如何用英语点餐
目录
你走进国外的一家餐厅,服务员微笑着用英语快速说了一句话,你却愣住了。这篇指南为你提供外出就餐每个环节所需的具体表达——没有废话,只有你真正会用到的词句。
入座
如果你有预订:
I have a reservation under [your name].
Hi, I booked a table for two at 7.
如果没有预订:
Table for two, please.
Do you have any tables available?
How long is the wait?
接待员可能会说的话:
How many people?
Would you prefer indoor or outdoor seating?
It’ll be about 15 minutes. You can wait at the bar.
如果愿意等,直接说:
That’s fine, thank you. We’ll wait at the bar.
点饮品
在大多数餐厅,服务员会先问你要什么饮品——在点菜之前。请做好准备。
服务员通常会说:
Can I get you something to drink?
What would you like to drink?
Can I start you off with some drinks?
你的常用回答:
I’ll have a Coke, please.
Just water for me, thanks.
Can I see the wine list?
Do you have any local beers?
如果你点了水,通常还会被追问:
Still or sparkling?
- Still = 普通无气泡的水
- Sparkling = 有气泡的苏打水
- Tap water = 免费的自来水(在美国、英国、加拿大、澳大利亚和欧洲大部分地区可以安全饮用)
Tap water is fine, thanks.
Still water, please.
在美国,水通常是免费的。在许多欧洲国家,瓶装水会收费,除非你明确要求自来水。
看懂菜单
你不需要认识每个单词。但以下几个词出现频率很高:
菜单分类
| 词汇 | 含义 |
|---|---|
| Appetizer / Starter | 主菜前的小份菜肴 |
| Entrée / Main course | 主菜(⚠️ “Entrée” 在美国指主菜,但在英国和法国指前菜/开胃菜) |
| Sides | 需要单独点的配菜(薯条、沙拉、蔬菜) |
| Dessert | 餐后的甜点 |
| Specials | 仅限当日的特色菜,不在常规菜单上 |
| Soup of the day | 每日不同的汤品 |
烹饪方式
| 词汇 | 含义 |
|---|---|
| Grilled | 在金属烤架上高温烤制 |
| Fried | 在热油中炸制 |
| Roasted | 在烤箱中干热烤制 |
| Steamed | 在沸水上蒸制 |
| Poached | 在液体中小火慢煮 |
| Blackened | 裹上香料后高温煎制(不是烧焦) |
牛排熟度
如果你点牛排或汉堡,服务员会问你要几分熟:
| 熟度 | 内部外观 |
|---|---|
| Rare | 冷红色中心 |
| Medium rare | 温热红色中心 |
| Medium | 整体呈粉红色 |
| Medium well | 略带粉红 |
| Well done | 全熟,无粉红色 |
菜单上容易让英语学习者困惑的常见词汇
| 词汇 | 是什么 |
|---|---|
| Arugula / Rocket | 一种带胡椒味的沙拉叶菜(美式:arugula,英式:rocket) |
| Quinoa | 一种类似谷物的种子,高蛋白 |
| Couscous | 细小的蒸制面食颗粒,看起来像米饭但并不是 |
| Confit | 用自身油脂慢炖的肉类(通常指鸭肉) |
| Tartare | 切碎调味的生肉或生鱼 |
| Bisque | 浓稠的奶油汤,通常用贝类制作 |
| Harissa | 北非辣椒酱——如果菜单上写着”harissa chicken”,做好吃辣的准备 |
| Au jus | 配以原汁上桌(法语词汇,但在英文菜单中也很常见) |
如果你看不懂某道菜,直接问:
What’s in this?
Is this dish spicy?
What comes with it?
What do you recommend?
这些都是很正常的问题。没人会对你另眼相看。如果你完全看不懂菜单,可以使用拍照翻译应用——参考这篇:如何用手机相机在旅行中阅读菜单。
服务员说的话(及其含义)
在开始点餐之前,先了解服务员到底在问你什么会很有帮助:
| 他们说 | 实际意思 |
|---|---|
| Are you ready to order? | 告诉我你想吃什么。 |
| Can I start you off with drinks? | 你想喝什么? |
| Any room for dessert? | 你想要甜点吗? |
| Is that everything? | 我点的单对吗? |
| You’re all set. | 一切都办妥了/已付款。 |
| It’s on the house. | 这是免费的——餐厅请客。 |
点餐
你最常用的三个短语:
I’ll have the grilled chicken, please.
I’d like the salmon, please.
Can I get the burger?
这三种说法都很礼貌自然。“I’d like” 稍微正式一些。“Can I get” 在美国非常常用。
当服务员问你想点什么时:
Server: Are you ready to order?
You: Yes, I’ll have the Caesar salad to start, and the steak for my main.
如果你还没想好:
We need a few more minutes.
Could you give us a minute?
用手指出也是可以的。 如果你不会念菜名,指着菜单上的菜说:
I’ll have this one, please.
