Ordering food vocabulary in Spanish, including key phrases and expressions for confidently asking for, customizing, and paying for meals.
Ordering food is a fundamental skill for dining out in any culture. In Spanish, there are specific vocabulary and expressions that help you navigate menus, ask questions, make special requests, and handle payment smoothly. This guide covers essential words and phrases to order food confidently in restaurants, cafes, and markets.
Restaurant Sections
Understanding restaurant sections helps you know where to go and how to describe your seating preferences.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la entrada | las entradas | the appetizer | the appetizers | Quiero la entrada de sopa. | I want the soup appetizer. |
| el plato principal | los platos principales | the main course | the main courses | El plato principal es pollo. | The main course is chicken. |
| el postre | los postres | the dessert | the desserts | ¿Qué postres tienen? | What desserts do you have? |
| la bebida | las bebidas | the drink | the drinks | Voy a pedir una bebida fría. | I'm going to order a cold drink. |
| la mesa | las mesas | the table | the tables | Quisiera una mesa para dos. | I'd like a table for two. |
| el menú | los menús | the menu | the menus | ¿Tiene el menú del día? | Do you have the daily menu? |
| la cuenta | las cuentas | the bill/check | the bills/checks | ¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor? | Can you bring us the bill, please? |
El ___ es pollo.
How do you say 'the main course' in Spanish?
plato principal
'El plato principal' means 'the main course'. 'Entrada' is appetizer, 'postre' is dessert, and 'bebida' is drink.
Key Phrases
These essential phrases will help you communicate your order clearly and politely.
| Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quisiera… | I would like… | Quisiera una ensalada. | I would like a salad. |
| ¿Qué recomienda? | What do you recommend? | ¿Qué recomienda hoy? | What do you recommend today? |
| Tengo alergia a… | I’m allergic to… | Tengo alergia a los frutos secos. | I’m allergic to nuts. |
| ¿Puede traer…? | Can you bring…? | ¿Puede traer más pan? | Can you bring more bread? |
| Sin… | Without… | Quiero el café sin azúcar. | I want the coffee without sugar. |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta la paella? | How much does the paella cost? |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. | La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. |
What does the Spanish phrase 'Tengo alergia a…' mean?
I'm allergic to…
'Tengo alergia a…' means 'I'm allergic to…'. It's used to inform staff about food allergies.
Ordering Specific Items
Use these words to specify exactly what you want, from portion sizes to cooking preferences.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la ración | las raciones | the portion | the portions | Quiero una ración de tortilla. | I want a portion of omelette. |
| media ración | — | half portion | — | Pido media ración, por favor. | I’ll have a half portion, please. |
| el cubierto | los cubiertos | the place setting/cutlery | the place settings/cutlery | ¿Nos trae cubiertos, por favor? | Can you bring us cutlery, please? |
| el vaso | los vasos | the glass | the glasses | Un vaso de agua, por favor. | A glass of water, please. |
| la copa | las copas | the wine glass | the wine glasses | Quisiera una copa de vino tinto. | I’d like a glass of red wine. |
| al punto | — | medium (cooked) | — | Quiero la carne al punto. | I want the meat medium. |
| bien hecho | — | well done | — | La hamburguesa, bien hecha, por favor. | The burger, well done, please. |
Dietary Preferences
Expressing dietary needs or preferences is crucial for a comfortable dining experience.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vegetariano/a | vegetarianos/as | vegetarian (m/f) | vegetarians | Soy vegetariana. | I’m vegetarian (female). |
| vegano/a | veganos/as | vegan (m/f) | vegans | ¿Tienen opciones veganas? | Do you have vegan options? |
| sin gluten | — | gluten-free | — | Necesito un plato sin gluten. | I need a gluten-free dish. |
| sin lactosa | — | lactose-free | — | Soy intolerante a la lactosa. | I’m lactose intolerant. |
| bajo en sal | — | low in salt | — | Quiero el filete bajo en sal. | I want the steak low in salt. |
| sin azúcar | — | sugar-free | — | El café, sin azúcar, por favor. | Coffee without sugar, please. |
Payment
Handling payment is the final step—these words and phrases will help you close the meal smoothly.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la cuenta | las cuentas | the bill/check | the bills/checks | ¿Nos trae la cuenta? | Can you bring us the bill? |
| la propina | — | the tip | — | Dejamos una propina del 10%. | We left a 10% tip. |
| pago con tarjeta | — | payment by card | — | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? |
| efectivo | — | cash | — | Pago en efectivo. | I’m paying in cash. |
| dividir la cuenta | — | split the bill | — | ¿Podemos dividir la cuenta? | Can we split the bill? |
| el ticket | los tickets | the receipt | the receipts | ¿Nos da el ticket, por favor? | Can you give us the receipt, please? |
Compliments & Complaints
Giving feedback about your meal is easy with these simple expressions.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| delicioso/a | deliciosos/as | delicious (m/f) | delicious | El postre estaba delicioso. | The dessert was delicious. |
| excelente | — | excellent | — | El servicio fue excelente. | The service was excellent. |
| frío/a | fríos/as | cold (m/f) | cold | El café llegó frío. | The coffee arrived cold. |
| tardar | — | to take (time) | — | La comida tardó mucho. | The food took a long time. |
| repetir | — | to have seconds/repeat | — | ¿Puedo repetir la sopa? | Can I have more soup? |
| quejarse | — | to complain | — | Quisimos quejarnos por el ruido. | We wanted to complain about the noise. |
Cultural Notes
Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when ordering food in Spanish-speaking countries:
- Use ‘por favor’ and ‘gracias’: Politeness is appreciated everywhere.
- Wait to be seated: In many restaurants, a host will seat you.
- Tipping customs vary: In some countries, a 5-10% tip is standard; in others, service may be included.
- Meal times differ: Lunch (la comida) is often the main meal, served between 1-3 pm. Dinner (la cena) is usually later, around 8-10 pm.
- Ask about specials: ‘¿Qué hay de especial hoy?’ is a common way to discover daily dishes.
With this comprehensive vocabulary and these cultural insights, you’re ready to order food confidently in any Spanish-speaking setting. ¡Buen provecho!
Flashcards (1 of 39)
- English Singular: the appetizer
- English Plural: the appetizers
- English Example: I want the soup appetizer.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
