Restaurant phrases
How to order food in German: 32 restaurant phrases
To order food in German, say "Ich hätte gern…" (I'd like…) and finish with "bitte" (please); when you're done, ask for "Die Rechnung, bitte" (the bill, please). Below are 32 phrases for every stage of a meal in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland, in the polite form used with restaurant staff, plus the customs that surprise visitors, from shared beer-garden tables to telling the waiter your tip.
About the script
German uses the Latin alphabet plus ä, ö, ü and ß (a sharp double s). Spelling is regular: ei sounds like the English word "eye", ie like the "ee" in "see", w like an English v and z like "ts". Every noun starts with a capital letter. The phrases use Sie, the polite "you" for restaurant staff. Where a word changes with the speaker's gender, both forms are shown: Vegetarier (said by a man) / Vegetarierin (said by a woman).
Arriving
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Tag! / Guten Abend! | Hello! / Good evening! | In Bavaria and Austria you'll also hear Grüß Gott; in German-speaking Switzerland, Grüezi. |
| Einen Tisch für zwei Personen, bitte. | A table for two, please. | |
| Wir haben für sieben Uhr reserviert. | We have a reservation for seven o'clock. | |
| Ist hier noch frei? | Is this seat free? | Sharing tables with strangers is normal in beer halls and beer gardens. |
| Können wir draußen sitzen? | Can we sit outside? | |
| Haben Sie eine Speisekarte auf Englisch? | Do you have a menu in English? |
Ordering
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Die Speisekarte, bitte. | The menu, please. | |
| Was können Sie empfehlen? | What can you recommend? | |
| Was ist das Tagesgericht? | What's the dish of the day? | |
| Was ist das? | What is this? | |
| Ich hätte gern das Schnitzel, bitte. | I'd like the schnitzel, please. | Ich hätte gern… works with any dish. |
| Kann ich eine andere Beilage haben? | Could I have a different side dish? | |
| Ein stilles Wasser, bitte. | A still water, please. | Plain Wasser often arrives sparkling (mit Kohlensäure). |
| Ein Glas Leitungswasser, bitte. | A glass of tap water, please. | Not every restaurant serves it, and some charge for it. |
| Ein kleines / großes Bier, bitte. | A small / large beer, please. | Usually 0.3 and 0.5 litres. In Bavarian beer halls a Maß is a whole litre. |
| Eine Apfelschorle, bitte. | An apple spritzer, please. |
Dietary needs & allergies
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ich bin Vegetarier / Vegetarierin. | I'm vegetarian. | |
| Ich bin Veganer / Veganerin. | I'm vegan. | |
| Ich bin allergisch gegen Erdnüsse. | I'm allergic to peanuts. | |
| Ich habe eine Nussallergie. | I have a nut allergy. | |
| Ich bin allergisch gegen Schalentiere. | I'm allergic to shellfish. | Allergen lists split these into Krebstiere (crustaceans such as prawns and crab) and Weichtiere (molluscs such as mussels and squid). |
| Ich habe Zöliakie und darf kein Gluten essen. | I have coeliac disease and can't eat gluten. | |
| Ist da Milch drin? | Is there milk in it? | |
| Ohne Speck, bitte. | Without bacon, please. | Ohne (without) works with any ingredient: ohne Zwiebeln (without onions). |
| Welche Allergene sind in diesem Gericht? | Which allergens are in this dish? | Many menus mark allergens with letter or number codes; if there's no key, ask for the Allergenliste. |
During the meal
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entschuldigung! | Excuse me! | |
| Noch eins, bitte. | Another one, please. | For a beer: Noch ein Bier, bitte. |
| Es hat sehr gut geschmeckt. | It was very good. | The usual answer when the waiter asks "Hat es geschmeckt?" (Did you enjoy it?). |
Paying
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | The bill, please. | You'll also hear: Zahlen, bitte! |
| Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? | Can I pay by card? | |
| Getrennt, bitte. | Separately, please. | The answer to "Zusammen oder getrennt?" (together or separately?). |
| Machen Sie 30 Euro. | Make it 30 euros. | This is how you tip: say the total you want to pay. "Stimmt so" means keep the change. |
Etiquette
- In beer gardens, pubs and casual places you often seat yourself; in restaurants, wait to be shown a table or ask.
- Sharing a table with strangers is normal in beer halls and beer gardens. Ask "Ist hier noch frei?" before you sit down.
- To call the waiter, make eye contact or say "Entschuldigung!".
- Water isn't served automatically. Bottled water is the default and often sparkling, and tap water may be charged.
- Prices include service. Tip by rounding up or adding about 5–10%, and tell the server the total when you pay rather than leaving money on the table.
- Paying separately is normal: the server asks "Zusammen oder getrennt?" and each person pays for their own items.
- Cards are accepted in more places than a few years ago, but some smaller restaurants and beer gardens are cash only (nur Barzahlung).
- When you toast, say "Prost!" and look the other person in the eye.
Let your phone say the order
If you'd rather not attempt the dish names yourself, scan the menu with MenuGuide, add the dishes you want to your order and tap Speak My Order: the app reads your whole order aloud in German. You can also show the order on screen in German or share it. It speaks the full order rather than single words, so the phrases above still help with everything else, from finding a seat to the tip.
MenuGuide also flags dishes that may contain the allergens you've chosen. Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
Reading a German menu? Our menu-translation guide explains how to photograph a menu so it translates well, and what to check before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How do you order food in German?
Say "Ich hätte gern…" (I'd like…) followed by the dish, for example "Ich hätte gern das Schnitzel", or "Ich nehme…" (I'll take…). Add "bitte" (please) and "danke" (thank you). If you're unsure, ask "Was können Sie empfehlen?" (What can you recommend?). For drinks, the size matters: ein kleines or ein großes Bier.
How do you ask for the bill in German?
Say "Die Rechnung, bitte" or, more casually, "Zahlen, bitte!". The waiter will usually ask "Zusammen oder getrennt?", meaning together or separately; in Germany it's normal for each person to pay for their own items. Bills are usually settled at the table, not at a till.
How do you say I'm allergic in German?
Say "Ich bin allergisch gegen…" followed by the allergen: Erdnüsse (peanuts), Nüsse (nuts), Schalentiere (shellfish), Milch (milk) or Eier (eggs). For coeliac disease, say "Ich habe Zöliakie". Restaurants must be able to tell you which allergens a dish contains, and many menus mark them with codes explained at the bottom.
How do you tip in Germany?
Tell the server the total you want to pay, tip included, when you settle the bill. If the bill is 27.50 euros, you might say "Machen Sie 30 Euro", or "Stimmt so" when handing over cash to mean keep the change. Service is included in prices, so a tip of about 5–10% is normal but not obligatory.