特殊需求
过敏——请清楚说明:
I’m allergic to nuts.
I’m allergic to shellfish.
Does this contain dairy?
Is this gluten-free?
饮食偏好:
I’m vegetarian. Does this have meat in it?
I’m vegan. Can you make this without cheese?
I don’t eat pork.
调整菜品内容:
Can I get that without onions?
Could I have a salad instead of fries?
Can I get the dressing on the side?
保持礼貌,大多数餐厅都会配合。用 “Can I” 或 “Could I” 而不是 “I want”。
用餐期间
服务员会过来关心一下:
How is everything?
Is everything okay?
Can I get you anything else?
如果一切都好:
Great, thank you.
Delicious!
Everything’s perfect.
如果你需要什么:
Could I get some more water?
Can I have another napkin?
Excuse me, could we get some extra bread?
Where’s the restroom? (美国) / Where’s the toilet? (英国)
What’s the Wi-Fi password?
不要不好意思开口。服务员习以为常。
处理问题
尽早说出来,保持冷静:
Excuse me, I ordered the salad, not the soup.
This steak is a bit cold. Could you heat it up?
I asked for no cheese, but there’s cheese on this.
你不是在找麻烦——你是在帮他们纠正错误。微笑着说出来,就不会显得有对抗性。
如果你不确定某道菜是否有问题,可以这样说:
Sorry, is this supposed to be cold? I thought it was a hot dish.
结账买单
要账单:
在美国、加拿大和英国,服务员不会主动给你账单,除非你要求。在欧洲很多地方,通常需要自己去柜台结账。不确定哪种情况?直接问:
Do I pay here or at the table?
准备好买单时:
| US | UK |
|---|---|
| Can I get the check, please? | Could I have the bill, please? |
| We’re ready for the check. | Can we get the bill? |
分账:
Can we split the bill?
Separate checks, please. (仅限美国——英国通常由一人买单,其他人之后再转账。)
All together, please. (整桌一张账单。)
付款:
I’ll pay with card.
Do you take credit cards?
Can I pay with Apple Pay?
小费
小费比点餐更让人焦虑。简短说明如下:
| 国家 | 怎么做 |
|---|---|
| US | 按税前总额的 15–20% 支付。这是必须的——服务员靠小费作为主要收入来源。 |
| Canada | 与美国相同:15–20%。 |
| UK | 查看账单上是否包含”服务费”(通常为 10–12.5%)。如果已包含,无需额外支付小费。如果没有,付 10–15%。 |
| Australia | 不要求给小费。凑整或服务特别出色时留 5–10%。 |
| Ireland | 如果未含服务费,通常付 10%。 |
| Rest of Europe | 服务费通常已包含在价格中。留下零钱会受到欢迎,但不强求。 |
不确定时,问:
Is service included?
打包外带
Can I get this to go? (美国)
Can I take the rest home? (英国)
完整对话示例
以下是一顿典型用餐从开始到结束的对话:
Host: Hi, how many?
You: Table for two, please.
Host: Right this way. Your server will be with you shortly.
Server: Hi, I’m Emily. Can I start you off with some drinks?
You: I’ll have a Coke, and she’ll have a sparkling water. Thanks.
Server: Here you go. Are you ready to order?
You: Yes. For my appetizer I’ll have the tomato soup, and for the main, the grilled salmon. What does that come with?
Server: It comes with rice and seasonal vegetables.
You: Perfect. Can I get the dressing on the side for the salad?
Server: Of course.
[Later]
Server: How is everything?
You: Great, thank you.
Server: Can I get you anything else?
You: No, just the check when you’re ready.
Server: Sure, I’ll bring that right over.
You: [paying] Can I pay with card?
Server: Of course. Here you go.
You: Thank you!
最后一点:不要纠结语法。“I’ll have the chicken” 甚至 “The chicken, please” —— 两种都行。服务员关心的是你的订单是否正确,而不是你的口音。你会做得很好的。
如果你觉得这篇文章有用,可以看看 出国旅行真正会用到的 50 个旅行短语 和 日常使用的 50 个英语短语。如果一家餐厅只以 PDF 格式发布了其他语言的菜单,你可以将其上传到 OpenL,在出门前把整份菜单翻译成英语。
参考来源
- BBC Learning English — How the Language of Menus Matters — BBC 6 分钟英语关于菜单语言及其为何让食客困惑的节目
- EnglishClub — Menu in English — 菜单分类名称及常用词汇
- The Takeout — 127 Common Phrases On A Menu — 菜单术语及其含义的全面列表
- Speechling — How to Order at a Restaurant in English — 附带音频示例的分步骤点餐指南
- OpenTable — Menu Jargon Buster — 关于食客最容易困惑的菜单术语的调研数据
- Migaku — English Restaurant Phrases — 面向英语学习者的实用点餐短语


