There are two ways to ask for something politely or to say what you want in German.

Ich h?tte gern...
Ich m?chte...

Both mean I’d like..., and are always followed by a noun.

When you’re asking for unspecified amounts the word some is omitted.

Ich h?tte gern Kartoffelsalat                                                      I’d like some potato salad
Ich m?chte Brot                                                                         I’d like some bread
Ich h?tte gern Suppe                                                                 I’d like some soup