English - Ordering Food

Lesson 101 of 139

A friendly cafe scene showing people ordering food—helps English learners practice ordering phrases.

Goal: Simple phrases for ordering at a cafe or restaurant

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you order food with confidence. You'll hear useful phrases, practice them, and say them out loud.

Level A1: In this lesson you will practice six everyday phrases for ordering food, like asking for a recommendation, asking if a dish is vegetarian, and saying you are ready to order. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on real restaurant phrases you can use today.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Level A1: Understand and use six common restaurant phrases when ordering food.
  • Ask and answer simple questions: recommendations, what's included, and dietary needs.
  • Order the same dish as someone else and tell staff when you are ready.
Two friends at a small restaurant deciding what to order—lesson about ordering food in English.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

What do you recommend?

Ask for a recommendation

Meaning: Ask for a recommendation.

When to use: Common simple question for choosing food or drinks when unsure.

What do you recommend?
What do you recommend?
What do you recommend from the specials today?
What do you recommend from the specials today?

I'm ready to order.

Say you are ready to place an order

Meaning: Say you are ready to place an order.

When to use: Practical signal to staff in a restaurant or cafe.

I'm ready to order.
I'm ready to order.
When you come back, tell them I'm ready to order.
When you come back, tell them I'm ready to order.

Not yet, thanks.

Ask for more time before ordering

Meaning: Ask for more time before ordering.

When to use: Useful short response when asked if ready or if anything else is needed.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say only "Not yet" without 'thanks' which can sound abrupt.

Not yet, thanks.
Not yet, thanks.
Not yet, thanks. We need a few more minutes to decide.
Not yet, thanks. We need a few more minutes to decide.

The same, please.

Order the same item as another person

Meaning: Order the same item as another person.

When to use: Compact, common ordering response in group dining situations.

Tip: Learners sometimes say "Same please" leaving out 'the' or 'please'—adding 'the' and 'please' is more natural.

The same, please.
The same, please.
I'll have the same, please.
I'll have the same, please.

What comes with it?

Ask what is included with a dish

Meaning: Ask what is included with a dish.

When to use: Simple restaurant question for sides or included items.

What comes with it?
What comes with it?
What comes with the burger?
What comes with the burger?

Is this vegetarian?

Ask about vegetarian food

Meaning: Ask about vegetarian food.

When to use: Practical food restriction question using simple A1 grammar.

Tip: Some learners say "This vegetarian?" which is missing the verb 'is'—use 'Is this...' for a full question.

Is this vegetarian?
Is this vegetarian?
Is the pasta vegetarian?
Is the pasta vegetarian?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David at a cafe; the server comes to take their order.

A server speaking with guests in a cafe, using phrases like 'What do you recommend?' and 'I'm ready to order.'

Who asks the server for a recommendation?

Server

Are you ready to order?

Asking if the customers are ready to order.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

Not yet, thanks.

We need more time.

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

What do you recommend?

Asking the server for a suggestion.

Server

The salad is very popular. It comes with bread and a small soup.

Explains the dish and what is included.

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

I'm ready to order. I'll have the salad.

Tells the server she will order now.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

The same, please.

Asks for the same dish as Anna.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

If the server asks "Are you ready?" and you need more time, what do you say?

Which question asks about what is included with a dish?

If your friend orders the soup and you want the same, you say:

You have chosen and want the server to take your order. Which phrase is best?

Not yet, thanks. (David asks for more time to decide.)

Server: "Can I take your order?" David: "___"

The same, please. (David orders the same as Anna.)

Anna: "I'll have the chicken salad." Server: "And for you?" David: "___"

What do you recommend? (You ask the server for a suggestion.)

Customer: "___" (You want a suggestion from the server.)

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

What do you recommend?

Ask for a recommendation

Say this phrase out loud:

I'm ready to order.

Say you are ready to place an order

Say this phrase out loud:

Not yet, thanks.

Ask for more time before ordering

Say this phrase out loud:

The same, please.

Order the same item as another person

Say this phrase out loud:

What comes with it?

Ask what is included with a dish

Say this phrase out loud:

Is this vegetarian?

Ask about vegetarian food