Food
Other Cantonese phrases useful at a restaurant
Manners / Requests
| Cantonese Pronounciation | Meaning | |||
Lai ho mah. / lei hou ma | Hi there. (ni hao mah is the same greeting, but in Mandarin) | |||
| M'goi. | Thank you (for service). Also "Service please!" | |||
| Doh jeh | Thank you (for a gift / more formal). | |||
| Ding gwa gwa! | Really good! (ie: Yummy!) | |||
| See you tomorrow! | |||
sIk fan | Bon Appetit! | |||
m goi mai dan | bill please (in a restaurant) | |||
dzi g n | napkin | |||
| tsoi dan |
menu | |||
| Mm chan | lunch special | |||
| m goi (lœng) wi |
a table for (two), please | |||
| m goi lo (yt fu tsa) bei o |
can you please bring me (a fork)? |
Table Items
| Cantonese Pronounciation | Meaning |
| Fai tje / fai dzi | Chopsticks |
| tsa | Fork |
| tsi gn | Spoon |
| dou | Knife |
| dzi gn | Napkin |
Drinks
| Cantonese Pronounciation | Meaning |
| Yut bui yeet nai cha. | One cup hot milky tea |
| Yut bui dong nai cha. | One cup iced milky tea. |
| Yut bui dong ga fey. | One cup iced coffee. |
| Yut bui dong yeen-yuung. | One cup iced coffee-and-tea (half & half). |
| Yut bui dong suh-oh
| One glass of cold water |
| Yut bui yeet nai cha. | One cup hot milky tea |
Other dishes
| Cantonese Pronounciation | Meaning |
| Yut wun jing sooy gow. | One bowl of ONLY sooy gow (shrimp & mushroom dumplings) in soup |
| Yut wun sooy gow mein | One bowl of sooy gow (shrimp & mushroom dumplings) with egg noodles in soup |
| Lai tong | Daily chinese soup. |
| Ga lai hoi sin | Curried (ga lai) seafood (hoi sin). |
| Yut deep gai lan. | One dish gai-lan (Chinese broccoli with Oyster sauce). |
| Dao miu | Snow pea shoots |
| Char siu | BBQ pork (at restaurants with "hanging meats") |
| Yow gai | Soya-sauce chicken (at restaurants with "hanging meats") |
| Siu nap | BBQ Duck (at restaurants with "hanging meats") |
| Siu yok | Crispy-skin roast pork (at restaurants with "hanging meats") |
| Soy gao mein | shrimp & mushroom dumplings in egg noodle soup. |
| Ga lay ow lam | Curry beef flank |
| Gai lay gai | Curry chicken |
| Fan | Rice |
| Fun / ye fun | Spahetti |
| Lo song tong | Tomato soup |
| Lam gwa hoi sin | Seafood with Japanese pumpkin sauce |
| Guang jao ho fan | Beef with black bean sauce on rice |
| Si jiu ho fan | Beef with pepper sauce on rice |
| Jah leung | Chinese Donut with rice wrapper (and usually some small dried shrimp) |
| Yao dtsa gwai | Same as jah leung, but just the donut – no rice wrapper |
| Dahn tsan | Sweet crispy Chinese honey donut |
| Now Jap | "bowl of guts" (actually translates to 'beef junk') |
| Dau fu fa | blended tofu with sugar syrup (dessert) Great to settle the tummy! |
| Mongo bo dien | Mango pudding (usually served with condensed milk) |
| Now bak yeep | Steamed pork tripe |
| Chun gyun | Spring Roll |
| Yo si chow mein | ? with fried egg noodle |
| Som si chow mein | ? with fried egg noodle |
