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This is a very practical video. It is the only one i have found so far that actually suggests how to order the temperature of your meat. (see suggestion #6) I needed this a few weeks ago when I went to a Mexican restaurant. My wife threw me under the bus in telling the waiter that I was learning Spanish. He launched into a full blown conversation about how I wanted my steak cooked and I was stuck. :-)

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Spring Spanish - Learn Spanish with Chunks

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Order in a restaurant in Spanish like a Real LATINO INSIDER

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I found this video to very helpful as it encourages you to consider etiquette and find similiarites between what you are used to and what the expectation is in the new country. This is useful as it enables you to anticipate interactions and maintain respect.

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This is an interesting and somewhat humorous video on dos and don'ts for ordering and dining out in Spanish at a restaurant in Latin America.

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common spanish restaurant phrases - Search Videos

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I like this website because it gives you commonly used phrases to assist in dining out in Spanish speaking countries, then goes beyond and uses phrases that you want to say but may not learn in a basic Spanish class. It shows these words also in examples which i found particularly helpful. Rather than just staring at the word it shows what context and appropriate usage.

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LangBox | A Better Way to Learn Languages

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Traveling abroad and not tasting the local food is a sin.

Especially if you get to visit one of theSpanish speaking countries, which are famous for their delicious cuisine.

Spanish tapas, Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian steak, Chilean empanadas...My mouth waters at the mere thought of all this yumminess.

Ladies and gentlemen - we are eating out today!

The Must-Know Spanish Phrases for Restaurant:

🇪🇸 un restaurante / un restorán -🇬🇧 a restaurant

🇪🇸 una mesa para dos - 🇬🇧 a table for two

🇪🇸 ¿Desea postre? - 🇬🇧 Would you like some dessert?

🇪🇸 La cuenta, por favor - 🇬🇧 the bill /the check, please.

How to book a table in a restaurant in Spanish

Making a reservation is always a good idea, especially if you are in a busy tourist spot or want to check out a trendy restaurant.

Below you'll find some useful phrases and typical questions you might get asked when booking a table. Please notice how most of them use common Spanish question words:

🇪🇸 Quiero reservar una mesa, por favor.
🇬🇧 I'd like to book a table, please.

Mind you, both Spaniards and Latin Americans are famous for late dining!

Make sure to reviewhow to tell the time in Spanish, too. It might come in handy when making a reservation!

Basic objects you'll find on a restaurant table, and what they are called in Spanish

Knowing how to name the typical objects you usually find on a restaurant table seems like a good idea. You never know - they might be missing, not very clean, etc.

The last two items sound almost the same in English and Spanish, don't they?

A big number of cognates - or friends - is one reason Spanish is such an easy language to learn.

Just a couple of tips before we move on:

In Latin America, it is common to get complimentary bread rolls, butter, and a sample size of local bruschetta - like toppings or sauces (pebre, chimichurri, and such).

Typical salad seasoning you get offered is freshly squeezed lemon juice (you can ask for it at no extra cost), olive oil, and salt.

Drinking tap water in Latin America is not recommended, mainly if your stomach is not used to it. Instead, ask for bottled water (still or sparkling) or - my absolute favorite - a fresh fruit smoothie.

Inquiring about the restaurant menu in Spanish

Have you ever ordered food while abroad without being sure what it was? I have. Quite a few times 😉

Being self-conscious about your vocabulary limitations and shy to speak Spanish in public can sometimes cost you dearly and leave you face to face with a dish you unwillingly ordered.

Better get ready ahead of time, work a little on your food-related vocabulary, and learn how to inquire about food in Spanish:

How to order food and drinks in a restaurant - essential Spanish phrases

So, we've been seated, handed the menu, all our doubts and questions clarified.

I hope you're getting hungry.

Let's order, shall we?

First, the questions we might get asked by the waiter/waitress:

🇪🇸 ¿Le / les gustaría alguna entrada? ( le refers to usted and les refers to ustedes.)
🇬🇧 Would you like any starter?

Now that we can understand what the waiter is asking, let's see what we can say in reply:

Pay attention: . Spanish nouns have genders. They can be masculine and feminine. Confusing them is one of thecommon mistakes English speakers make in Spanish.

Praising food and service - essential Spanish restaurant phrases

You've had your starter, main course and dessert, and now you are sipping a "bajativo" made of local herbs feeling all mellow and happy?

Time to let your waiter know how much you've appreciated your food and the service.

Spanish phrases for dealing with problems in a restaurant

Eating out can be such a wonderful experience, right? Delicious food, impeccable service, comfortable and tastefully decorated place.

Except...

it doesn't always turn out that great, does it?

Sometimes things go slightly wrong. Or terribly wrong.

And what was supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience turns into a huge disappointment.

How to deal with restaurant problems and inconveniences in Spanish? Have a look at some of the essential phrases:

🇪🇸 Quisiera hablar con el supervisor / el gerente.
🇬🇧 I'd like to speak to the supervisor / the manager.

Are you feeling frustrated? Angry? Disappointed? Learn how toname your feelings in Spanish and make your complaints even more powerful.

How to ask for a check / bill in Spanish

There isn't much to say here. The most essential restaurant phrase in Spanish to remember when paying is:

You're not sure how much to tip? Both in Spain and Latin America, it is customary to leave 10%. When in Chile, check your bill carefully - the tip might have been already included in your total!

And remember, if you want to learn additional expressions related to buying things, payment methods and such, read my post on shopping in Spanish.

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93 Spanish Phrases For Restaurant - Essential Expressions - LangBox

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Traveling abroad and not tasting the local food is a sin. Especially if you get to visit one of theSpanish speaking countries , which are famous for their delicious cuisine. Spanish tapas, Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian steak, Chilean empanadas...My mouth waters at the mere thought of all this yumminess.

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I love all the different phrases about food and cooking a meal in specific.

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Basic Spanish Sentences: Talk about Food | Spanishfornoobs.com

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Basic Spanish sentences to know for beginners with English translation. Very useful if you want to practice for Spanish conversation!

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I enjoyed the abundance of words and pronunciation tips from this page. Excited to use Libre de gluten if I am ever to travel to places like México or Spain or even in Spanish speaking regions in America.

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Learning how to read a restaurant menu and order food in Spanish will unlock a wide array of new flavors and experiences.

From Spanish paella to Chilean wines, there's a whole world of food and drink waiting for you out there. With 21 Spanish-speaking countries, there is a wealth of culinary excellence for you to enjoy next time you travel to Spain or across Latin America.

Let's face it, eating is one of the best parts of traveling. Experiencing Peruvian ceviche or authentic Mexican street tacos for the first time is something anyone would cherish. And even if you're not one to eat your way through your travels, you still need some food in your belly!

So, whether you're a certified foodie or simply trying to stay fed, learning how to order food in Spanish will help you accomplish whatever you're after! Plus, even if you're in a popular tourist town-like Cancún or Punta Cana-ordering in Spanish can help you show appreciation and respect for the local culture. It could even help you save some money if you end up getting local prices!

So, let's get into 234 helpful words and phrases for ordering food at a restaurant in Spanish!

Spanish phrases for restaurant dining

Now that we've got you all buttered up, let's get into the different ways of ordering at a restaurant in Spanish. We've broken down this article into different stages of the meal-ordering process. From basic restaurant vocabulary that you should know to dietary restrictions, making reservations, ordering takeout, and beyond.

Restaurant vocabulary in Spanish

One of the first things you'll worry about after you land in a Spanish-speaking country is how to order food in Spanish. Although this can seem daunting at first-especially if you're still at the beginner Spanish level -being familiar with just a handful of words will allow you to seamlessly order exactly what you want!

Dietary restrictions in Spanish

If you follow a special diet, you may be concerned about finding restaurants that will meet your dietary restrictions.

You may be surprised to learn that most restaurants in Spanish-speaking countries can be incredibly accommodating to your dietary needs. All you need to do is ask nicely!

How to ask for a table in Spanish

Making reservations in a foreign language can be the ultimate test for a foreign-language learner. If you've been taking Spanish classes online for a while, what better way to test your progress than making dinner reservations in Spanish?

And even if you haven't been studying Spanish all that long, memorizing a few of the handy phrases below can help you get the job done without much trouble.

How to order at a restaurant in Spanish

If you're already sitting at a restaurant in Bogotá or Buenos Aires, this is the section of the article you desperately need. If you're wondering how to order at a restaurant in Spanish, the table below will teach you any phrase you'd ever need when ordering some delicious vegetables in Spanish, arepas or a nice, juicy Argentinian steak.

Conversation example with translation

If you're more of a visual learner, here's a sample conversation that can help you visualize many of these useful words and phrases in the real world. Follow this quick example of a simple conversation at a restaurant and picture yourself ordering your next meal at a nice restaurant!

And here's a challenge for you: try replacing all of the food and drink orders in the conversation below with your favorites! Don't eat meat? Order something vegetarian instead! Prefer white wine? Ask for your favorite Chardonnay! Get as creative as you can as you order your ideal dinner.

Spanish phrases for restaurant workers and waiters

If you're a waiter looking to find a summer job in a Spanish speaking country or simply want to better serve your Spanish-speaking clients, you'll want to learn some vocabulary related to serving guests at restaurants.

Check out the phrases below to quickly and easily master some Spanish phrases for restaurant workers.

Conversation example with translation

Here's another sample conversation on how a dinner might go down. This one is more centered around the needs of a waiter or waitress, so if you work in the restaurant or hospitality industry-this one's for you!

Restaurant menu in Spanish

And now, the best part of this whole entire article for every foodie: the menu! While menu items vary from restaurant to restaurant, of course, we've gathered some of the most commonly recurring dishes and ingredients to get you started. Deciphering a restaurant menu in Spanish won't be a big deal at all once you're familiar with the words and phrases below!

Desserts in Spanish

Last but certainly not least, we've got the dessert section! Whether you have a sweet tooth or just want some fruit at the end of a big meal, everybody enjoys a treat from time to time. Check out the table below so you're not shy to ask for the dessert menu in Spanish next time you go out to eat!

How to order tacos in Spanish

Let's face it, who doesn't enjoy having two or three (or seven) tacos? Tacos are some of the most universally-loved foods, not only for their taste but also thanks to how fun they are two eat. The contrasting flavors and textures between the warm filling, the crunchy lettuce, the soft tortilla, and the cold salsa are the perfect recipe for an explosion of flavor in your mouth!

To order your tacos, you will first need to master counting in Spanish. How many numbers you learn depends on how many tacos you want to eat, so think carefully about how well you want to learn them!

Once you know the numbers, ordering your tacos is easy. You just use the verb querer (to want) and ask for your tacos:

You get the gist.

If you want to be extra polite, you could also use the verb dar (to give) and the formal usted. In Mexico, it's customary to use the formal usted when addressing the taquero (the taco man!), unless you've already developed a close relationship with him. Here's what that would look like:

Beyond these simple constructions, here are a few words and phrases that may be helpful when ordering tacos.

What kind do you have?
¿De qué tiene?
de ˈke ˈtjene ‖

deh keh tee-eh-neh

Most taco trucks offer at least a couple of different types of tacos. It's always a good idea to ask what kind they have!

With everything.

kõn ˈtoðo ‖

kohn toh-doh

Tacos come with different trimmings. If you ask for a taco con todo, they will serve it with every trimming. Go for this if you're adventurous! Con todo is usually the taquero's recommendation.

Without X.

sĩn s ‖

seen

You can ask them to leave something out, like onions, cilantro, salsa, or any of the trimmings.

Crispy.

doɾaˈðitos ‖

doh-ra-dee-toss

This may not apply to all taco types, but if you like yours on the crispier side, you can always ask the taquero if he'll make them doraditos for you.

Half and half.
Campechano.
kãmpeˈʧano ‖

cam-peh-cha-no

Campechano means half and half, so if the taquero has two types of meat, you can always ask for a combined taco!

The spicy one.

la ˈke ˈpika ‖

la keh pee-cah

There'll usually be a few salsa options for you, so watch out for la que pica! You can also ask for la que pica if you're looking for mild.

How much is it?

ˈkwãnto ˈɛs ‖

coo-ahn-toh ess

You don't normally get a check at a taco truck. Instead, you just ask the taquero how much you owe. They rarely take credit cards too, so make sure to bring some cash!

Most common types of tacos in Mexico

Now that you know how to order a taco like a pro, let's get into all the possible fillings. As you travel through the vast and beautiful country of Mexico, you'll find that this list is nowhere near exhaustive. Each region in the country has a different specialty, so there are hundreds if not thousands of different types of tacos you can try!

With that said, here are the 20 most common types of tacos you'll run into when in Mexico.

As a bonus tip, you can take your taco-ordering skills up a notch by skipping the "taco" and only sticking to the type of taco. You can use the ordering formula we outlined above, just replace the word taco with the type of taco you want to sound like a real native!

Quiero dos de canasta.

¿Me da tres al pastor con todo?

¿Me da dos de bistec, dos de arrachera, y uno campechano, por favor?

Now you're truly ready to eat your way through Mexico!

Tipping etiquette in Spanish-speaking countries

If you're used to tipping in the US, you may be surprised to see what tipping is like in Spain and across Latin America. Tips in the US are among the highest in the world, so don't be surprised if you see everyone tipping only 10% or less!

Here is the tipping etiquette in Spain and most Latin American countries.

Restaurant culture in Spanish-speaking countries

Meal times

One of the first instances of culture shock you may run into is how different meal times are in Spain and Latin America. Breakfast is pretty much the same but both lunch and dinner happen at a much later time.

In the US, lunch is usually eaten between noon and 1 p.m. and is usually very light, such as a salad, a wrap, or a sandwich. This is because most people work 9-to-5 jobs, so staying alert is very important in order to stay productive through the workday. And we all know how hard it is to stay productive after a big meal!

However, Hispanic countries have a workaround for this problem. As you're probably aware, the Spanish enjoy having a little siesta in the afternoon. This allows them to break up their workday into two chunks with a big break in the middle of the day. Long enough to have a big meal and then have a siesta after! And there we go, sluggishness avoided!

This goes hand in hand with lunch being the biggest meal of the day as opposed to dinner. With this in mind, lunch usually happens much later in the day and lasts a lot longer than in the US. You likely won't find anyone who has lunch before 1 p.m. and it's not uncommon for people to eat lunch as late as 3 p.m.!

As you can probably imagine, a late lunch will also push dinner even later. As mentioned before, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, so dinner is usually a smaller or more simple meal. Depending on the country, dinner is usually eaten between 7 and 10 p.m., but you'll never meet anyone who eats dinner at 5 or 6 p.m. like in the US. In fact, you'll probably struggle to find restaurants that serve dinner that early!

You have to pay for water

Most restaurants in the US will start you off with a giant glass of water before you even ask for it. Not only is this not the norm in Spain and Latin America, but you will also likely have to pay for your water!

If you enjoy having some water along with your meal, you will have to specifically request it from the waiter. They will usually bring you bottled water, which they will charge you for accordingly.

Some restaurants that have filtered water available will offer it to guests free of charge, but only if they ask for it correctly. Asking for "free water" or tap water outright may be considered rude, so it's best to stick to indirect requests. If you want to maximize your chances of not having to pay for a bottle of water, try some of the following:

Asking for the POS terminal

This practice started in Latin American countries in order to prevent credit card fraud. Instead of taking your card away to the POS terminal when it's time to pay, they just bring the terminal right to your table. That way, you never lose sight of your credit card and only hand it to the waiter for a couple of minutes.

Plus, most credit cards in Latin America require you to punch in your PIN number when making a purchase instead of your signature, so having the terminal nearby is very convenient.

Also, note that tipping is added to your bill before they charge your card. So the moment you hand your credit card to the waiter is the right time to ask them to add any tip percentage or the amount you'd like to your bill!

Test your knowledge

Now that you know how to order food in Spanish, try ordering something off of our Berlitz Spanish menu. There are lots of local specials to choose from.

Now you've got plenty of restaurant vocab to munch on

If you read through this entire article, then it's official-you're a foodie! As extensive as this blog was, it comes nowhere near close to even scratching the surface of the gastronomical richness of Spanish and Latin American cuisines. Not only does each country have its own distinct cuisine, but different regional variations within each country can really make your head spin!

