Eating out in China

Decide what kind of meal you want

A noodle shop, a shared-dish restaurant and a hotpot restaurant ask you to order differently. Look at the menu and the tables around you, then ask whether the dishes are individual portions or intended for sharing. A photograph may show a serving suggestion rather than everything included in the price.

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For a group meal, begin with a modest order and ask whether more can be added later. Confirm whether rice, tea, side dishes and condiments are separate items. If a menu gives a price by weight, ask what the chosen quantity will cost before it is prepared.

If ingredients matter for your health or beliefs, discuss them before selecting dishes. Use the dietary needs and food allergy guide; a photograph and an automatic translation cannot establish that a meal is suitable.

Use the menu as a conversation

Ask whether an English or picture menu is available. If it is not, a camera translation can help you identify dishes and questions to ask. Shanghai's official dining guidance also describes menu translation through Alipay's Easy Go services. Availability depends on the restaurant and the service you can open.

Keep the original Chinese dish name alongside the translation. It lets a member of staff confirm that you are discussing the same item. Translate a few options rather than an entire menu at once; ask what the restaurant prepares well and which portion would suit your table.

“Less spicy” is a request about preference. It is not an allergy instruction and cannot promise a dish without chilli or other ingredients. For a strict requirement, name the ingredient and confirm what the kitchen can actually change.

Follow the table's ordering sequence

First ask which app to use for the code on the table. Some restaurants use a WeChat mini program; others use a web page or another service. Use the camera or Scan function the staff identifies, rather than assuming any code will work in either wallet.

1. Check the restaurant and table. After scanning, compare the name and table number with where you are sitting. Confirm dine-in rather than takeaway.
2. Choose the dishes and quantities. Read options such as size, soup base, spice and extras. Do not treat a preselected option as your own choice.
3. Review the order together. Check quantities, prices and the total. On a shared table, establish whether everyone adds to one order.
4. Check when payment happens. Some orders are paid before submission; others are settled after the meal. Keep the success screen or order number and confirm that staff have received the order.

An ordering code opens a menu or order. A payment code transfers money. Reaching a payment screen alone does not tell the kitchen which dishes you want. If the process is unclear, ask a member of staff to confirm the order before you repeat a payment.

Ask for help when a digital menu gets in the way

If the page requests a phone number you cannot verify, stays in a language you cannot read or rejects the payment, stop at that point. Show the staff the screen and ask to order with their help. A staff-assisted order or paper menu is a useful option to request, although the arrangement varies by venue.

Check the final order on the staff member's screen or written bill. If a restaurant cannot accommodate the ordering method or dietary requirement you need, choose another place while the decision is still easy to change. Our translation instructions can help with an ordinary question; they do not replace ingredient confirmation.

Make a few small requests clearly

Ask for serving chopsticks or a serving spoon when dishes are shared. A fork or spoon can also be requested. There is no need to spend a first meal struggling with a utensil when you would rather concentrate on the food.

Say whether you would like hot, room-temperature or cold drinking water. Choose sealed bottled water if you need a straightforward option; do not assume that water from a bathroom tap is drinking water. If a drink's ingredients are important to you, ask before it is poured.

For hotpot, ask the staff to explain the soup bases, cooking instructions and any shared utensils. Keep raw ingredients and ready-to-eat food separate. Discuss dietary needs before choosing a communal pot.

Check the bill, then pay once

Compare the bill with what you ordered, including drinks and any stated service charge. Ask about an item you do not recognise before settling it. Local restaurants generally do not expect a US-style percentage tip; see the tipping guide for the distinctions between everyday dining and privately arranged travel services.

Follow the cashier's instructions to scan the merchant's code or show your own live payment code. The payment guide shows both methods with real screenshots. Confirm the transaction in your own app and with the cashier, then keep the receipt or record until the bill is settled.