推荐什么？

You can use this phrase on its own or add a noun. If you are looking at a menu, just point and ask 推荐什么？. If you want to be more specific, you can say 有什么推荐？ (Are there any recommendations?). It is like a verbal nudge to get the locals to reveal their secrets.

Use it whenever you feel overwhelmed by choices. It is perfect for restaurants when the menu is ten pages long. Use it at a bubble tea shop when you can't decide on the sugar level. Use it with friends when they ask what movie to watch. It works beautifully in retail stores too. If a shopkeeper sees you looking lost, this phrase starts a helpful conversation.

Avoid using it in high-stakes professional negotiations where you should already know the answer. Do not use it if you are the expert in the room. It might make you look unprepared. Also, avoid using it if there is only one option available. That just makes things awkward for everyone involved.

In Chinese culture, asking for a recommendation is a sign of trust. It shows you value the other person's taste or expertise. People usually love being asked because it lets them show off their knowledge. In many local 'hole-in-the-wall' eateries, the best dishes aren't even on the menu. Asking 推荐什么？ is often the only way to find the 'secret' signature dish.

If you want to be a bit more polite, add 你 (you) at the beginning: 你推荐什么？. In a very formal setting, use 您 (polite you): 您有什么推荐？. If you are texting a friend, you might just send 推啥？ which is very slangy and short. It is the digital equivalent of a quick shoulder shrug and a grin.