hei2 coi3起菜

Jyutpinghei2 coi3

Yalehéi choi

Definition

To start serving dishes in a restaurant.

colloquialfooddaily actions

How it's used

This term is specific to the context of dining in a restaurant, particularly when ordering multiple dishes to be shared. It acts as a signal to the staff that the guests are ready for the kitchen to begin the flow of food. Using this phrase shows familiarity with local dining etiquette, as opposed to simply waiting for the staff to decide when to bring the food out.

Examples

maa4麻faan4煩bong1幫ngo5我tung4同cyu4廚fong2房gong2講，ho2可ji5以hei2起coi3菜laa3喇。

Please tell the kitchen for me that they can start serving the dishes.

ngo5我dei6哋zung6仲jau5有loeng5兩go3個pang4朋jau5友mei6未dou3到，m4唔hou2好gam3咁faai3快hei2起coi3菜zyu6住。

We still have two friends who haven't arrived yet, don't start serving the dishes so soon.

Common phrases

giu3叫cyu4廚fong2房hei2起coi3菜

tell the kitchen to start serving

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the general verb for starting something, like 開始. It is strictly limited to the context of restaurant service and cannot be used for starting a project or a hobby.