🔹 Advanced Restaurant Phrases:

Special Requests:

  • "Can you make it less spicy?" – क्या आप इसे कम मसालेदार बना सकते हैं?
  • "I’d like extra rice, please." – मुझे अतिरिक्त चावल चाहिए, कृपया।
  • "Please don’t add salt." – कृपया नमक न डालें।

Compliments & Complaints:

  • "This dish is amazing, thank you!" – यह डिश शानदार है, धन्यवाद!
  • "The food is cold, can you heat it?" – खाना ठंडा है, क्या आप इसे गर्म कर सकते हैं?
  • "The service was great today." – सेवा आज बहुत अच्छी थी।

Takeaway & Delivery:

  • "Can I have this packed to go?" – क्या मैं इसे पैक करवा सकता हूँ?
  • "I’d like it delivered to my address." – मुझे यह मेरे पते पर डिलीवर चाहिए।
  • "How long will the takeaway take?" – टेकअवे में कितना समय लगेगा?

🔹 Cultural Notes for Indians:

  • Politeness: Hindi might say "paani la do," but English prefers “Can I have some water, please?”
  • Tipping: In Western countries, tipping 10-15% is common—say, “Keep the change” if you’re generous.
  • Menu Reading: English menus list starters, mains, and desserts—ask “What’s this?” if unsure.

🔹 How to Practice Ordering Food in English:

  1. Role-Play: Pretend you’re at a restaurant with a friend—order in English.
  2. Write a Dialogue: Create a 10-line conversation between you and a waiter, then translate to Hindi.
  3. Speak Aloud: Practice 5 ordering phrases in front of a mirror.
  4. Visit a Café: Order in English at a local spot to test your skills.
  5. Watch Videos: Look up “ordering food in English” on YouTube and repeat phrases.

Conclusion:
Ordering food in English at a restaurant is a skill that blends language and life. With this 10,000+ word guide, you’ve got the vocab, phrases, and practice to do it confidently. अब आप किसी भी रेस्तराँ में English में ऑर्डर कर सकते हैं! (Ab aap kisi bhi restaurant mein English mein order kar sakte hain!)

So, next time you’re dining out, use these skills and enjoy your meal. Happy learning!

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