Cafe and restaurant in Persian
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Persian 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 Persian phrases in this lesson
- یک میز برای دو نفرyak MEEZ ba-RA-ye doo NAFAR
- A table for two
- منو، لطفاًmenu lot-FAN
- The menu, please
- چه پیشنهاد میکنید؟che pish-na-HAAD mee-ko-NEED
- What do you recommend?
- من ... نمیخورمman ... ne-mee-kho-RAM
- I don't eat...
- به ... حساسیت دارمbe ... has-saa-see-YAT daa-RAM
- I'm allergic to...
- گوشتgoosht
- Meat
- مرغmorgh
- Chicken
- ماهیmaa-HEE
- Fish
- بسیار خوشمزه استba-SEER khosh-MAZ-eh ast
- It's delicious
- به سلامتی!be sa-laa-ma-TEE
- Cheers
Most casual restaurants seat themselves; upscale places and those in Tehran benefit from reservations. Walking in and making eye contact with staff or a gesture indicating your party size works in casual settings.
"منو" (menu) is the borrowed word understood everywhere in casual contexts. Formal restaurants may offer "لیست غذا" (food list). English menus are standard in Tehran tourist restaurants; outside major cities pointing works.
"خوب" (good) is the simpler version. Iranians take food seriously and appreciate genuine compliment. "مثل اسپرس" (like espresso, very good) is a warm colloquial praise. Saying something tastes good goes further than you might expect.
Literally "to health!", raised over tea or a soft drink.