Simplified Chinese - Cafe & Restaurant

Lesson 103 of 156

A friendly café counter with a menu board in Simplified Chinese, showing the lesson topic 'Cafe & Restaurant' and people ordering.

Goal: Ordering, asking about ingredients, and paying — polite and practical

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 103 — short, useful phrases you can use right away in a café or casual restaurant. Practice listening, repeating, and speaking these everyday lines.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice 10 common café/restaurant phrases for asking what's included with a dish, checking ingredients, asking for more time, finishing an order, and handling the bill. This CEFR-aligned set focuses on polite, natural ways to ask whether something comes with rice or contains an ingredient, ask for the check, or request takeout.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask if a dish comes with something (e.g., rice) using 这个配___吗？ (Zhège pèi ___ ma?).
  • Ask whether a menu item contains a certain ingredient using 这里面有___吗？ (Zhè lǐmiàn yǒu ___ ma?).
  • Politely finish an order and ask for the bill or more time before ordering.
  • Use practical phrases for dine-in vs. takeout and to report a suspected billing mistake.
A busy café scene with a customer asking a server about ingredients in Simplified Chinese; cups, plates, and a tray visible.

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.

这个配___吗？

Zhège pèi ___ ma?

Does it come with ___?

Meaning: Does it come with ___?

When to use: Use this to ask whether a dish includes something (rice, soup, side dish, drink) as part of the order.

Tip: Some learners say '有...吗' instead of '配...吗' when asking about included sides.

请问，这个配米饭吗？

Qǐngwèn, zhège pèi mǐfàn ma?

Excuse me, does this come with rice?
这道菜配汤吗

Zhè dào cài pèi tāng ma?

Does this dish come with soup?

这里面有___吗？

Zhè lǐmiàn yǒu ___ ma?

Is there ___ in this?

Meaning: Is there ___ in this?

When to use: Ask this when checking for ingredients or allergens in a menu item.

Tip: Beginners sometimes drop '里' and say '这里有...吗？' which can still work but sounds less natural for menu items.

请问，这里面有牛奶吗？

Qǐngwèn, zhè lǐmiàn yǒu niúnǎi ma?

Excuse me, is there milk in this?
这道菜里有花生吗？我有过敏。

Zhè dào cài lǐ yǒu huāshēng ma? Wǒ yǒu guòmǐn.

Does this dish have peanuts? I'm allergic.

先这些，谢谢

Xiān zhèxiē, xièxie.

That's all for now, thanks.

Meaning: That's all for now, thanks.

When to use: Say this when you have finished ordering and want no more items for the moment.

我就这些，先这些，谢谢。

Wǒ jiù zhèxiē, xiān zhèxiē, xièxie.

That's it for me, that's all for now, thanks.
我们先点这些，谢谢。

Wǒmen xiān diǎn zhèxiē, xièxie.

We'll start with these, thanks.

我觉得账单好像有点问题。

Wǒ juéde zhàngdān hǎoxiàng yǒudiǎn wèntí.

I think there's a mistake on the bill.

Meaning: I think there's a mistake on the bill.

When to use: Use this polite phrase to tell a server that you suspect the check is incorrect.

不好意思，我觉得账单好像有点问题。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ juéde zhàngdān hǎoxiàng yǒudiǎn wèntí.

Sorry, I think there's a problem with the bill.
可以再看一下吗？我觉得账单有点不对。

Kěyǐ zài kàn yíxià ma? Wǒ juéde zhàngdān yǒudiǎn bù duì.

Could you check again? I think the bill is a little off.

我们还要再看几分钟。

Wǒmen hái yào zài kàn jǐ fēnzhōng.

We need a few more minutes.

Meaning: We need a few more minutes.

When to use: Ask the server to wait before you're ready to order or decide.

我们还要再看几分钟，可以吗？

Wǒmen hái yào zài kàn jǐ fēnzhōng, kěyǐ ma?

We need a few more minutes, is that okay?
麻烦我们还要再看几分钟。

Máfan wǒmen hái yào zài kàn jǐ fēnzhōng.

Could you please give us a few more minutes?

可以帮我们结账吗？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen jiézhàng ma?

Could we get the check, please?

Meaning: Could we get the check, please?

When to use: Request the bill at the end of your meal politely.

不好意思，可以帮我们结账吗？

Bù hǎoyìsi, kěyǐ bāng wǒmen jiézhàng ma?

Excuse me, could you help us get the bill?
我们准备好了，可以结账了吗？

Wǒmen zhǔnbèi hǎo le, kěyǐ jiézhàng le ma?

We're ready — can we pay now?

