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German Food and Ordering

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Order confidently in any German café or restaurant: the key phrases, table vocabulary, and how paying works.

The magic phrase: Ich möchte…

Polite ordering in German runs on one phrase: Ich möchte… (I would like…). Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte (I would like a coffee, please) works everywhere — cafés, bakeries, restaurants. Add bitte (please) at the end and you sound gracious. Staff will ask Was darf es sein? (what may it be?) or Was möchten Sie? (what would you like?) — answer with your Ich möchte… and you are ordering like a local.

At the table

Key table words: die Speisekarte (menu), das Besteck (cutlery), das Glas (glass), die Tasse (cup), der Teller (plate). To get attention, catch the server's eye and say Entschuldigung! (excuse me!). Germans say Guten Appetit before starting to eat — wait for it before touching your food. If something is delicious, say Das schmeckt lecker! (that tastes delicious!).

Paying the German way

Ask for the bill with Die Rechnung, bitte (the bill, please) — never Zahlen, bitte in writing, though you will hear it spoken. The server tells you the total; you state what you pay including tip, since card machines often lack a tip line: for a €18,50 bill say Zwanzig, bitte (twenty, please) and hand over €20. Five to ten percent is the normal tip — more looks showy, nothing looks rude.

Hunger, thirst and taste

Hunger and thirst use haben: Ich habe Hunger (I am hungry), Ich habe Durst (I am thirsty). Core food words: das Brot (bread), die Butter (butter), der Käse (cheese), das Wasser (water), die Milch (milk), der Apfel (apple). Water must be specified: stilles Wasser (still) or Sprudel / Wasser mit Kohlensäure (sparkling) — unasked, you may get either.

German course Practice Quiz Review