How to order a meal in English
I'll have the cheeseburger, please.
“I want the cheeseburger, please.”
When: Telling the server which dish you want
The moment
It's lunchtime and you sit down at a busy diner in Brooklyn. Get a menu, order a main dish and a drink, and ask the server what's good.
A1 · Unit 2 · Café & food
The lines
Ordering with "I'll have..."
To order, say "I'll have" and then the food. "I'll have the cheeseburger, please." Use "the" when it is on the menu. It is short, polite and very normal.
I'll have the cheeseburger, please.
“I want the cheeseburger, please.”
When to use it: Telling the server which dish you want
What you’ll hear back: Sure. Anything to drink?
Asking what's good
Can't choose? Ask "What do you recommend?" The server tells you a favorite dish. Americans ask this a lot, and servers like the question.
What do you recommend?
“What do you think I should get?”
When to use it: When you can't decide what to order
What you’ll hear back: The chicken sandwich is really popular. (Many people order the chicken sandwich.)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Can I see a menu, please? | kan-ai SEE-uh MEN-yoo PLEEZ | Please give me the list of food. |
Hi! Can I see a menu, please? Hello! Please give me the list of food. Tip: Wait to be seated if you see a "Please wait" sign. | ||
| Can I get an iced tea? | kan-ai GEH-dun AIST TEE | I want a cold tea to drink. |
Can I get an iced tea with that? I also want a cold tea with my food. Tip: Iced tea and soda often come with free refills. | ||
| Just water for me, thanks. | JUS WAH-der fer MEE THANKS | I only want water to drink. |
No soda, just water for me, thanks. I don't want soda. I only want water. Tip: Tap water is free in US restaurants. Just ask. | ||
Your objective
Ask for the menu, then order one main dish and one drink.
- the menu
- a main dish
- a drink
Lines that get it done
- Can I see a menu, please? · Please give me the list of food.
- I'll have the cheeseburger, please.
- Can I get an iced tea? · I want a cold tea to drink.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want the cheeseburger. What do you say to the server?
- I'll have the cheeseburger, please.
- I have the cheeseburger, please.
- The cheeseburger is for you.
- Do you have the cheeseburger?
Show the answer
I'll have the cheeseburger, please.
"I'll have..." is the normal way to order your food.
2. You can't decide what to eat. What do you ask the server?
- What do you recommend?
- What do you eat?
- What is the menu?
- What do you want?
Show the answer
What do you recommend?
"What do you recommend?" asks the server to choose a good dish for you.
3. The server asks, "Anything to drink?" You only want free water. What do you say?
- Just water for me, thanks.
- Water is here, thanks.
- I drink water every day.
- Can I see the water?
Show the answer
Just water for me, thanks.
"Just water for me" means you only want water, nothing else.