Traditional Chinese - Eating Out in Taiwan

Lesson 144 of 152

A lively Taiwan night market food stall with Traditional Chinese signs, showing people ordering dinner and choosing spice levels in Taiwan Mandarin. The lesson topic is practical eating-out expressions for Taiwan.

Goal: Tiny phrases that make busy cafés, food courts, and noodle shops feel friendlier.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Welcome back! Today we’re doing the very Taiwan skill of ordering food while also finding a seat, waiting for friends, and politely buying yourself a little time. Your stomach may be ready before your Mandarin is—but Yak Yacker has snacks for your speaking muscles.

Level A1: this lesson helps you recognize and say practical restaurant phrases you’ll hear all over Taiwan. You’ll practice asking “for here or to go,” checking if a seat is free, sharing a table, asking for recommendations, and giving simple food preferences like no cilantro or mild spice. These are small phrases, but they do big work when a shop is crowded and everyone is moving fast.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize 內用還是外帶？ (Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?) when staff asks if you’re eating in or taking food away.
  • Ask politely about seats with 這邊有人坐嗎？ (Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?) and 可以併桌嗎？ (Kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?).
  • Tell staff your group situation with 人到齊了。 (Rén dào qí le.) or 還有一位還沒到。 (Hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.).
  • Buy time before ordering with 我看一下菜單。 (Wǒ kàn yíxià càidān.), 我們先看一下。 (Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià.), and 等一下再點。 (Děng yíxià zài diǎn.).
  • Ask what’s good and state simple food preferences like 不要香菜。 (Bú yào xiāngcài.), 不要加辣。 (Bú yào jiā là.), and 小辣就好。 (Xiǎo là jiù hǎo.).
A cozy small restaurant in Taiwan with Traditional Chinese menus on the wall, crowded tables, and diners checking whether seats are open. The scene introduces Taiwan Mandarin phrases for seating and ordering.

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.

內用還是外帶

Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?

For here or to go?

Meaning: 內用還是外帶？ (Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?) means “For here or to go?”

When to use: Listen for this when ordering at breakfast shops, drink shops, cafés, and casual restaurants.

Tip: 內用 (nèiyòng) means eating there; 外帶 (wàidài) means taking it away.

店員問：「內用還是外帶？」

Diànyuán wèn: “Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?”

The staff asks, “For here or to go?”
內用還是外帶？我想外帶。

Nèiyòng háishì wàidài? Wǒ xiǎng wàidài.

For here or to go? I’d like it to go.

這邊有人坐嗎

Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?

Is someone sitting here?

Meaning: 這邊有人坐嗎？ (Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?) means “Is someone sitting here?”

When to use: Use it before taking an empty-looking seat in a food court, café, train, library, or waiting area.

不好意思，這邊有人坐嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?

Excuse me, is someone sitting here?
這邊有人坐嗎？我可以坐這裡嗎？

Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma? Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma?

Is someone sitting here? May I sit here?

可以併桌嗎

Kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?

Is it okay to share a table?

Meaning: 可以併桌嗎？ (Kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?) means “Is it okay to share a table?”

When to use: Use it in small or busy eateries when separate tables are not available.

Tip: 併桌 (bìngzhuō) is about sharing one table, not ordering together.

不好意思，可以併桌嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?

Excuse me, is it okay to share a table?
人很多，可以併桌嗎？

Rén hěn duō, kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?

There are a lot of people. Is it okay to share a table?

人到齊了

Rén dào qí le.

Everyone is here.

Meaning: 人到齊了。 (Rén dào qí le.) means “Everyone is here.”

When to use: Say this to restaurant staff when your whole group has arrived and you’re ready to be seated or order.

不好意思，人到齊了。

Bù hǎoyìsi, rén dào qí le.

Excuse me, everyone is here.
人到齊了，我們可以進去嗎？

Rén dào qí le, wǒmen kěyǐ jìnqù ma?

Everyone is here. Can we go in?

還有一位還沒到。

Hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.

