Shanghai field notes / 2 sections · 7 cards
A good breakfast and a little confidence at the table.
Dabing (大饼, dàbǐng) is a baked wheat flatbread sold in sweet and savoury versions. Ask which version is available and choose one before ordering. Point to it and confirm the quantity you want.
甜的还是咸的？ — Is it sweet or savoury?
这个，一个。 — One of this.
Some people pair dabing with a fried dough stick.
Youtiao (油条, yóutiáo) is a long, golden fried dough stick with a light interior. It can be eaten alone or alongside flatbread or soy milk. Order the quantity you want and confirm where to collect it.
一根油条，谢谢。 — One youtiao, please.
Cifantuan (粢饭团, cífàntuán) is sticky rice wrapped around fillings, often including a fried dough stick. Sweet and savoury versions vary, and pork floss or pickles may be included. Ask what is inside and confirm your filling before the roll is made.
里面有什么？ — What is inside?
Doujiang (豆浆, dòujiāng) is soy milk offered in sweet, plain or savoury versions. Ask for your preferred version and confirm whether you want it hot or cold. Check the toppings in savoury soy milk, which may include dried shrimp and chopped fried dough.
有无糖豆浆吗？ — Do you have unsweetened soy milk?
Check that the menu code belongs to your table. If it requires an account or local number you cannot use, show the problem to staff and ask for help ordering. Confirm the table and whether another ordering method is available.
Say this
Could you help me order?
可以帮我点餐吗？
Sounds roughly like
kuh-yee bahng waw dyen-tsahn mah
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
This one, please. Thank you.
这个，谢谢。
Sounds roughly like
juh-guh, shyeh-shyeh
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
Point to an item on the menu or something on display.
Find in Speak Little我没有中国手机号，可以帮我点餐吗？ — I do not have a Chinese phone number; could you help me order?
This does not promise that every restaurant accepts overseas numbers or offers a paper menu.
Say this
This one, please. Thank you.
这个，谢谢。
Sounds roughly like
juh-guh, shyeh-shyeh
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
Point to an item on the menu or something on display.
Find in Speak LittleTo go, thank you.
打包，谢谢。
Sounds roughly like
dah-bow, shyeh-shyeh
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
这个，一份，谢谢。 — One portion of this, please.
打包，谢谢。 — To take away, please.
Ordering, payment and collection may use separate counters.
Some Shanghainese dishes have a sweet, rich sauce. Ask whether less sugar is possible rather than assuming the kitchen can change a prepared dish.
Ask whether you should pay when ordering or after eating. Check the dishes, quantities, table or collection branch, and total before submitting. Keep the order confirmation until the meal is settled.
Say this
The bill, please. Thank you.
买单，谢谢。
Sounds roughly like
my-dahn, shyeh-shyeh
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
Thank you.
谢谢。
Sounds roughly like
shyeh-shyeh
An English sound hint. Listen for the pronunciation.
现在付款，还是吃完再付？ — Do I pay now or after eating?
If the payment result is unclear, check the transaction before retrying.