Ordering food in China is part of the fun — but the menu can be intimidating. Here's how to eat well without Chinese.
Use a translation app (or the ChinaGo camera translate) to instantly turn a Chinese menu into English. Point your camera at the menu and read.
Point at dishes on the menu or at photos on the wall. Say the dish number if there is one.
Learn a few key phrases: "bù là" (not spicy), "wú ròu" (no meat). Many tourist-area restaurants have picture menus or English menus.
Pay with Alipay/WeChat Pay by scanning the QR code on the table, or at the counter.
Yes. Camera-translation apps turn the menu into English instantly.
Say "bù là" (不辣) or show a translated note to the server.
No, pointing at dishes or photos is completely normal.