Not sure what food to order? Start with your appetite, total budget and any ingredients you need to avoid. Decide whether you want a meal for yourself or plates to share, then check the sides and portions before adding extras. Choose a beginner guide for an unfamiliar menu, a portion guide for sharing, or a preference guide for questions to ask the restaurant.
First choices and everyday meals
What to order at an Indian restaurant if you don’t like spicy food
Compare creamy curries and simple sides, ask about chilli already in the sauce, and build an Indian restaurant order without relying on a mild label.
Sushi for beginners who don’t like raw fish: what to order
Choose cooked shrimp, egg or vegetable sushi, check every filling and topping, and avoid confusing seared or smoked fish with a fully cooked option.
First dim sum order for two: a small round with different textures
Build your first dim sum order for two with a few different textures, check pieces per basket and fillings, and add dishes in rounds rather than ordering everything.
What to order at Korean BBQ for two first-timers
Choose a first Korean BBQ order for two by checking the minimum, meat cuts, included sides and who grills. Keep the order adjustable to the actual menu.
What to order at a Thai restaurant if you don’t like spicy food
Compare stir-fried noodles and rice, ask for no chilli in the sauce and garnish, and avoid assuming creamy Thai curries have no heat.
What should I order for dinner tonight?
Decide what to order for dinner by appetite, budget, sharing and dietary needs, with concrete ideas for solo meals, two people and a group.
What should I order for takeout? Choose food that suits the trip
Compare takeout options by texture, sauce and packaging, plan a complete order, and ask for separate components before your food leaves the restaurant.
Portions and sharing
What to order at an Indian restaurant for two people
A flexible Indian dinner plan for two: choose contrasting mains, check included rice, balance bread and starters, and adjust to the restaurant’s portions.
How much sushi to order for two people: count pieces, not just rolls
Plan sushi for two by checking roll piece counts, nigiri quantities and side dishes. Use an adjustable first round instead of a universal pieces-per-person rule.
How many tapas to order for two people? Read the serving sizes
Plan tapas for two by checking tapa, media ración and ración sizes, individual pieces and appetite. Start with a varied small round instead of a fixed dish count.
Preferences and ingredient questions
Ordering vegan at an Indian restaurant: what to ask
Questions for vegan Indian restaurant orders: check dairy in sauces, bread dough and finishing butter, then confirm a main and accompaniment with staff.
Ordering vegan Thai food: questions about fish sauce and more
Check fish sauce, oyster sauce, shrimp paste, broth and egg when ordering vegan Thai food. Ask which sauce the kitchen can use for your exact dish.
Reading the menu
How to order dim sum from a paper menu: quantities and dish numbers
Read a dim sum tick sheet, distinguish baskets from pieces, check price categories, and confirm that your paper order has reached the restaurant staff.
How to order a menú del día for the first time
Read primero, segundo and postre on a Spanish menú del día. Choose a balanced lunch, check what the set includes and clarify any supplement before ordering.