Zhè jiā shítáng suīrán bú dà, dànshì cài hěn duō, yě bú guì, yìbān zhǐ yào èrshí kuài.

Although this cafeteria isn’t big, it has a lot of dishes and isn’t expensive; usually it only costs twenty yuan.

Breakdown of Zhè jiā shítáng suīrán bú dà, dànshì cài hěn duō, yě bú guì, yìbān zhǐ yào èrshí kuài.

• 不bù: not
• 很hěn: very
• 这zhè: this
• 也yě: also

Questions & Answers about Zhè jiā shítáng suīrán bú dà, dànshì cài hěn duō, yě bú guì, yìbān zhǐ yào èrshí kuài.

What does 家 mean in 这家食堂? Why not use 个?

家 here is a measure word (classifier), not the noun “family.”

• 家 is the standard measure word for certain businesses and organizations: restaurants, shops, companies, hotels, etc.
  
  • e.g. 一家饭馆, 三家公司, 那家银行
• 这家食堂 = “this cafeteria/this canteen (business).”

Using 这个食堂 is not grammatically wrong, but it sounds less natural; 家 is the more idiomatic choice for places like 食堂, 饭馆, 餐厅, 公司, etc.

What’s the difference between 食堂 and words like 餐厅 or 饭馆?

All can relate to places where you eat, but the feel is different:

• 食堂: canteen, cafeteria, mess hall
  
  • Usually in schools, factories, universities, companies, the army.
• 餐厅: dining room / restaurant
  
  • Can be a restaurant, a hotel dining room, or just “dining room” in a house.
• 饭馆 / 饭店: restaurant (often more colloquial/ordinary places).

In this sentence, 食堂 suggests a canteen-style place, not a fancy commercial restaurant.

How does the 虽然……但是…… structure work? Do I need both parts?