Concept art: a traveler orders at a busy food stall
Concept art from VocaBound: Worlds

Ordering

MandarinPinyinEnglish
老闆lǎobǎnbossThe friendly way to get a stall owner's attention.
我要這個Wǒ yào zhègeI'd like this one
一個 / 兩個yí ge / liǎng geone / two (of something)Use 兩 (liǎng), not 二 (èr), when counting things.
一份yí fènone portion
這個多少錢？Zhège duōshǎo qián?How much is this?
內用 / 外帶nèiyòng / wàidàieat here / take away

Making it how you like it

MandarinPinyinEnglish
不要辣bú yào lànot spicy
小辣xiǎo làa little spicy
不要香菜bú yào xiāngcàino cilantro
半糖 / 微糖bàn táng / wēi tánghalf sugar / light sugarFor drinks like bubble tea, 珍珠奶茶 (zhēnzhū nǎichá).
少冰 / 去冰shǎo bīng / qù bīngless ice / no ice

Paying and thanking

MandarinPinyinEnglish
可以刷卡嗎？Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?Can I pay by card?
只收現金zhǐ shōu xiànjīncash onlyYou'll see this a lot at stalls — carry cash.
很好吃！Hěn hǎochī!It's delicious!
謝謝老闆！Xièxie lǎobǎn!Thanks, boss!

Try it: ordering fried chicken

  1. You老闆，我要一份雞排。Lǎobǎn, wǒ yào yí fèn jīpái.Boss, one fried chicken cutlet, please.
  2. Owner要切嗎？要辣嗎？Yào qiē ma? Yào là ma?Want it cut? Spicy?
  3. You要切，小辣。Yào qiē, xiǎo là.Cut, a little spicy.
  4. Owner內用還是外帶？Nèiyòng háishì wàidài?For here or to go?
  5. You外帶，謝謝。Wàidài, xièxie.To go, thanks.

Good to know

Answer with the verb

Mandarin has no single word for “yes.” To answer 要切嗎？ (Yào qiē ma? — “Want it cut?”), repeat the verb: 要 (yào) for yes, 不要 (bú yào) for no.

Pointing is fine

我要這個 (wǒ yào zhège) plus pointing works everywhere. It's how plenty of locals order, too.

Prices are in NT$

Prices are in New Taiwan dollars. In speech, people say 塊 (kuài) for dollars: 一百塊 (yìbǎi kuài) is NT$100.