But do not worry, you have a whole lifetime to travel and taste all the unique and exciting flavors of Spain and Latin America. And the more you learn Spanish, the easier conquering all the Hispanic cuisines will be!

If you enjoyed this blog, make sure to feast on the rest of our Spanish blog. We have published tons of unique and helpful guides that will allow you to seamlessly communicate with Spanish speakers wherever you go. Make sure to bookmark our blog, as we publish brand new content every month!

Now, go find your nearest Mexican restaurant or Argentinian steakhouse and put your new vocabulary to the test. ¡Buen provecho!

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How to Order Food & Read a Restaurant Menu in Spanish

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Learning how to read a restaurant menu and order food in Spanish will unlock a wide array of new delicious flavors and experiences.

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I like this graphic that gives an example of how a conversation with a waiter might go. It gives some examples of what the waiter might say as well as things you might want to ask which I found helpful!

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I like this resource because it covers pretty much everything you would need to say or know for ordering in a restaurant in Spanish. It also includes some things that are commonly done/said/ordered in Mexico like common beverages. This article also has several videos imbedded that show ordering in Spanish which is helpful to be able to hear the pronunciation.

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do. All you need is some basic vocabulary and phrases so you can order confidently.

To show you how it's done, we went to our favorite restaurant in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico. This place is called Los Molcajetes - "The Mortars." We went in with our gear to make a video about how to order food in Spanish in the real world. No textbooks, no phrases that will make you sound weird, rude or too polite. Just the real deal. Watch the video if you want to listen to the conversation, or keep reading.

Common Phrases for Ordering Food in Spanish

These are some of the most important phrases we go over in the video:

Hola, buenas tardes. = Hi, good afternoon.

Todavía no estamos listos. = We are not ready yet.

¿Nos puedes dar un minuto más, por favor? = Can you give us one more minute, please?

Te/Le encargo... = Would you bring me...? / Can I get...?

Para él/ella = For him/her

Vamos a compartir. = We are going to share.

Todo está delicioso. = Everything is delicioso.

Te encargo la cuenta, por favor. = Can I get the check, please?

¿Aceptan tarjetas? = Do you take cards?

¡Gracias! = Thank you!

It is not always necessary to make reservations in Mexico, but it is sometimes a good idea, especially if you are going to a fancy restaurant or to a popular place that gets easily crowded. This can help you avoid waiting for a long time. Also, consider making a reservation if you are going with six or more people, as it may be difficult to find a table for everyone without waiting. To make a reservation, say:

" Quiero hacer una reservación para # personas el (día) a las (hora), por favor."
"I'd like to make a reservation for # people on (day) at (time), please."

Suppose you want to make a reservation for five people on Saturday at 6pm. You would say:

"Quiero hacer una reservación para cinco personas el sábado a las seis (de la tarde), por favor."

They'll ask you your name - ¿Cuál es su nombre? - and that should be it.
Once you arrive to the restaurant, let them know you've made a reservation:
Tengo una reservación a nombre de... = I have a reservation under...
If the restaurant is busy, they might cut you off after reservación. You might hear them say, ¿A nombre de quien? - Under what name? Tell them, and they'll either take you to your table and say Por aquí - this way. Or they may ask you to wait a few minutes. Un momento, por favor. - One moment, please.

The first thing you usually do at a restaurant, store, or a friend's house is to greet people. So, when your waiter ( el mesero) comes to the table, you can greet him/her by saying:

How to Say "Can You Repeat That?"

If you can't understand what the waiter is asking or saying you can say:

In most restaurants in Mexico, it is common to order drinks before food. Common bebidas = drinks you might want to order are:

When you are ready to order your drinks you can use the phrase Te encargo... This is a very useful phrase for just about anything you might need. It's common in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. There is no exact translation in English for this phrase, but you hear it a lot at restaurants and for some reason, it is never in any Spanish textbook. Here are some examples of how you can use it:

Remember, if the waiter/waitress looks older than you, use Le instead of Te. You can say:

If you're ordering a country that's not Mexico or Central America, you can use ¿ Me trae...? (formal) or ¿Me traes...? (informal) in the same way.

Ordering for Someone Else

In the video, Jim ordered his own drink and then he ordered for me by saying:

Y un "Limoncito" para ella. = And a "Limoncito" for her.

When you want to order for someone else you can say what the other person wants followed by "para ella" (female) or "para él" (male). For example:

Te encargo un café y una cerveza para él. = Can I get a coffee and a beer for him?

Now for the main meal. These are the most common situations you'll encounter for ordering food in Spanish.

Are You Ready to Order?

When the waiter/waitress comes to your table to take your order, they will ask you:

If you know what you want to order, then you can reply:

But you are not ready to order food yet, you can use any of these phrases:

Placing Your Order

In the Ordering Drinks section, we saw that "Te encargo..." is something you can say to ask for anything. You may use this as well for ordering food, but another phrase you can also use for ordering at a restaurant is "Va a ser..." = It's going to be... followed by whatever you want. For example:

Other alternatives are:

¿Me puede(s)* traer..., por favor? = Could you bring me..., please?

¿Me puede(s)* dar..., por favor? = Could you give me..., please?

Quiero..., por favor.** = I want... please.

We add an S to puede to talk in an informal way. I know it may feel rude to say quiero, but as long as you say por favor and use a nice tone of voice, it's just fine.
Asking About Ingrediants for Special Diets and Allergies

Let's have a look at some of the most common questions to ask a waiter while ordering. If you want to make sure if the dish you'd like to order has (or does not have) a certain ingredient, you could ask ¿Lleva...? = Does it have...in it?

Asking if Something is Spicy

Whether you like spicy food or not, it can be helpful to ask ahead of time. Use these phrases to find out:

If you're sensitive to spicy food, you might want use one of the following phrases:

¿Lo pueden hacer sin chile? = Can you make it without chile/spice?

¿Se puede hacer sin chile? = Can it be made without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción similar sin chile? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción que no pique? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

The words con = with and sin = without are also very useful. They allow us to add or take away ingredients from our dish.

If the waiter/waitress asks ¿Sería todo? = Would that be all? you can simply answer by saying:

When the waiter/waitress comes back with your food, they'll probably ask who ordered what. When they ask about yours, you could say:

How to Say "Bon Appetit" in Spanish

The key to ordering food politely in Spanish is using por favor often. But you'll need to master one other culturally appropriate phrase to dominate the dining experience in Spanish.

Before you start eating your food, it is important to follow the Mexican rule telling the others to enjoy their meal by saying provecho or buen provecho. Besides saying this to the other people at our table before we start eating, it is also common to say it to the people at the other tables on your way out of the restaurant. But pay attention. We only do this in small, casual places. We wouldn't do it at a fancy restaurant, for example.

As you may know, we have a similar rule about drinks. We say salud before we start drinking. It is more common to do this when having alcoholic drinks, but not necessarily.

While you are at the restaurant, the waiter/waitress may approach you every now and then to make sure everything is alright. They may ask things like:

If you don't need anything, then you can reply:

But if there is something you need, then you can say:

In the video, we didn't order dessert because we were really llenos = full, but this is how you can ask about a dessert menu:

You can use either Te/Le encargo... or Va a ser... to order dessert. For example:

Requesting a To-Go Container

If you didn't finish your meal, you could order it for takeout. This is common and it's not considered tacky as it sometimes is in some other countries. This is the most common way of asking:

Para llevar, for favor. = For takeout, please.

If, on the contrary, you'd like to specify that you'll eat at the restaurant, then just say para comer aquí.

You can ask for the check by saying:

There is also a non-spoken way of asking for the check. It consists of raising your hand to get the waiter's attention and then moving your hand as if you were writing something down. If you're looking to practice your Spanish, then I would recommend the previous options, but this might come handy in noisy places or when the waiter is far away.

Also, bear in mind that there are many restaurants in Mexico where they only take cash. So, if you want to check whether you can pay by card or not, you can ask:

If they don't take cards, they'll reply sólo efectivo = cash only.

That's all there is to it! This is how you order food in Spanish. There are many more phrases you can use but these are the most common ones, and the ones I am pretty sure you won't find in your grammar book.*

* This is what Mexicans say after a good meal:

¡Panza llena, corazón contento! = A full stomach makes for a happy heart!

Next time you are eating with your Spanish speaking friends or at a Spanish speaking restaurant, you can show your skills and order food in Spanish for everyone at the table.

Go out there and practice! Let us know in the comments how it went.

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How to Order Food in Spanish [Essential Words and Phrases] - Spanish and Go

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do.

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The study Spanish .com website has lots of good information including what is typically eaten at each meal.https://studyspanish.com/culture/customs-around-food-and-meals-in-spain

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Culture

You could be in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, or any other Spanish speaking country, and if you engage in a conversation with locals you will soon find yourself talking about food.

Much of the Spanish culture revolves around food. People will invite you to eat as a gesture of welcoming or potential friendship. Grandmothers will insist that you go for seconds and thirds, friends will gather around food, and there is not a celebration that does not include good food.

When you travel to a Spanish speaking country, do not try to keep your normal eating habits. Embrace the foods from the country, their customs around the table, and their schedules.

While each of the Spanish speaking countries has their own food customs and dishes, I would like to comment on some of the most significant customs around food in Spain, as I was born and raised in this country.

If you find yourself visiting Spain, please be aware that there are general customs revolving around food and the table, and that each region has its own dishes and culinary traditions. Adopt the initial ones right away, and adapt as you travel around the country.

Meal Times

One of the more important things to be aware of when in Spain is that they follow a fairly precise schedule for meals. Specific meals are only available at certain times throughout the day.

If you are used to a more relaxed schedule and availability that can be found in other countries, such as the United States, then this can be a bit tricky to get used to and plan for.

The concept of going into a restaurant at any time of the day and being able to order a meal does not exist in Spain. Most restaurants serve lunch between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. Dinner starts availability at 9pm, and is not uncommon to go past midnight.

If you try to enter a restaurant at 5pm, you will not only find it empty, you will also discover that they will not serve you. They may have a bar where you can get a drink, but they will not serve food again until the start of dinner time.

Breakfast

Breakfast in Spain often consists of coffee and baked goods. These baked goods are typically of the unsweetened and semi-sweetened type, such as croissants and pastries. In Spain, the name for this type of food is bollería.

If you are accustomed to a larger, more filling meal for breakfast then this might seem a little light. I'd encourage you to try to make it work, as you will find that the other meals throughout the day will be much more satisfying.

The idea of a restaurant that serves or specializes in large breakfast meals is nonexistent in most of Spain. Even to get the bollería you will be going to a cafetería (coffee shop).

Spaniards go light on breakfast, but lunch, dinner, and the snacks in-between can be great and very filling.

La Hora del Pincho

If you are like me, and do not like starting the day with sweets, you may want to wait until you reach la hora del pincho. A pincho is best described as a snack, but literally means skewer or toothpick. It receives this name because many of the foods served at this time are penetrated by a long, thin stick to keep the ingredients together.

Various pinchos on display for purchase in Spain.

Spaniards have a large but late lunch. It is commonly eaten around 2 or 3 pm, so to break the long hours of the morning and early afternoon, they have a pincho around 11 am. This is typically a small sandwich with some kind of meat in it, like pollo (chicken) or lomo (lamb), or with tortilla de patatas (a Spanish frittata-style dish).

Pinchos are served in any cafeteria or bar. If you enter one of these many establishments along the streets, they will usually offer a great variety of pinchos and café.If you are having a drink in a cafeteria around this time of day, it's very common for the bartender or waiter to drop off a small free pincho for you to enjoy with your drink.

Lunch

Having had a pincho may tempt you to skip lunch, right? I suggest you do not, and I will explain why.

The first reason is lunch is an experience in Spain. In many parts of the country, especially the northern area, from west to east and areas of Castille, they offer hearty, flavorful and delicious lunches. You do not want to miss these, and if you do, you may be hungry again if you have been doing the tourist thing and walking the streets for hours.

It is very common in northern Spain to find restaurants that offer menú del día (menu of the day). This menu is advertised on posters or small chalkboards outside of each restaurant showing you the special dishes they offer for today's lunch, as well as the set price for the entire meal.

A menú del día will usually consist of a few dishes, with different options to choose from for each one. For example, for the first dish you might have the option of a soup or salad.

For the second dish, you might see different meat, poultry or fish dishes to choose one from.

Usually the final dish is a choice of desserts, which are typically different types of cake or ice cream.

Keep in mind that this set price meal usually includes bread (it is very rare to not have bread in a Spanish meal) and wine or water.

If this sounds like a lot of food to you, then you would be correct, it often is. But if you think this will be expensive, you may be very surprised to hear that meals like this are often offered at around €10 to €15 ($12 to $18).

The second reason to not skip lunch is because the time from lunch to dinner will be about 7 hours.

Dinner

One of the most common stories I hear about from Americans visiting Spain is their surprise when they enter a restaurant at 7pm and are told that they cannot even order dinner until 9pm at the earliest.

Spaniards themselves will typically not sit down for dinner in a restaurant until 10pm. Because of this, it's not uncommon for dinner to last well past midnight for some people.

If you are not planning on eating at a specific restaurant, and are instead browsing for one as you walk around a town, then you'll find it very accommodating. All restaurants will have a copy of their menu on display outside of the main entrance, making it easy for you to walk up and see if you like the dishes they offer.

The process of ordering dinner in Spain is just like it is in most other countries. You will receive a menu from which you can order, and you will be asked if you'd like to have any wine and water.

Water Is Not Free

Like much of Europe, water is almost always served bottled, and therefore isn't provided for free.

The idea of getting free (tap) water with a meal at a restaurant is not normal in Spain, and it would even be considered strange or rude if you were to order it.

Tell Others to Enjoy Their Meal

Once dinner is served, the waiter, and those around you will tell you buen provecho. Make sure to remember this phrase and say it on your way in and out to those who are already eating around you. Remember to answer with gracias, as you are wished to enjoy your meal.

It is considered rude if you do see someone eating and do not tell them buen provecho, even when walking by people that you do not know. If they are eating, you say it as you pass.

Adults and children alike are expected to know this. It applies in restaurants as well as at home, with friends or within the family. You will need to say it not only at dinner time, but any time you are close to someone who is eating.

Spaniards typically realize that this custom is unique to their country, so they are usually understanding of foreigners that do not follow this norm. However, if you see a frustrated look in your direction as you pass a group eating a meal, this is likely the reason.

Tips Are Not Expected

Tipping is not expected in Spanish restaurants. Another surprising difference for Americans.

If you are pleased with your meal and service, you may, of course, tip your server, but you are not expected to do so. La propina is something volunteer that is typically only done when extremely impressed with the meal and service.

Even when done, tipping a full 15% or more is considered extremely generous in Spain.

Table Manners

Elders sitting with you at the table are offered to choose seating before anyone else. We always make sure grandparents sit comfortably at the table, and then we arrange the rest of the family.

You will observe that no one says grace at the table. Although Spain is a historically Catholic country, Spaniards consider religion a cultural trait, but they do not practice it often as part of a meal.

It is considered appropriate to wait until everyone is served to start eating. Adults and children will participate in animated conversations around their meals. These can be lengthy for that reason, and also due to the number of courses served for each meal. Americans will often find them too long, but if you get tired at the table, whatever you do, try not to stretch or yawn. These are two serious faux-pas you must keep in mind at all times while sitting for a meal.

Useful Phrases

Since we are talking about food and manners around the table, below are a few phrases that you will find useful to know and use.

Getting set up at the table:

Adelante.
(Go ahead, after you.) Mesa para cuatro (cinco, siete...), por favor.
(Table for four [five, seven...], please.) Usted primero.
(You first.)

Understanding the server:

¿Qué desean de primero?
(What would you like for the first course?)
¿Qué desean de segundo?
(What would you like to have as the second course?) ¿Desean un poco más?
(Would you like some more?) ¿Y de beber, qué les pongo?
(And to drink, what should I bring you?)
¿Desean postre?
(Would you like desert?)

Paying the bill:

El Paseo

If you made it through the day following the schedule of the Spaniards, and eating like them, make sure you go for the el paseo de la noche, a well- established custom in Spain that most people will follow after their late and abundant dinner.

