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Dining Out in Germany –
Food and Drink Vocabulary List

Traditional German cuisine is based on hearty, larger portions of meat or fish, plus a side dish of potatoes or potato products, as well as a vegetable side dish. The typical plate consists of those three components. However, there are, of course, plenty of other culinary influences, and dishes can also differ vastly depending on the region you are in.

Many dishes that are known as "typical German" abroad, such as sauerkraut, knödel (potato dumplings), and large portions of meat are actually typical Bavarian food. In northern Germany, for example, you would get a lot more fish-based food. In terms of foreign foods, there is a strong preference for Italian, but you can be sure to find a place that serves Turkish food in about any German town you travel to.

The phrases below can help you learn how to order key items; you will hear these phrases quite often in German restaurants. In a restaurant, you are highly likely to use only the formal way of addressing people, which is why the informal expression is omitted here.

Also note that in many places it is considered rude to call out for the waiter or waitress should they not come to your table on their own; instead catching his or her eye and nodding or slightly raising your hand will signal that you would like to be served.

Slang/Commonly Used Informal Expressions