Ordering Food in English
You are at a restaurant. The waiter comes to your table and begins to speak English very fast.
You feel nervous. You don't know what to say.This happens to many English learners.
It's okay. It's normal.
You don't need to know a lot of English to order food. You only need three sentences!
Here's What It Normally Sounds Like in English
Waiter: "Are you ready to order?"
You: "Could I have a few more minutes, please?"
[a little later]
Waiter: "Are you ready now?"
You: "Yes. I'd like the pasta, please."
Waiter: "Anything else?"
You: "Can I also have some water, please?"
That's it. That's the whole conversation. Now let's break down each sentence.
Sentence 1: Ask for More Time
"Could I have a few more minutes, please?"
The waiter often comes to your table before you're ready. This is completely normal.
Use this sentence to ask for a little more time to decide.
You can also say:
"Sorry, I need a bit more time."
"Can you come back in a few minutes?"
Sentence 2: Order Your Food
"I'd like the [food], please."
This is the main sentence. Use it to say what you want to eat.
Examples:
"I'd like the pasta, please."
"I'd like the soup, please."
"I'd like the chicken, please."
"I'd like the salad, please."
You can also use it for drinks:
"I'd like a coffee, please."
"I'd like a water, please."
Sentence 3: Ask for More
"Can I also have [extra], please?"
Sometimes you want more than one thing. Use this sentence to ask for extra food or drinks.
Examples:
"Can I also have some water, please?"
"Can I also have the salad, please?"
"Can I also have some bread, please?"
You can use this sentence more than once. Ask for as many things as you need.
Try This
Practice out loud, at home, before you go to a restaurant:
"Could I have a few more minutes, please?"
"I'd like the [your food choice], please."
"Can I also have [something], please?"
Say all three sentences a few times so they feel easy and natural.
Watch the Video
Want to see this in action?
Watch the full video here → [link]