This is simply a walk that couples and families will often take after a good dinner.

By the time you are done with el paseo, you will have completed the day and most likely get to bed around midnight or a little later, the real Spanish way!

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Customs Around Food and Meals in Spain - StudySpanish.com

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Culture You could be in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, or any other Spanish speaking country, and if you engage in a conversation with locals you will soon find yourself talking about food. Much of the Spanish culture revolves around food. People will invite you to eat as a gesture of welcoming or potential friendship.

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This site gives a list of common phrases to use while interacting with staff at a restaurant, as well as common phrases for ordering food and ways a waiter might respond.

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Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster.

If you are anything like me (a foodie), then learning the most common vocabulary related to food should be a top priority when learning a second language. So in this post, you will learn how to order food in Spanish, whether you find yourself traveling in a Spanish speaking country, or want to chit chat with the waiting staff at your local taco house.
*warning: you may get hungry reading this post*
We present a lot of the material from this post in the following video. As you work through the post we include additional videos where you'll be presented with food and drink vocabulary, and with restaurant situations, in order to practice what you've just learned.

1) Getting a nice table

Let's get started by knowing how to greet the waiting staff and choosing where you'll sit.

- Buenos días,

- Buenas tardes, (una) mesa para __ persona(s), por favor

- Buenas noches,

- Disculpe, ¿Podemos elegir donde sentarnos?

- Good morning,

- Good afternoon, a table for ___ people, please

- Good evening,

- Excuse me, can we choose where to sit?

Sidenote: In some countries such as Colombia or Venezuela, you might hear the expression "buenas", without "días", "tardes" or "noches" word, since it is a slightly informal way to greet at any time of the day.
2) Ordering a drink

Ok, let's have a drink to whet the appetite.
Sidenote: Some phrases may sound kinda rude when translated to English ("bring me"), but these phrases are commonly used in Spanish. If in doubt, simply make sure to include "por favor" (please) to avoid sounding rude.
3) Ordering food in Spanish

Once you've had a chance to browse the menu, and know what you are going to order, the can use the verbs Pedir (to ask for) or Ordenar (to order).

- Aquí tiene el menú/carta

- ¿Le(s) puedo tomar su orden?

- ¿Desea ordenar?

- ¿Que desea(n) comer? / ¿Qué va a comer?

- ¿Podría hacerle(s) una sugerencia?

- Le recomiendo probar...

- ¿Con qué lo/la quiere?

- ¿Cómo lo/la quiere?

- El combo número ___ lleva ___ y ___

- ¡Buen provecho!

- Here is the menu

- Can I take your order?

- Would you like to order?

- What would you like to eat?

- Could I offer a suggestion?

- I recommend you to try...

- What do you want it with?

- How do you want it?

- Set number ___ includes ___ and ___

- Enjoy your meal!

- ¿Me podría mostrar el menú? Por favor

- ¿Cúal es la especialidad de la casa?

- ¿Qué me/nos puede recomendar?

- ¿Qué trae este platillo/plato?

- ¿Hay algún combo disponible?

- Para empezar me gustaría...

- Quisiera un/una...

- Quiero un/una... - Prefiero un/una...

- ¿Me/nos traes un/una...?

- Pediré / ordenaré este plato

- No he(mos) decidido aún, estoy/estamos en eso

- Soy vegetariano(a) - Soy vegano(a)

- Can you show me the menu? Please

- What is the restaurant's specialty?

- What can you recommend me/us?

- What does this dish include?

- is there any set available?

- To start I would like...

- I would like...

- I want...- I prefer...

- Will you bring me/us a...?

- I will order this dish

- I/we haven't decided yet, I/we am/are working on that

- I am vegetarian - I am vegan

Pollo asado

Roast chicken

Pollo frito

Fried chicken

Pollo a la parmesana

Chicken parm

Filete de pescado

Fish fillet

Carne Guisada

Stewed meat

Arroz blanco

Plain rice

Puré de papas

Mashed potatoes

Papas fritas

French fries

Papas salteadas

Sauté potatoes

Sopa de verduras

Vegetable soup

Ok in the last couple of sections we covered a bunch of vocab for different drinks and foods. Do you think you've learned them? Try your memory with this video where you're presented with the English words, giving you a moment to recall your new words for drinks and foods in Spanish.

4) Finishing up the meal

So you've enjoyed a delicious meal, and now it's time to wrap things up.

If you are in the US, then you may be used to the unspoken cue that happens when the waiter asks " Can I get you anything else?" and once you say " no ", they will bring you the check.

However, in Spain and Latin America, normally a waiter will not bring you the check until you ask for it.

- ¿Desea(n) un postre?

- ¿Le(s) puedo ofrecer algo más?

- Would you like a dessert?

- Can I get you anything else?

- Sobró mucho. ¿Me/nos podría poner esto para llevar? Por favor

- Disculpe, (tráigame) la cuenta, por favor

- ¿Me puede traer la cuenta?

- There's a lot left over, could I get this to go? please?

- Excuse me, (bring me) the check, please

- Can you bring me the check, please?

5) Conclusion: Time to practice!

In this post, we've gone through the common phrases and words for how to order food in Spanish. We started off with the introductions, so you can get a table and see the menu. Then we covered ordering drinks, with a nice list of common drinks. Ordering food came next, with several categories of meals. In addition, for both food and drinks, we gave links to our specific posts with even more specific vocabulary for each. We rounded out the post with some useful phrases for finishing up the meal and getting the bill.

With all that, do you feel like you know how to order food in Spanish? Why don't you give it a try! We'll leave you with one more video where we show some restaurant situations and give you some time within the dialogue to practice what you've learned. Now have a seat and get ready to place your order!

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How To Order Food In Spanish: Common Phrases & Words

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Whether it's for travel or speaking to staff at your local taco house, knowing how to order food In Spanish is easy once you learn these common phrases.

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I really liked this resource because it has a whole section that tells you how to say "I can't eat..." or "I only eat..." which is vital if you have dietary restrictions while visiting another country. It also has sections that list the names of common food like different meats and drinks.

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100+ Must Know Spanish Food Vocabulary for Restaurants

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Traveling to Spain or Latin America? Here are 100+ must know Spanish food vocabulary for ordering at restaurants, bars, and more. Learn these words today.

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I like this site because they have a list of words and phrases to use in restaurants as well as a flowchart on how to make a reservation for two! I think it makes it easier to understand as well.

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Madison Rittenhouse

[Total: 9 Average: 5/5]

Ultimate Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish

Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

Essential Spanish Restaurant Phrases

Let's start off with an appetizer ( aperitivo) covering all the basics you're more than likely to encounter the moment you enter a restaurant. Spruce up your Spanish travel vocabulary with these dishes, eateries, foods, and drinks:

Setting the Table (Poniendo La Mesa)

Where Am I? (¿Dónde Estoy?)

On the Menu (En el Menú)

Salivating yet? Check out this useful list of common Spanish meals that you're bound to encounter on any menu during your travels.

Can I Buy You a Drink? (¿Puedo Invitarte a Una Copa?)

Navigating the Restaurant

You've walked through the doors of el restaurante. Maybe you've made a reservation, or you aren't sure if you should wait to be seated. Meanwhile, your stomach rumbles with hunger. Let's get you seated and ready to place in order in Spanish!

Useful Spanish Phrases for Ordering Food

Now, onto the main course! This list will teach you how to order food in Spanish in no time:

Soy vegetariano/vegetariana: I'm vegetarian

¿Tienen algún plato vegetariano?: Do you have any vegetarian dishes?

Tengo alérgia a __: I'm allergic to __

No como __: I don't eat __

Un momento por favor: One moment, please

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir: We need more time to decide.

Estoy/Estamos listos para ordenar/pedir: I/We are ready to order.

Quisiera _____: I would like ___

bien cocido: well-done

medio: medium

poco cocido/rojo: rare

¿Puede darme __?: Can you give me __?

¿Cuál es el plato del dia? What is the dish of the day?

¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? What is the typical food of this region?

¿Hay alguna especialidad de la casa?: Is there a house specialty?

¿Qué recomienda usted?: What do you recommend?

¿Qué lleva el plato?: What is in the dish?

¿Qué está incluido?: What is included?

¿Viene con ensalada?: Does it come with salad?

¿Cuál es la sopa del día?: What is the soup of the day?

Spanish Restaurant Phrases for Waiters (Frases Comunes en Restaurantes Para Meseros)

This may be shocking to many, but you don't have to go overseas to speak restaurant Spanish! Have you heard of Calle 8? You can head on down to South Florida to practice your Spanish in the Latin restaurants of Miami . Spanish is best learned over food!

Once Your Food Has Arrived, Munch on These Phrases

There is no better feeling than seeing your waiter (mesero) approach your table with a tray of piping hot food. Put your Spanish restaurant dialogue to the test with these phrases that are guaranteed to get you through the meal and successfully pay for your service without getting lost in communication:

Is Your Belly Full With Spanish Travel Vocabulary?

Communication is an important part of our everyday lives, even more so when traveling to a foreign country. Becoming acquainted with Spanish will give you a leg up in better understanding the culture so you can make the most out of your trip (and meals).

If you're still hungry for more Spanish lessons, start your 7-day Pimsleur Spanish Free Trial - you'll be speaking like a pro in no time!

¡Buen provecho!

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102 Spanish Restaurant Phrases: How To Order Food in Spanish | The Pimsleur Language Blog

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Madison Rittenhouse [Total: 9 Average: 5/5] Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

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Very useful sentences for exchanging words with detail to make sure that there is no confusion when ordering.

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Like many places, dishes in Spanish speaking countries feature plenty of animal products.

If you avoid meat and/or dairy and you're learning Spanish, you've come to the right place.

By getting familiar with some plant-based vocabulary in Spanish, you'll have a simpler time getting around when in a Spanish-speaking country.

Fortunately, explaining that you're vegetarian or vegan in Spanish is straightforward.

How do you say vegan in Spanish

Vegan in Spanish is vegano (masculine) or vegana (feminine)

To explain to someone that you're vegan, you can say:

In this phrase soy comes from the verb ser and means I am.

How do you say vegetarian in Spanish?

Vegetarian in Spanish is vegetariano (masculine) or vegetariana (feminine).

To explain that you're vegetarian in a Spanish-speaking country, you can say:

Soy vegetariano

Soy vegetariana
I'm vegetarian [o ending for masculine, a ending for feminine]

If you've just decided to become a vegetarian, you might say,
"He decidido volverme vegetariano/a"
Or

" Recién decidí volverme vegetariano/a"

Note that the word carne (meat) typically refers to beef and pork. If you say No como carne (I don't eat meat), someone may assume that you still eat poultry and fish.

That's why the clearest option is simply Soy vegetariano/a.

How to say pescatarian in Spanish

If you don't eat meat but you do eat fish, you can say:

Soy pescetariano

Soy pescetariana
I'm pescatarian [o ending for masculine, a ending for feminine]

Or,

You could also describe your diet as "una dieta pesco vegetariana".

How to order vegetarian or vegan food in Spanish in a restaurant

Let's walk through a sample conversation you might have with a waiter to order as a vegetarian or vegan in Spanish:

*Note that the phrase " puedo tener", literally "Can I have" is a common mistake English speaking learners. Spanish speakers don't actually use this phrase to order food. Instead they use phrases like the above, or things like "Quiero + item", "Me trae + item", "Me da + item", "Para mí, [item], por favor"

What about if you're ordering something that has meat or non meat options (Where it says something like "Pick your protein").

Sin carne ni pollo, por favor, soy vegetariano/a

(Alt:Con frijoles en vez de carne, por favor)
Without chicken or beef, please, I've vegetarian.

(Alt: With beans instead of meat, please)

How to ask if a certain dish contains meat / cheese

To find out what ingredients a dish contains, you can use the verb llevar + the food item:

Asking around for vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Spanish

Say you just arrived in Mexico City and want to ask your hotel receptionist about vegetarian or vegan options in Spanish. Here are a few phrases you can use:

¿Hay restaurantes vegetarianos por aquí cerca?
Are there vegetarian restaurants near here?

¿Somos veganos, conoces por acaso algún restaurante vegano?
We are vegan, do you happen to know of any vegan restaurants?

¿Conoces algún restaurante con comida vegetariana/vegana?
Do you know of any restaurants with vegetarian/vegan food?

Vegetarian-friendly in Spanish

The exact phrase "vegan-friendly" or "vegetarian-friendly" doesn't translate perfectly into Spanish (that's more of an English word combination).

The simplest would be:

Restaurantes que sirven/tienen comida vegetariana

Restaurantes aptos para vegetarianos

How to read the menu and find animal product vocabulary in Spanish

Sometimes, the simplest thing is to read the menu yourself and figure out what you can and can't eat. Here is a short list of animal product foods in Spanish. That way, you can scan the menu and avoid dishes with these items.

How to read the menu and find vegetarian or vegan options in Spanish

Plant-based drinks in Spanish

Plant-based foods in Spanish

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Vegetarian & Vegan in Spanish: A Complete Guide

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Like many places, dishes in Spanish speaking countries feature plenty of animal products. If you avoid meat and/or dairy and you're learning Spanish, you've come to the right place. By getting familiar with some plant-based vocabulary in Spanish, you'll have a simpler time getting around when in a Spanish-speaking country.

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This is a great resource. I especially like - ¡Estuvo delicioso!: That was delicious!

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Madison Rittenhouse

[Total: 9 Average: 5/5]

Ultimate Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish

Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

Essential Spanish Restaurant Phrases

Let's start off with an appetizer ( aperitivo) covering all the basics you're more than likely to encounter the moment you enter a restaurant. Spruce up your Spanish travel vocabulary with these dishes, eateries, foods, and drinks:

Setting the Table (Poniendo La Mesa)

Where Am I? (¿Dónde Estoy?)

On the Menu (En el Menú)

Salivating yet? Check out this useful list of common Spanish meals that you're bound to encounter on any menu during your travels.

Can I Buy You a Drink? (¿Puedo Invitarte a Una Copa?)

Navigating the Restaurant

You've walked through the doors of el restaurante. Maybe you've made a reservation, or you aren't sure if you should wait to be seated. Meanwhile, your stomach rumbles with hunger. Let's get you seated and ready to place in order in Spanish!

Useful Spanish Phrases for Ordering Food

Now, onto the main course! This list will teach you how to order food in Spanish in no time:

Soy vegetariano/vegetariana: I'm vegetarian

¿Tienen algún plato vegetariano?: Do you have any vegetarian dishes?

Tengo alérgia a __: I'm allergic to __

No como __: I don't eat __

Un momento por favor: One moment, please

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir: We need more time to decide.

Estoy/Estamos listos para ordenar/pedir: I/We are ready to order.

Quisiera _____: I would like ___

bien cocido: well-done

medio: medium

poco cocido/rojo: rare

¿Puede darme __?: Can you give me __?

¿Cuál es el plato del dia? What is the dish of the day?

¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? What is the typical food of this region?

¿Hay alguna especialidad de la casa?: Is there a house specialty?

¿Qué recomienda usted?: What do you recommend?

¿Qué lleva el plato?: What is in the dish?

¿Qué está incluido?: What is included?

¿Viene con ensalada?: Does it come with salad?

¿Cuál es la sopa del día?: What is the soup of the day?

Spanish Restaurant Phrases for Waiters (Frases Comunes en Restaurantes Para Meseros)

This may be shocking to many, but you don't have to go overseas to speak restaurant Spanish! Have you heard of Calle 8? You can head on down to South Florida to practice your Spanish in the Latin restaurants of Miami . Spanish is best learned over food!

Once Your Food Has Arrived, Munch on These Phrases

There is no better feeling than seeing your waiter (mesero) approach your table with a tray of piping hot food. Put your Spanish restaurant dialogue to the test with these phrases that are guaranteed to get you through the meal and successfully pay for your service without getting lost in communication:

Is Your Belly Full With Spanish Travel Vocabulary?

Communication is an important part of our everyday lives, even more so when traveling to a foreign country. Becoming acquainted with Spanish will give you a leg up in better understanding the culture so you can make the most out of your trip (and meals).

