How to Order Food in Hindi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ordering food in India can be an exciting—and delicious—adventure. Whether you’re in a busy city restaurant or at a colorful street food stall, knowing a little Hindi can make the experience smoother, friendlier, and even tastier! Here’s your complete guide to ordering food confidently in Hindi.

Step 1: Getting the Waiter’s Attention

Start with a polite greeting and ask for the menu.

English	Hindi	Romanized
Excuse me	सुनिए	Suniye
Waiter!	वेटर!	Waiter!
Brother (friendly)	भैया!	Bhaiya!
Hello	नमस्ते	Namaste
Menu please	मेन्यू दीजिए	Menu dijiye

Cultural Tip:In many Indian restaurants and street stalls, calling “Bhaiya!” (brother) or “Didi!” (sister) is friendly and common—don’t be shy!

Step 2: Asking About the Food

Check what’s available, or ask for suggestions.

English	Hindi	Romanized
What is today’s special?	आज का स्पेशल क्या है?	Aaj ka special kya hai?
What do you recommend?	आप क्या सुझाएंगे?	Aap kya sujhayenge?
Is this spicy?	क्या यह तीखा है?	Kya yeh teekha hai?
Is it vegetarian?	क्या यह शाकाहारी है?	Kya yeh shaakahari hai?
Is it non-vegetarian?	क्या यह मांसाहारी है?	Kya yeh maansahari hai?
What is this called?	इसे क्या कहते हैं?	Ise kya kehte hain?

Step 3: Ordering Food and Drinks

Here’s how to ask for what you want:

English	Hindi	Romanized
I would like…	मुझे ... चाहिए।	Mujhe ... chahiye.
Please give me...	... दीजिए।	... dijiye.
One plate of samosa, please.	एक प्लेट समोसा दीजिए।	Ek plate samosa dijiye.
Two cups of tea, please.	दो कप चाय दीजिए।	Do cup chai dijiye.
Without onion, please.	बिना प्याज के दीजिए।	Bina pyaaz ke dijiye.
Not too spicy, please.	ज़्यादा तीखा मत बनाइए।	Zyaada teekha mat banaiye.

Vocabulary Table: Popular Foods

English	Hindi	Romanized
Bread	रोटी	Roti
Rice	चावल	Chawal
Lentils	दाल	Dal
Vegetables	सब्ज़ी	Sabzi
Paneer	पनीर	Paneer
Chicken	चिकन	Chicken
Fish	मछली	Machhli
Samosa	समोसा	Samosa
Tea	चाय	Chai
Water	पानी	Pani

Step 4: Asking for More or Changing Your Order

If you want to add, change, or clarify your order:

English	Hindi	Romanized
Please add more rice.	थोड़ा और चावल दीजिए।	Thoda aur chawal dijiye.
Can I get it less spicy?	कम तीखा बना दीजिए।	Kam teekha bana dijiye.
No sugar, please.	बिना शक्कर के दीजिए।	Bina shakkar ke dijiye.
Please bring some water.	थोड़ा पानी ले आइए।	Thoda pani le aaiye.

Step 5: Asking for the Bill

When you’re ready to pay, use these:

English	Hindi	Romanized
Bill please	बिल दीजिए	Bill dijiye
How much is it?	कितने का हुआ?	Kitne ka hua?
Can I pay by card?	क्या मैं कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?	Kya main card se bhugtaan kar sakta hoon? (male)
Thank you	धन्यवाद	Dhanyavaad

Sample Dialogue: Ordering at a Restaurant

You: नमस्ते भैया! मेन्यू दीजिए।(Namaste bhaiya! Menu dijiye.)Hello brother! Please give me the menu.

Waiter: जी, यह लीजिए।(Ji, yeh lijiye.)Here you go.

You: आज का स्पेशल क्या है?(Aaj ka special kya hai?)What’s today’s special?

Waiter: आज पनीर बटर मसाला स्पेशल है।(Aaj paneer butter masala special hai.)Today’s special is Paneer Butter Masala.

You: एक प्लेट पनीर बटर मसाला और दो रोटी दीजिए।(Ek plate paneer butter masala aur do roti dijiye.)One plate paneer butter masala and two rotis, please.

You: एक गिलास पानी भी लाना।(Ek glass pani bhi lana.)Also, bring one glass of water.

Waiter: ठीक है।(Theek hai.)Okay.

Useful Phrases for Street Food

• एक प्लेट समोसा दीजिए। (Ek plate samosa dijiye.) – One plate samosa, please.

• मसाला डाले बिना बनाइए। (Masala daale bina banaiye.) – Make it without spice/masala, please.

• मीठा ज़्यादा मत डालना। (Meetha zyada mat daalna.) – Don’t make it too sweet.

Cultural Tips for Eating Out in India

• Politeness goes a long way: Even at the busiest stall, a “dijiye” (please give) is appreciated.

• Tipping: Tipping is common in restaurants (5-10%), but not at street stalls.

• Right hand only: Always use your right hand for eating and paying—it’s considered respectful.

• Street food: It’s delicious and cheap, but check for cleanliness if you’re new to Indian food!

• Water: Bottled water is safest for foreigners; say “बोतल का पानी” (botal ka pani).

Extra Vocabulary for Food & Drink

English	Hindi	Romanized
Breakfast	नाश्ता	Nashta
Lunch	दोपहर का खाना	Dophar ka khana
Dinner	रात का खाना	Raat ka khana
Spicy	तीखा	Teekha
Sweet	मीठा	Meetha
Salt	नमक	Namak
Plate	प्लेट	Plate
Glass	गिलास	Glass
Bowl	कटोरी	Katori
Fork	कांटा	Kaanta
Spoon	चम्मच	Chammach

Final Tips

• Listen and repeat: Practice saying menu items and phrases before you go out.

• Watch food vlogs: YouTube street food tours in India are great for learning food vocab and real-world phrases.

• Point and ask: If unsure, point and ask “यह क्या है?” (Yeh kya hai?) – What is this?

• Smile! Even a little Hindi + a friendly smile goes a long way.