Ordering Food
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EN: Use 'Welcome to' followed by a place name to greet someone arriving at a specific location.
Welcome to our home.
EN: In English-speaking service industries, it is standard to greet customers with the time of day (Good morning/afternoon/evening) followed by a welcome message.
EN: Use 'look' + adjective to describe your impression of something's appearance.
That cake looks delicious.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is common and polite to give a small compliment when entering a shop or someone's home to start a friendly conversation.
EN: Use 'Is this your first time...?' to ask if someone has experienced something before. It is a common way to start a friendly conversation.
Is this your first time in Taiwan?
EN: In Western service culture, staff often engage in 'small talk' to make customers feel welcome. Asking if it's a customer's first time is a standard way to offer extra help or explain the menu.
EN: Use 'just' with the past tense to talk about something that happened a very short time ago.
I just finished my homework.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is common to provide a small piece of background information after a 'Yes/No' answer to keep the conversation flowing and friendly.
EN: Use 'Here is...' to give or show something to someone who is close to you.
Here is your coffee.
EN: In Western restaurants, servers often use enthusiastic phrases like 'That's great!' to build rapport with customers and create a welcoming atmosphere.
EN: Use 'There are' to say that more than one thing exists. Follow it with a plural noun.
There are many books on the table.
EN: In Western restaurants, it is common to express positive feelings about the menu or the atmosphere to the server as a form of polite small talk.
EN: Use 'Do you have...?' to ask about possessions, conditions, or facts in the present tense.
Do you have any questions?
EN: In Western countries, restaurants take food allergies very seriously. It is common for servers to ask about allergies to ensure the safety of the customers.
EN: Use the pattern 'be allergic to + [something]' to talk about things that make you sick or cause a reaction.
I am allergic to cats.
EN: In Western countries, food allergies are taken very seriously in restaurants. Servers will often ask about allergies to ensure customer safety.
EN: Use 'will' to make a promise or offer to do something for someone right now.
I will help you with your bags.
EN: In Western restaurants, servers take food allergies very seriously. Marking dishes or checking with the chef is a standard safety procedure to prevent allergic reactions.
EN: Use 'Do you have...?' to ask if someone possesses something or if something is available. It is a common way to start a question in the present tense.
Do you have a menu?
EN: In Western restaurants, it is very common and polite to ask the server for a recommendation if you are unsure what to order. Servers are usually happy to share the most popular dishes.
EN: Use 'is' to connect a singular subject (the grilled chicken) with a description (very popular).
The pizza is very delicious.
EN: In Western restaurants, servers often use enthusiastic words like 'popular' or 'best-seller' to help customers decide what to order.
EN: Use 'comes with' to describe what side dishes or items are included with a main meal.
The burger comes with french fries.
EN: In Western restaurants, many main courses automatically include 'sides' like salad, fries, or bread. You don't usually need to order these separately if the menu says it 'comes with' them.
EN: Use 'sound + adjective' to give an opinion about something you just heard.
That sounds interesting.
EN: In many English-speaking cultures, asking about the spiciness of a dish is very common, as 'spicy' can range from mild to very hot depending on the restaurant.
EN: Use 'if' to talk about a condition. It connects a possible action with a result.
We can go to the park if you are free.
EN: In Western restaurants, servers often offer to customize dishes (like adding spice or removing ingredients) to ensure customer satisfaction. 'If you want' is a polite way to offer these options without being pushy.
EN: Use 'I will have' or 'I'll have' when making a decision at the moment of ordering food or drinks.
I will have the beef burger, please.
EN: In English-speaking countries, adding 'please' at the end of an order is essential for polite communication with service staff.
EN: Use 'would like' to politely ask what someone wants. It is more formal and polite than using 'want'.
What would you like to eat?
EN: In English-speaking restaurants, servers often use 'would like' to show respect and provide a professional service experience. It is the standard way to take an order.
EN: Use 'Can I have...?' to politely ask for something you want to buy or receive, especially in a restaurant or shop.
Can I have a coffee, please?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, 'iced tea' is often served unsweetened by default in some regions (like the Northern US) or pre-sweetened in others (like the Southern US). It's common to ask for sugar or lemon on the side.
EN: Use 'will be' + adjective to talk about a future state or situation.
The shop will be open tomorrow.
EN: In Western service culture, 'Of course' is a very common and polite way to say 'Yes' or 'I will do that immediately' when responding to a customer.
EN: Use 'really' before an adjective to add emphasis and show that a feeling is strong.
I am really tired after work.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is common and polite to use a person's first name once you know it, even in service industry settings like cafes.
EN: Use 'Here is...' to present or hand something to someone. It is a polite way to show what you are giving them.
Here is your key.
EN: In Western restaurants, servers often announce each dish as they place it on the table to ensure the order is correct and to be polite.
EN: Use 'look' + adjective to describe the appearance or impression of something.
The cake looks delicious.
EN: In Western culture, it is common and polite to verbally appreciate the presentation of food when it is served, as it shows respect to the chef and server.
EN: Use 'better than' to compare two things when one has a higher quality than the other.
This movie is better than the last one.
EN: In Western culture, it is common and polite to give enthusiastic feedback to the server or chef if you enjoy the food. Phrases like 'better than I expected' are seen as a high compliment.
EN: Use 'I am glad (that) + [sentence]' to express happiness about a specific situation or fact.
I am glad you are here.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, service staff often use 'I'm glad...' or 'I'm happy...' to show they care about the customer's satisfaction, which helps build a friendly atmosphere.
EN: Use 'Can I have...?' to politely ask for something you want or need in a restaurant or shop.
Can I have some water, please?
EN: In North American restaurants, it is common to ask for the 'check' at the end of the meal. In many places, the server will not bring it until you ask for it, as they don't want to rush you.
EN: Use 'Your total is [amount]' to tell someone the final price they need to pay in a shop or restaurant.
Your total is twenty pounds.
EN: In the United States, the 'total' usually includes sales tax, but in a casual cafe setting, the price on the menu might already be the final price or tax is added at the register.
EN: Use 'Here you go' when you are handing something to another person.
Here you go. This is your coffee.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is polite to say 'Here you go' when handing over money or a credit card to a server. Adding a compliment about the food is also a common way to show appreciation.
EN: Use 'Please' + 'Verb' to make a polite request or invitation. This is a polite way to tell someone what to do.
Please sit down.
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'Please come back again soon' is a standard polite closing used by staff in restaurants and shops to encourage repeat business.
EN: Use 'I will!' as a short answer to show you agree to do something mentioned previously (in this case, 'come back again').
Please call me later. I will!
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is very common and polite to use the server's name if they have introduced themselves or are wearing a name tag. It creates a friendly connection.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
to not hurry; to use as much time as you need
having a medical condition that causes a bad reaction to a specific substance
to be provided or included with something else
said when you are handing something to someone
The written statement of the cost of the food and drinks consumed in a restaurant.
The specific items of food or drink that a customer asks for in a restaurant.