Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kami memeriksa menu sebelum memesan makanan.

Kami = we (excluding the person you’re talking to).
Kita = we (including the person you’re talking to).
In this sentence, kami implies the listener isn’t part of the group. If you’re talking to someone who is included (e.g., your dining partner), use kita: Kita memeriksa menu sebelum memesan makanan.

Why do the verbs start with me-: memeriksa, memesan? What are their base forms?

The base verbs are periksa (check/examine) and pesan (order). Indonesian adds the active transitive prefix meN- to form memeriksa and memesan. Before a root starting with p, the p drops and meN- becomes mem-: meN- + periksa → memeriksa, meN- + pesan → memesan. These forms typically take a direct object.

Is memeriksa the most natural verb for looking at a menu?

It’s fine and neutral–formal. More casual options you’ll often hear are melihat-lihat menu, mengecek menu, or baca menu. At a restaurant, Kami lihat-lihat menu dulu... sounds very natural.

Do I need to say makanan after memesan?

Not necessarily. In a restaurant context, memesan already implies food or drinks, so Kami memeriksa menu sebelum memesan is fine. Add the object for clarity or contrast: memesan makanan, memesan minuman, memesan makanan dan minuman.

Can I move the sebelum-clause to the front?

Yes: Sebelum memesan makanan, kami memeriksa menu. Use a comma after the introductory clause.

Why is there no subject after sebelum? Can I say sebelum kami memesan makanan?

When both clauses share the same subject, Indonesian often omits it in the subordinate clause: sebelum memesan makanan. You can include it: sebelum kami memesan makanan. If the subjects differ, you must state them.

Do I need a preposition like di before menu?

No. Memeriksa and memesan take direct objects: memeriksa menu, memesan makanan. Di menu means on the menu (location/content), e.g., Ada pizza di menu.

What tense is this? Does it mean we checked, are checking, or will check?

Indonesian verbs don’t change for tense; time is shown by context or time words.

Past: Kami tadi memeriksa menu sebelum memesan makanan.
Progressive: Kami sedang memeriksa menu sebelum memesan makanan.
Future: Kami akan memeriksa menu sebelum memesan makanan.

Can I use untuk instead of sebelum?

No. Sebelum = before (time). Untuk = for/to (in order to). Kami memeriksa menu untuk memesan makanan means we check the menu in order to order food (odd/redundant). Use sebelum for a time sequence.

Is menu the only word I can use? What about daftar menu?

Both work. Menu is the common everyday word. Daftar menu literally means menu list and can sound a bit more formal or refer to the physical list; in practice they’re interchangeable here.

How can I politely say we’ll order later, after checking?

Add dulu (first/for now) and a softener like ya:

Kami lihat-lihat menu dulu, ya. Nanti kami pesan.
Sebentar, ya. Kami memeriksa menu dulu.

Is there a passive or object-fronted version?

Yes:

Menu kami periksa sebelum memesan makanan. (object-fronted; very natural)
Menu itu sudah kami periksa sebelum memesan. A plain di- passive is possible but more impersonal: Menu diperiksa sebelum memesan makanan.

Are there colloquial variants I should recognize?

Yes, in speech you’ll hear:

pesan shortened to pesen/mesen: Kami pesen makanan.
lihat-lihat pronounced liat-liat.
mengecek shortened to ngecek. Use standard forms (memesan, melihat-lihat, mengecek) in writing or formal contexts.

How do I express the/a/some, since Indonesian has no articles?

Use demonstratives or quantifiers:

the menu: menu itu
this menu: menu ini
some food: beberapa makanan (or just makanan if the meaning is general) Example: Kami memeriksa menu itu sebelum memesan beberapa makanan.