Cafe and restaurant in Armenian
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Armenian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Armenian phrases in this lesson
- Երկուսի համար սեղան, խնդրեմyer-koo-SEE ha-MAR se-GHAN, khun-DREM
- A table for two
- Մենյուն, խնդրեմme-NYOON, khun-DREM
- The menu, please
- Ի՞նչ կխորհուրդ տաքinch kk-hor-VOORD tak
- What do you recommend?
- Ես չեմ ուտում...yes chem oo-TOOM
- I don't eat...
- Ես ալերգիա ունեմ...yes a-ler-GEE-a oo-NEM
- I'm allergic to...
- Միսmees
- Meat
- Հավhav
- Chicken
- Ձուկdzook
- Fish
- Շատ համեղ էshat ha-MEGH e
- It's delicious
- Կենա՜ցke-NATS
- Cheers
Yerevan has a thriving cafe scene. Reservations are not always needed outside peak tourist season, but this phrase gets things started smoothly. Staff will often seat you without it and just ask how many.
The word մենյու is borrowed from French via Russian. Many restaurants in Yerevan now have QR code menus or English translations available, but asking in Armenian is always appreciated.
This question opens doors to the best local dishes. Armenian waiters are proud of their cuisine and will happily steer you toward khorovats (grilled meats), dolma, or the daily special.
"Ես միս չեմ ուտում" (yes mees chem oo-TOOM), I don't eat meat; the negative moves next to the verb.
Name the thing with -ից (-its): "ընկույզից" (un-koo-YZITS), to nuts.
Խորոված (kho-ro-VATS), the Armenian barbecue, is the center of any celebration.
Trout from Lake Sevan, իշխան (eesh-KHAN), is the classic.
Telling a host or server the food is delicious is enormously important in Armenian hospitality culture. Expect the compliment to travel straight to the cook, and do not be surprised if extra food appears.
The classic Armenian toast, literally meaning "to life." Eye contact during the clink is considered essential good manners. Avoiding eye contact is thought to bring bad luck, so hold the gaze.