Food & Drinks

1. Lamak bana!

   Delicious!

   Usage

   A compliment for the food, nice to say to the cook or the staff

   Grammar Note

   "Lamak" means tasty in the dictionary; do not confuse it with Indonesian "lemak" (fatty, rich). "Bana" means very

2. Tolong agiah menu

   Can I have the menu?

   Usage

   For asking to see the list of dishes. In Padang-style restaurants dishes are brought to the table, so many places have no menu

   Grammar Note

   "Agiah" means to give (Indonesian "beri"). This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

3. Jan padeh yo

   Not spicy please

   Usage

   Used when ordering to ask for no chilli; West Sumatran food uses a lot of chilli, so say it early

   Grammar Note

   "Jan" expresses prohibition (in the dictionary). "Padeh" means hot/spicy (Indonesian "pedas"). The final "yo" softens it into a request. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

4. Ambo indak bisa makan padeh

   I can't eat spicy food

   Usage

   Tells people you cannot eat spicy food; "ambo" is the polite "I"

   Grammar Note

   Word order: subject + negation + bisa + verb + object; "indak bisa" means cannot. Pair it with "Jan padeh yo" to be sure. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

5. Ambo nio ...

   I would like to order...

   Usage

   Say the name of the dish after it to order; pointing also works

   Grammar Note

   "Nio" means to want (Indonesian "ingin / mau"); put the dish name after it. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

6. Tolong agiah aia putiah

   Water please

   Usage

   Asks for plain drinking water; "aia putiah" is literally "white water"

   Grammar Note

   "Aia" is Indonesian "air" (-ir becomes -ia); "putiah" is white (Indonesian "putih"). This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

7. Ambo nio babayia

   Check please / The bill please

   Usage

   Said when you want to pay. In Padang-style restaurants you are charged for the dishes you touched

   Grammar Note

   "Ba-" corresponds to "ber-"; "bayia" is to pay (Indonesian "bayar", final r dropped). It says "I want to pay" instead of asking for the bill. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

8. Indak jo dagiang

   Without meat

   Usage

   Asks for the dish without meat; "dagiang" means meat

   Grammar Note

   "Indak jo" means without (literally "not with"). "Jo" means with (in the dictionary); "dagiang" is meat. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

9. Ambo alergi kacang tanah

   I am allergic to peanuts

   Usage

   Tells staff about a peanut allergy; "kacang" means beans and nuts, "kacang tanah" is the peanut, and peanuts are common in sauces

   Grammar Note

   "Alergi" is a loanword. "Kacang tanah" is the peanut; "kacang" alone means beans and nuts in general. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

10. Ciek lai

    One more

    Usage

    To ask for another of the same thing, while pointing at the glass or plate

    Grammar Note

    "Ciek" is the number one and "lai" adds "more"; this is the "ciek lai" (one more) use, separate from "lai" meaning "yes there is"

11. Iko halal?

    Is this halal?

    Usage

    Most of West Sumatra is Muslim and most eateries are halal, but this checks when in doubt

    Grammar Note

    "Iko" means this; "halal" is an Arabic loan listed in the dictionary. A question is made just by raising the intonation

12. Lai ado nan indak jo dagiang atau ikan?

    Do you have vegetarian food?

    Usage

    Asks for vegetarian food by describing it as "no meat or fish", since a dedicated word could not be verified

    Grammar Note

    "Lai ado ...?" asks whether something exists. "Nan" is the relative marker (Indonesian "yang"). The sentence describes vegetarian food because no word for it was found. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

13. Tolong bungkuih

    To take away / Takeout

    Usage

    For taking food away; Padang food is commonly taken away wrapped as "nasi bungkuih"

    Grammar Note

    "Bungkuih" corresponds to Indonesian "bungkus"; the dictionary has the example "tolong bungkuih gulo tu" (please wrap the sugar)

14. Bara harago iko?

    How much is it?

    Usage

    The basic way to ask a price; ask before ordering to be safe

    Grammar Note

    "Bara" comes first.

15. Apo nan lamak di siko?

    What's your recommendation?

    Usage

    Asks what the best dish is; phrased as "what is tasty here" because no verified word for "recommendation" was found

    Grammar Note

    "Apo" is what, "nan" is the relative marker, "di siko" is here. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

16. Dima kamar mandi, sanak?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is; "sanak" is a safe way to address anyone

    Grammar Note

    "Dima" means where; "kamar mandi" is literally "bathing room" and also means toilet

17. Es teh manih

    Sweet iced tea

    Usage

    A common restaurant drink: cold sweet tea

    Grammar Note

    "Manih" is sweet (regular change of final -is to -ih from Indonesian "manis"). "Es" and "teh" are in the dictionary. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

18. Kopi itam

    Black coffee

    Usage

    Coffee without sugar or milk; West Sumatra has a strong coffee culture

    Grammar Note

    "Itam" is the dictionary word for black. This is a sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

19. Nasi

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Cooked rice, the base of every Padang meal

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary defines it as cooked rice; uncooked rice is "bareh"

20. Roti

    Bread

    Usage

    Bread, seen at breakfast and as a snack

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Indonesian; it means bread

21. Mi

    Noodles

    Usage

    Noodles in general

    Grammar Note

    In the dictionary, described as a staple made from dough

22. Padeh

    Spicy (chilli hot)

    Usage

    Describes chilli heat; West Sumatran food is often hot

    Grammar Note

    Corresponds to Indonesian "pedas"; the dictionary glosses "padeh" as "pedas"

23. Manih

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes a sweet taste in sweets and drinks

    Grammar Note

    Regular change of final -is to -ih from Indonesian "manis"

24. Matah

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Means not cooked; "nasi matah" is undercooked rice

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives it as "mentah" (raw) with the example "tamakan nasi matah"; the spelling differs from Indonesian "mentah"

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