If you're still hungry for more Spanish lessons, start your 7-day Pimsleur Spanish Free Trial - you'll be speaking like a pro in no time!

¡Buen provecho!

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102 Spanish Restaurant Phrases: How To Order Food in Spanish | The Pimsleur Language Blog

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Madison Rittenhouse [Total: 9 Average: 5/5] Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

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https://www.deliberatespanish.com/blog/ordering-food

This would be great to have when ordering food in spanish, especially when ordering in Espana!

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How to Sound Natural When Ordering Food in Spanish

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If you've ever felt self-conscious ordering food in Spain, this article will change your life. You'll never sound rude again if you follow these guidelines.

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I like that this website was well organized. It has a video at the beginning, and a table of contents so you can skip to a section. It was really well made.

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do. All you need is some basic vocabulary and phrases so you can order confidently.

To show you how it's done, we went to our favorite restaurant in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico. This place is called Los Molcajetes - "The Mortars." We went in with our gear to make a video about how to order food in Spanish in the real world. No textbooks, no phrases that will make you sound weird, rude or too polite. Just the real deal. Watch the video if you want to listen to the conversation, or keep reading.

Common Phrases for Ordering Food in Spanish

These are some of the most important phrases we go over in the video:

Hola, buenas tardes. = Hi, good afternoon.

Todavía no estamos listos. = We are not ready yet.

¿Nos puedes dar un minuto más, por favor? = Can you give us one more minute, please?

Te/Le encargo... = Would you bring me...? / Can I get...?

Para él/ella = For him/her

Vamos a compartir. = We are going to share.

Todo está delicioso. = Everything is delicioso.

Te encargo la cuenta, por favor. = Can I get the check, please?

¿Aceptan tarjetas? = Do you take cards?

¡Gracias! = Thank you!

It is not always necessary to make reservations in Mexico, but it is sometimes a good idea, especially if you are going to a fancy restaurant or to a popular place that gets easily crowded. This can help you avoid waiting for a long time. Also, consider making a reservation if you are going with six or more people, as it may be difficult to find a table for everyone without waiting. To make a reservation, say:

" Quiero hacer una reservación para # personas el (día) a las (hora), por favor."
"I'd like to make a reservation for # people on (day) at (time), please."

Suppose you want to make a reservation for five people on Saturday at 6pm. You would say:

"Quiero hacer una reservación para cinco personas el sábado a las seis (de la tarde), por favor."

They'll ask you your name - ¿Cuál es su nombre? - and that should be it.
Once you arrive to the restaurant, let them know you've made a reservation:
Tengo una reservación a nombre de... = I have a reservation under...
If the restaurant is busy, they might cut you off after reservación. You might hear them say, ¿A nombre de quien? - Under what name? Tell them, and they'll either take you to your table and say Por aquí - this way. Or they may ask you to wait a few minutes. Un momento, por favor. - One moment, please.

The first thing you usually do at a restaurant, store, or a friend's house is to greet people. So, when your waiter ( el mesero) comes to the table, you can greet him/her by saying:

How to Say "Can You Repeat That?"

If you can't understand what the waiter is asking or saying you can say:

In most restaurants in Mexico, it is common to order drinks before food. Common bebidas = drinks you might want to order are:

When you are ready to order your drinks you can use the phrase Te encargo... This is a very useful phrase for just about anything you might need. It's common in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. There is no exact translation in English for this phrase, but you hear it a lot at restaurants and for some reason, it is never in any Spanish textbook. Here are some examples of how you can use it:

Remember, if the waiter/waitress looks older than you, use Le instead of Te. You can say:

If you're ordering a country that's not Mexico or Central America, you can use ¿ Me trae...? (formal) or ¿Me traes...? (informal) in the same way.

Ordering for Someone Else

In the video, Jim ordered his own drink and then he ordered for me by saying:

Y un "Limoncito" para ella. = And a "Limoncito" for her.

When you want to order for someone else you can say what the other person wants followed by "para ella" (female) or "para él" (male). For example:

Te encargo un café y una cerveza para él. = Can I get a coffee and a beer for him?

Now for the main meal. These are the most common situations you'll encounter for ordering food in Spanish.

Are You Ready to Order?

When the waiter/waitress comes to your table to take your order, they will ask you:

If you know what you want to order, then you can reply:

But you are not ready to order food yet, you can use any of these phrases:

Placing Your Order

In the Ordering Drinks section, we saw that "Te encargo..." is something you can say to ask for anything. You may use this as well for ordering food, but another phrase you can also use for ordering at a restaurant is "Va a ser..." = It's going to be... followed by whatever you want. For example:

Other alternatives are:

¿Me puede(s)* traer..., por favor? = Could you bring me..., please?

¿Me puede(s)* dar..., por favor? = Could you give me..., please?

Quiero..., por favor.** = I want... please.

We add an S to puede to talk in an informal way. I know it may feel rude to say quiero, but as long as you say por favor and use a nice tone of voice, it's just fine.
Asking About Ingrediants for Special Diets and Allergies

Let's have a look at some of the most common questions to ask a waiter while ordering. If you want to make sure if the dish you'd like to order has (or does not have) a certain ingredient, you could ask ¿Lleva...? = Does it have...in it?

Asking if Something is Spicy

Whether you like spicy food or not, it can be helpful to ask ahead of time. Use these phrases to find out:

If you're sensitive to spicy food, you might want use one of the following phrases:

¿Lo pueden hacer sin chile? = Can you make it without chile/spice?

¿Se puede hacer sin chile? = Can it be made without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción similar sin chile? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción que no pique? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

The words con = with and sin = without are also very useful. They allow us to add or take away ingredients from our dish.

If the waiter/waitress asks ¿Sería todo? = Would that be all? you can simply answer by saying:

When the waiter/waitress comes back with your food, they'll probably ask who ordered what. When they ask about yours, you could say:

How to Say "Bon Appetit" in Spanish

The key to ordering food politely in Spanish is using por favor often. But you'll need to master one other culturally appropriate phrase to dominate the dining experience in Spanish.

Before you start eating your food, it is important to follow the Mexican rule telling the others to enjoy their meal by saying provecho or buen provecho. Besides saying this to the other people at our table before we start eating, it is also common to say it to the people at the other tables on your way out of the restaurant. But pay attention. We only do this in small, casual places. We wouldn't do it at a fancy restaurant, for example.

As you may know, we have a similar rule about drinks. We say salud before we start drinking. It is more common to do this when having alcoholic drinks, but not necessarily.

While you are at the restaurant, the waiter/waitress may approach you every now and then to make sure everything is alright. They may ask things like:

If you don't need anything, then you can reply:

But if there is something you need, then you can say:

In the video, we didn't order dessert because we were really llenos = full, but this is how you can ask about a dessert menu:

You can use either Te/Le encargo... or Va a ser... to order dessert. For example:

Requesting a To-Go Container

If you didn't finish your meal, you could order it for takeout. This is common and it's not considered tacky as it sometimes is in some other countries. This is the most common way of asking:

Para llevar, for favor. = For takeout, please.

If, on the contrary, you'd like to specify that you'll eat at the restaurant, then just say para comer aquí.

You can ask for the check by saying:

There is also a non-spoken way of asking for the check. It consists of raising your hand to get the waiter's attention and then moving your hand as if you were writing something down. If you're looking to practice your Spanish, then I would recommend the previous options, but this might come handy in noisy places or when the waiter is far away.

Also, bear in mind that there are many restaurants in Mexico where they only take cash. So, if you want to check whether you can pay by card or not, you can ask:

If they don't take cards, they'll reply sólo efectivo = cash only.

That's all there is to it! This is how you order food in Spanish. There are many more phrases you can use but these are the most common ones, and the ones I am pretty sure you won't find in your grammar book.*

* This is what Mexicans say after a good meal:

¡Panza llena, corazón contento! = A full stomach makes for a happy heart!

Next time you are eating with your Spanish speaking friends or at a Spanish speaking restaurant, you can show your skills and order food in Spanish for everyone at the table.

Go out there and practice! Let us know in the comments how it went.

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How to Order Food in Spanish [Essential Words and Phrases] - Spanish and Go

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do.

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This blog about ordering food in Spain gives insider tips, such as letting the waiter know if you are pressed for time and that ordering an entrée for two and sharing small plates is common in Spain.

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The word tapear doesn't exist in Spanish, but it's easy to adapt to the Spanish art of eating and drinking. Whether you're in Barcelona, Madrid or Sevilla, asking for food and drinks in Spanish will help you feel more at home in Spain. And like a local!

Helpful phrases & vocabulary

Below are a few phrases and vocabulary items to help you out!

Leave out "quiero"

English is all about being polite - saying please, thank you, I'd like. But in Spanish, it's not considered rude to just say the thing you want with por favor afterwards. It all depends on the context and the way in which you say it.

Un café con leche, por favor.
A coffee with milk please.

Para mí/para ella

Another way to sound like a local: saying for me, for her, for him.

Porfa/porfi

In any language, people love to abbreviate and try to shorten common words. Using porfi, or porfa will make you sound like you've been around Spain just a bit longer.

Poco hecho / al punto / bien hecho

If you order a steak do you know how to answer how you want it? Poco hecho means rare, al punto is medium or" just right" and bien hecho - well done.

Vamos con un poco de prisa

We're in a bit of a hurry. When you've got a movie to catch or somewhere to be, it's helpful to let the waiter know ahead of time as there's usually no rush when tapeando.

Vamos a compartir

The whole idea of sharing small plates is so ingrained in the Spanish culture that once you leave the country, it will seem weird to each order your own dishes at a restaurant. Vamos a compartir - were going to share - is something a local would absolutely use.

Don't mix up menú and carta

Carta is the Spanish word for menu, while menú usually refers to the menú del día.
Many restaurants in Spain offer a menú (fixed price lunch menu) that may not be advertised. It never hurts to ask if there is a lunch menu available!

Portion sizes

It's typical in Spain to share a small order of food - tapas. The media ración (half portion) would be starter size and ración (portion) would be main dish size.

Ordering Drinks

¿Qué vino tenéis por copa?
What wines do you have by the glass?

Tinto/blanco/rosado
Red/white/rosé
(Although the word for red is rojo in Spanish, red wine is called vino tinto.)

Una copa de vinto tinto/blanco
A glass of red/white wine

Una botella de... agua/vino/cerveza
A bottle of... water/wine/beer

Una caña
A small beer.
(People in Spain are not used to ordering large jugs of beer as they might be in the north of Europe. A caña is the typical size of beer that locals order in Spain)

La cuenta
The bill or check is la cuenta.

Me cobras, por favor?
Want to sound even more like a local? Asking the waiter to bill you - me cobras - might surprise them!

Muchas gracias. ¡estaba muy rico!
Thank you, it was delicious!
(It's always good manners to say goodbye on your way out!)

Did we get everything? Do you feel confident enough to order your food in Spanish now? If you're interested in taking a Spanish course in Barcelona, check out our classes.

Not sure what dishes to order? Check out our blog post 12 Spanish Dishes You Must Try When In Spain.

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How to order food & drinks in Spain like a local: essential vocabulary

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The word tapear doesn't exist in Spanish, but it's easy to adapt to the Spanish art of eating and drinking. Whether you're in Barcelona, Madrid or Sevilla, asking for food and drinks in Spanish will help you feel more at home in Spain. And like a local!

# data[].attributes.body
This site has vocabulary similar to our textbook. I like that it contains phrases for eating preferences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Who doesn't love to eat?

What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?

Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!

Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.

Access to a fully-equipped kitchen can be hard to come by while traveling, and you may well prefer to dedicate your time to seeing the sights rather than grocery shopping (though I'll be the first to tell you that exploring a local market can be extremely fun). Talk to locals, find out where the local hot spots are, and ask about regional cuisine. People love to talk about food as much as they love to eat it!

No plans to travel? Join in on the fun by visiting a local Mexican restaurant or Spanish tapas bar with a Spanish-speaking staff.

Before you arrive at your destination, equip yourself with the following words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Spanish speaker!

Finding your table

If you've chosen a swanky bistro that is regularly flooded with devoted patrons, you may need to make a reservation ahead of time. Call them up on the phone and be sure to greet with a friendly salutation. Next, tell them "I would like to make a reservation for # people." "Quisiera hacer una reserva para # persona(s)." They will then ask you, "Under whose name?"

If you're like me and, uh, typically fail to plan well in advance, you can slip into a full restaurant by requesting a seat at the bar:

May I sit at the bar? - bar? (poh-dree-ah sen-tar-may en el bar)

Special dietary preferences are often viewed with a suspicious eye in Latin America. You really need to specify with your server what it is that you cannot eat. Clearly state:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen Ecuadorian restaurants serve meat-laden soups to disappointed vegetarian friends. So, my advice to you is to always double-check that your order doesn't contain something you don't want to eat.

Navigating the restaurant

Waiter, waitress - (cah-mah-reh-roh), camarera (cah-mah-reh-rah)

Waiter, waitress (Latin America only) - mesero (meh-ser-oh), mesera (meh-ser-ah)

The paper-signing hand gesture translates smoothly enough. Most small restaurants in Latin American will not accept credit cards, tarjetas de crédito (tahr-heh-tahs deh creh-dee-toh), so it's best to carry some cash, efectivo (eh-fek-tee-voh), on hand in case of emergency.

Need help remembering these words? Use FluentU to hear give them context and cement them in your memory!

FluentU offers a growing collection of authentic videos, including various clips, movies, music and more. It's an entertaining way to immerse yourself in Spanish the way native speakers really use it, while actively building your vocabulary.

Understanding regional food traditions

While traveling, always ask the locals:

What is the typical food of this region? - ¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? (kwahl ehs lah koh-mee-dah tee-pee-kah deh ehs-tah reh-hee-ohn)

What do you recommend? -(keh meh reh-koh-mee-ehn-dah) Don't be afraid to ask the waiter what he or she recommends.

Drinks - Bebidas (beh-bee-dahs)

When seated at a restaurant, the first thing a waiter will ask is what you'd like to drink. Know your refreshment vocabulary so you can get straight to reading the menu!

Common flavors of juice or smoothie you might like to order are:

Breakfast - Desayuno (deh-sah-yoo-noh)

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. Learn how to order breakfast so you can fuel your adventure-filled day abroad!

Oatmeal - (ah-veh-nah) Don't be alarmed if you get something unexpected. In Latin America, oatmeal is most commonly served as a cool, sweet beverage as opposed to the sticky glop you know and love. It's delicious!

Lunch - Almuerzo (ahl-mwer-zoh)

An almuerzo is a great representation of common home cooking, and is usually the best bargain. They serve something different daily, so you are welcome to ask:

What's for lunch today? - ¿Qué tiene el almuerzo de hoy? (keh tee-eh-neh ehl ahl-mwer-zoh de oy)

What's today's menu? -¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? (kwahl ehs ehl meh-noo deh oy)

Does this come with X? - ¿Viene con X? (bee-eh-neh kohn X)

Almuerzo generally includes:

Dinner - Merienda (meh-ree-ehn-dah)/Cena (ceh-nah)

There are two commonly used words for dinner: and . In most parts of Latin America, merienda refers to an average evening meal and cena is reserved for special occasions - like a big Christmas Eve turkey dinner. In Spain, merienda is a small meal meant to tide you over between el almuerzo and la cena. In both contexts, merienda is a light, simple meal - often bread and cheese, a hot chocolate, or another modest snack. Don't worry though, after an authentic almuerzo there is a good chance you won't even be hungry by the evening!

Here's some important menu lingo that will get you through ordering any meal:

Seafood - Mariscos (mah-rees-kohs)

Meats - Carne (car-nay)

Pork tenderloin - (loh-moh deh ser-doe)

Fruits and Vegetables - Frutas y verduras (froo-tahs ee ver-doo-rahs)

Food preparation

Breaded - apanado (ah-pah-nah-doh) or empanado or empanizado *very regional word

Dessert - Postre (poh-stray)

Culinary Specialties of the Spanish-speaking world

Here's what you've been waiting for! While at home or abroad, try to seek out traditional cuisine from the Spanish-speaking world to better immerse you in the language and culture. There's nothing better that justifying indulgence with an educational experience!

