30 Role-play Scenarios about Ordering Food

Role-play scenarios about ordering food are one of the best ways to help ESL students practice real-life English conversations. Whether it’s grabbing a quick burger, ordering coffee, or asking for recommendations at a restaurant, these everyday situations build confidence and fluency.

These food conversations teach students essential skills—how to ask questions about food, understand menu vocabulary, and respond naturally in different dining situations. By practicing these scenarios, students improve their speaking, listening, and social skills while learning practical phrases they’ll actually use.

Each scenario includes two roles: one person ordering food and another taking the order or helping. Students can work in pairs, switch roles, and even add their own creative twists. The simple, structured dialogues make it easy for beginners to follow while still allowing room for natural conversation.

From ordering pancakes to requesting ketchup, these 30 role-plays cover a wide range of food-related interactions. They’re perfect for classroom activities, one-on-one practice, or even self-study. So pick a scenario, set the scene, and watch your students enjoy learning while “eating” their way through English!

1. Ordering a Hamburger

Person A
You are at a fast-food restaurant and want to order a hamburger. Ask the cashier what types of hamburgers they have. Decide if you want cheese, lettuce, or tomato. Ask about the price and if it comes with fries or a drink.

Person B
You are a cashier at a fast-food restaurant. Tell the customer about the hamburger options (cheeseburger, plain hamburger, etc.). Explain the toppings available and the price. Ask if they want a meal with fries and a drink.

2. Buying a Pizza

Person A
You are at a pizza shop and want to order a pizza. Ask what sizes they have (small, medium, large) and what toppings are available. Decide if you want it for takeaway or delivery. Ask how long it will take.

Person B
You work at a pizza shop. Tell the customer about pizza sizes and toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.). Ask if they want it for takeaway or delivery. Tell them the price and how long it will take to prepare.

3. Asking for French Fries

Person A
You are at a restaurant and want to order French fries. Ask if they come in different sizes (small, large). Ask if they have ketchup or other sauces. Also, ask how much they cost.

Person B
You are a waiter/waitress. Tell the customer the sizes and prices of French fries. Explain the sauces available (ketchup, mayonnaise, etc.). Ask if they want anything else with their order.

4. Ordering a Sandwich

Person A
You are at a café and want to order a sandwich. Ask what types they have (chicken, ham, veggie). Choose your bread (white, whole wheat) and toppings. Ask if it comes with a side like chips or salad.

Person B
You work at the café. Tell the customer the sandwich options and bread choices. Ask what toppings they want (lettuce, tomato, cheese). Tell them if it comes with a side dish and the total price.

5. Getting a Hot Dog

Person A
You are at a food stand and want to buy a hot dog. Ask if they have different types (beef, chicken, veggie). Choose your toppings (onions, mustard, ketchup). Ask how much it costs.

Person B
You sell hot dogs at a food stand. Tell the customer the types of hot dogs available. Ask what toppings they want. Tell them the price and if they want a drink with it.

6. Choosing a Salad

Person A
You are at a restaurant and want to order a salad. Ask what kinds they have (Caesar, Greek, garden). Decide if you want chicken or no meat. Ask what dressing options are available.

Person B
You are a waiter/waitress. Tell the customer about the salad choices and ingredients. Explain the dressing options (ranch, vinaigrette, etc.). Ask if they want any extra toppings like cheese or croutons.

7. Ordering Chicken Nuggets

Person A
You are at a fast-food restaurant and want to order chicken nuggets. Ask how many come in one order (6, 10, 20). Choose your dipping sauce (BBQ, sweet and sour). Ask if it comes with a drink or fries.

Person B
You are a cashier. Tell the customer the nugget sizes and prices. Ask what sauce they want. Suggest adding fries or a drink to make it a meal.

8. Buying Ice Cream

Person A
You are at an ice cream shop and want to buy ice cream. Ask what flavors they have (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry). Choose between a cone or a cup. Ask for one or two scoops.

Person B
You work at the ice cream shop. Tell the customer the available flavors. Ask if they want a cone or cup and how many scoops. Tell them the price.

9. Asking for a Soda

Person A
You are at a restaurant and want to order a soda. Ask what kinds they have (Coke, Pepsi, Sprite). Choose between small, medium, or large. Ask if refills are free.

Person B
You are a waiter/waitress. Tell the customer the soda options and sizes. Say the price and if they can get refills. Ask if they want ice with their drink.

10. Ordering Juice

Person A
You are at a café and want to order juice. Ask what flavors they have (orange, apple, pineapple). Choose between a small or large cup. Ask if it is fresh or bottled.

