Food & Drinks

1. मेन्यू दिखाइए

   Me-nyuu di-khaa-i-e

   Please show me the menu

   Usage

   First phrase to use when entering a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Hindi polite imperatives end in "-iye". "Dikhaiye" is the polite imperative of "dikhaana" (to show).

2. बिल लाइए

   Bill laa-i-e

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Used when you want to pay. "Bill" is borrowed from English

   Grammar Note

   The English phrase "check please" is also understood. Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated for good service.

3. मैं शाकाहारी हूँ

   Main shaak-aa-haa-ri hoon

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   India has many vegetarian restaurants. This phrase will get appropriate service

   Grammar Note

   "Maansaahaari" means non-vegetarian. Menus in India clearly mark "Veg/Non-Veg" items due to widespread vegetarianism.

4. यह बहुत स्वादिष्ट है

   Yeh ba-hut svaad-isht hai

   This is very delicious

   Usage

   To compliment the food. Indians are very pleased when their food is praised

   Grammar Note

   "Bahut" (very) is an adverb modifying the adjective. "Laajavaab" is a common adjective of high praise meaning "unrivalled, out of this world delicious".

5. थोड़ा कम मसाला

   Tho-daa kam ma-saa-laa

   Less spicy, please

   Usage

   Indian food can be very spicy. Use this if you need milder food

   Grammar Note

   "Bina masaale ke" means "without spices". "Teekha nahin" (not spicy) is another useful phrase.

6. मुझे मूँगफली से एलर्जी है

   Mu-jhe moong-pha-li se el-ar-ji hai

   I am allergic to peanuts

   Usage

   Important phrase for communicating allergies. Replace "moongphali" with the specific allergen

   Grammar Note

   Hindi uses postpositions after nouns. Swap allergens: doodh (milk), gehoon (wheat), anda (egg).

7. एक चाय लाइए

   Ek chaai laa-i-e

   Please bring one chai (spiced tea)

   Usage

   Indian chai is spiced milk tea. It is the national drink available everywhere

   Grammar Note

   Indian chai is made by boiling milk and water with sugar and spices like cardamom and ginger. "Bina cheeni ke" (without sugar) is also useful.

8. ठंडा पानी लाइए

   Than-daa paa-ni laa-i-e

   Please bring cold water

   Usage

   Cold water is essential in India's heat. Specifying bottled water is safer

   Grammar Note

   Do not drink tap water. Specify "bottle ka paani" (bottled water) for safety. "Garm paani" means hot water.

9. क्या सर्विस चार्ज शामिल है?

   Kyaa sar-vis chaarj shaa-mil hai?

   Is service charge included?

   Usage

   Some upscale restaurants add a service charge to the bill

   Grammar Note

   Hindi yes/no questions use "kya" at the start. "GST shaamil hai?" (Is GST included?) is another useful variation.

10. और रोटी लाइए

    Aur ro-ti laa-i-e

    Please bring more roti (flatbread)

    Usage

    When asking for more roti — the whole wheat flatbread that accompanies most meals

    Grammar Note

    "Aur" means both "and" and "more". Types of Indian bread: naan, parantha (stuffed flatbread), puri (deep-fried).

11. यह क्या है?

    Yeh kyaa hai?

    What is this?

    Usage

    When asking about a dish on the menu or what was served

    Grammar Note

    Hindi word order is SOV (Subject-Object-Verb). Question word "kya" stays in the middle; verb "hai" comes at the end.

12. क्या आप क्रेडिट कार्ड लेते हैं?

    Kyaa aap kre-dit kaard le-te hain?

    Do you accept credit cards?

    Usage

    Small eateries and street stalls often accept cash only

    Grammar Note

    Habitual present tense of "lenaa" (to take/accept). Uses "hain" (plural) because "aap" (formal you) takes plural agreement.

13. चावल

    Chaaval

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    The cooked rice served with a meal; the same word covers raw rice, so use it when ordering

14. रोटी

    Roti

    Roti (flatbread)

    Usage

    The staple Indian flatbread; point at it to order bread instead of rice

15. ब्रेड

    Bred

    Bread (loaf)

    Usage

    Sliced loaf bread sold in packets — a different thing from roti, so point carefully

16. नूडल्स

    Noodals

    Noodles

    Usage

    For ordering or checking for noodles

17. तीखा

    Teekha

    Spicy hot (chili)

    Usage

    Chili heat specifically; masaledaar means heavily spiced, which is not the same thing

18. मीठा

    Meetha

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes sweetness; also used when asking to adjust the sugar

19. कच्चा

    Kachcha

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Means not cooked; it also means unripe, so point at the dish as you show it

20. सूप

    Soop

    Soup

    Usage

    For ordering it from a menu

21. फल

    Phal

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general, for asking at a market or eatery

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