Restaurant Resource

Chinese Restaurant First-Order Guide Template

Restaurant resource · Menu literacy · Operations

A first-order guide should give diners a low-friction path into the menu without forcing every dish into a simplified category.

Copyable template

New here? Good first order for two:
1 starter or cold dish
1 house specialty
1 vegetable
Rice or noodles

Good first order for four:
1 cold dish or appetizer
2 proteins or house specialties
1 vegetable
1 starch
Tea, soup, or dessert if offered

Ask us about:
Mild dishes, vegetarian options, pork-free options, and spice levels.

Format examples

Format First-order path
Sichuan Cucumber salad, mapo tofu, dry-fried green beans, rice.
Dim sum Har gow, siu mai, cheung fun, turnip cake, egg tart, tea.
Hot pot Split broth, two meats, tofu, mushrooms, greens, noodles.
Cantonese BBQ Two-meat rice plate, Chinese broccoli, wonton soup.
Noodle shop Two noodle bowls, one cold dish, one vegetable if offered.
Vegetarian Tofu, greens, mushrooms, rice or noodles, soup.

Downloadable first-order guide template

Template Download Use
First-order guide first-order-guide-template.md Ordering path template for first-time diners. 
# First-Order Guide Template

## Purpose
Use this section to help new customers order without needing to understand the full menu.

## For one person
1 dish:
Add-on:
Drink:

## For two people
1 appetizer or cold dish:
1 house specialty:
1 vegetable:
1 rice / noodle / soup:
Optional dessert:

## For four people
1 cold dish:
1 dumpling / snack:
2 house specialties:
1 vegetable:
1 tofu or egg dish:
1 rice / noodle:
1 soup or drink:

## For mild-spice diners
Avoid:
Recommended:
Ask staff about:

## For vegetarian diners
Recommended:
Ask about:
Avoid unless confirmed:

## For takeout
Travels well:
Order sauce on side:
Avoid for long delivery:

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