Ceviche - A lemony seafood soup served all along the coasts of Central and South America. Each country has its own distinct flavor and style!

Chicharrón - Pork rind extravaganza! This fried, seasoned pig skin is a beloved snack throughout Latin America and parts of Spain.

Churros - Crispy, sugar-coated fried dough - how could anyone resist?

Dulce de tres leches - A moist, super-sweet cake that features three forms of milk (natural, dried, and condensed).

Gazpacho - The cold, refreshing tomato soup popular in Spain.

Paella - A classic Spanish dish that blends rice, beans, seafood, meat, and savory seasonings.

Patacones/Tostones - These crisp, fried plantain slices are a common side dish throughout Latin America.

And One More Thing...

Ready to reinforce all your new knowledge of Spanish food? Have a hankering to learn some more?

Wishing you could see some of these dishes being cooked up?

Then you'll love FluentU.

FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, commercials, news, and inspiring talks and turns them into Spanish learning experiences.

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You'll learn Spanish as it's actually spoken by real people.

You can practice all the delicious vocabulary in the post above by watching countless food-related videos, such as "Necessary Foods in Your Kitchen," "Mouth-Watering Fusilli with Chipotle and Arrachera" and "Classic Peruvian Ceviche."

FluentU has a wide variety of videos-topics like soccer, TV shows, business, movies and even magical realism, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's Learn Mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and it recommends you examples and videos based on the words you've already learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they're learning the same video.

Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store for iOS and Android devices.

https://www.fluentu.com/spanish/blog/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary: 89 Words and Phrases You Should Know

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Who doesn't love to eat?What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.Access to a fully-equip

# data[].attributes.body
This site has vocabulary similar to our textbook. I like that it contains phrases for eating preferences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Who doesn't love to eat?

What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?

Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!

Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.

Access to a fully-equipped kitchen can be hard to come by while traveling, and you may well prefer to dedicate your time to seeing the sights rather than grocery shopping (though I'll be the first to tell you that exploring a local market can be extremely fun). Talk to locals, find out where the local hot spots are, and ask about regional cuisine. People love to talk about food as much as they love to eat it!

No plans to travel? Join in on the fun by visiting a local Mexican restaurant or Spanish tapas bar with a Spanish-speaking staff.

Before you arrive at your destination, equip yourself with the following words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Spanish speaker!

Finding your table

If you've chosen a swanky bistro that is regularly flooded with devoted patrons, you may need to make a reservation ahead of time. Call them up on the phone and be sure to greet with a friendly salutation. Next, tell them "I would like to make a reservation for # people." "Quisiera hacer una reserva para # persona(s)." They will then ask you, "Under whose name?"

If you're like me and, uh, typically fail to plan well in advance, you can slip into a full restaurant by requesting a seat at the bar:

May I sit at the bar? - bar? (poh-dree-ah sen-tar-may en el bar)

Special dietary preferences are often viewed with a suspicious eye in Latin America. You really need to specify with your server what it is that you cannot eat. Clearly state:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen Ecuadorian restaurants serve meat-laden soups to disappointed vegetarian friends. So, my advice to you is to always double-check that your order doesn't contain something you don't want to eat.

Navigating the restaurant

Waiter, waitress - (cah-mah-reh-roh), camarera (cah-mah-reh-rah)

Waiter, waitress (Latin America only) - mesero (meh-ser-oh), mesera (meh-ser-ah)

The paper-signing hand gesture translates smoothly enough. Most small restaurants in Latin American will not accept credit cards, tarjetas de crédito (tahr-heh-tahs deh creh-dee-toh), so it's best to carry some cash, efectivo (eh-fek-tee-voh), on hand in case of emergency.

Need help remembering these words? Use FluentU to hear give them context and cement them in your memory!

FluentU offers a growing collection of authentic videos, including various clips, movies, music and more. It's an entertaining way to immerse yourself in Spanish the way native speakers really use it, while actively building your vocabulary.

Understanding regional food traditions

While traveling, always ask the locals:

What is the typical food of this region? - ¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? (kwahl ehs lah koh-mee-dah tee-pee-kah deh ehs-tah reh-hee-ohn)

What do you recommend? -(keh meh reh-koh-mee-ehn-dah) Don't be afraid to ask the waiter what he or she recommends.

Drinks - Bebidas (beh-bee-dahs)

When seated at a restaurant, the first thing a waiter will ask is what you'd like to drink. Know your refreshment vocabulary so you can get straight to reading the menu!

Common flavors of juice or smoothie you might like to order are:

Breakfast - Desayuno (deh-sah-yoo-noh)

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. Learn how to order breakfast so you can fuel your adventure-filled day abroad!

Oatmeal - (ah-veh-nah) Don't be alarmed if you get something unexpected. In Latin America, oatmeal is most commonly served as a cool, sweet beverage as opposed to the sticky glop you know and love. It's delicious!

Lunch - Almuerzo (ahl-mwer-zoh)

An almuerzo is a great representation of common home cooking, and is usually the best bargain. They serve something different daily, so you are welcome to ask:

What's for lunch today? - ¿Qué tiene el almuerzo de hoy? (keh tee-eh-neh ehl ahl-mwer-zoh de oy)

What's today's menu? -¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? (kwahl ehs ehl meh-noo deh oy)

Does this come with X? - ¿Viene con X? (bee-eh-neh kohn X)

Almuerzo generally includes:

Dinner - Merienda (meh-ree-ehn-dah)/Cena (ceh-nah)

There are two commonly used words for dinner: and . In most parts of Latin America, merienda refers to an average evening meal and cena is reserved for special occasions - like a big Christmas Eve turkey dinner. In Spain, merienda is a small meal meant to tide you over between el almuerzo and la cena. In both contexts, merienda is a light, simple meal - often bread and cheese, a hot chocolate, or another modest snack. Don't worry though, after an authentic almuerzo there is a good chance you won't even be hungry by the evening!

Here's some important menu lingo that will get you through ordering any meal:

Seafood - Mariscos (mah-rees-kohs)

Meats - Carne (car-nay)

Pork tenderloin - (loh-moh deh ser-doe)

Fruits and Vegetables - Frutas y verduras (froo-tahs ee ver-doo-rahs)

Food preparation

Breaded - apanado (ah-pah-nah-doh) or empanado or empanizado *very regional word

Dessert - Postre (poh-stray)

Culinary Specialties of the Spanish-speaking world

Here's what you've been waiting for! While at home or abroad, try to seek out traditional cuisine from the Spanish-speaking world to better immerse you in the language and culture. There's nothing better that justifying indulgence with an educational experience!

Ceviche - A lemony seafood soup served all along the coasts of Central and South America. Each country has its own distinct flavor and style!

Chicharrón - Pork rind extravaganza! This fried, seasoned pig skin is a beloved snack throughout Latin America and parts of Spain.

Churros - Crispy, sugar-coated fried dough - how could anyone resist?

Dulce de tres leches - A moist, super-sweet cake that features three forms of milk (natural, dried, and condensed).

Gazpacho - The cold, refreshing tomato soup popular in Spain.

Paella - A classic Spanish dish that blends rice, beans, seafood, meat, and savory seasonings.

Patacones/Tostones - These crisp, fried plantain slices are a common side dish throughout Latin America.

And One More Thing...

Ready to reinforce all your new knowledge of Spanish food? Have a hankering to learn some more?

Wishing you could see some of these dishes being cooked up?

Then you'll love FluentU.

FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, commercials, news, and inspiring talks and turns them into Spanish learning experiences.

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You'll learn Spanish as it's actually spoken by real people.

You can practice all the delicious vocabulary in the post above by watching countless food-related videos, such as "Necessary Foods in Your Kitchen," "Mouth-Watering Fusilli with Chipotle and Arrachera" and "Classic Peruvian Ceviche."

FluentU has a wide variety of videos-topics like soccer, TV shows, business, movies and even magical realism, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's Learn Mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and it recommends you examples and videos based on the words you've already learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they're learning the same video.

Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store for iOS and Android devices.

https://www.fluentu.com/spanish/blog/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary: 89 Words and Phrases You Should Know

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Who doesn't love to eat?What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.Access to a fully-equip

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Restaurant Vocabulary Version 1 Robert Coffeen 

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Restaurant Vocabulary Version 1 Robert Coffeen 

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This video gives a tutorial on how to ask for things in Spanish at a restaurant, utensils, food. All the necessities for practicing Spanish when entering a restaurant that speaks Spanish.

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Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary (version 1)

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This is a great video that gives you lots of verity of what to expect.

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I found this great website with tips on various dining etiquette and cultural norms in Mexico. I think it will be really helpful if I ever travel there, so I am saving it as a reference.

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Introduction

As a traveler, it feels good to know the local customs and blend in a little bit. It's great to show your appreciation for their culture and the details that they hold dear by spending the time to learn about their traditions.

In fact, it's really important to " not be that tourist ", if we want to continue to be respected guests in their country.

The same principles that apply to everyday life are even more applicable when it comes to dining. There is no point where a person's manners and general respect for the culture are on a bigger display.

So, take a moment and indulge yourself in as many of these tips as you can. Armed with a little knowledge of the dining etiquette in Mexico might even lead you to make some new friends or prevent you from an embarrassing situation.

Huevos Motuleños - Breakfast Dish in Mexico

Meal Times

Breakfast is typically consumed anywhere from 7 am to 10 am and consists of anywhere from pan dulces (sweet rolls) with coffee to chilaquiles or tamales with atole.

Lunch is the main meal of the day where you can indulge in a 4-course meal and is usually enjoyed from 2 pm to 4 pm. Dinner consists of a light snack and is enjoyed around 8 pm.

Buen Provecho!

Loosely translates to "enjoy your meal", is similar to saying "bon appetit" before starting your meal. It is typical to be told buen provecho or provecho in short by other diners as they pass by your table.

A proper response would be to say " gracias" or " igualmente" (likewise). When you are about to leave a restaurant and you see a table close by just getting their food, try saying provecho and wish them a good meal.
Related: Best Foods in Mexico
Cheers!

In Mexico, "Salud!" is how you say cheers which translates to "to your health". In essence, you are calling for a celebration of each other's health and wellbeing!
Related: Popular Drinks in Mexico

Street Food in Mexico City

Streetside Dining

Eating street food in Mexico is a must for any food traveler. When eating at these street carts, food is usually enjoyed while standing next to the cart or seated on plastic stools when provided.

As for streetside taquerias, it is customary to order a couple of tacos at a time to enjoy them while they're hot, then order a couple more afterward.

You can place small drops of the salsas on the side of your plate to taste them first before drizzling them on your tacos. Payment is typically done at the end of your meal.

Restaurant Dining

When dining at sit-down restaurants (casual or fine dining), the pace of service is more relaxed in comparison to western standards.

Don't expect your server to be promptly checking on you if you need anything and know that you will always need to ask for your check. In Mexico, servers will not present your check unless you request it as it is considered rude.

To get a server's attention, you can waive or raise your hand but don't motion with your index finger as it can be construed as rude and demeaning.

Salsas in Mexico

Condiments

When eating tacos in Mexico, there are typically 2-3 salsas to choose from which range from mild to hot. You are more than welcome to add salsas as you please and we always recommend doing a small taste first before drizzling all over your tacos.

It is not frowned upon to add some salt to your food if it needs a touch of seasoning. At casual restaurants, feel free to ask for a spicier salsa and they would be happy to give it to you if it's available.

Dietary Restrictions

It is always helpful to know the Spanish translation for your specific allergies. Always check with the cook/server especially for those who are extremely sensitive.

When visiting taco stands, you may ask for no onion ( sin cebolla por favor) or no cilantro ( sin cilantro por favor). Compared to US customs, don't expect to "customize" your meal by asking for substitutions. Come with an open mind and enjoy your meal as is.

Payment

Most nice restaurants accept credit cards but cash is king when it comes to paying at streetside stalls. Also, make sure to bring small bills as most vendors don't like breaking large denominations. You typically pay after you're done eating by letting them know what you ordered.

Tipping

At restaurants and bars, a 10-15% tip is customary although some restaurants may already include this in the bill. When dining at streetside stalls or low-cost eateries, tipping is not expected but much appreciated.

Water

Only drink filtered or bottled water and avoid tap water at all costs. Ice is generally safe when served at restaurants as it is made from purified water.

Food Safety

Keep this one simple! If the meat is raw move on, if the grill is cold go to another stall, if there's no line keep looking, and lastly, if your instincts tell you to skip it, you should probably listen.
Related: Street Food 101

Typical alcoholic drinks in Mexico

Drinking Alcohol

The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 years old. Be warned that drinking on the streets is not allowed and can lead you to get arrested for public intoxication.

Food Photography

As food travelers, we love taking photos of food either for our own memories or to share with our friends.

These captured dishes become a digital collection of the delicious discoveries we make while traveling the globe.

With all of this enthusiasm to shoot these moments, there are a few things to take into consideration so that we can be courteous and respectful travelers.

1. Always ask for permission first when taking photos of food vendors.

2. Be mindful of other customers who are waiting for their turn to order.

3. When possible, it is best to buy something from the vendor you're taking a photo of as a thank you.

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As a traveler, it feels good to know the local customs and blend in a little bit. It's great to show your appreciation for their culture and the details that they hold dear by spending the time to learn about their traditions.

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Here's a fun video to help order in Spanish!

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Here's a fun video to help order in Spanish!

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I loved this video, it was fun to see them have a whole dining experience in Spain!

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I found this brief video from a European gluten-free company (that I buy often) about how to ask for gluten free options. Super helpful, but I would have to adjust because the way certain Spanish words are used varies between Spanish speaking countries.

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0:00 / 2:57•Watch full video

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How to order Gluten Free Food in Spanish

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This site goes over some basic phrases for eating out at a restaurant.

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Restaurant Spanish: The Only Phrases You Need to Know - Happy Hour Spanish

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If you’re going to eat in a Spanish restaurant, these Spanish restaurant phrases will help you out. Learn how to order, call the waiter, or get the bill.

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This article has many useful tips about how to speak when ordering food in a Spanish speaking country. There are sections for commonly used words and phrases, as well as some example of how to speak to your server which I think could be very useful. I have worked in the restaurant industry throughout my life so it is very important to me that I am about to communicate with the staff in a kind and respectful way.

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How to Sound Natural When Ordering Food in Spanish

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If you've ever felt self-conscious ordering food in Spain, this article will change your life. You'll never sound rude again if you follow these guidelines.

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This looked like it would be very helpful for ordering and communicating with a waiter.

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Madison Rittenhouse

[Total: 9 Average: 5/5]

Ultimate Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish

Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

Essential Spanish Restaurant Phrases

Let's start off with an appetizer ( aperitivo) covering all the basics you're more than likely to encounter the moment you enter a restaurant. Spruce up your Spanish travel vocabulary with these dishes, eateries, foods, and drinks:

Setting the Table (Poniendo La Mesa)

Where Am I? (¿Dónde Estoy?)

On the Menu (En el Menú)

Salivating yet? Check out this useful list of common Spanish meals that you're bound to encounter on any menu during your travels.

Can I Buy You a Drink? (¿Puedo Invitarte a Una Copa?)

Navigating the Restaurant

You've walked through the doors of el restaurante. Maybe you've made a reservation, or you aren't sure if you should wait to be seated. Meanwhile, your stomach rumbles with hunger. Let's get you seated and ready to place in order in Spanish!

Useful Spanish Phrases for Ordering Food

Now, onto the main course! This list will teach you how to order food in Spanish in no time:

Soy vegetariano/vegetariana: I'm vegetarian

¿Tienen algún plato vegetariano?: Do you have any vegetarian dishes?

Tengo alérgia a __: I'm allergic to __

No como __: I don't eat __

Un momento por favor: One moment, please

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir: We need more time to decide.

Estoy/Estamos listos para ordenar/pedir: I/We are ready to order.

Quisiera _____: I would like ___

bien cocido: well-done

medio: medium

poco cocido/rojo: rare

¿Puede darme __?: Can you give me __?

¿Cuál es el plato del dia? What is the dish of the day?

¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? What is the typical food of this region?

¿Hay alguna especialidad de la casa?: Is there a house specialty?

