🥢 飲食
Food & Dining
Navigate restaurants, order dim sum, and talk about your favorite foods in Cantonese.
1
At a Restaurant
Eating out is central to Hong Kong life. Here are the essentials for navigating any restaurant.
| Chinese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 餐廳 | caan1 teng1 | Restaurant |
| 茶餐廳 | caa4 caan1 teng1 | Cha chaan teng (HK-style cafe) |
| 酒樓 | zau2 lau4 | Chinese restaurant (for dim sum) |
| 菜單 | coi3 daan1 | Menu |
| 埋單 | maai4 daan1 | Bill / Check |
唔該，有冇位？
m4 goi1, jau5 mou5 wai2?
Excuse me, is there a table?
唔該，埋單！
m4 goi1, maai4 daan1!
Bill please!
💡
In a cha chaan teng (茶餐廳), things move fast. Know what you want before the waiter arrives!
2
Dim Sum Essentials
Dim sum (點心) is the crown jewel of Cantonese cuisine. Traditionally enjoyed for breakfast or brunch, it's a must-experience when learning Cantonese.
| Chinese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 點心 | dim2 sam1 | Dim sum |
| 蝦餃 | haa1 gaau2 | Shrimp dumplings (har gow) |
| 燒賣 | siu1 maai6 | Siu mai |
| 叉燒包 | caa1 siu1 baau1 | BBQ pork bun |
| 腸粉 | coeng4 fan2 | Rice noodle rolls |
| 蛋撻 | daan6 taat1 | Egg tart |
| 鳳爪 | fung6 zaau2 | Chicken feet |
我要一籠蝦餃
ngo5 jiu3 jat1 lung4 haa1 gaau2
I want one steamer of har gow
呢個好好食！
ni1 go3 hou2 hou2 sik6!
This is really delicious!
3
Drinks
Hong Kong takes its drinks seriously. Milk tea (奶茶) is practically the national drink.
| Chinese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 茶 | caa4 | Tea |
| 奶茶 | naai5 caa4 | Milk tea |
| 咖啡 | gaa3 fe1 | Coffee |
| 鴛鴦 | jyun1 joeng1 | Coffee-tea mix (yuenyeung) |
| 凍飲 | dung3 jam2 | Cold drink |
| 熱飲 | jit6 jam2 | Hot drink |
唔該，一杯凍奶茶
m4 goi1, jat1 bui1 dung3 naai5 caa4
One iced milk tea please
💡
Ordering cold drinks usually costs $1-2 HKD more. Say 凍 (dung3) for cold or 熱 (jit6) for hot before the drink name.
4
Describing Food
Express your opinions about food! Cantonese people love talking about food.
| Chinese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|
| 好食 | hou2 sik6 | Delicious |
| 唔好食 | m4 hou2 sik6 | Not tasty |
| 辣 | laat6 | Spicy |
| 甜 | tim4 | Sweet |
| 鹹 | haam4 | Salty |
| 飽 | baau2 | Full (stomach) |
| 肚餓 | tou5 ngo6 | Hungry |