Vietnamese Restaurant Vocabulary and Phrases

Vocabulary and common phrases used in Vietnamese dining environments, including utensils, tastes, ordering requests, and payment methods.

muỗng

Spoon

đũa

Chopsticks

nĩa

Fork

chén/tô

bowl

dĩa

Plate

khăn lạnh / khăn khô / khăn giấy

Wet towel / Dried towel / Tissue

tăm

Toothpick

quạt / máy lạnh

Fan / Air-conditioner

ghế trẻ em

Baby chair / High chair

cay / ít cay / không cay

Spicy / Less spicy / Not spicy

ngọt / ít ngọt / không đường

Sweet / Less sweet / No sugar

mặn / lạt

Salty / Bland (less salt)

nhiều / ít / thêm

More / Less / Extra

rau / ớt / tỏi / hành / ngò

Vegetables / Chilli / Garlic / Green onion / Coriander

đá / không đá / ít đá

Ice / No ice / Less ice

chay

Vegetarian / Vegan

"Cho em…"

"Give me / Please get me…" (polite way to ask for anything)

"…nha"

A particle that softens the sentence to make it sound friendly and warm

Tính tiền / Thanh toán

Check, please! / Paying the bill

Chuyển khoản

Bank transfer (e.g., via QR code)

Quẹt thẻ

Pay by card / Swipe a card

Gói mang về

To box food up or wrap it to take home (takeaway)

đường

Sugar

muối

Salt

tiêu

Black pepper

Phở bò

Beef noodle soup

Bún riêu

Crab or tomato-based noodle soup mentioned as an alternative to Bún bò Huế

Bún bò Huế

A specific beef noodle soup dish from the city of Huế

đầy đủ

A term used when ordering to mean "with everything" or "full toppings"

650.000 đồng

The total currency amount mentioned in the modern restaurant bill example