¿Qué recomienda usted?: What do you recommend?

¿Qué lleva el plato?: What is in the dish?

¿Qué está incluido?: What is included?

¿Viene con ensalada?: Does it come with salad?

¿Cuál es la sopa del día?: What is the soup of the day?

Spanish Restaurant Phrases for Waiters (Frases Comunes en Restaurantes Para Meseros)

This may be shocking to many, but you don't have to go overseas to speak restaurant Spanish! Have you heard of Calle 8? You can head on down to South Florida to practice your Spanish in the Latin restaurants of Miami . Spanish is best learned over food!

Once Your Food Has Arrived, Munch on These Phrases

There is no better feeling than seeing your waiter (mesero) approach your table with a tray of piping hot food. Put your Spanish restaurant dialogue to the test with these phrases that are guaranteed to get you through the meal and successfully pay for your service without getting lost in communication:

Is Your Belly Full With Spanish Travel Vocabulary?

Communication is an important part of our everyday lives, even more so when traveling to a foreign country. Becoming acquainted with Spanish will give you a leg up in better understanding the culture so you can make the most out of your trip (and meals).

If you're still hungry for more Spanish lessons, start your 7-day Pimsleur Spanish Free Trial - you'll be speaking like a pro in no time!

¡Buen provecho!

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102 Spanish Restaurant Phrases: How To Order Food in Spanish | The Pimsleur Language Blog

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Madison Rittenhouse [Total: 9 Average: 5/5] Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

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I thought this was an interesting discussion, 1) because I often prefer to order food to-go and 2) because it highlights the importance of familiarizing oneself with regional dialects.

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Latino staff members working in the service industry are the people I try to speak Spanish with most often. Usually when I steal away for my lunch hour, I visit (on rotation), a select network of restaurants where the Latino staff members are most willing to engage in small talk as I practice my spanish. Often, I fumble for words and they are usually quick to offer guidance.

I live in South Florida where there is a diverse mix of Latino's from many different South American countries. This makes it tough sometimes because just when I think I have a "frase básica" down, someone corrects me, that I "need to say it like this".

I would like to outline the context for my question by riffing on a standard scenario:
I call up one of my go-to restaurants and ask the person, "May I place an order for pick up."
How to say this? hmmm.

The online translators came up with perhaps a spanglish spirited "Puedo colocar una orden para llevar". But when I put this in production, it seemed to inspire confusion and I learned why "colocar" wasn't the right choice. So I took my questions to "Las Callas".

Someone from Puerto Rico said to say it something like: "Peudo poner una orden para llevar". I had pretty good success from that for a while until somebody from Peru insisted it was better to say something like "Puedo poder una orden para llevar." - though I could have sworn she was pronouncing it Puedo " podir".

Perhaps I am over thinking it as these phrases often differ from country to country, but which is correct?

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Latino staff members working in the service industry are the people I try to speak Spanish with most often. Usually when I steal away for my lunch hour, I visit (on rotation), a select network of restaurants where the Latino staff members are most wi...

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This was a cool video where a couple break down their conversation at a real restaurant in Mexico. They use common phrases, terms and vocabulary that one might use while ordering food. It was easy to follow along with and gave me some good ideas on what to try if I were to order in Spanish.

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do. All you need is some basic vocabulary and phrases so you can order confidently.

To show you how it's done, we went to our favorite restaurant in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico. This place is called Los Molcajetes - "The Mortars." We went in with our gear to make a video about how to order food in Spanish in the real world. No textbooks, no phrases that will make you sound weird, rude or too polite. Just the real deal. Watch the video if you want to listen to the conversation, or keep reading.

Common Phrases for Ordering Food in Spanish

These are some of the most important phrases we go over in the video:

Hola, buenas tardes. = Hi, good afternoon.

Todavía no estamos listos. = We are not ready yet.

¿Nos puedes dar un minuto más, por favor? = Can you give us one more minute, please?

Te/Le encargo... = Would you bring me...? / Can I get...?

Para él/ella = For him/her

Vamos a compartir. = We are going to share.

Todo está delicioso. = Everything is delicioso.

Te encargo la cuenta, por favor. = Can I get the check, please?

¿Aceptan tarjetas? = Do you take cards?

¡Gracias! = Thank you!

It is not always necessary to make reservations in Mexico, but it is sometimes a good idea, especially if you are going to a fancy restaurant or to a popular place that gets easily crowded. This can help you avoid waiting for a long time. Also, consider making a reservation if you are going with six or more people, as it may be difficult to find a table for everyone without waiting. To make a reservation, say:

" Quiero hacer una reservación para # personas el (día) a las (hora), por favor."
"I'd like to make a reservation for # people on (day) at (time), please."

Suppose you want to make a reservation for five people on Saturday at 6pm. You would say:

"Quiero hacer una reservación para cinco personas el sábado a las seis (de la tarde), por favor."

They'll ask you your name - ¿Cuál es su nombre? - and that should be it.
Once you arrive to the restaurant, let them know you've made a reservation:
Tengo una reservación a nombre de... = I have a reservation under...
If the restaurant is busy, they might cut you off after reservación. You might hear them say, ¿A nombre de quien? - Under what name? Tell them, and they'll either take you to your table and say Por aquí - this way. Or they may ask you to wait a few minutes. Un momento, por favor. - One moment, please.

The first thing you usually do at a restaurant, store, or a friend's house is to greet people. So, when your waiter ( el mesero) comes to the table, you can greet him/her by saying:

How to Say "Can You Repeat That?"

If you can't understand what the waiter is asking or saying you can say:

In most restaurants in Mexico, it is common to order drinks before food. Common bebidas = drinks you might want to order are:

When you are ready to order your drinks you can use the phrase Te encargo... This is a very useful phrase for just about anything you might need. It's common in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. There is no exact translation in English for this phrase, but you hear it a lot at restaurants and for some reason, it is never in any Spanish textbook. Here are some examples of how you can use it:

Remember, if the waiter/waitress looks older than you, use Le instead of Te. You can say:

If you're ordering a country that's not Mexico or Central America, you can use ¿ Me trae...? (formal) or ¿Me traes...? (informal) in the same way.

Ordering for Someone Else

In the video, Jim ordered his own drink and then he ordered for me by saying:

Y un "Limoncito" para ella. = And a "Limoncito" for her.

When you want to order for someone else you can say what the other person wants followed by "para ella" (female) or "para él" (male). For example:

Te encargo un café y una cerveza para él. = Can I get a coffee and a beer for him?

Now for the main meal. These are the most common situations you'll encounter for ordering food in Spanish.

Are You Ready to Order?

When the waiter/waitress comes to your table to take your order, they will ask you:

If you know what you want to order, then you can reply:

But you are not ready to order food yet, you can use any of these phrases:

Placing Your Order

In the Ordering Drinks section, we saw that "Te encargo..." is something you can say to ask for anything. You may use this as well for ordering food, but another phrase you can also use for ordering at a restaurant is "Va a ser..." = It's going to be... followed by whatever you want. For example:

Other alternatives are:

¿Me puede(s)* traer..., por favor? = Could you bring me..., please?

¿Me puede(s)* dar..., por favor? = Could you give me..., please?

Quiero..., por favor.** = I want... please.

We add an S to puede to talk in an informal way. I know it may feel rude to say quiero, but as long as you say por favor and use a nice tone of voice, it's just fine.
Asking About Ingrediants for Special Diets and Allergies

Let's have a look at some of the most common questions to ask a waiter while ordering. If you want to make sure if the dish you'd like to order has (or does not have) a certain ingredient, you could ask ¿Lleva...? = Does it have...in it?

Asking if Something is Spicy

Whether you like spicy food or not, it can be helpful to ask ahead of time. Use these phrases to find out:

If you're sensitive to spicy food, you might want use one of the following phrases:

¿Lo pueden hacer sin chile? = Can you make it without chile/spice?

¿Se puede hacer sin chile? = Can it be made without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción similar sin chile? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción que no pique? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

The words con = with and sin = without are also very useful. They allow us to add or take away ingredients from our dish.

If the waiter/waitress asks ¿Sería todo? = Would that be all? you can simply answer by saying:

When the waiter/waitress comes back with your food, they'll probably ask who ordered what. When they ask about yours, you could say:

How to Say "Bon Appetit" in Spanish

The key to ordering food politely in Spanish is using por favor often. But you'll need to master one other culturally appropriate phrase to dominate the dining experience in Spanish.

Before you start eating your food, it is important to follow the Mexican rule telling the others to enjoy their meal by saying provecho or buen provecho. Besides saying this to the other people at our table before we start eating, it is also common to say it to the people at the other tables on your way out of the restaurant. But pay attention. We only do this in small, casual places. We wouldn't do it at a fancy restaurant, for example.

As you may know, we have a similar rule about drinks. We say salud before we start drinking. It is more common to do this when having alcoholic drinks, but not necessarily.

While you are at the restaurant, the waiter/waitress may approach you every now and then to make sure everything is alright. They may ask things like:

If you don't need anything, then you can reply:

But if there is something you need, then you can say:

In the video, we didn't order dessert because we were really llenos = full, but this is how you can ask about a dessert menu:

You can use either Te/Le encargo... or Va a ser... to order dessert. For example:

Requesting a To-Go Container

If you didn't finish your meal, you could order it for takeout. This is common and it's not considered tacky as it sometimes is in some other countries. This is the most common way of asking:

Para llevar, for favor. = For takeout, please.

If, on the contrary, you'd like to specify that you'll eat at the restaurant, then just say para comer aquí.

You can ask for the check by saying:

There is also a non-spoken way of asking for the check. It consists of raising your hand to get the waiter's attention and then moving your hand as if you were writing something down. If you're looking to practice your Spanish, then I would recommend the previous options, but this might come handy in noisy places or when the waiter is far away.

Also, bear in mind that there are many restaurants in Mexico where they only take cash. So, if you want to check whether you can pay by card or not, you can ask:

If they don't take cards, they'll reply sólo efectivo = cash only.

That's all there is to it! This is how you order food in Spanish. There are many more phrases you can use but these are the most common ones, and the ones I am pretty sure you won't find in your grammar book.*

* This is what Mexicans say after a good meal:

¡Panza llena, corazón contento! = A full stomach makes for a happy heart!

Next time you are eating with your Spanish speaking friends or at a Spanish speaking restaurant, you can show your skills and order food in Spanish for everyone at the table.

Go out there and practice! Let us know in the comments how it went.

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How to Order Food in Spanish [Essential Words and Phrases] - Spanish and Go

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do.

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As a vegetarian, I found this website to be incredibly helpful. It provides Spanish vocabulary words for vegans and vegetarians to use when ordering food. Being able to explain your dietary preferences and needs is very important - I hope this article helps! - Emma Meyers SPAN 112

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¿Eres vegetariano o vegano? Let's talk about being vegetarian or vegan in Spanish.

Visiting a Spanish-speaking country when you have dietary restrictions can be a challenge, especially if you don't know the language. If you are vegan or vegetarian and need help explaining that in Spanish, get ready for a crash-course in all-things vegetarian in Spanish.

After reading this blog post, you'll be able to express yourself and your food-related preferences as a vegan or vegetarian with ease.

But first, you've got to know what you're getting yourself into-so let's take a glance at the vegetarian culture in Latin America.

Being Vegetarian in Latin America

Before we go throwing around names and labels along with some interesting statistics, let's cover the basics in terminology:

A vegetarian does not eat the meat of animals-including beef, chicken, pork, and fish, but they may eat eggs or dairy.

A vegan, on the other hand, doesn't eat or use any type of animal products, excluding from their diet eggs, dairy, and honey, and avoiding other animal-derived items like leather or fur.

A raw vegan, as the name implies, eats uncooked vegan foods.

With these labels aside, individuals who are vegetarians, vegans, or raw vegans will adhere to varying degrees of rigidity-with some being more strict and others more flexible in their diet.

Food Culture

A 2016 survey of over 30,000 respondents from Mexico found that 19% claimed to be vegetarians, whereas 9% self-identified as vegan. The regional average for vegetarians in Latin America was a total of 8% percent.

Undeniably, meat (as a main course or ingredient in common dishes) plays a major role in local cuisine, no matter which Spanish-speaking country is on your itinerary-whether Spain, Mexico, or a nation in Central or South America. Nevertheless, it is gradually becoming easier for vegetarians to traverse Latin America without having to compromise on their dietary restrictions.

Vegetarianism and veganism are still rather foreign concepts in much of Latin America, especially in rural areas. Many people in developing countries consider meat a treat to be enjoyed and appreciated. Thus, intentionally choosing not to eat meat is a concept that leaves many locals perplexed. (My in-laws who live in a small city in Colombia, for instance.)

Regardless, as a vegan or vegetarian in Spanish, you can usually find (or order) a meat-free meal just about anywhere you roam-especially if you're equipped with the vocabulary to do so!

How to Explain Why You're a Vegan or Vegetarian in Spanish

One of the first questions you get from people, in any language, when they find out you're vegetarian or vegan is "Why?" Inquiring minds want to know. In Spanish, the questions are phrased as follows:
¿Por qué eres vegetariano/a? ¿Por qué eres vegano/a?
You've chosen the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle for a number of personal reasons. Here are three of the most common, along with their Spanish translations.

1. Physical Health

2. Environmental Health

3. Animal Rights

Vegetarian or Vegan in Spanish: Vocabulary

Check out these useful words that you can use as a vegetarian or vegan in Spanish!

I've broken the list into the following categories: general words, useful phrases, fruits and veggies, breakfast foods, drinks, condiments and spices, nuts, herbs, and cooking terminology.
¡Buen provecho!
General Words

Useful Phrases

Pro Tip: No como carne means that you don't eat beef or pork. In Spanish, pollo (chicken) is not considered carne. So, in this case, it may be simpler to tell the waiter that you're vegetarian.

Fruits and Veggies

For many more, check out our Ridiculously Long List of Vegetables and Fruits in Spanish!

Breakfast Foods

Drinks

Condiments and Spices

Nuts

Nut butters are mantequilla de ____ (fill in the blank with your nut of choice). For instance, peanut butter is la mantequilla de maní.

Herbs

Cooking Terminology

Vegetarian and Vegan in Spanish: Useful Phrases for Restaurants

When it comes to food, having a local opinion is always helpful for finding the best options. Here's how to ask a friend for recommendations to find a vegetarian or vegan restaurant.

When you've found a restaurant, use the following phrases to ensure that you don't end up eating something you'd prefer not to.

Here's a handy list of words you can use to communicate what you don't eat.

Be a Proud Vegetarian in Spanish!

Now that you're equipped with the words and phrases you need to express why you're a vegan or vegetarian in Spanish, as well as order food to your liking at a restaurant, you can travel more freely throughout Latin America and maintain your dietary integrity.

What other tips do you have for vegans and vegetarians in Spanish-speaking countries? Leave a comment and start a conversation with like-minded world travelers and Spanish-speakers who read this blog!

Click here for a FREE CLASS!

Want to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check out these posts!

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Vegetarian and Vegan Vocabulary in Spanish

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¿Eres vegetariano o vegano? Let's talk about being vegetarian or vegan in Spanish. Visiting a Spanish-speaking country when you have dietary restrictions can be a challenge, especially if you don't know the language. If you are vegan or vegetarian and need help explaining that in Spanish, get ready for a crash-course in all-things vegetarian in Spanish.

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This website is very helpful because it shows the readers a very detailed process and the common ways on what to say or ask when dining in a Spanish restaurant.  Aside from the the common phrases and words used, It also helps the readers how to make a reservation, how to greet the waiter, how to request a to-go container, how to ask for the check, and other helpful details. It also includes videos to show the readers on how these gestures are actually done.

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do. All you need is some basic vocabulary and phrases so you can order confidently.

To show you how it's done, we went to our favorite restaurant in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico. This place is called Los Molcajetes - "The Mortars." We went in with our gear to make a video about how to order food in Spanish in the real world. No textbooks, no phrases that will make you sound weird, rude or too polite. Just the real deal. Watch the video if you want to listen to the conversation, or keep reading.

Common Phrases for Ordering Food in Spanish

These are some of the most important phrases we go over in the video:

Hola, buenas tardes. = Hi, good afternoon.

