Build the meal
Listen for how the customer chooses a bowl, rice, beans, protein, and toppings one step at a time.
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Words and Their StoriesFood & Dining
English Phrases for Ordering Food
Practice ordering a Chipotle-style meal, choosing ingredients, asking for extras, and paying at the counter.
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Listen with a purpose
Notice the useful language in “English Phrases for Ordering Food”.
Adjust the details
Notice “a little bit of,” “extra,” “on the side,” and “no … please” for customizing an order.
Close the transaction
Pay attention to the short payment exchange and the difference between a water cup and a paid drink.
Cultural note
The context makes the phrase land.
Fast-casual restaurants such as Chipotle often assemble food in front of the customer. The line moves quickly, so a short complete request is more useful than listing isolated nouns.
Try it
Practice the situation.
Order a bowl with a base, protein, two toppings, one item on the side, and a drink. Say your response aloud before checking the examples below.
“I’ll do a bowl with white rice and chicken. Can I get a little bit of cheese on the side, please?”
Expression cards · 15 from the transcript
These cards were extracted from the transcript and grouped by the kind of language learners can practice.
Showing 15 of 15 cards.
I’ll do…
Introduce the item or option you want in a quick, natural order.
Example sentence
“Hi, I'll do a bowl.”
I’ll have…
State the food or drink you are choosing, often followed by “please.”
Example sentence
“I'll have.”
Can I have…?
Make a polite request for an ingredient, topping, or drink.
Example sentence
“Can I have...?”
A little bit of…
Ask for a small amount when you do not want a full serving.
Example sentence
“-Yes, can I do a little bit of rice?”
On the side
Ask for an ingredient or sauce to be served separately.
Example sentence
“Can I do sour cream on the side?”
No beans, please.
Clearly say that you do not want a particular ingredient.
Example sentence
“No beans, please.”
That’s it.
Confirm that you have finished adding items to the order.
Example sentence
“And then I'll get cheese and then lettuce and then that's it.”
The main idea
The most important point in a lesson or conversation.
Example sentence
“The main idea of this lesson is how people communicate in food & dining situations.”
In other words
A phrase used to explain the same idea more simply.
Example sentence
“In other words, the speaker is showing a natural way to handle this situation.”
For example
A phrase used to introduce a specific supporting detail.
Example sentence
“For example, you can use this phrase when talking about food & dining.”
Let me do…
Choose an item while ordering at a fast-casual counter.
Example sentence
“Let me do white rice.”
I’ll take…
Select a menu item in a quick, natural way.
Example sentence
“I’ll take pico de gallo.”
What kind of protein do you want?
Ask which meat or vegetarian protein someone chooses.
Example sentence
“What kind of protein you want, and all of the toppings.”
That costs extra.
Explain that an option has an additional charge.
Example sentence
“Some toppings cost extra.”
Can you mix everything together?
Ask the server to combine the ingredients.
Example sentence
“Can you mix everything together, please?”
Check your understanding
What does “I’ll do…” communicate?
RTB commentary
Follow the order from the menu to the payment counter. Notice how complete sentences make choices clear in a fast-moving line, especially when asking for less, extra, or none of an ingredient.