Restaurant Vietnamese changes by moment: before ordering, during the meal, and when paying. These ten phrases cover common dining situations.
1. Cho tôi xem thực đơn được không?
Meaning: Can I see the menu?
Thực đơn means menu. If the restaurant has pictures, this phrase helps you move into pointing and ordering.
2. Em ơi, cho tôi gọi món.
Meaning: Excuse me, I would like to order.
Em ơi is a common way to call restaurant staff. If the person is clearly older, Anh ơi or Chị ơi may be more natural.
3. Món này có cay không?
Meaning: Is this dish spicy?
Use this when you are not sure about spice. If you want it not too spicy, say Đừng làm cay quá.
4. Có món không cay không?
Meaning: Do you have a non-spicy dish?
This is useful when you want help choosing from the whole menu, especially for children or people who avoid spicy food.
5. Cho tôi một tô phở bò.
Meaning: Please give me one bowl of beef pho.
Một tô means one bowl. Replace phở bò with another dish name to order different food.
6. Không hành, được không?
Meaning: Can you make it without green onion?
Use this for ingredients you want to avoid. For herbs, say không rau thơm. For no ice, say không đá.
7. Cho tôi thêm nước được không?
Meaning: Can I have more water?
Thêm means “more” or “extra.” You can also say thêm đá for more ice or thêm rau for more vegetables.
8. Món này còn không?
Meaning: Is this dish still available?
This is useful at local eateries and stalls where popular dishes may sell out. Còn means “still available.”
9. Cho tôi mang về được không?
Meaning: Can I take this away?
Use it when you want takeout or cannot finish your food. The short phrase Mang về is also understood.
10. Tính tiền giúp tôi.
Meaning: Please bring the bill.
This is the standard phrase at the end of a meal. You can call the staff and say Em ơi, tính tiền giúp tôi.