Person B
You work at the café. Tell the customer the juice flavors and sizes. Explain if it is fresh or bottled. Tell them the price and ask if they want anything else.

11. Getting a Coffee

Person A
You are at a coffee shop and want to order coffee. Ask what types they have (black, latte, cappuccino). Choose between small, medium or large size. Ask if they have sugar and milk available.

Person B
You work at the coffee shop. Tell the customer about the coffee options and sizes. Ask if they want sugar or milk. Tell them the price and if they want anything else like a pastry.

12. Ordering Tea

Person A
You are at a café and want to order tea. Ask what kinds they have (green tea, black tea, herbal tea). Choose between hot or iced tea. Ask if they have honey or lemon.

Person B
You are the café worker. Tell the customer about the tea varieties. Ask if they want it hot or cold. Offer honey or lemon. Tell them the price and preparation time.

13. Buying a Milkshake

Person A
You are at an ice cream shop and want a milkshake. Ask what flavors they have (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla). Choose between small or large. Ask if they can add whipped cream.

Person B
You work at the ice cream shop. Tell the customer the milkshake flavors and sizes. Ask if they want whipped cream on top. Tell them the price and how long it will take.

14. Asking for Water

Person A
You are at a restaurant and very thirsty. Ask the waiter for water. Choose between tap water or bottled water. Ask if they can add ice and lemon.

Person B
You are the waiter. Ask if the customer wants tap water (free) or bottled water (paid). Ask if they want ice or lemon. Bring the water quickly.

15. Ordering Spaghetti

Person A
You are at an Italian restaurant and want spaghetti. Ask what sauces they have (tomato, meat, cream). Choose between small or large portion. Ask if it comes with bread.

Person B
You are the waiter. Tell the customer about spaghetti sauce options. Ask about portion size. Say if bread is included. Tell them the price and cooking time.

16. Buying a Taco

Person A
You are at a Mexican food stand. Ask what types of tacos they have (beef, chicken, veggie). Choose your toppings (lettuce, cheese, salsa). Ask how many come in one order.

Person B
You work at the taco stand. Tell the customer about taco fillings. Ask what toppings they want. Say how many tacos come per order and the total price.

17. Asking for Rice

Person A
You are at an Asian restaurant and want rice. Ask what kinds they have (white, fried, coconut). Choose between small or large bowl. Ask if it comes with any side dishes.

Person B
You are the waiter. Tell the customer about rice options. Ask about portion size. Explain what sides are available. Tell them the price.

18. Ordering Soup

Person A
You are at a diner and want soup. Ask what soups they have today (chicken, tomato, vegetable). Choose between cup or bowl size. Ask if it comes with crackers.

Person B
You are the server. Tell the customer today’s soup options. Ask about size preference. Say if crackers are included. Tell them the price.

19. Getting a Donut

Person A
You are at a bakery and want a donut. Ask what flavors they have (glazed, chocolate, jelly). Choose how many you want. Ask if they have coffee to go with it.

Person B
You work at the bakery. Show the customer the donut varieties. Ask how many they want. Offer coffee options. Tell them the total price.

20. Buying a Muffin

Person A
You are at a coffee shop and want a muffin. Ask what kinds they have (blueberry, chocolate chip, banana). Choose one and ask if it’s fresh. Ask the price.

Person B
You work at the coffee shop. Tell the customer about muffin flavors. Confirm they are fresh. Tell the price. Ask if they want anything to drink with it.

21. Ordering Pancakes

Person A
You are at a breakfast restaurant and want to order pancakes. Ask what types they have (plain, blueberry, chocolate chip). Choose between a short stack (2-3) or full stack (4-5). Ask if they come with syrup and butter.

Person B
You are the waiter. Tell the customer about pancake options and sizes. Explain that all pancakes come with syrup and butter. Ask if they want any toppings like fruit or whipped cream. Tell them the price.

22. Asking for Eggs

Person A
You are at a diner and want to order eggs. Ask how they can prepare them (scrambled, fried, boiled). Choose what you want and ask if it comes with toast or potatoes. Request how you want them cooked (soft or hard).

Person B
You are the server. Explain the different ways to cook eggs. Ask if they want toast (white or wheat) or hash browns with it. Confirm how they want their eggs cooked. Tell them the price.

23. Buying a Cookie

Person A
You are at a bakery and want to buy cookies. Ask what flavors they have (chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar). Choose how many you want (1 or a dozen). Ask if they’re fresh and the price.

Person B
You work at the bakery. Tell the customer about cookie varieties. Ask how many they want. Confirm they are fresh-baked today. Tell them the price per cookie or per dozen.

