Beginner Track

Lesson 6 Food & Ordering

Food vocabulary and the polite phrases that get you fed at a restaurant.

Advanced
Lesson: 6 of 10 — Food & Ordering Clips: 36 Parts: 6

Part 1

Food & Drink Vocabulary

Core words you'll need at almost any restaurant or café.

Coffee.
Tea.
Water.
Juice.
Breakfast.
Lunch.
Dinner.
Chicken.
Rice.
Salad.
Soup.
Check.
Menu.

"Check" is the word to use here — "bill" is the UK version, worth knowing but not a separate drill.

Part 2

Polite Request Forms — A New Structure

"I'd like," "Can I get," and "Could I have" all ask for something politely — "could" is the most formal of the three.

1 · Polite Request

"I'd like a coffee."

2 · Polite Request

"Can I get a coffee?"

3 · Polite Request

"Could I have the check, please?"

4 · Polite Request

"Could I see the menu, please?"

Part 3

Full Ordering Exchange Phrases

The phrases that carry an entire restaurant order from start to finish.

1 · Ordering Phrase

"Can I see the menu, please?"

2 · Ordering Phrase

"I'd like the chicken, please."

3 · Ordering Phrase

"Could I get some water too?"

4 · Ordering Phrase

"Could I have the check, please?"

Same line as Part 2 — you already know this one.

Part 4

Model Dialogue

Read aloud as a pair, then swap roles.

Line by Line

A "Hi! Can I see the menu, please?"
B "Of course, here you go."
A "Thank you. I'd like the chicken and rice, please."
B "Great choice. Anything to drink?"
A "Could I get a coffee, too?"
B "Sure thing."
A "Could I have the check, please?"
B "Here you are — have a great day!"

Part 5

Practice: Check Your Answers

Try each one yourself first, then press play to hear the correct answer.

1 · Rewrite as a Polite Request

"Give me a coffee." →

Answer: I'd like a coffee.

2 · Rewrite as a Polite Request

"Show me the menu." →

Answer: Could I see the menu, please?

3 · Rewrite as a Polite Request

"Give me the check." →

Answer: Could I have the check, please?

4 · Fill in the Blank

"I'd like ___ (chicken), please."

Answer: the chicken. Full line: I'd like the chicken, please.

5 · Fill in the Blank

"Could I get some ___ (water) too?"

Answer: water. Full line: Could I get some water too?

6 · Fill in the Blank

"Could I have the ___ (check), please?"

Answer: check.

Part 6

Speaking Practice

Listen to the prompt, then pause the audio and answer out loud in your own words.

1 · Practice Prompt

"Order a meal for yourself, out loud, start to finish."

Use the full ordering exchange from Part 3 as your guide.

2 · Practice Prompt

"What's your favorite food? Why?"

Pause after listening and answer out loud.