Ordering food vocabulary and phrases in English, covering menu items, requesting, paying, and special dietary needs.
Ordering food in a restaurant or cafe is a common situation where vocabulary and simple phrases can help you communicate clearly. This guide covers essential words for menus, asking for items, making special requests, and handling payment.
Menu Items
These are common types of food and drink you’ll see on menus. Knowing these words helps you understand what’s available and can make ordering easier.
| English Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | English Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| appetizer / appetizers | appetizer / appetizers | I’d like to start with an appetizer. | Me gustaría empezar con un aperitivo. |
| main course / main courses | main course / main courses | The main course is grilled chicken. | El plato principal es pollo a la parrilla. |
| dessert / desserts | dessert / desserts | Do you have any dessert? | ¿Tienen algún postre? |
| beverage / beverages | beverage / beverages | What beverages do you have? | ¿Qué bebidas tienen? |
| salad / salads | salad / salads | I’ll have a Caesar salad. | Tomaré una ensalada César. |
| soup / soups | soup / soups | Can I have a bowl of soup? | ¿Puedo tomar un tazón de sopa? |
| sandwich / sandwiches | sandwich / sandwiches | I’d like a turkey sandwich. | Quisiera un sándwich de pavo. |
| coffee / — | coffee / — | Can I get a coffee, please? | ¿Puedo tomar un café, por favor? |
| tea / — | tea / — | I’d like a cup of tea. | Quisiera una taza de té. |
| juice / — | juice / — | I’ll have orange juice. | Tomaré jugo de naranja. |
¿Qué palabra en inglés se refiere a un plato pequeño que se sirve antes del plato principal?
Which English word refers to a small dish served before the main course to stimulate the appetite?
appetizer
An 'appetizer' is a small dish served before the main course to stimulate the appetite. 'Dessert' is served after the meal, 'main course' is the primary dish, and 'beverage' is a drink.
Making Requests
These phrases are useful for ordering food politely and clearly. You can adapt them to suit what you want to say.
| English Phrase | English Phrase | English Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’d like… | I’d like… | I’d like a cheeseburger. | Quisiera una hamburguesa con queso. |
| Can I have…? | Can I have…? | Can I have a glass of water? | ¿Puedo tomar un vaso de agua? |
| I’ll have… | I’ll have… | I’ll have the pasta, please. | Tomaré la pasta, por favor. |
| Could I get…? | Could I get…? | Could I get a side of fries? | ¿Podría traerme una porción de papas fritas? |
| Please bring me… | Please bring me… | Please bring me the bill. | Por favor, tráigame la cuenta. |
| I’m ready to order. | I’m ready to order. | I’m ready to order now. | Estoy listo para ordenar. |
| What do you recommend? | What do you recommend? | What do you recommend for dessert? | ¿Qué recomienda de postre? |
| Is this dish spicy? | Is this dish spicy? | Is this soup spicy? | ¿Esta sopa es picante? |
| Can I see the menu? | Can I see the menu? | Can I see the menu, please? | ¿Puedo ver el menú, por favor? |
| Do you have…? | Do you have…? | Do you have vegan options? | ¿Tienen opciones veganas? |
Special Dietary Needs
If you have allergies or follow a special diet, these phrases help you explain your needs clearly.
