When you’re traveling to a foreign country, there are always a couple of things you absolutely HAVE to learn. Pleasantries, please and thank yous, asking for help, and getting directions usually top the list. Most of all, however, it’s important to cover your basic needs, such as eating. Figuring out how to order food in Spanish is perhaps the most important thing a traveler must do (arguably second only to asking where the bathroom is!)
So, if you are expecting to travel soon, here are some tips on how to read a Spanish menu and talk to a waiter in Spanish. We hope that it gets you fed promptly.
Ordering food in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Can you give us ___? | ¿Nos pones __? |
| Could you please bring ___? | ¿Me puedes traer __? |
| I’m going to have a ___. | Yo voy a tomar un ___. |
| Do you have any vegetarian options? | ¿Vegetariano no tenéis nada? |
| What do you recommend? | ¿Qué me recomiendas? |
| I will have ___. | Para mí, ___. |
| We are going to order ___. | Vamos a pedir ___. |
| Bring the bill when you can. | La cuenta cuando puedas. |
| Can I take this to go? | ¿Me podrías poner esto para llevar? |
| Ready to close the tab | ¿Nos cobras? |
| Do you have ___? | ¿Tienen ___? |
| Ready (to order) | Listo |
| A table for two (three, etc.) | Una mesa para dos (tres, etc) |
| I would like ___. | Quisiera or me gustaria ___. |
| Half-portion | Media porción |
| ___ to go, please. | ___ para llevar, por favor. |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Qué precio tiene? |
| I’ll have ___. | Voy a querer ___. |
| What a great meal! | ¡Qué rica comida! |
| I don’t know what I want to order | No sé qué pedir |
| Can you bring us the menu? | ¿Nos traes la carta,? |
| Is there a special today? | ¿Hay algún plato especial hoy? |
Besides how to actually order food in Spanish, don’t forget to learn the things the waiter will ask you, as well. Otherwise you might find yourself armed with a bunch of food-related Spanish vocabulary and have no idea when to say it!
Things the waiter might ask you
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Would you like something to drink? | ¿Gustan algo de tomar? |
| What would you like to order? | ¿Qué vas a querer? |
| Enjoy your meal | ¡Buen provecho! |
| I'll get you a table ready | Os preparo una mesita |
| Coming right up! | ¡Marchando! |
| What are you going to have? | ¿Qué vais a tomar? |
| You’re going to love it. | Os va a encantar. |
| And for you? | ¿Y para ti? |
| I'm going to bring you ___ right now | Ahora mismo os traigo ___. |
| Do you need anything? | ¿Les falta alguna cosita? |
| Of course | Claro que sí |
| Here is the check | Aquí está la cuenta |
| With pleasure | ¡Con gusto! |
| What else can I offer you? | ¿Les puedo ofrecer algo más? |
| Would you like anything else? | ¿Desea algo más? |
Here is a list of some of the most common food items that you might want to order off of a Spanish menu.
Common foods in English and Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| pork | puerco |
| chicken | pollo |
| turkey | pavo |
| fish | pescado |
| ham | jamón |
| fries | papas fritas |
| chips | papitas |
| potatoes | papas |
| vegetables | verduras |
| rice | arroz |
| salad | ensalada |
| soda | refresco |
| juice | jugo |
| wine | vino |
| red wine | vino tinto |
| white wine | vino blanco |
| beer | cerveza |
| water | agua |
| beans | frijoles |
| brussel sprouts | coles de Bruselas |
| butter | mantequilla |
| carrot | zanahoria |
| casserole | estofado |
| cheesecake | tarta de queso |
| clams | almejas |
| cold tomato soup | gazpacho |
| cookie | galleta |
| dessert | postre |
| egg | huevo |
| fried | frito |
| fruit | fruta |
| green beans | habichuelas |
| green pepper | pimiento verde |
| hot dog | perrito caliente |
| hamburger | hamburguesa |
| lamb | cordero |
| lemon | limón |
| lentils | lentejas |
| lettuce | lechuga |
| lime | lima |
| main course | segundo plato |
| mint | menta |
| mushroom | champiñón |
| mussels | mejillones |
| mustard | mostaza |
| olive oil | aceite de oliva |
| olive | aceituna |
| oxtail | rabo de buey |
| pasta | pasta |
| pepper | pimienta |
| salt | sal |
If you’re anything like me, you know that half the joy of visiting someplace new is the opportunity to take advantage of a new style of cooking and experience all of the culinary customs of that place. One of the best things to do while traveling is to sample a local cuisine; the last thing you want is to go hungry in a foreign land. Take our advice: learn to order food off a Spanish menu! You might also want to learn how to order a beer in Spanish.
More articles you may enjoy:
What is the longest word in Spanish?
How to learn Spanish in the car?
Learn Spanish audio books free.
