Ordering Food in China: Menus with Photos, Text-Only Menus, and Scan-to-Order

Last updated: March 2026. How you order depends on the restaurant—scan-to-order is more common in bigger cities.

You can order and pay in China without speaking Chinese—point at pictures, use translation or pre-written dish names, and for scan-to-order ask for a paper menu or have staff order for you.

Restaurants fall into three types: menus with photos, text-only menus, and scan-to-order. For the first two, pointing or translation is enough. With scan-to-order, many places require you to complete payment inside WeChat or Alipay on your phone to confirm the order; without those apps you can’t finish the flow yourself. Get a paper menu or ask staff to order, then pay at the table in cash or card. To ask for the bill, say "买单" (mǎidān) or show "Bill, please." If the place only takes scan payment and you don’t have it, ask a companion to pay or go elsewhere.

The Real Rule

Chinese restaurants have split into three ordering styles: menus with photos, text-only paper menus, and table-side scan-to-order. The last opens in WeChat, is usually Chinese-only, and often requires paying inside the app to submit the order.

What happens in each case:

Menus with photos: Point at the dish or its number; use one finger for "one portion," shake your head and point at chili for no spice, or show pre-written "不要辣" (no spice) / "微辣" (mild)
Text-only menus: Photo the menu and use a translation app, then point at the result for the server; or show dish names written in Chinese (e.g. from your hotel—see Dealing with Language Barriers in China)
Scan-to-order: Without WeChat Pay or Alipay you can’t complete the flow; ask for a paper menu or have staff order, pay at the table in cash or card if the place accepts it, or if they only take scan payment, have someone else pay or choose another spot

What you’ll often run into:

Getting the server’s attention: Raise your hand, say "服务员" (fúwùyuán), or show "We'd like to order" / "Bill, please"
Portion size: One dish is often a large plate for 2–3 people; order a few items first, then add more
Spice level: Have "不要辣" / "微辣" etc. written in advance and show when ordering, or point at the chili on the menu
Scan-only payment: Set up one mobile payment or carry cash before you go (see How to Pay in China)

How to Handle It

Menus with Photos

Point at the dish or its number. One finger for one portion; for no spice, shake your head and point at the chili on the menu, or show pre-written "不要辣" / "微辣." You can point at a dish on another table to order the same. Write down allergies or dietary restrictions and show them before ordering.

Text-Only Menus

Photo the menu, run it through a translation app, then point at the result for the server—or show pre-written dish names. At check-in, ask the hotel to write a few dishes you want in Chinese and keep them on your phone or a slip (see Dealing with Language Barriers in China). Do the same for allergies or restrictions.

Scan-to-Order

Ask for a paper menu or have the server order for you. Ask "有没有纸质菜单?" or show "Do you have a paper menu?" Get a paper menu and order as above; the server enters it in the system and you pay at the table in cash or card. If there’s no paper menu, show "Can you order for me? I'll point at what I want" and point at items, numbers, or your written list. If the place only takes scan payment and you don’t have WeChat/Alipay, ask a companion to pay or go to another restaurant. Set up payment or carry cash before you go (see How to Pay in China).

Getting the Server and Adding Dishes

Raise your hand, say "服务员," or show "We'd like to order" / "Bill, please." To add more, do the same and point at the dish or number again. One dish is usually a large plate for 2–3; order less first, then add. Have "不要辣" / "微辣" etc. written and show when ordering, or point at the chili on the menu.

Paying the Bill

Say "买单" or "结账," or show "Bill, please." Many places take cash (have change) or card; some only take scan. Try showing "Can I pay cash?"—if not, ask someone to pay for you or go elsewhere. For a receipt, show "请给我发票." For tipping, see Tipping in China.

What Most Guides Don't Tell You

Lots of places still have paper menus—they just don’t hand them out

After scan-to-order took off, many restaurants kept paper menus but don’t always offer them. After you sit down, ask "有没有纸质菜单?" or show "Do you have a paper menu?" and you’ll often get one.

Having staff order is faster than translating the scan screen yourself

When there’s no paper menu, ask the server to order—point at photos, numbers, or your written list. That’s quicker and less error-prone than translating the full Chinese scan interface yourself.

One dish is usually a large plate for 2–3 people

Order a few dishes first and add more if you need; don’t assume "one dish" is a single portion.

Not sure what to say? Show these in your translation app: "Do you have a paper menu?" / "Can you order for me? I'll point at what I want." / "Bill, please." / "Can I pay cash?"

Quick Reference

DO:

• With picture menus, point at the dish or number; with text-only menus, photo and translate or show pre-written dish names • For scan-to-order, ask "Do you have a paper menu?" first; if not, have the server order and pay at the table in cash or card if accepted • Write down dietary needs and spice level and show before ordering; to get attention, raise your hand, say "服务员," or show "We'd like to order" / "Bill, please" • Order a few dishes first and add more; ask for the bill with "买单" or "Bill, please," have change for cash • Set up How to Pay in China or carry cash; if they only take scan, show "Can I pay cash?" or ask someone to pay

DON'T:

• Assume you can finish scan-to-order without WeChat/Alipay—many places require in-app payment to submit • Order "one dish per person"—one dish is often a large plate; order less and add • Skip writing down dietary or spice preferences • Wait for the bill without asking—say "买单" or show "Bill, please" • Go to scan-only spots without cash or mobile payment set up

Point at pictures, use translation or written dish names, and for scan-to-order get a paper menu or ask staff to order. Ask for the bill with "买单," pay in cash, card, or have someone pay. With preferences, dish names, and a way to pay ready, you can order and pay without Chinese.

FAQ

Q: The restaurant only has scan-to-order and no English. What do I do?

Ask for a paper menu or show "Do you have a paper menu?" If there isn’t one, have the server order—point at dishes, numbers, or your written list.

Q: I can’t read the menu—no pictures. What do I do?

Photo the menu with a translation app and point at the result for the server, or show dish names written in Chinese (e.g. from your hotel). See Dealing with Language Barriers in China.

Q: How do I communicate allergies or dietary restrictions?

Have someone write "我不吃辣" (I don’t eat spicy), "我对XX过敏" (I’m allergic to X), etc., and show it when ordering.

Q: Scan-to-order wants mobile payment and I don’t have WeChat/Alipay.

Ask for a paper menu or have the server order, then pay at the table in cash or card if they accept it. If they only take scan payment, ask someone to pay or go elsewhere. Set up How to Pay in China or carry cash before you go.

Q: How do I ask for the bill and pay?

Say "买单" or show "Bill, please." Pay at the table in cash, card, or scan. If they only take scan and you don’t have it, show "Can I pay cash?"—if not, ask someone to pay or go elsewhere.

Q: Is one dish one portion? How do I get the server’s attention?

One dish is usually a large plate for 2–3 people; order a few and add more. To get attention, raise your hand, say "服务员," or show "We'd like to order" / "Bill, please."

Related Guides:

Dealing with Language Barriers in China
Essential Apps for China
How to Pay in China
Tipping in China
Beijing City Guide — / [Shanghai City Guide](/destinations/shanghai
Shanghai City Guide

Ordering style varies by restaurant; scan-to-order is more common in first- and second-tier cities. Have translation and written dish names ready before you go.