Equip yourself with these basic Cantonese phrases and taste around Hong Kong like a local. Here’s our 101 on how to order food in Cantonese.
As a gourmet paradise, Hong Kong has no shortage of restaurants serving up mouth-watering dishes. Highlights among this impressive line-up of dining destinations are – of course – local Cantonese eateries. Oftentimes, the only thing standing between you and a steaming plate of Yeung Chow fried rice is a language barrier. So, if you’re stuck wondering how to order food in Cantonese, then you’re in the right place. Whether you’ve decided to explore Hong Kong with our two-day itinerary or solo travel guide, pick up these basic Cantonese phrases before your next visit to a cha chaan teng, dai pai dong, or cart noodles joint.
Basic Cantonese phrases: How to order food in Cantonese
1. Mm goi (Thank you)
Let’s start off with one of the most basic Cantonese phrases. You’ve probably heard mm goi (唔該) being said once or twice if you’ve been in Hong Kong for more than a minute. As one of the most common ways to say “thank you” (yes, there are other ways, but we’ll save that for another day), mm goi can also be used to get the attention of your server when you’re ready to order or when you want to get the bill.
2. Ho / hai (Yes)
Here are two other basic Cantonese phrases that go beyond ordering food in Cantonese. Both ho (好) and hai (係) mean “yes”, but the latter is more commonly used as an affirmative, while the former carries a similar meaning to “no problem”. For instance, if your server explains a dish will take longer than the rest, you can show your understanding with ho. On the other hand, if your server double checks your order, you can affirm them with hai.
3. Leung wai / saam wai (Table for two / three)
So, you’ve made it to your chosen local restaurant. Before we dive into how to order food in Cantonese, let’s get a table. While sometimes a server will be by the door to seat you, most of the time you just walk in, find a table, and tell your server how many people are in your party. Leung wai (兩位) means “table for two”, even though there’s no character for “table” in the phrase and it directly translates to “two people”. For larger groups, simply replace leung with other numbers and follow it up with wai. For instance, to ask for a “table for three”, simply say saam wai (三位).
4. Daap toi (Share a table with others)
If a restaurant is quite packed, your server might ask if you’d mind to daap toi (搭檯) with other diners. Daap means “to join” and toi is Cantonese for “table”, so this means you’ll have to share a table with other customers. Most of the time, parties of two will be asked to daap toi, especially if one party is occupying a four-person table. That being said, it’s okay to reject this request if you’d like some more privacy – you’ll just have to wait for a free table.
5. Ngo seung yiu… (I want…)
Luckily for you, most restaurants in Hong Kong have a bilingual menu. But be warned – local restaurants usually serve a long and winding menu with everything from appetisers to mains, to rice and noodle dishes, meats, seafood, desserts, and drinks. We recommend arriving with an idea of what you want to save time pondering over the menu! When you’re ready to order, simply flag down your server by a raise of your hand and say ngo seung yiu (我想要) followed by the dishes you’d like to order.
6. Lee gor / goh gor (This one / that one)
If you find ngo seung yiu a little difficult to pull off on the spot, you can always stick to lee gor (呢個) and goh gor (嗰個). Lee gor means “this one” and goh gor means “that one”. When placing your orders, simply accompany your phrase with a point to the menu and you’re on the right track for a successful (and delicious) meal!
7. Customise your meal
When it comes to how to order food in Cantonese, one of the best kept secrets is that you can customise your food and drink with the help of a few must-know Cantonese phrases. You can ask for less of something with the word siu; and to have a dish or drink without something, you can say jau. Here are some commonly used phrases:
- Less ice: siu bing (少冰); no ice: jau bing (走冰)
- Less sugar: siu teem (少甜); no sugar: jau teem (走甜)
- Less milk: siu naai (少奶); no milk: jau naai (走奶)
- Less spicy: siu laat (少辣); no spice: jau laat (走辣)
- No spring onions or coriander: jau ceng (走青)
Fun fact: jau is Cantonese for “walk”. So, when you ask to jau something, you’re basically telling it to take a walk and leave your drink or dish!
8. Mai daan (Get the bill)
Once you’ve cleared your plates, it’s time to get the bill. Flag down your server with a quick mm goi and follow it up with maai daan (埋單). Maai means to “gather in one place” while daan refers to receipts. Some say this basic Cantonese phrase came about when a new food and drink tax was introduced during colonial times. This is when restaurants had to stockpile their receipts for the taxman, hence maai daan.
9. Gei dor cheen (How much)
Here’s the last phrase in our guide on how to order food in Cantonese. To ask how much something is, you can simply say gei dor cheen (幾多錢). Gei dor is Cantonese for “how much” while cheen is “money”. If you’re ready to try some advanced sentences, preface gei dor chin with li gor or goh gor to say “How much is this / that?”.
