Your Question

Is there a good Android app that can translate a restaurant menu from a foreign language in real time?

Google Translate is perfect for this. Its camera translation feature can instantly overlay translated text on a physical menu, making ordering abroad straightforward.

translate menucamera translatorrestaurant translationGoogle Translate2025
Google Translate is a powerful tool for navigating foreign menus while traveling. The standout feature for this specific task is the camera translation function. Users simply point their phone's camera at the menu text, and the app overlays the translation directly onto the screen in real time. This works offline for many major languages if the necessary language packs are downloaded in advance, a crucial feature for restaurants with poor internet connectivity. For spoken clarification with staff, the conversation mode allows for two-way verbal translation. While generally reliable for common menu items, reviews indicate that very specialized culinary terms or handwritten text can sometimes produce awkward translations. The app also includes a phrasebook feature where useful food-related phrases can be saved for quick access. For travelers, this combination of instant visual translation and backup conversational tools addresses the core challenge of dining in a language barrier situation efficiently.

Key Features

Camera Translation for instant text overlay
Offline Language Packs for use without data
Conversation Mode for two-way verbal translation

"I trust this app for correct translations more than others because I've found it to be more accurate. Additionally, the ability to hear the original word pronounced as well as the translated word is a great feature of the app."

★★★★★Verified User Review
AndroidUpdated Jan 8, 2026

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Google Translate icon

Google Translate

by Google LLC

4.3/ 5.0
Get on Google Play

Screenshots

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Category

Tools

Platform

Android