24. Ordering a Cheeseburger

Person A
You are at a burger restaurant and want a cheeseburger. Ask what cheese options they have (American, cheddar, Swiss). Choose your toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion). Ask if it comes with fries.

Person B
You are the cashier. Tell the customer about cheese choices. Ask what toppings they want. Explain that fries are extra. Tell them the total price and order number.

25. Getting Fish and Chips

Person A
You are at a British pub and want fish and chips. Ask what kind of fish they use (cod, haddock). Choose between one piece or two. Ask if it comes with tartar sauce and lemon.

Person B
You are the server. Tell the customer about the fish options and portion sizes. Confirm it comes with tartar sauce and lemon. Ask if they want mushy peas as a side. Tell them the price.

26. Asking for a Veggie Burger

Person A
You are at a restaurant and want a veggie burger. Ask what it’s made of (beans, vegetables, soy). Choose your bun (regular or whole wheat). Ask what toppings are available.

Person B
You are the waiter. Explain what the veggie burger contains. Offer bun choices. List available toppings (avocado, mushrooms, etc.). Ask if they want cheese on it.

27. Ordering a Smoothie

Person A
You are at a juice bar and want a smoothie. Ask what flavors they have (strawberry, mango, mixed berry). Choose between small or large size. Ask if they can add protein powder.

Person B
You work at the juice bar. Tell the customer about smoothie options and sizes. Ask if they want any extras like protein or vitamins. Tell them the price and preparation time.

28. Buying a Slice of Cake

Person A
You are at a café and want cake. Ask what flavors they have today (chocolate, carrot, cheesecake). Choose one slice and ask if they can add ice cream. Inquire about the price.

Person B
You work at the café. Tell the customer today’s cake selection. Ask if they want ice cream (vanilla or chocolate) with it. Tell them the price for cake and ice cream.

29. Asking for Ketchup

Person A
You are at a fast food restaurant and need ketchup for your fries. Ask the staff where you can get ketchup. Ask if they have other sauces too (mustard, mayonnaise). Request some napkins too.

Person B
You work at the restaurant. Tell the customer where the ketchup is (on tables or at counter). List other available sauces. Give them napkins and ask if they need anything else.

30. Ordering Takeout Food

Person A
You are calling a restaurant to order takeout. Ask if they can deliver to your address. Choose what food you want from the menu. Ask how long it will take and how much it costs.

Person B
You work at the restaurant. Answer the phone and take the order. Confirm their address for delivery. Tell them the total price and estimated delivery time (30-45 minutes). Ask if they need utensils or sauces.

Conclusion

Practicing these 30 simple role-play scenarios will make ordering food in English much easier for your students. By acting out real-life situations—like buying pizza, asking for ketchup, or ordering takeout—they’ll gain confidence and learn useful food vocabulary naturally.

The best part? These activities aren’t just educational—they’re fun! Students get to “try” different foods while improving their English. Whether they’re beginners or need a quick refresher, these conversations will help them speak more comfortably in restaurants, cafes, and food shops.

So go ahead—pick a scenario, pair up your students, and let the ordering begin! The more they practice, the more prepared they’ll be for real English conversations about food. Bon appétit and happy learning!

10 FAQs for Role-Play Scenarios about Ordering Food

1. Q: How do I introduce these role-plays to beginners?
A: Start by modeling one scenario yourself with a student. Go slow, use gestures, and write key phrases on the board like “I’d like…” and “How much is…?”

2. Q: What if students don’t know food vocabulary?
A: Pre-teach 5-10 essential words (menu, order, toppings) and display picture flashcards before starting.

3. Q: How long should each role-play take?
A: 3-5 minutes per pair. Use a timer! For longer practice, have students switch roles.

4. Q: My students are shy. Any tips?
A: Let them practice in whispers first, or do group role-plays where 2 students play the “customer” together.

5. Q: Should I correct mistakes during the activity?
A: Only correct mistakes that block understanding. Note repeated errors to review later.

6. Q: How can I make it more challenging?
A: Add problems! “The restaurant is out of pizza” or “You’re allergic to nuts” to encourage creative responses.

7. Q: Can I use these for online classes?
A: Yes! Share menu images on screen. For breakout rooms, paste the scenario instructions in the chat.

8. Q: What’s the best way to group students?
A: Pair stronger with weaker students first, then same-level pairs for the second round.

9. Q: How do I assess their progress?
A: Listen for:
✓ Using full sentences (“I want” → “I’d like a hamburger, please”)
✓ Natural intonation (rising tone for questions)

10. Q: Any extension activities?
A: Have students:
• Create their own restaurant menus
• Film role-plays on phones
• Do a “speed dating” style activity where customers rotate to different “restaurant” tables