Todavía no estamos listos. = We are not ready yet.

¿Nos puedes dar un minuto más, por favor? = Can you give us one more minute, please?

Te/Le encargo... = Would you bring me...? / Can I get...?

Para él/ella = For him/her

Vamos a compartir. = We are going to share.

Todo está delicioso. = Everything is delicioso.

Te encargo la cuenta, por favor. = Can I get the check, please?

¿Aceptan tarjetas? = Do you take cards?

¡Gracias! = Thank you!

It is not always necessary to make reservations in Mexico, but it is sometimes a good idea, especially if you are going to a fancy restaurant or to a popular place that gets easily crowded. This can help you avoid waiting for a long time. Also, consider making a reservation if you are going with six or more people, as it may be difficult to find a table for everyone without waiting. To make a reservation, say:

" Quiero hacer una reservación para # personas el (día) a las (hora), por favor."
"I'd like to make a reservation for # people on (day) at (time), please."

Suppose you want to make a reservation for five people on Saturday at 6pm. You would say:

"Quiero hacer una reservación para cinco personas el sábado a las seis (de la tarde), por favor."

They'll ask you your name - ¿Cuál es su nombre? - and that should be it.
Once you arrive to the restaurant, let them know you've made a reservation:
Tengo una reservación a nombre de... = I have a reservation under...
If the restaurant is busy, they might cut you off after reservación. You might hear them say, ¿A nombre de quien? - Under what name? Tell them, and they'll either take you to your table and say Por aquí - this way. Or they may ask you to wait a few minutes. Un momento, por favor. - One moment, please.

The first thing you usually do at a restaurant, store, or a friend's house is to greet people. So, when your waiter ( el mesero) comes to the table, you can greet him/her by saying:

How to Say "Can You Repeat That?"

If you can't understand what the waiter is asking or saying you can say:

In most restaurants in Mexico, it is common to order drinks before food. Common bebidas = drinks you might want to order are:

When you are ready to order your drinks you can use the phrase Te encargo... This is a very useful phrase for just about anything you might need. It's common in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. There is no exact translation in English for this phrase, but you hear it a lot at restaurants and for some reason, it is never in any Spanish textbook. Here are some examples of how you can use it:

Remember, if the waiter/waitress looks older than you, use Le instead of Te. You can say:

If you're ordering a country that's not Mexico or Central America, you can use ¿ Me trae...? (formal) or ¿Me traes...? (informal) in the same way.

Ordering for Someone Else

In the video, Jim ordered his own drink and then he ordered for me by saying:

Y un "Limoncito" para ella. = And a "Limoncito" for her.

When you want to order for someone else you can say what the other person wants followed by "para ella" (female) or "para él" (male). For example:

Te encargo un café y una cerveza para él. = Can I get a coffee and a beer for him?

Now for the main meal. These are the most common situations you'll encounter for ordering food in Spanish.

Are You Ready to Order?

When the waiter/waitress comes to your table to take your order, they will ask you:

If you know what you want to order, then you can reply:

But you are not ready to order food yet, you can use any of these phrases:

Placing Your Order

In the Ordering Drinks section, we saw that "Te encargo..." is something you can say to ask for anything. You may use this as well for ordering food, but another phrase you can also use for ordering at a restaurant is "Va a ser..." = It's going to be... followed by whatever you want. For example:

Other alternatives are:

¿Me puede(s)* traer..., por favor? = Could you bring me..., please?

¿Me puede(s)* dar..., por favor? = Could you give me..., please?

Quiero..., por favor.** = I want... please.

We add an S to puede to talk in an informal way. I know it may feel rude to say quiero, but as long as you say por favor and use a nice tone of voice, it's just fine.
Asking About Ingrediants for Special Diets and Allergies

Let's have a look at some of the most common questions to ask a waiter while ordering. If you want to make sure if the dish you'd like to order has (or does not have) a certain ingredient, you could ask ¿Lleva...? = Does it have...in it?

Asking if Something is Spicy

Whether you like spicy food or not, it can be helpful to ask ahead of time. Use these phrases to find out:

If you're sensitive to spicy food, you might want use one of the following phrases:

¿Lo pueden hacer sin chile? = Can you make it without chile/spice?

¿Se puede hacer sin chile? = Can it be made without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción similar sin chile? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

¿Tienes otra opción que no pique? = Do you have another similar option without chile/spice?

The words con = with and sin = without are also very useful. They allow us to add or take away ingredients from our dish.

If the waiter/waitress asks ¿Sería todo? = Would that be all? you can simply answer by saying:

When the waiter/waitress comes back with your food, they'll probably ask who ordered what. When they ask about yours, you could say:

How to Say "Bon Appetit" in Spanish

The key to ordering food politely in Spanish is using por favor often. But you'll need to master one other culturally appropriate phrase to dominate the dining experience in Spanish.

Before you start eating your food, it is important to follow the Mexican rule telling the others to enjoy their meal by saying provecho or buen provecho. Besides saying this to the other people at our table before we start eating, it is also common to say it to the people at the other tables on your way out of the restaurant. But pay attention. We only do this in small, casual places. We wouldn't do it at a fancy restaurant, for example.

As you may know, we have a similar rule about drinks. We say salud before we start drinking. It is more common to do this when having alcoholic drinks, but not necessarily.

While you are at the restaurant, the waiter/waitress may approach you every now and then to make sure everything is alright. They may ask things like:

If you don't need anything, then you can reply:

But if there is something you need, then you can say:

In the video, we didn't order dessert because we were really llenos = full, but this is how you can ask about a dessert menu:

You can use either Te/Le encargo... or Va a ser... to order dessert. For example:

Requesting a To-Go Container

If you didn't finish your meal, you could order it for takeout. This is common and it's not considered tacky as it sometimes is in some other countries. This is the most common way of asking:

Para llevar, for favor. = For takeout, please.

If, on the contrary, you'd like to specify that you'll eat at the restaurant, then just say para comer aquí.

You can ask for the check by saying:

There is also a non-spoken way of asking for the check. It consists of raising your hand to get the waiter's attention and then moving your hand as if you were writing something down. If you're looking to practice your Spanish, then I would recommend the previous options, but this might come handy in noisy places or when the waiter is far away.

Also, bear in mind that there are many restaurants in Mexico where they only take cash. So, if you want to check whether you can pay by card or not, you can ask:

If they don't take cards, they'll reply sólo efectivo = cash only.

That's all there is to it! This is how you order food in Spanish. There are many more phrases you can use but these are the most common ones, and the ones I am pretty sure you won't find in your grammar book.*

* This is what Mexicans say after a good meal:

¡Panza llena, corazón contento! = A full stomach makes for a happy heart!

Next time you are eating with your Spanish speaking friends or at a Spanish speaking restaurant, you can show your skills and order food in Spanish for everyone at the table.

Go out there and practice! Let us know in the comments how it went.

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How to Order Food in Spanish [Essential Words and Phrases] - Spanish and Go

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Ordering food in Spanish is one of the most useful ways to practice your language skills. It's normal to feel nervous the first few times you do it, but just remember that most people will appreciate your efforts no matter how well you do.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b5pvZQW3m4

This is a fun, culturally and lingually informative video about ordering at a Salvadorian restaurant/pupuseria made by an English-speaking student of Spanish.

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El Gringo orders El Salvadorian PUPUSAS in Spanish! - LEARN SPANISH

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This is a reddit discussion on cooking shows that are in spanish. I think that by watching and listening to shows like the ones talked about here, one can get a better understanding of food terms.

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I'm a waiter and after a couple incidents where I struggled to communicate customer's special requests to the kitchen, I'm starting to learn Spanish so I can communicate better without having to get a more bilingual coworker to translate. Obviously I need to learn how to talk about food more than any other subject, so I'm looking for recommendations for cooking shows, ideally based in Mexico because that's the dialect most of my coworkers use.

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I'm a waiter and after a couple incidents where I struggled to communicate customer's special requests to the kitchen, I'm starting to learn Spanish so I can communicate better without having to get a more bilingual coworker to translate.

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I found this video to be very helpful in learning how to order in Spanish because not only do they show spoken interactions in Spanish but they do a great job breaking down the interactions after so you have a full understanding of what happened. They also discuss the proper way to address people based on things such as age and gender.

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How to Order Food in Spanish (Ordering a Meal at a Restaurant)

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I am vegan and can have a difficult time when I travel. This website gives you essential phrases to know.

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Exploring other countries' cuisine is a must when traveling abroad. Although many people might find this experience rewarding, it can be a nightmare if you are visiting a Spanish speaking country. It can be especially frustrating if you have dietary restrictions or don't know how to ask for vegetarian or vegan food.

So how do you ask for vegetarian food in Spanish? If you are in a restaurant, you can ask the waiter:

¿Tiene comida vegetariana? ←→ Do you have vegetarian food?

¿Tiene opciones veganas? ←→ Do you have vegan options?

Me gustaría algo sin carne ←→ I would like something without meat

While these basic phrases would help you to tell the waiter what you're looking for, you may want to make sure that you are not eating something (else) you'd prefer not to. Below we are going to show you useful phrases and vocabulary that you can use to ask for vegetarian or vegan food in Spanish.

Provecho! (Bon appétit!)

Ordering and Asking for Vegan or Vegetarian Food in Spanish: an Example Conversation

Here is a step-by-step example of a conversation that you would have with a waiter.

You (tú)
Let them know you are trying to find vegetarian or vegan food

a) Sí, ¿tiene comida vegetariana?

b) Hola, ¿tiene opciones vegetarianas?

c) Sí. Me gustaría order un platillo vegano.

d) Sí. Me gustaría algo sin carne.

a) Yes. Do you have vegetarian options?

b) Hi. Do you have vegetarian options?

c) Yes. I would like to order a vegan dish.

d) Yes. I would like something without meat.

a) Tenemos estadas ensaladas y estos platillos libres de carne.

a) We have these salads and these meat-free dishes.

You (tú)

Ask about the dish's ingredients

In example C, you will see how to order your dish without something

a) ¿Lleva queso y crema?

b) ¿Tiene carne de pescado?

c) Quiero la ensalada, pero sin aderezo y queso.

a) Is there cream or cheese in it?

b) Do you have fish?

c) I want the salad, but without the dressing and cheese

Looking at the Menu: Ask for vegetarian options

Although asking ¿Tienes comida vegetariana? is the easiest way to find out if the restaurant has vegetarian food, you will need to ask more details about the dish to make sure that you are getting what you actually want. Let's see some useful phrases you can learn to ask your vegetarian food.

Asking about a vegetarian dish's ingredients:

If you see a dish or its picture but you are not sure about the ingredients in it, you should ask the waiter:
¿Lleva + [ingredient]?
Another way to ask the same question is:
¿Tiene + [ingredient]?
When using the last phrase to talk about food and ingredients, make sure you say it when ordering. It has to be clear that you are talking about a certain dish. Otherwise, the waiter may think that you are asking for cheese.

Without meat, please!

One of the most important things when going to a Spanish restaurant as a vegetarian or a vegan is to let them know what you don't want in your dish. The good thing about ordering is that you just need short answers to explain yourself:
Sin + [ingredient]
Let's see this structure in a more complete sentence:

Quiero este platillo sin crema y queso, por favor I want this plate without cream and cheese, please

You can also mention to the waiter the thing you don't eat, so he or she will have a better idea about what dishes to offer you.
No + como + [ingredient]
No como carne I don't eat meat

No como crema ni mantequilla I don't eat cream or butter

Take Note: No como carne means that you don't eat beef of pork meat. It's not a phrase that includes all types of meat. So, in this case, it may be simpler to tell the waiter that you're vegetarian.

Or if you wish to express that you're a vegan

Vegetarian and Vegan Vocabulary

Here are some of the basics words you should be looking for on the menu. This vocabulary will help you describe what you want or don't want to order.

Asking for a Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant

When you are visiting a new country, you may need to ask for instructions or recommendations about the places you want to visit. And when it comes to food, having a local opinion can help to find the best options. If you need to ask a friend for instructions to find a vegetarian restaurant, here's how you would do it.

Common phrases to ask for vegetarian or vegan restaurants

¿Conoces algún restaurante vegetariano? Do you know any vegetarian restaurant?

¿Sabes dónde puedo encontrar comida vegetariana? o you know where I can find vegetarian food?

¿Algún platillo vegano que me recomiendes? Are there any vegan dishes you recommend?

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A Vegetarian and Vegan's Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish | Tell Me In Spanish

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Exploring other countries' cuisine is a must when traveling abroad. Although many people might find this experience rewarding, it can be a nightmare if you are visiting a Spanish speaking country. It can be especially frustrating if you have dietary restrictions or don't know how to ask for vegetarian or vegan food.

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Like I need more ways to order food!!!
Mary Bourke

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Madison Rittenhouse

[Total: 9 Average: 5/5]

Ultimate Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish

Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

Essential Spanish Restaurant Phrases

Let's start off with an appetizer ( aperitivo) covering all the basics you're more than likely to encounter the moment you enter a restaurant. Spruce up your Spanish travel vocabulary with these dishes, eateries, foods, and drinks:

Setting the Table (Poniendo La Mesa)

Where Am I? (¿Dónde Estoy?)

On the Menu (En el Menú)

Salivating yet? Check out this useful list of common Spanish meals that you're bound to encounter on any menu during your travels.

Can I Buy You a Drink? (¿Puedo Invitarte a Una Copa?)

Navigating the Restaurant

You've walked through the doors of el restaurante. Maybe you've made a reservation, or you aren't sure if you should wait to be seated. Meanwhile, your stomach rumbles with hunger. Let's get you seated and ready to place in order in Spanish!

Useful Spanish Phrases for Ordering Food

Now, onto the main course! This list will teach you how to order food in Spanish in no time:

Soy vegetariano/vegetariana: I'm vegetarian

¿Tienen algún plato vegetariano?: Do you have any vegetarian dishes?

Tengo alérgia a __: I'm allergic to __

No como __: I don't eat __

Un momento por favor: One moment, please

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir: We need more time to decide.

Estoy/Estamos listos para ordenar/pedir: I/We are ready to order.

Quisiera _____: I would like ___

bien cocido: well-done

medio: medium

poco cocido/rojo: rare

¿Puede darme __?: Can you give me __?

¿Cuál es el plato del dia? What is the dish of the day?

¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? What is the typical food of this region?

¿Hay alguna especialidad de la casa?: Is there a house specialty?

¿Qué recomienda usted?: What do you recommend?

¿Qué lleva el plato?: What is in the dish?

¿Qué está incluido?: What is included?

¿Viene con ensalada?: Does it come with salad?

¿Cuál es la sopa del día?: What is the soup of the day?

Spanish Restaurant Phrases for Waiters (Frases Comunes en Restaurantes Para Meseros)

This may be shocking to many, but you don't have to go overseas to speak restaurant Spanish! Have you heard of Calle 8? You can head on down to South Florida to practice your Spanish in the Latin restaurants of Miami . Spanish is best learned over food!

Once Your Food Has Arrived, Munch on These Phrases

There is no better feeling than seeing your waiter (mesero) approach your table with a tray of piping hot food. Put your Spanish restaurant dialogue to the test with these phrases that are guaranteed to get you through the meal and successfully pay for your service without getting lost in communication:

Is Your Belly Full With Spanish Travel Vocabulary?

Communication is an important part of our everyday lives, even more so when traveling to a foreign country. Becoming acquainted with Spanish will give you a leg up in better understanding the culture so you can make the most out of your trip (and meals).

If you're still hungry for more Spanish lessons, start your 7-day Pimsleur Spanish Free Trial - you'll be speaking like a pro in no time!

¡Buen provecho!

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102 Spanish Restaurant Phrases: How To Order Food in Spanish | The Pimsleur Language Blog

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Madison Rittenhouse [Total: 9 Average: 5/5] Traveling to Latin America or Spain? On today's menu, we're serving up the Spanish Restaurant and Food Guideso you can enjoy the local cuisine stress-free. Don't go hungry because you don't know how to order in Spanish!

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Paella YUM!

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From tasty tapas to superb seafood and traditional roasts, food in Spain is all about making the most of the best local produce. We asked travel writer Annie Bennett to pick 10 of the best dishes to try on your travels.