One person hasn’t arrived yet.

Meaning: 還有一位還沒到。 (Hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.) means “One person hasn’t arrived yet.”

When to use: Use it when checking in at a restaurant or waiting for your group.

不好意思，還有一位還沒到。

Bù hǎoyìsi, hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.

Excuse me, one person hasn’t arrived yet.
還有一位還沒到，我們等一下。

Hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào, wǒmen děng yíxià.

One person hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll wait a bit.

我看一下菜單

Wǒ kàn yíxià càidān.

Let me look at the menu.

Meaning: 我看一下菜單。 (Wǒ kàn yíxià càidān.) means “Let me look at the menu.”

When to use: Use it when you need a moment before ordering.

我看一下菜單，謝謝。

Wǒ kàn yíxià càidān, xièxie.

Let me look at the menu, thanks.
不好意思，我看一下菜單。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ kàn yíxià càidān.

Sorry, let me look at the menu.

我們先看一下

Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià.

We’ll take a look first.

Meaning: 我們先看一下。 (Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià.) means “We’ll take a look first.”

When to use: Use it when staff asks what you want, but your group is not ready yet.

我們先看一下，謝謝。

Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià, xièxie.

We’ll take a look first, thanks.
我們先看一下，等一下再點。

Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià, děng yíxià zài diǎn.

We’ll take a look first and order in a bit.

等一下再點

Děng yíxià zài diǎn.

We’ll order in a bit.

Meaning: 等一下再點。 (Děng yíxià zài diǎn.) means “We’ll order in a bit.”

When to use: Use it to politely tell staff you are not ready to order yet.

不好意思，等一下再點。

Bù hǎoyìsi, děng yíxià zài diǎn.

Sorry, we’ll order in a bit.
我們先看一下，等一下再點。

Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià, děng yíxià zài diǎn.

We’ll take a look first and order in a bit.

招牌是什麼

Zhāopái shì shénme?

What’s the house specialty?

Meaning: 招牌是什麼？ (Zhāopái shì shénme?) means “What’s the house specialty?”

When to use: Use it when you want to know what a restaurant, stall, or shop is known for.

請問，招牌是什麼？

Qǐngwèn, zhāopái shì shénme?

May I ask, what’s the house specialty?
第一次來，招牌是什麼？

Dì yī cì lái, zhāopái shì shénme?

It’s my first time here. What’s the house specialty?

有推薦的嗎

Yǒu tuījiàn de ma?

Do you have any recommendations?

Meaning: 有推薦的嗎？ (Yǒu tuījiàn de ma?) means “Do you have any recommendations?”

When to use: Use it in restaurants, drink shops, boutiques, night markets, and tourist spots.

請問，有推薦的嗎？

Qǐngwèn, yǒu tuījiàn de ma?

May I ask, do you have any recommendations?
我不知道要點什麼，有推薦的嗎？

Wǒ bù zhīdào yào diǎn shénme, yǒu tuījiàn de ma?

I don’t know what to order. Do you have any recommendations?

不要香菜

Bú yào xiāngcài.

No cilantro.

Meaning: 不要香菜。 (Bú yào xiāngcài.) means “No cilantro.”

When to use: Use it for soups, noodles, gua bao, street food, and dishes that may come with cilantro.

Tip: 不要 (bú yào) means “don’t want.” It is a normal, polite food-ordering phrase when said with a friendly tone.

我要一碗麵，不要香菜。

Wǒ yào yì wǎn miàn, bú yào xiāngcài.

I’d like a bowl of noodles, no cilantro.
這個不要香菜，謝謝。

Zhège bú yào xiāngcài, xièxie.

No cilantro in this, thanks.

不要加辣

Bú yào jiā là.

Don’t make it spicy.

Meaning: 不要加辣。 (Bú yào jiā là.) means “Don’t make it spicy.”

When to use: Use it when food may come with chili, spicy sauce, or spicy powder.

我要這個，不要加辣。

Wǒ yào zhège, bú yào jiā là.

