Chinese phrases
How to say what do you recommend in Chinese
What do you recommend in Chinese is 有什么推荐的 (yǒu shén me tuī jiàn de). In a restaurant, you can also ask 你们这里什么好吃, “what’s good here?”
有什么推荐的
what do you recommend?
Ways to say what do you recommend
有什么推荐的
Everydaywhat do you recommend?
To a waiter, a shop assistant, or a friend who knows the place. You also hear it without 的.
你们这里什么好吃
Everydaywhat’s good here?
Relaxed and very common in restaurants and at food stalls.
招牌菜是什么
Everydaywhat’s the house specialty?
Many restaurants have a 招牌菜, the dish they are known for. Menus often mark it.
有什么特色菜
Everydaywhat specialties do you have?
When you travel. 特色菜 are dishes typical of the restaurant or the region.
推荐一下
With friendsany recommendations?
Short and casual. Common in chats, when you ask friends for a film, a book or a place to eat.
Answers you might hear
这个是我们的招牌
this is our signature dish
The staff point at the menu. 招牌 alone also means the house specialty.
这个卖得最好
this one sells best
Common in shops and at stalls, about food and about anything else.
都挺好吃的
everything’s good
A polite answer that does not help much. Ask again with 招牌菜是什么.
Common mistakes
Using 建议 for a dish
推荐 recommends a thing: a dish, a book, a place. 建议 gives advice about what to do, as in 我建议你早点去, “I suggest you go early.” For a dish, ask 有什么推荐的.
Stopping at 都挺好吃的
Staff often say that everything is good. For a real answer, ask for the 招牌菜, or ask what sells best: 哪个卖得最好?
In a restaurant
你好，有什么推荐的？
Leon: Hi, what do you recommend?
我们的招牌菜是红烧肉。
Waiter: Our house specialty is braised pork.
辣不辣？
Leon: Is it spicy?
不辣，有点甜。
Waiter: No, it’s a little sweet.
好，来一份。
Leon: OK, I’ll have one.