___里有什么？

___ lǐ yǒu shénme?

What's in the ___?

Meaning: What's in the ___?

When to use: A flexible question frame to ask about the contents of a specific menu item (e.g., salad, soup, sandwich).

沙拉里有什么

Shālā lǐ yǒu shénme?

What's in the salad?
这个汉堡里有什么配料？

Zhège hànbǎo lǐ yǒu shénme pèiliào?

What's in this burger?

在这儿吃还是带走？

Zài zhèr chī háishì dàizǒu?

For here or to go?

Meaning: For here or to go?

When to use: Used by staff to confirm whether the order is for eating in or taking away.

在这儿吃还是带走？

Zài zhèr chī háishì dàizǒu?

For here or to go?
堂食还是打包？（口语）

Tángshí háishì dǎbāo? (kǒuyǔ)

Dine in or takeout? (spoken)

我在哪儿付款

Wǒ zài nǎr fùkuǎn?

Where do I pay?

Meaning: Where do I pay?

When to use: Ask where to make payment or settle the bill in the restaurant.

请问我在哪儿付款？

Qǐngwèn wǒ zài nǎr fùkuǎn?

Excuse me, where do I pay?
收银台在哪儿？我想结账。

Shōuyín tái zài nǎr? Wǒ xiǎng jiézhàng.

Where is the cashier? I want to pay.

这个可以打包吗？

Zhège kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?

Can we take this to go?

Meaning: Can we take this to go?

When to use: Ask whether a dish or leftovers can be taken away or boxed up.

这个可以打包吗？

Zhège kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?

Can this be packed to take away?
我吃不完，可以帮我打包吗？

Wǒ chī bù wán, kěyǐ bāng wǒ dǎbāo ma?

I can't finish — can you pack it for me?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two people deciding at a café

Two friends at a table deciding whether to eat in or take away while a waiter listens; the menu and bill on the table in Simplified Chinese.

What does Anna ask about the dish?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我们还要再看几分钟。

Wǒmen hái yào zài kàn jǐ fēnzhōng.

We need a few more minutes.

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好的，我一会儿再来。要不要先点饮料？

Hǎo de, wǒ yíhuìr zài lái. Yào bù yào xiān diǎn yǐnliào?

Okay, I'll come back. Do you want to order drinks first?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

请问，这个配米饭吗？

Qǐngwèn, zhège pèi mǐfàn ma?

Excuse me, does this come with rice?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

是的，配米饭。您是堂食还是打包？

Shì de, pèi mǐfàn. Nín shì tángshí háishì dǎbāo?

Yes, it comes with rice. Is it for here or to go?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

在这儿吃。先这些，谢谢。

Zài zhèr chī. Xiān zhèxiē, xièxie.

For here. That's all for now, thanks.

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好的，我马上去准备。

Hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng qù zhǔnbèi.

Alright, I'll prepare it right away.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Chinese phrase means 'We need a few more minutes'?

If you suspect the bill is wrong, which phrase do you use?

Which phrase does a server say to ask if the order is for eating in or taking away?

Which phrase asks the server to bring the bill?

Customer: This dish looks good but I'm allergic to peanuts. Excuse me, is there peanuts in this?

顾客：这道菜看起来很好，但我对花生过敏。请问，______

After finishing, the customer says: Could we get the check, please?

吃完了，服务员走过来，顾客说：______

When the waiter describes a specialty drink, the customer asks: What's in the coffee?

服务员介绍一杯特色饮料时，顾客想知道内容，问：______

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:

这个配___吗？

Zhège pèi ___ ma?

Does it come with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

这里面有___吗？

Zhè lǐmiàn yǒu ___ ma?

Is there ___ in this?

Say this phrase out loud:

先这些，谢谢

Xiān zhèxiē, xièxie.

That's all for now, thanks.

Say this phrase out loud:

我觉得账单好像有点问题。

Wǒ juéde zhàngdān hǎoxiàng yǒudiǎn wèntí.

I think there's a mistake on the bill.

Say this phrase out loud:

我们还要再看几分钟。

Wǒmen hái yào zài kàn jǐ fēnzhōng.

We need a few more minutes.

Say this phrase out loud:

可以帮我们结账吗？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen jiézhàng ma?

Could we get the check, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

___里有什么？

___ lǐ yǒu shénme?

What's in the ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

在这儿吃还是带走？

Zài zhèr chī háishì dàizǒu?

For here or to go?

Say this phrase out loud:

我在哪儿付款

Wǒ zài nǎr fùkuǎn?

Where do I pay?

Say this phrase out loud:

这个可以打包吗？

Zhège kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?

Can we take this to go?