Vietnamese Phrases for Ordering in a Restaurant 😋🍽️

Hi everyone!

If you’re planning to travel to Vietnam or just want to impress your Vietnamese friends at a local restaurant, here are some super useful phrases that can help you order food like a pro :sunglasses: Vietnamese food is amazing, and knowing just a few key expressions can really enhance your experience.

1. Getting the waiter’s attention :wave:
Em ơi! – Excuse me! (literally “Hey younger one!”, used politely for servers)
Anh ơi! / Chị ơi! – Excuse me! (for male/female server respectively)

2. Asking for the menu :open_book:
Cho tôi xem thực đơn được không? – Can I see the menu, please?

3. Ordering food :speaking_head:
Tôi muốn gọi món. – I’d like to order.
Cho tôi một phở bò. – I’d like one beef pho.
Không cay, làm ơn. – No spice, please.

4. Asking for recommendations :shallow_pan_of_food:
Món nào ngon ở đây? – What’s good here?
Bạn đề xuất món gì? – What do you recommend?

5. Requesting drinks :beers:
Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá. – I’d like a Vietnamese iced milk coffee.
Nước lọc / Nước suối, làm ơn. – Plain water / bottled water, please.

6. Checking the bill :dollar:
Tính tiền, làm ơn. – The bill, please.
Tổng cộng bao nhiêu? – How much is it in total?

7. Expressing thanks :bowing_man:
Cảm ơn! – Thank you!
Cảm ơn nhiều! – Thank you very much!

These basic phrases will help you feel more confident when eating out in Vietnam. If you need a guide on how to read the menu to help you even better with your ordering skill, check out this link: How To Read A Menu In Vietnamese
Locals always appreciate it when visitors make the effort to speak the language, even a little bit goes a long way!

BONUS: If you need some food recommendations, also check out this article :slight_smile:

Feel free to add more or ask if you’re unsure how to say something specific :smiley: :star2: