Ordering Food in Arabic: Restaurant Phrases and Vocabulary

There is something deeply special about sharing a meal in an Arab country. From the fragrant lamb stews of Morocco to the smoky grills of Lebanon and the spiced rice dishes of the Gulf, Arabic cuisine is a feast for every sense. But to truly enjoy the experience, knowing how to order food in Arabic transforms you from a tourist into a welcomed guest.

Whether you are planning a trip to Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, or any other Arabic-speaking country, this guide gives you everything you need — phrases, vocabulary, cultural tips, and real examples — to dine with confidence. And if you are just starting your Arabic journey, be sure to check out our Essential Arabic Phrases for Travelers: A Survival Guide for a broader foundation.

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Why Learning Arabic Dining Phrases Matters

English is widely spoken in tourist-heavy restaurants, but venture off the beaten path — to a neighbourhood shawarma stand in Amman, a family-run matbakh (kitchen) in Cairo, or a traditional majlis dinner in Riyadh — and Arabic becomes essential. Even basic phrases show respect and often earn you better service, bigger portions, and warmer smiles.

Arabic restaurant phrases also give you practical vocabulary that sticks fast because food is memorable. Learning the word for chicken (dajaj — دجاج) or bread (khubz — خبز) is far easier when you are staring at a menu and hungry!

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A Note on Arabic Dialects

Before we dive in, it is worth noting that Arabic has many regional dialects. The phrases in this guide are based on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is understood across all Arabic-speaking countries. However, we will also include common colloquial variants where relevant.

For a deeper understanding of how dialects differ, read our article on Arabic Dialects Explained: MSA, Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, and More.

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Essential Arabic Restaurant Phrases

These are the core Arabic restaurant phrases you will use from the moment you walk through the door to when you pay the bill.

Arriving at the Restaurant

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Do you have a table for two?	هل لديكم طاولة لشخصين؟	Hal ladaykum tawila li-shakhsayn?
I have a reservation.	لدي حجز.	Ladayya hajz.
A table for one, please.	طاولة لشخص واحد، من فضلك.	Tawila li-shakhsin wahid, min fadlak.
Is there a non-smoking section?	هل يوجد قسم لغير المدخنين؟	Hal yujad qism li-ghayril-mudakkhinin?
Can we sit outside?	هل يمكننا الجلوس في الخارج؟	Hal yumkinuna al-julus fil-kharij?

Getting the Menu

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Can I see the menu, please?	هل يمكنني رؤية القائمة، من فضلك؟	Hal yumkinuni ru'yat al-qa'ima, min fadlak?
Do you have a menu in English?	هل لديكم قائمة بالإنجليزية؟	Hal ladaykum qa'ima bil-inkliziyya?
What do you recommend?	ماذا تنصح؟	Madha tansah?
What is the dish of the day?	ما هو طبق اليوم؟	Ma huwa tabaq al-yawm?

Ordering Food

This is the heart of knowing how to order food in Arabic:

English	Arabic	Transliteration
I would like to order.	أريد أن أطلب.	Urid an atlub.
I will have the...	سآخذ...	Sa'akhudh...
Can I have..., please?	هل يمكنني الحصول على...، من فضلك؟	Hal yumkinuni al-husul 'ala...?
One portion of...	حصة واحدة من...	Hissa wahida min...
Without onions, please.	بدون بصل، من فضلك.	Bidun basal, min fadlak.
Extra sauce on the side.	صلصة إضافية على الجانب.	Salsa idafiyya 'ala al-janib.
I am vegetarian.	أنا نباتي.	Ana nabati. (m) / Ana nabatiyya. (f)
I am allergic to nuts.	لدي حساسية من المكسرات.	Ladayya hassasiyya min al-mukassarat.
Is this dish spicy?	هل هذا الطبق حار؟	Hal hadha al-tabaq har?

During the Meal

English	Arabic	Transliteration
This is delicious!	هذا لذيذ!	Hadha ladhidh!
More bread, please.	المزيد من الخبز، من فضلك.	Al-mazid min al-khubz, min fadlak.
A glass of water, please.	كوب ماء، من فضلك.	Kub ma', min fadlak.
Excuse me! (to call waiter)	عفواً!	'Afwan!
I did not order this.	لم أطلب هذا.	Lam atlub hadha.

Paying the Bill

English	Arabic	Transliteration
The bill, please.	الحساب، من فضلك.	Al-hisab, min fadlak.
Can we pay separately?	هل يمكننا الدفع بشكل منفصل؟	Hal yumkinuna al-daf' bishakl munfasil?
Do you accept credit cards?	هل تقبلون بطاقات الائتمان؟	Hal taqbalun bitaqat al-i'timan?
Keep the change.	احتفظ بالباقي.	Ihtafiz bil-baqi.
It was excellent, thank you.	كان ممتازاً، شكراً.	Kana mumtazan, shukran.

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Arabic Menu Vocabulary

Understanding Arabic menu vocabulary lets you decode dishes before asking for help. Here are the key categories:

Meal Categories

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Breakfast	فطور	Futur
Lunch	غداء	Ghada'
Dinner	عشاء	'Asha'
Appetizers / Starters	مقبلات	Muqabbilat
Main dishes	أطباق رئيسية	Atbaq ra'isiyya
Desserts	حلويات	Halawiyyat
Drinks	مشروبات	Mashrubbat

Proteins

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Chicken	دجاج	Dajaj
Lamb / Mutton	لحم ضأن	Lahm da'n
Beef	لحم بقر	Lahm baqar
Fish	سمك	Samak
Shrimp	روبيان	Rubiyan
Eggs	بيض	Bayd

Vegetables and Sides

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Rice	أرز	Aruzz
Bread	خبز	Khubz
Salad	سلطة	Salata
Tomatoes	طماطم	Tamamim
Onion	بصل	Basal
Garlic	ثوم	Thawm
Hummus	حمص	Hummus
Falafel	فلافل	Falafel

Cooking Methods

Knowing how your food is cooked helps you choose wisely:

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Grilled	مشوي	Mashwi
Fried	مقلي	Maqli
Baked	مخبوز	Makhbuz
Steamed	مطهو على البخار	Mathu 'ala al-bukhar
Raw	نيء	Nay'
Spicy	حار	Har
Mild	خفيف التوابل	Khafif al-tawabil

Drinks

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Water	ماء	Ma'
Juice	عصير	'Asir
Tea	شاي	Shay
Coffee	قهوة	Qahwa
Milk	حليب	Halib
Soft drink	مشروب غازي	Mashrub ghazi

For a broader vocabulary list beyond food, explore our Arabic Vocabulary Categories to continue building your word bank.

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Common Arabic Dishes You Will See on Menus

Recognizing famous dishes by their Arabic names will make navigating any menu much easier:

• شاورما (Shawarma) — Spiced meat wrapped in flatbread, found everywhere from street stalls to sit-down restaurants.
• كباب (Kabab) — Minced or chunked meat grilled on skewers.
• منسف (Mansaf) — Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt sauce, served over rice.
• كشري (Kushari) — Egypt's beloved street food of lentils, pasta, rice, and tomato sauce.
• مجبوس (Majboos) — A Gulf favourite of spiced rice with meat or fish.
• فتوش (Fattoush) — A refreshing Levantine salad with toasted pita bread.
• أم علي (Umm Ali) — A rich Egyptian bread pudding dessert.
• بقلاوة (Baklava) — Flaky pastry layered with nuts and sweet syrup.

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A Sample Ordering Conversation

Here is how a typical restaurant interaction might look, putting your Arabic dining phrases into practice:

Waiter: أهلاً وسهلاً! هل أنتم مستعدون للطلب؟ Ahlan wa sahlan! Hal antum musta'iddun lil-talab? (Welcome! Are you ready to order?)

