AI phone answering for Chinese restaurants: English callers answered, orders sent to you in Chinese
When the kitchen is busy, the phone keeps ringing. The receptionist answers every call in English, Mandarin or Spanish, takes the order or the reservation, and sends it to you in Chinese.
Takeout, pickup and reservations · Keep your number · $179 a month
Why restaurant calls go unanswered
Calls come in during the hours the kitchen is busiest, and whoever answers is also cooking, packing or serving.
Many callers speak English and want to ask about the menu, change an order or book a table. When nobody can take the call in English, the order goes somewhere else.
The published figures on missed restaurant calls are in our guide to restaurant phone answering.
What it does for a restaurant
- Takes takeout and pickup orders over the phone (coming soon, starting with pickup orders paid at the store)
- Books tables
- Answers questions about opening hours, the address and the menu
- Answers in English, and in Mandarin or Spanish when the caller does
- Transfers the call to you when it is unsure or the caller asks for a person
Example: a call and the summary you get
The call opens in English with the language menu (press 2 for Mandarin, 3 for Spanish). This caller speaks English, so the call goes on in English.
- ReceptionistHi, this is Demo Kitchen. I’m an AI assistant, and this call is transcribed. How can I help you?
- CallerCan I get a table for four at seven tonight?
- ReceptionistYes, seven o’clock works. What name should I put it under?
- CallerLee.
- ReceptionistThanks, Lee. A table for four at seven tonight. See you then.
Example with a made-up restaurant. The summary follows the format the system sends for a new reservation.
How orders reach you
Each order or reservation reaches you as a summary, in Chinese or English, whichever you choose. Every call opens with a short notice that it is answered by an automated assistant and transcribed into text. Where ordering stands today: we can build an ordering system for your restaurant now, quoted separately, and phone ordering by the AI receptionist is coming soon, starting with pickup orders paid at the store.
Price
- Monthly fee, setup included
- $179/mo
- Minutes included each month
- 400
- Each extra minute
- $0.30
- Billing
- Month to month
What to have ready
- Your menu with prices
- Your opening hours, including holidays
- The number to transfer calls to
What it costs next to per-order services
Some phone-ordering services for restaurants charge per order instead of per month. Here is the monthly bill at 300 and 600 phone orders.
| Service | How it charges | 300 orders a month | 600 orders a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aibrify | $179 a month with 400 minutes included, then $0.30 a minute | $239 | $419 |
| Bite Buddy | $1.50 per completed order (list rate), no monthly fee | $450 | $900 |
| DineCall | $3 per order, or 10% of orders capped at $1,000 a month; no monthly fee | $900 | $1,000 |
| Serviio | 2% of each completed order, no monthly fee | $210 | $420 |
| Speakar | From $249 a month; usage limits not published | $249+ | $249+ |
Totals assume about 2 minutes per order call and a $35 average order. Prices are from each company's website, checked on 2026-09-28.
At 300 orders a month, Serviio costs less than we do. Per-order pricing is cheaper for a restaurant with few or small phone orders.
DineCall lists Cantonese among its languages; with us, Cantonese is not supported yet.
Where we are
Aibrify is based in Los Angeles and serves restaurants in Southern California (Irvine and Orange County, Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley) and across the United States. Setup is done remotely, and we talk by text or WeChat.
Websites and software for Chinese restaurants
Aibrify Desk (AI receptionist): call the demo line and hear it answer
Questions
- Does it speak Mandarin and Cantonese?
- It speaks Mandarin, English and Spanish. Cantonese is not supported yet.
- What if the menu changes?
- Text, email or WeChat us the new menu or prices and we update the receptionist.
- Can it take food orders?
- Yes. We can build an ordering system for your restaurant now, quoted separately, and phone ordering by the AI receptionist is coming soon, starting with pickup orders paid at the store.
- Do I need a new phone number?
- No. You keep your number, and calls forward to the receptionist when you are busy or after hours.
- How much does it cost?
- $179 a month with 400 minutes included and setup included. Each extra minute is $0.30.
- Is it cheaper than a per-order service?
- It depends on how many phone orders you take. Monthly bills at 300 phone orders: Aibrify $239, Bite Buddy $450, DineCall $900, Serviio $210, Speakar $249+. At 600 orders: Aibrify $419, Bite Buddy $900, DineCall $1,000, Serviio $420, Speakar $249+. These assume about 2 minutes per order call and a $35 average order, with prices from each company's website checked on 2026-09-28. Per-order pricing is cheaper for a restaurant with few or small phone orders.
- Is there a contract?
- No long-term contract. It is billed monthly, month to month.
- Do callers hear that the call is transcribed?
- Yes. Every call opens with a short notice that it is answered by an automated assistant and transcribed into text.