I’d like this one. Don’t make it spicy.
不要加辣，謝謝。

Bú yào jiā là, xièxie.

Don’t make it spicy, thanks.

小辣就好

Xiǎo là jiù hǎo.

Mild spicy is enough.

Meaning: 小辣就好。 (Xiǎo là jiù hǎo.) means “Mild spicy is enough.”

When to use: Use it when staff asks your spice level and you want only a little heat.

我要小辣就好

Wǒ yào xiǎo là jiù hǎo.

I’ll have mild spicy, that’s enough.
不要太辣，小辣就好。

Bú yào tài là, xiǎo là jiù hǎo.

Not too spicy. Mild spicy is enough.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are in a busy Taiwan food court, trying to find a seat and decide what to order.

Two friends in a busy Taiwan food court look at a menu, ask about recommendations, and discuss cilantro and spice in Taiwan Mandarin. Traditional Chinese signs and trays of local food fill the background.

Are Anna and David ready to order right away?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

店員剛剛問：「內用還是外帶？」我們內用吧。

Diànyuán gānggāng wèn: “Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?” Wǒmen nèiyòng ba.

The staff just asked, “For here or to go?” Let’s eat here.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

好。這邊有人坐嗎？

Hǎo. Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?

Okay. Is someone sitting here?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

沒有。可以併桌嗎？

Méiyǒu. Kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?

No. Is it okay to share a table?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以，還有一位還沒到。

Kěyǐ, hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.

Yes, one person hasn’t arrived yet.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

那我們先看一下，等一下再點。

Nà wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià, děng yíxià zài diǎn.

Then we’ll take a look first and order in a bit.

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

招牌是什麼？有推薦的嗎？

Zhāopái shì shénme? Yǒu tuījiàn de ma?

What’s the house specialty? Do they have any recommendations?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我想要小辣就好，不要香菜。

Wǒ xiǎng yào xiǎo là jiù hǎo, bú yào xiāngcài.

I think mild spicy is enough, and no cilantro.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means “For here or to go?”

You want to ask if a seat is taken. What should you say?

Staff is ready, but your group needs more time. Which phrase fits best?

Which phrase means “No cilantro”?

Excuse me, is someone sitting here? I’d like to sit here.

不好意思，我看到這裡有空位，___ 我想坐這裡。

Excuse me, one person hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll wait a bit longer.

店員：請問人都到了嗎？客人：不好意思，___ 我們再等一下。

I’d like this one. Don’t make it spicy, thanks.

店員：這道要加辣嗎？客人：我要這個，___ 謝謝。

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:

內用還是外帶

Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?

For here or to go?

Say this phrase out loud:

這邊有人坐嗎

Zhèbiān yǒu rén zuò ma?

Is someone sitting here?

Say this phrase out loud:

可以併桌嗎

Kěyǐ bìngzhuō ma?

Is it okay to share a table?

Say this phrase out loud:

人到齊了

Rén dào qí le.

Everyone is here.

Say this phrase out loud:

還有一位還沒到。

Hái yǒu yí wèi hái méi dào.

One person hasn’t arrived yet.

Say this phrase out loud:

我看一下菜單

Wǒ kàn yíxià càidān.

Let me look at the menu.

Say this phrase out loud:

我們先看一下

Wǒmen xiān kàn yíxià.

We’ll take a look first.

Say this phrase out loud:

等一下再點

Děng yíxià zài diǎn.

We’ll order in a bit.

Say this phrase out loud:

招牌是什麼

Zhāopái shì shénme?

What’s the house specialty?

Say this phrase out loud:

有推薦的嗎

Yǒu tuījiàn de ma?

Do you have any recommendations?

Say this phrase out loud:

不要香菜

Bú yào xiāngcài.

No cilantro.

Say this phrase out loud:

不要加辣

Bú yào jiā là.

Don’t make it spicy.

Say this phrase out loud:

小辣就好

Xiǎo là jiù hǎo.

Mild spicy is enough.