You: نعم، شكراً. أريد شاورما دجاج وسلطة فتوش، من فضلك. Na'am, shukran. Urid shawarma dajaj wa salata fatush, min fadlak. (Yes, thank you. I would like chicken shawarma and a fattoush salad, please.)

Waiter: ممتاز! وماذا تشرب؟ Mumtaz! Wa madha tashrab? (Excellent! And what will you drink?)

You: كوب ماء وعصير ليمون، من فضلك. Kub ma' wa 'asir laymun, min fadlak. (A glass of water and a lemon juice, please.)

Waiter: حاضر! Hadir! (Right away!)

(After the meal)

You: الحساب، من فضلك. كان الطعام لذيذاً جداً! Al-hisab, min fadlak. Kana al-ta'am ladhidhan jiddan! (The bill, please. The food was very delicious!)

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Arabic Dining Etiquette Tips

Knowing the right words is only part of the experience. Here are cultural tips to make your Arabic dining experience smooth and respectful:

1. Greet warmly — Always begin with Assalamu Alaikum (السلام عليكم) or Marhaba (مرحبا). For a refresher on greetings, see our Arabic Greetings and Phrases guide.

2. Use your right hand — In Arab culture, eating and passing food with the right hand is customary.

3. Accept hospitality graciously — If a host or restaurateur offers you tea or coffee before ordering, accept it as a sign of welcome.

4. Saying Bismillah — Many Arabs say بسم الله (Bismillah — In the name of God) before eating. Knowing this phrase shows cultural awareness.

5. Compliment the food — Saying هذا لذيذ (Hadha ladhidh — This is delicious) or ماشاء الله (Masha'Allah) brings genuine joy to your host.

6. Tipping — In most Arabic-speaking countries, a tip of 10–15% is appreciated but not always expected. Saying احتفظ بالباقي (Ihtafiz bil-baqi — Keep the change) is a polite way to tip.

7. Halal expectations — Most restaurants in Arab countries serve halal food, but it is always considerate to confirm if you have dietary needs.

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Numbers at the Restaurant

Numbers come up constantly when dining — table size, quantities, and prices. Brush up on your Arabic numbers with our Arabic Numbers 1-100: Complete Guide with Pronunciation. Here are the most useful ones for restaurants:

English	Arabic	Transliteration
One	واحد	Wahid
Two	اثنان	Ithnan
Three	ثلاثة	Thalatha
Four	أربعة	Arba'a
Five	خمسة	Khamsa
Ten	عشرة	'Ashara

You can also browse our full Arabic Numbers listing for reference.

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Quick Reference: Most Important Phrases to Remember

If you only memorize a handful of phrases before your trip, make it these:

1. أريد أن أطلب (Urid an atlub) — I would like to order.
2. من فضلك (Min fadlak/fadlik) — Please.
3. شكراً (Shukran) — Thank you.
4. الحساب (Al-hisab) — The bill.
5. هذا لذيذ (Hadha ladhidh) — This is delicious.
6. بدون... (Bidun...) — Without... (e.g., bidun basal — without onion).
7. ماذا تنصح؟ (Madha tansah?) — What do you recommend?

These seven phrases will carry you through almost any restaurant encounter. Pair them with the vocabulary in this guide and you are genuinely equipped to order food in Arabic wherever your travels take you.

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Keep Building Your Arabic

Learning to order food is a fantastic real-world entry point into the Arabic language. Once you have these phrases down, you will naturally want to expand further. Our 100 Most Common Arabic Words Every Beginner Should Know is a perfect next step, and if you want to understand how words are constructed in Arabic, our Arabic Root System Explained article will open up a whole new level of vocabulary acquisition.

For travellers wanting a broader survival phrase set beyond dining, do not miss our Essential Arabic Phrases for Travelers. And if you are ready to start reading Arabic menus in the original script, begin with our Complete Guide to the Arabic Alphabet for Beginners.

Bon appétit — or as they say in Arabic: بالهناء والشفاء (Bil-hana' wal-shifa') — May it bring you enjoyment and health!