Speaking: Functional Language A2 - Lesson 3: Ordering Food & Drinks

Speaking: Functional Language A2

Function: Ordering Food & Drinks

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perform the complete function of ordering a meal at a restaurant, from asking for a table to paying the bill.

Conversation Scenario: At a Restaurant 🍽️

Using polite, standard phrases makes ordering food easy. Let's look at a full conversation.

Waiter: Hello, welcome.

You: Hi. A table for two, please.

Waiter: Of course, right this way... Are you ready to order?

You: Yes. What do you recommend?

Waiter: The beef lok lak is very popular.

You: Okay, I'll have the beef lok lak, please. And an iced tea.

Waiter: And for your friend?

Friend: I'd like the fried noodles, please.

Waiter: Excellent. I'll be right back with your drinks.

You: Excuse me, could we have the bill, please?

Your Functional Toolkit: Step-by-Step 🛠️

Here are the key phrases you need for each step of the ordering process.

• Step 1: Arriving

  "A table for [two], please."

• Step 2: Ordering

  "What do you recommend?"
  "I'd like the [beef lok lak], please."
  "I'll have the [iced tea], please."

• Step 3: Paying

  "Could we have the bill, please?"

Tips for Sounding Polite and Natural

From "I want" to "I'd like"

How you ask for food is very important. Using polite phrases will make you sound more fluent.

❌ Direct / Can be Rude

"I want fried noodles."

👍 Good & Polite

"I'll have fried noodles."

✨ Best & Very Polite

"I'd like fried noodles."

🗣️ Polite Question Intonation

Your intonation should be friendly. Use a rising tone for Yes/No questions and a falling tone for statements and Wh- questions.

• "Could we see the menu, please? ↗" (Rising)
• "What do you recommend? ↘" (Falling)
• "I'll have the lok lak, please. ↘" (Falling)

Practice Ordering 🎯

Activity 1: Put the Conversation in Order

These sentences are from a restaurant conversation. Put them in the correct logical order (1-4).

• ( 3 ) Are you ready to order?
• ( 4 ) Yes, I'll have the chicken with rice, please.
• ( 1 ) A table for one, please.
• ( 2 ) Certainly. Right this way. Here is the menu.

Activity 2: Restaurant Role-Play

Work with a partner. One person is the customer, one is the waiter. The customer should use a menu (real or imaginary) to perform a full conversation: ask for a table, ask for a recommendation, order a main course and a drink, and then ask for the bill.

Key Vocabulary

• Recommend (Verb) | ណែនាំ
  To suggest something good.
• Order (Verb) | កុម្ម៉ង់
  To ask for food or drinks in a restaurant.
• Bill (Noun) | វិក្កយបត្រ
  The piece of paper that shows how much you need to pay.
• Menu (Noun) | មេនុយ
  The list of food and drinks at a restaurant.

Your Functional Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to practice ordering in English. The next time you are at a café, look at the menu, choose an item, and say the polite sentence to yourself: "I'd like the iced coffee, please." This private practice will build your confidence for the real thing!