What to say at a restaurant in Arabic

If you’re traveling in an Arabic-speaking country, you’re sure to be eating out. Imagine how much more fun it will be if you can order in a restaurant in Arabic! 

As hard as you try, without helpful feedback your Arabic pronunciation is never going to be the same as a native speaker’s. If you've found it difficult to perfect the way you say Arabic words and phrases, this lesson will help you.

Using the blue Rocket Record buttons you can record the way you say each word or phrase, and compare it with the way a native speaker of Arabic does. That’s right, with Rocket Languages voice mapping technology you can record your voice as many times as you need until your pronunciation matches the Arabic speaker!

It’s common in Egypt to be seated by the waiter or waitress. You don’t just choose the table yourself. In some restaurants the menu will be on the table already otherwise the waiter will bring it over to you as soon as possible.  After being greeted you could get asked one of the following questions…

Sometimes all you might get asked is…

You could answer by saying one of these phrases…

Not sure what you feel like eating? Just ask the waiter what he recommends…

Here are the names of some dishes and drinks that you might find on the menu…

In order to get the dish you want simply say…

Once you finished your meal you ask for the bill…

In Egypt the waiter or waitress will bring the bill to your table. If you are eating out with a group you might get asked whether you want to pay…

It is kind of expected to tip in Egyptian restaurants. A tip is usually 15 % of the price or more if you were satisfied. Not tipping implies that you didn’t enjoy your time at the restaurant. The word for tip is…

That’s it for this lesson.

Bye باي

Amira

Rocket Arabic

P.S: You can practice your Arabic skills with this exercise.

Exercise: Match the Arabic phrases and words with the correct English translation. Write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.