Eating at Restaurants in China: What to Expect as a First-Time Traveler

Eating out in China confused me the first few days. Not because it was chaotic or stressful, but because it simply worked differently than what I was used to. Once it clicked, it became easy. And honestly, kind of refreshing.

This is what I would tell a friend before their first trip.

Payment: mobile first, everything else second

China is basically cashless in daily life. In restaurants, WeChat Pay and Alipay are the default. Not “nice to have”. The default.

I strongly recommend setting up both apps before you leave. I used a foreign phone number and linked a Visa card without issues. Do it at least a day before departure so you are not troubleshooting in an airport or restaurant doorway.

Here is the honest tradeoff:

• With mobile pay, eating out is frictionless.
• Without it, things still work, but you will feel slightly out of sync.

Some places still accept cash, especially smaller spots and street food. But do not expect staff to make change easily or to be happy about it. International cards are rare outside hotels and high-end restaurants.

My rule:

• Mobile pay for 90 percent of situations
• A bit of yuan as backup, especially for street food and small local places

How ordering really works (and why it feels weird at first)

This is where most first-time travelers overthink things.

In many casual and mid-range restaurants, I often did not speak to anyone at all. You walk in, find a free table, sit down, and scan the QR code on the table. That is it.

Once you scan:

• The menu opens on your phone
• You order and pay there
• Food just shows up

No waiter, no awkward eye contact, no tipping screen. The first time feels strange. After that, it feels efficient.

That said, not every place works the same way.

Full-service restaurants
You sit down, get a menu, and order with staff. Raising your hand is normal if you need something. Waiting politely in silence does not really work here.

Small local places and noodle shops
You usually order and pay at the counter first, then sit down. Sometimes you get a number, sometimes you just remember your face.

QR code menus everywhere
Especially in cities, QR menus are everywhere. Most include photos, which helps a lot. If the menu is only in Chinese, I usually just screenshot it and translate it. WeChat and Alipay both have built-in translation that is good enough for food.

If you are unsure what to do, look around. If everyone is already seated and staring at their phones, you are supposed to sit down and scan something.

Apps that actually matter when eating out

You do not need many apps, but the right ones make a huge difference.

What I always used:

• WeChat or Alipay for paying and ordering
• Built-in translation inside those apps or your phone camera

One thing I did not expect to use much was Meituan or Eleme. Even when sitting inside a restaurant, I sometimes checked these apps to see photos of dishes or reviews. Locals do this all the time. It is a quiet way to avoid ordering something blindly.

You can use them inside WeChat or Alipay, but the standalone apps are sometimes easier if you are curious.

What eating at the table is like

Food in China is often shared. Many places expect you to order several dishes for the table rather than one plate per person. Big round tables make sense once you see how meals are meant to work.

If you are traveling solo, this is less of an issue than it sounds. In big cities, eating alone is completely normal. I often sat at small tables or counters without feeling awkward.

A few things that surprised me:

• No tipping. Ever.
• It is normal to call staff over instead of waiting.
• Plates get cleared fast. Sometimes very fast.

It feels less formal than Western dining, but not rude. Just efficient.

Street food and night markets are easier than restaurants

If restaurants feel intimidating at first, street food is actually the easiest place to start.

You point, pay, and eat.

A good example is the Muslim Quarter in Xi’an. It is busy, loud, and packed with food stalls. You walk around, see what looks good, and order directly from the stall. Many places cook the food right in front of you, which removes most of the guesswork.

Payment is usually:

• Scan the stall’s QR code
• Or show your own payment code
• Sometimes cash

This is one of the few situations where having yuan on you still feels genuinely useful.

The language barrier is real, but manageable

Outside major cities, menus are often only in Chinese. That sounds scary, but in practice it is fine.

What actually works:

• Translating menus with your phone
• Pointing at pictures
• Ordering what the table next to you is having
• Asking hotel staff for help if you want to plan ahead

Most people working in restaurants are patient and helpful, even if they do not speak English. A smile and a phone screen with translated text goes a long way.

Final thoughts

Going to restaurants in China feels unfamiliar at first, not difficult. Once you understand the flow, it becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip.

Set up mobile payment early. Get comfortable scanning QR codes. Carry a little cash as backup. And do not worry about doing something “wrong”. Most places are used to travelers figuring things out.

Eating out in China is fast, social, and practical. And once it clicks, you will probably wish more places at home worked the same way.