How much food to order for a group
How much should you order for the table? Enter the number of people and the type of restaurant, and we suggest how many dishes to order and how to balance them. The numbers are rules of thumb; portion sizes vary, so ask your server if a dish looks unusually small or large.
Suggested order
5–6 plates
- Cold plates 2
- Other hot plates 1
- Seafood 1
- Vegetable 1–2
- Bread One basket for every 2–3 people. 1
Tight for this budget
About $41–$92. Table budget $50.
These counts are rules of thumb. Portion sizes vary by restaurant; ask your server if plates look small or large.
Snap the menu and plan your table.
Portion rules (rules of thumb)
| Cuisine | Unit | Per person | Base | Minimum | Extras | Shared mains (count as 2) | 2 / 4 / 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapas | plate | 2–2 | +1 to +2 | 3 | bread: 1 per 2–3 people | paella, large ración, tabla (board) | 5–6 / 9–10 / 13–14 |
| Dim sum | dish | 3–3 | +0 to +2 | 4 | tea: 1 pot per table | none | 6–8 / 12–14 / 18–20 |
| Korean BBQ | meat portion | 1–1 | +0 to +1 | 2 | other dishes: ceil(E/3) to ceil(E/2) | combo platter (count by its stated portions) | meat 2–3 / 4–5 / 6–7; other 1 / 2 / 2–3 |
| Izakaya | small plate | 2–2.5 | +0 to +0 | 3 | finishing dish: ceil(E/3) to ceil(E/2) | sashimi platter for 3+, hot pot | plates 4–5 / 8–10 / 12–15; finish 1 / 2 / 2–3 |
| Chinese | dish | 1–1 | +0 to +1 | 2 | soup: 1 when E ≥ 4; rice: 1 bowl per person | whole fish, roast or Peking duck, hot pot | 2–3 / 4–5 + soup / 6–7 + soup |