Make yourself
at home at the table.

At many Chinese restaurants, a group orders dishes to share. Take a little from the shared dishes into your own bowl or plate, rather than treating each dish as one person’s main course.

Start with a manageable order and ask how many people a portion serves. You can add more if you need it. Individual meals and set menus are also options; check what your order includes.

Don’t assume a plate of food includes rice. Ask whether rice comes with your order or needs to be ordered separately, and check the charge.

Tell the staff how many bowls you would like. If you are choosing a set meal, ask which food and drinks it includes before adding extras.

Use serving chopsticks or a serving spoon for shared dishes when they are provided. You can ask for 公筷 (gōngkuài), meaning serving chopsticks.

When taking a break, lay your chopsticks down neatly or use the chopstick rest. Avoid leaving them standing upright in rice or pointing them at people.

If chopsticks are difficult, ask for a spoon or fork. What is available depends on the restaurant.

An extra tip is generally not expected at everyday restaurants and food stalls in mainland China. You usually do not need to add a percentage to your bill.

Some hotel or higher-end restaurants add a service charge. Check the menu or bill, or ask the staff; a listed service charge is different from an optional tip.

When you are ready to pay, get a staff member’s attention and ask to settle the bill. You can use the phrase below, or simply say 买单 (mǎidān).

Check that the dishes, quantities and any extra charges match your order. Before accepting tea, snacks or extras, ask whether they are included. If you want to pay separately, ask whether that is possible.

If you have food left, ask the staff to pack it to take away. 打包 (dǎbāo) is the useful word to know. Check whether there is a packaging charge.

Ordering a little less to start with, asking about smaller portions and adding more if needed can help avoid waste.