| English Phrase | English Phrase | English Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’m allergic to… | I’m allergic to… | I’m allergic to nuts. | Soy alérgico a los frutos secos. |
| I’m vegetarian. | I’m vegetarian. | I’m vegetarian. Do you have any meat-free dishes? | Soy vegetariano. ¿Tienen platos sin carne? |
| I’m vegan. | I’m vegan. | I’m vegan. Can you recommend something? | Soy vegano. ¿Puede recomendar algo? |
| No dairy, please. | No dairy, please. | I’d like a coffee with no dairy, please. | Quisiera un café sin lácteos, por favor. |
| No gluten, please. | No gluten, please. | Do you have any gluten-free bread? | ¿Tienen pan sin gluten? |
| Can you make it without…? | Can you make it without…? | Can you make it without onions? | ¿Pueden hacerlo sin cebolla? |
| Is this gluten-free? | Is this gluten-free? | Is the dessert gluten-free? | ¿El postre es sin gluten? |
| Does this contain nuts? | Does this contain nuts? | Does this salad contain nuts? | ¿Esta ensalada contiene frutos secos? |
| I need a low-sodium meal. | I need a low-sodium meal. | I need a low-sodium meal, please. | Necesito una comida baja en sodio, por favor. |
| Can you accommodate allergies? | Can you accommodate allergies? | Can you accommodate my allergies? | ¿Pueden atender mis alergias? |
Payment Phrases
When you’re ready to pay, these phrases help you complete the transaction smoothly.
| English Phrase | English Phrase | English Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can I have the bill? | Can I have the bill? | Can I have the bill, please? | ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor? |
| Check, please. | Check, please. | Check, please. We’re ready. | La cuenta, por favor. Estamos listos. |
| Do you accept credit cards? | Do you accept credit cards? | Do you accept credit cards? | ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito? |
| Is service included? | Is service included? | Is service included in the bill? | ¿El servicio está incluido en la cuenta? |
| Can I pay with cash? | Can I pay with cash? | Can I pay with cash? | ¿Puedo pagar en efectivo? |
| Keep the change. | Keep the change. | Here’s $20. Keep the change. | Aquí tienes 20 dólares. Quédese con el cambio. |
| Can I get a receipt? | Can I get a receipt? | Can I get a receipt, please? | ¿Me puede dar un recibo, por favor? |
| I’m paying for both of us. | I’m paying for both of us. | I’m paying for both of us tonight. | Yo pago por los dos esta noche. |
| Split the bill, please. | Split the bill, please. | Can we split the bill, please? | ¿Podemos dividir la cuenta, por favor? |
| That’s all, thanks. | That’s all, thanks. | That’s all, thanks. The food was great. | Eso es todo, gracias. La comida estuvo excelente. |
¿Me trae la ______, por favor?
How do you ask for the bill in English when you’re ready to pay at a restaurant?
bill, check
Both 'bill' and 'check' are used to ask for the payment slip in a restaurant. 'Menu' is for ordering, 'receipt' is given after payment, and 'change' is the leftover money.
Common Questions
These are questions customers often ask when ordering food. They can help you gather information before making a choice.
| English Question | English Question | English Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| What’s the soup of the day? | What’s the soup of the day? | What’s the soup of the day? | ¿Cuál es la sopa del día? |
| Is this dish vegetarian? | Is this dish vegetarian? | Is the pasta vegetarian? | ¿La pasta es vegetariana? |
| Can I have it to go? | Can I have it to go? | Can I have the sandwich to go? | ¿Puedo llevarme el sándwich? |
| How spicy is this? | How spicy is this? | How spicy is the curry? | ¿Qué tan picante está el curry? |
| Can you recommend a dessert? | Can you recommend a dessert? | Can you recommend a dessert? | ¿Puede recomendar un postre? |
| What’s in this dish? | What’s in this dish? | What’s in the chicken salad? | ¿Qué lleva la ensalada de pollo? |
| Do you have any specials? | Do you have any specials? | Do you have any specials today? | ¿Tienen especiales hoy? |
| Can I substitute the fries? | Can I substitute the fries? | Can I substitute the fries for a salad? | ¿Puedo cambiar las papas fritas por una ensalada? |
| Is there a kids’ menu? | Is there a kids’ menu? | Is there a kids’ menu here? | ¿Tienen menú para niños? |
| How long is the wait? | How long is the wait? | How long is the wait for a table? | ¿Cuánto es la espera para una mesa? |
This collection of vocabulary and phrases will help you feel confident when ordering food in English. Whether you’re in a cafe, casual restaurant, or fine dining setting, these words will guide you through the experience.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Singular/Plural: appetizer / appetizers
- English Example: Me gustaría empezar con un aperitivo.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
