Bite 14: How to Talk About Food in German

German in 100 bites by Dr. Mitar Pitzek

Bite 14:
How to Talk About Food in German
(A1 Level)

Innes Blog - Bite 14: How to Talk About Food in German

Before We Dive In

Imagine you’re sitting in a traditional Viennese café, looking at the menu. You want to order a Wiener Schnitzel – but how do you do that in German? And how can you say that you love (Austrian) food?

In this Bite, we’ll explore how to talk about food in German – from ordering in a restaurant to expressing your food preferences. By the end, you’ll be able to chat about your favorite dishes like a true Viennese!

1. Essential Food Vocabulary

Here’s a mix of useful food-related nouns, verbs, and adjectives to help you on your culinary journey:

German	English	Type
das Essen	the food	Noun
das Getränk	the drink	Noun
das Fleisch	the meat	Noun
das Gemüse	the vegetables	Noun
das Obst	the fruit	Noun
das Brot	the bread	Noun
die Suppe	the soup	Noun
der Käse	the cheese	Noun
der Fisch	the fish	Noun
die Kartoffel	the potato	Noun
das Hähnchen	the chicken	Noun
die Torte	the cake	Noun
das Bier	the beer	Noun
der Wein	the wine	Noun
der Kaffee	the coffee	Noun
bestellen	to order	Verb
essen	to eat	Verb
trinken	to drink	Verb
schmecken	to taste	Verb
möchten	would like	Verb
nehmen	to take	Verb
fragen	to ask	Verb
scharf	spicy	Adjective
salzig	salty	Adjective
süß	sweet	Adjective
lecker	delicious	Adjective
köstlich	delicious (more formal)	Adjective
glutenfrei	gluten-free	Adjective

2. Talking About What You Like to Eat

When you’re dining out or talking about food with friends, it’s important to express what you like or dislike. Whether you’re describing your favorite dish or explaining why you didn’t enjoy a meal, these expressions will help you sound more natural in German.

To talk about your food preferences, you’ll often use phrases like “Ich mag…” (I like…) and “Ich esse gerne…” (I enjoy eating…).

For example, if someone asks you about your favorite food, you could respond:

“Ich mag Wiener Schnitzel sehr gerne.” (I really like Wiener Schnitzel.)
“Ich mag keinen Fisch.” (I don’t like fish.)
„Mein Lieblingsessen ist …“ (My favorite dish/food is…)

If you want to express that you enjoy the act of eating certain foods, use:

“Ich esse gerne Apfelstrudel.” (I enjoy eating apple strudel.)
“Ich esse nicht gerne scharfes Essen.” (I don’t enjoy eating spicy food.)

Difference between “Ich mag” and “Ich esse gerne”:

“Ich mag” is used for nouns when expressing that you like the food itself:
- Example: “Ich mag Käse.” (I like cheese.)
“Ich esse gerne” refers to the action of eating, focusing on the experience:
- Example: “Ich esse gerne Käse.” (I enjoy eating cheese.)

3. Expressing Food Opinions

You’ll often want to describe how food tastes or give feedback. Here are some useful phrases:

“Es schmeckt mir (nicht) gut.” – It tastes (not) good to me.
- “Die Suppe schmeckt mir gut.” (The soup tastes good to me.)
- “Der Fisch schmeckt mir nicht.” (I don’t like the taste of the fish.)
“Das ist lecker!” – That’s delicious!
- “Der Apfelstrudel ist lecker!” (The apple strudel is delicious!)
“Das ist nicht mein Geschmack.” – That’s not my taste.
- “Dieses Gericht ist nicht mein Geschmack.” (This dish is not my taste.)
“Es ist zu salzig / zu süß / zu scharf.” – It’s too salty / too sweet / too spicy.
- “Der Käse ist zu salzig für mich.” (The cheese is too salty for me.)
- “Das Dessert ist zu süß.” (The dessert is too sweet.)
“Ich finde es köstlich.” – I find it delicious (more formal than „lecker“)
- “Ich finde das Wiener Schnitzel köstlich.” (I find the Wiener Schnitzel delicious.)
“Kann ich mehr Salz / Pfeffer haben?” – Can I have more salt / pepper?
- “Könnte ich bitte mehr Pfeffer haben?” (Could I have more pepper, please?)

These phrases will help you give detailed opinions and enhance your food conversations in German!

4. Ordering in a Restaurant

Useful phrases for ordering in a restaurant:

How do I ask for the menu?

„Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben?“ (Can I have the menu, please?)

How do I order?

„Ich möchte ein Wiener Schnitzel, bitte“. (I would like a Wiener Schnitzel, please.)
„Ich nehme eine Tasse Kaffee.“ (I’ll take a cup of coffee.)
„Für mich ein Glas Wein, bitte.“ (For me, a glass of wine, please.)
„Ein Glas Wasser, bitte.“ (A glass of water, please.)

How do I ask for the bill?

„Die Rechnung, bitte.“ (The bill, please.)

5. Fun Practice Idea: What’s on the Menu?

Look up an Austrian menu online (there are plenty available!) and practice ordering dishes in German. You can also do a role-play with a friend: one person plays the waiter, the other the guest.

Summary

Talking about food in German is essential, especially when visiting Austria or Germany. Remember to:

Use “Ich mag” for nouns and “Ich esse gerne” for actions.
Express your food opinions clearly.
Order politely with “Ich möchte…”.
Practice with menus and role-playing for confidence.
Helpful Tips

Now you’re ready to enjoy Austrian and German cuisine with confidence!

Pro Tip from Dr. Mitar Pitzek

“Möchte” vs. “Will” & „Lecker“

Both “Ich möchte” and “Ich will” mean “I want,” but “Ich möchte” is more polite and typically used when ordering food. Saying “Ich will ein Bier!” (I want a beer!) in a restaurant might sound too direct. Stick with “Ich möchte ein Bier, bitte.”

A Note on “Lecker”:

The word “lecker” (delicious) is very common in Germany when describing tasty food. However, in Austria, especially among older people, you might hear, “Das sagt man bei uns nicht” (“We don’t say that here”). This is because “lecker” is often linked to German stereotypes and emotions about language identity. Of course, you can use it—but don’t be surprised if someone comments on it!