Walking through a Chinese night market, you‘ll see smoky grills, sizzling woks, and long lines of hungry people. The food looks amazing, but maybe you’re thinking: How do I order? How do I pay? What if I say something wrong?
Don’t worry — street food in China is not only delicious, it’s also one of the easiest ways to practice your Chinese. With just a few simple phrases, you can order like a local, avoid awkward moments, and enjoy safely.
Here’s your step-by-step guide.
1. Ordering Like a Local
When you‘re ready to order, keep it simple. You don‘t need long sentences — just point, smile, and use these everyday phrases.
Useful Phrases:
Zhè ge duō shǎo qián?
这个多少钱？
How much is this?
Lái yī fèn zhè gè.
来一份这个。
I’ll have one of these.
Zài lái yī gè.
再来一个。
One more, please.
Bù yào là.
不要辣。
No spicy.
Wēi là.
微辣。
A little spicy.
Duō fàng yī diǎn.
多放一点。
Add a bit more.
Pro tip: Don‘t worry about pronunciation too much — sellers are used to foreigners and usually understand gestures + simple words.
2. Paying Made Easy
Most vendors in China use mobile payments, but some still accept cash. You don‘t need a full sentence, just a short check:
Useful Phrases:
Duō shǎo qián?
多少钱？
How much?
Zhī fù bǎo kě yǐ ma?
支付宝可以吗？
Can I use Alipay?
Wēi xìn kě yǐ ma?
微信可以吗？
Can I use WeChat?
Xiàn jīn kě yǐ ma?
现金可以吗？
Can I use cash?
Kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma?
可以刷卡吗？
Card okay?
Pro tip: Many stalls just show you a QR code. You scan, type the amount, and show them the “paid” screen. Super easy!
3. Eating and Enjoying Safely
Now the best part — eating! Street food is casual, so feel free to eat while walking or stand by the stall. Use short, natural reactions like locals.
Useful Phrases:
Hǎo chī !
好吃！
Tasty!
Tài xiāng le!
太香了！
Smells so good!
Zhēn bàng!
真棒！
Awesome!
Zài lái yī chuàn.
再来一串。
Another skewer, please.
Bù yào cōng.
不要葱。
No green onions.
Duō fàng jiàng.
多放酱。
More sauce, please.
Pro tip: Stick to stalls with long lines — locals know where it‘s clean and tasty.
Speak Chinese the Way Locals Do
Chinese street food is not just about eating — it‘s about connecting. With a few simple, natural phrases, you can order confidently, pay smoothly, and enjoy like a local.
At eChineseLearning, our native teachers teach you these everyday expressions (not just “textbook Chinese”), so you can use Chinese naturally in real-life situations — from ordering BBQ skewers to chatting with locals at night markets.
Try your first free 1-on-1 trial class with a live native Chinese teacher today and get hands-on practice with the phrases you’ll actually need!
Quiz: Which of these is the MOST natural way to order street food in China?
A. Wǒ yào zhè gè shí wù. 我要这个食物。 — I want this food.
B. Lái yī fèn zhè gè.来一份这个。— I’ll have one of these.
C. Qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn shí wù.请给我一份食物。— Please give me one portion of food.
👉 Comment your answer below!
Correct answer: B. 来一份这个。
This is short, natural, and exactly how locals order.
❌ A and C sound too stiff or “classroom Chinese.”