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!

In this free lesson the Rocket Arabic team will teach you the basics so you can make the most of your overseas experience – just listen to the audio and practice saying these Arabic words and phrases aloud. When you’re ready, why not try them out on the staff at a local Arabic-speaking restaurant?

Feel like another drink? More vegetables? Want to pay separately? No problem! After this lesson you’ll be ordering from the menu in Arabic like a pro, and impressing everyone at the table with your Arabic language skills. Is your mouth watering? Let’s get started!

Resources for further reading:

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…

Pronunciation for restaurant in Arabic...

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مطعم

Mat3am

Restaurant

تحب تشرب حاجة؟

Te7eb teshrub 7aga?

Would you like to have some drinks?

اخترت خلاص؟

E7'tart 7'las?

Have you chosen already?

تحب تطلب ايه؟

Te7eb totlob a?

What would you like to order?

تحب طبق مشهي؟

Te7eb taba2 moshahy?

Would you like a starter?

تحب ايه؟

Te7eb a?

What would you like?

تحب تطلب؟

Te7eb totlob?

Would you like to order?

تحب تاكل ايه؟

Te7eb takol a?

What would you like to eat?

Ordering a beer in Arabic

Sometimes all you might get asked is…

تحت امرك يافندم.

Ta7t amrak ya fandem??!!

At your service, sir!?!?!

You could answer by saying one of these phrases…

لحظة واحدة, لوسمحت.

La7za wa7da, lao sama7t.

One moment, please.

عايز اطلب حاجة اشربها الاول.

3ayez atlob 7aga ashrabha el awel.

I'd like to order something to drink to start with.

لسه مش عارف.

Lesa mesh 3aref.

I don't know yet.

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

تقترح ايه؟

Tektere7 a?

What can you recommend?

ايه السبيشل النهاردة؟

A el special el naharda?

What is the daily special?

ايه الشوربة النهاردة؟

A el shorba el naharda?

What is the soup of the day?

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

شوربة

Shorba

Soup

لحمة بقري

La7ma ba2ary

Beef

فراخ

Fera7'

Chicken

لحمة خنزير

La7met 7'anzir

Pork

نودلز

Noodles

Noodles

لحمة

La7ma

Meat

رز

Roz

Rice

بطاطس

Btates

Potatoes

خضار

7'odar

Vegetables

سوس

Sos

Sauce

سلاطة

Salata

Salad

مياه معدنية

Maya ma3daneya.

Mineral water

طبق جانبي

Taba2 ganeby

Side dish

الحلويات

El 7alaweyat

Dessert

رئيسي

Ra2isy

Main

مشهيات

Moshaheyat

Starter

شامبانيا

Shampanya

Champagne

زبادي خلاط

Zabady 7'alat

Yoghurt drink

نبيت ابيض

Nebit abyad

White wine

نبيت احمر

Nebit a7mar

Red wine

بيرا

Beera

Beer

عصير

3asir

Juice

Fish in Arabic

In order to get the dish you want simply say…

انا هاخد ...

Ana ha7'od …

I'll have…

انا عايز ...

Ana 3ayez …

I would like…

Once you finished your meal you ask for the bill…

الحساب, لوسمحت.

El 7esab, lao sama7t.

The bill, please.

انا عايز ادفع, لوسمحت.

Ana 3ayez adfa3, lao sama7t.

I would like to pay, please.

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…

مع بعض.

Ma3a ba3d

Together

كل واحد لوحده.

Kol wa7ed lewa7do.

Separately

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…

بقشيش

Ba2shish

Tip

That’s it for this lesson.

Here are a few recommended Arabic lessons to try next!

!مع السلامة (Ma3a essalama!) Goodbye!

Amira Zaki: Rocket Arabic

Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement

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