How to Order Food in China: Restaurants, Apps, Street Food and Trains

China is one of the world's great food destinations, but ordering a meal can feel daunting if you don't read Chinese and the staff don't speak English. The good news: with a smartphone and a few simple habits, you can eat brilliantly almost anywhere — from a white-tablecloth banquet to a noodle stall down a back alley. Here's exactly how.

First, set up mobile payment

Before you worry about menus, sort out how you'll pay. China is almost entirely cashless. Link your Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before or soon after you arrive — both now accept many foreign cards. Most restaurants, stalls and delivery apps will not take your physical foreign card directly, so the wallet apps are essential. Carry a little cash as a rare backup, but expect to scan a QR code to pay almost everywhere.

Ordering in a sit-down restaurant

Many Chinese restaurants now use scan-to-order (扫码点餐): a QR code on the table opens a digital menu in WeChat or Alipay, often with photos. Inside the mini-program you can usually switch the interface to English or use the built-in translate button, then add dishes to a cart and pay from your phone — no waiter needed.

If there's a paper menu, look for one with pictures and simply point. Chinese meals are shared family-style, so order a few dishes for the table rather than one plate each — a good rule of thumb is roughly one dish per person plus a rice or noodle. Tea or hot water usually comes free; tap water is not served, so order bottled water or a soft drink if you prefer.

Street food and markets

Street stalls are where some of China's best, cheapest food lives. You rarely need words: point at what you want, hold up fingers for quantity, and scan to pay. Choose busy stalls with high turnover — the queue is your guarantee of freshness. Night markets in cities like Xi'an, Chengdu and Chongqing are a feast for first-timers.

Food delivery to your hotel

Too tired to go out? China's delivery apps are fast and cheap. The two giants are Meituan (美团) and Ele.me (饿了么) — the latter was folded into Taobao Flash Purchase in 2025 but most people still call it Ele.me. The easiest route for travelers is the mini-program version inside Alipay or WeChat rather than the standalone app: these offer on-demand menu translation, photo-based browsing, and payment through your linked card. In WeChat, search "美团外卖", open the mini-program, and use the "···" menu's translate option. Enter your hotel name and room as the address.

Eating on high-speed trains

On long G and D high-speed trains you can have a hot meal delivered to your seat. Open the official 12306 app (or its WeChat mini-program), go to the "Dining & Specialties" section, enter your train and seat, and the app shows upcoming stations and participating restaurants — sometimes including KFC or local specialties. Order at least 1.5 to 2 hours before the delivery station; a courier hands it to the attendant at the stop, who brings it to you. Note the ordering interface is mostly in Chinese, so a translation app helps. Trains also have a dining car and a snack trolley that rolls through the carriages.

Translation and dietary needs

Download a translation app — Google Translate (with the Chinese pack offline), Baidu Translate, or Pleco for food terms. The camera/photo feature can translate a printed menu instantly. For restrictions, save a short phrase card on your phone: vegetarian is 素 (sù), "not spicy" is 不辣 (bù là), and for allergies write the specific ingredient clearly. Showing the screen to staff works wonders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I order food in China without speaking Chinese? Yes. Picture menus, scan-to-order with built-in translation, pointing at street stalls, and translation apps mean you can eat well with zero Chinese.

Do I tip at restaurants in China? No. Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is not expected at restaurants, stalls or for delivery.

How do I pay for food in China as a foreigner? Link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay and scan the QR code. Physical foreign cards are rarely accepted directly.

Can I get food delivered to my hotel? Yes. Use the Meituan or Ele.me mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat, enter your hotel address and room number, and pay in-app.

How do I order food on a Chinese high-speed train? Use the 12306 app's "Dining & Specialties" section, enter your seat, and order at least 1.5–2 hours before your chosen station so it can be delivered to your seat.