Discover even more fabulous foodie travel experiences and our top eats across the globe in our travel hub.

If you want to transport yourself to Spain from the comfort of your kitchen, try our simple tapas recipes, Spanish recipes and healthy paella recipes.

Don't leave Spain without trying...

1. Gazpacho

The reddest, ripest tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, bread, peppers and cucumber are blended until silky smooth, then chilled and poured into bowls or glasses. So delicious, so refreshing. In Andalucía in southern Spain, people have it every day in summer and there is always a jug on the counter in tapas bars. Also try salmorejo from Córdoba, a thicker version that is often served with pieces of Ibérico ham on the top.

Try making your own... gazpacho or salmorejo

2. Paella

In the Valencia region, they claim you can eat a different rice dish every day of the year, but let's stick with the most traditional version for now. Ingredients for paella Valenciana include chicken or rabbit, saffron, runner beans and butter beans. But the all-important element is the rice, ideally the bomba or Calasparra varieties grown on Spain's east coast, which are particularly good for absorbing all the flavours.

Try making our next level paella recipe or chicken & chorizo paella and check out our top 10 tips for perfect paella.

3. Tortilla Española

Eggs, potatoes, onions... that's it - and some purists even consider that adding onion is a gastronomic crime of the highest order. The Spanish omelette is so much more than the sum of its parts. The potatoes and onions are slow fried in olive oil then mixed with the beaten eggs for the flavours to mix before cooking. Add chorizo, ham, spinach, courgettes or whatever you have to hand to make a tasty meal out of next to nothing.

More like this

Try making your own... Real Spanish omelette.

4. Gambas al ajillo

You walk into a tapas bar, the barman is handing a customer an earthenware dish of sizzling prawns, the tantalising aroma hits your nostrils and you just have to order some too. To recreate it at home, just fry some sliced garlic and green chilli in olive oil, throw in the prawns for a couple of minutes and add some parsley. Couldn't be simpler, couldn't be tastier.

Try making your own... garlic prawns.

5. Tostas de tomate y jamón

Black pigs roam among the holm oak trees in western Spain in search of the acorns that give marbled magenta Ibérico ham its distinctive nutty flavour. Rub thick pieces of toast with garlic and tomato, pour on some olive oil and top with slices of jamón for a quick, delicious lunch.

Try our delicious Spanish tomato bread with jamón Serrano.

6. Patatas bravas

Perhaps the most ubiquitous of tapas, patatas bravas vary quite a bit around the country, but all versions involve chunks of fried potato. In Madrid, bravas sauce is made with sweet and spicy pimentón (Spanish paprika), olive oil, flour and stock - but never tomatoes. Some people add garlic, some a dash of fino sherry, while others selfishly insist on keeping their secret ingredients to themselves.

Try making your own... patatas bravas

7. Pollo al ajillo

Any Spaniard will tell you that the best garlic chicken ever is the one their grandmother makes. And of course they are right. Unpeeled cloves of garlic are fried in olive oil to flavour it, then taken out before adding pieces of chicken. When that's cooked, the garlic goes back in with some rosemary, thyme and some dry sherry or white wine. But there is no definitive recipe for this much-loved dish.

Try our juicy rosemary & garlic chicken.

8. Cochinillo asado

People might claim they are going to Segovia to see its astounding Roman aqueduct, fairytale castle or elegant cathedral, but really all that is just to build up an appetite for lunch. And in Segovia that means either roast suckling pig or lamb. The meat is cooked in huge wood-fired ovens and is so tender it is cut with the side of an earthenware plate.

9. Pisto

The Spanish version of ratatouille turns up all over the country in different guises, but is most typical in the towns and villages across the plains of La Mancha, south of Madrid. Onions, garlic, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes are slow fried in olive oil - this is not a dish that likes to be rushed. It's usually served as a starter, sometimes with fried eggs or chorizo, but is great as a side dish too.

Try making our pisto con huevos - serve this traditional Spanish recipe with rustic bread and a fruity red wine.

10. Turrón

Spaniards devour massive amounts of turrón, or almond nougat, at Christmas, although it's available all year round. Most of it is made in the small town of Jijona in the province of Alicante, using locally-grown almonds mixed with honey and egg white. There are two basic types - a soft, smooth version, called Jijona, and hard Alicante turrón, which contains pieces of almond.

Check out more of our Top 10 international food guides
Top 10 foods to try in Switzerland Are you a fan of Spanish cuisine? Do you agree with our selection or have we missed your favourite? Share your must-try dishes below... Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.
Top 10 foods to try in Rajasthan
Top 10 foods to try in Kerala
Top 10 foods to try in Greece
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From tasty tapas to superb seafood and traditional roasts, food in Spain is all about making the most of the best local produce. We asked travel writer Annie Bennett to pick 10 of the best dishes to try on your travels. Discover even more fabulous foodie travel experiences and our top eats across the globe in our travel hub.

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Ordering food in a restaurant in Spanish

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Ordering food in a restaurant in Spanish

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Her videos are so helpful, she is a fantastic teacher!

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Love me some Butterfly Spanish! I think her videos are fun and easy to follow along with. I had never really thought about information specifically needed to order food but I learned a lot from this video.

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I like the style of this video! She is a lot of fun and explains how to order in a very simple way!

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How to Order Food in Spanish. Pedir comida en español.

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This site has a straight forward list of food, no searching through a lot of pages. Click the link for restaurants and there is a similar type of list.

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Alimentos

Food is a necessity, and can also be a source of great pleasure. Being able to talk about Spanish food will come in handy while shopping, dining, traveling, and entertaining friends, so check out this vocab list for Spanish food, including the basic food groups and related verbs. ¡Buen provecho!

Fruit La fruta

Vegetables La Verduras

Dairy products Productos lácteos

Meat La carne

Dessert El postre

Et cetera

Related lessons

Spanish lesson plans

En français

In italiano

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Lawless Spanish Files: A1 - Beginning Spanish lesson plans travel Spanish

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Spanish Food Vocabulary and Verbs - Lawless Spanish Lesson

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Food is a necessity, and can also be a source of great pleasure. Being able to talk about Spanish food will come in handy while shopping, dining, traveling, and entertaining friends, so check out this vocab list for Spanish food, including the basic food groups and related verbs. ¡Buen provecho!

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https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/
I like this site because it gives good examples of things you should know in the restaurant and its not just words that you should know to order but also the names of the jobs in the restaurant as well.

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Here's an article with tips and tricks for ordering while sitting in a restaurant. Simple easy things worth reading and remembering.

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How to Sound Natural When Ordering Food in Spanish

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If you've ever felt self-conscious ordering food in Spain, this article will change your life. You'll never sound rude again if you follow these guidelines.

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Here is an awesome website written by an instructor who teaches tourists and new residents how to speak in Spanish when dining out. I chose the vegan website because that's what I personally would use.

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Exploring other countries' cuisine is a must when traveling abroad. Although many people might find this experience rewarding, it can be a nightmare if you are visiting a Spanish speaking country. It can be especially frustrating if you have dietary restrictions or don't know how to ask for vegetarian or vegan food.

So how do you ask for vegetarian food in Spanish? If you are in a restaurant, you can ask the waiter:

¿Tiene comida vegetariana? ←→ Do you have vegetarian food?

¿Tiene opciones veganas? ←→ Do you have vegan options?

Me gustaría algo sin carne ←→ I would like something without meat

While these basic phrases would help you to tell the waiter what you're looking for, you may want to make sure that you are not eating something (else) you'd prefer not to. Below we are going to show you useful phrases and vocabulary that you can use to ask for vegetarian or vegan food in Spanish.

Provecho! (Bon appétit!)

Ordering and Asking for Vegan or Vegetarian Food in Spanish: an Example Conversation

Here is a step-by-step example of a conversation that you would have with a waiter.

You (tú)
Let them know you are trying to find vegetarian or vegan food

a) Sí, ¿tiene comida vegetariana?

b) Hola, ¿tiene opciones vegetarianas?

c) Sí. Me gustaría order un platillo vegano.

d) Sí. Me gustaría algo sin carne.

a) Yes. Do you have vegetarian options?

b) Hi. Do you have vegetarian options?

c) Yes. I would like to order a vegan dish.

d) Yes. I would like something without meat.

a) Tenemos estadas ensaladas y estos platillos libres de carne.

a) We have these salads and these meat-free dishes.

You (tú)

Ask about the dish's ingredients

In example C, you will see how to order your dish without something

a) ¿Lleva queso y crema?

b) ¿Tiene carne de pescado?

c) Quiero la ensalada, pero sin aderezo y queso.

a) Is there cream or cheese in it?

b) Do you have fish?

c) I want the salad, but without the dressing and cheese

Looking at the Menu: Ask for vegetarian options

Although asking ¿Tienes comida vegetariana? is the easiest way to find out if the restaurant has vegetarian food, you will need to ask more details about the dish to make sure that you are getting what you actually want. Let's see some useful phrases you can learn to ask your vegetarian food.

Asking about a vegetarian dish's ingredients:

If you see a dish or its picture but you are not sure about the ingredients in it, you should ask the waiter:
¿Lleva + [ingredient]?
Another way to ask the same question is:
¿Tiene + [ingredient]?
When using the last phrase to talk about food and ingredients, make sure you say it when ordering. It has to be clear that you are talking about a certain dish. Otherwise, the waiter may think that you are asking for cheese.

Without meat, please!

One of the most important things when going to a Spanish restaurant as a vegetarian or a vegan is to let them know what you don't want in your dish. The good thing about ordering is that you just need short answers to explain yourself:
Sin + [ingredient]
Let's see this structure in a more complete sentence:

Quiero este platillo sin crema y queso, por favor I want this plate without cream and cheese, please

You can also mention to the waiter the thing you don't eat, so he or she will have a better idea about what dishes to offer you.
No + como + [ingredient]
No como carne I don't eat meat

No como crema ni mantequilla I don't eat cream or butter

Take Note: No como carne means that you don't eat beef of pork meat. It's not a phrase that includes all types of meat. So, in this case, it may be simpler to tell the waiter that you're vegetarian.

Or if you wish to express that you're a vegan

Vegetarian and Vegan Vocabulary

Here are some of the basics words you should be looking for on the menu. This vocabulary will help you describe what you want or don't want to order.

Asking for a Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant

When you are visiting a new country, you may need to ask for instructions or recommendations about the places you want to visit. And when it comes to food, having a local opinion can help to find the best options. If you need to ask a friend for instructions to find a vegetarian restaurant, here's how you would do it.

Common phrases to ask for vegetarian or vegan restaurants

¿Conoces algún restaurante vegetariano? Do you know any vegetarian restaurant?

¿Sabes dónde puedo encontrar comida vegetariana? o you know where I can find vegetarian food?

¿Algún platillo vegano que me recomiendes? Are there any vegan dishes you recommend?

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A Vegetarian and Vegan's Guide to Ordering Food in Spanish | Tell Me In Spanish

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Exploring other countries' cuisine is a must when traveling abroad. Although many people might find this experience rewarding, it can be a nightmare if you are visiting a Spanish speaking country. It can be especially frustrating if you have dietary restrictions or don't know how to ask for vegetarian or vegan food.

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This site is great because it takes you through the natural dialogue  Q & A that you'd expect to have while in a restaurant. It simplifies the process so that you are clear on the few phrases you need to memorize!  https://www.happyhourspanish.com/restaurant-spanish-the-only-phrases-you-need-to-know/

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Here is a video I found. It is really easy to follow along and has good information. It is focusing on how to order food from a food truck

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I found an article today saying that in some places you can get free Tapas with a drink whilst in Spain. https://www.10best.com/interests/food-culture/the-last-region-in-spain-that-upholds-the-dying-custom-of-free-tapas/

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I am vegan, so knowing how to explain this is very important! Here is a website with vocab for vegans in Spanish!

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So you're a vegan who just arrived in Barcelona to stay in a short-term rental for your holidays and you don't speak either Spanish or Catalan, but you are starving - let us help you with ordering your first meals!

In order to expedite your ability to actually eat something, it is going to be very useful to familiarize yourself with a bit of the local lingo.

Let's ensure that you don't unwittingly order a vegetable salad (ensalada vegetal) and just to be surprised when it arrives covered in tinned tuna fish and dripping with non-vegan friendly mayonnaise.

ShBarcelona would like to help you prevent that from happening. Here are some useful translations from English to Spanish for vegans, raw food vegans, and vegetarians:

The basics

Vegan - vegano /a

Vegetarian - vegetarian /a

Raw vegan - crudivegano /a

I am vegetarian - soy vegetariano/a

We are vegetarians - somos vegetarianos

I am vegan - soy vegano /a

We are vegans - somos veganos

I am raw vegan - soy crudivegano /a

We are raw vegans - somos crudiveganos

I eat fish - como pescado

I don't eat fish - no como pescado

I don't eat meat - no como carne

Without meat - sin carne

Without meat or fish - sin carne y sin pescado

I am allergic to... - soy alérgico a

Without eggs - sin huevos

Without dairy - sin lactosa

Without cheese - sin queso

Breakfast - desayuno

Lunch - almuerzo

Dinner - cena

Snack - merienda
Related article: Top 5 vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona
First course - primer plato

Second course - Segundo plato

Dessert - Los postres

Bebida - drink

Breakfast - desayuno

Fruit - fruta

Nuts - frutos secos

Muesli - muesli

Porridge/oatmeal - avena

Toast - tostada

Bread - pain

Brown bread - pan integral

Water - agua

Sparkling water - agua con gas

Juice - zumo

Coffee - café

Soya milk - leche de soya

Rice milk - leche de arroz

Sugar - azúcar

Honey - miel

Without sugar - sin azucar

Without milk - sin leche

Without cow's milk - sin leche de vaca

Nuts - frutos secos

Cashew nuts - anacardos

Almonds - almendras

Pistachio - pistachos

Macadamia - nueces de Macadamia

Walnuts - nueces

Hazelnuts - avellanas

Pine nuts - piñones

Brazil nuts - nueces de Brasil

Fruit - fruta

Watermelon - sandia

Orange - naranja

Lemon - limón

Papaya - papaja

Mango - mango

Lime - lima

Pineapple - pina

Apple - manzana

Pear - pera

Blackberries - moras

Strawberries - fresas

Raspberries - frambuesas

Grapes - uvas

Bananas - plátanos

Grapefruit - pomelo

Cherries - cerezas

Figs - higos

Dates - dátiles

Kiwi fruit - kiwi

Passion fruit - granadilla

Avocado - aguacate

Peach - melocotón

Pomegranate - granada

Vegetables - verduras

Salad - ensalada

Celery - apio

Garlic - ajo

Tomatoes - tomates

Onion - cebolla

Potatoes - papas

Lettuce - lechuga

Cucumber - pepino

Red pepper - pimiento rojo

Yellow pepper - pimiento amarillo

Orange pepper - pimiento naranja

Green pepper - pimiento verde

Mushrooms - champignon or setas

Courgette / zucchini - calabacín

Aubergine / eggplant - berenjena

Sweet potato / yam - camote

Cabbage - col

Pumpkin - calabaza

Fennel - hinojo

Radish - rábano

Chicory - achicoria

Spinach - espinaca

Kale - col rizada

Herbs - hierbas

Basil - albahaca

Coriander / cilantro - cilantro

Rosemary - romero

Chives - cebollino

Parsley - perejil

Mint - menta

Spices - especies

Ginger - jengibre

Chilli - chilli

Condiments

Oil - aceite

Olives - aceitunas

Vinegar - vinagre

Salt - sal

Butter - mantequilla

Pepper - pimienta

Seaweed - algas
Related article: Eating Healthy: Your Vegan and Vegetarian Guide to Barcelona
Fork - tenedor

Spoon - cuchara

Teaspoon - cucharita

Knife - cuchilla

Cutlery - cubiertos

Plate - plato

Glass - vaso / copa

Cooking methods

Grilled - a la parrilla

Baked - asado / cocido al horno

Fried - frito

Freshly squeezed - exprimido

Fresh - fresco

Natural - natural

Not cooked - crudo

Lightly cooked - ligeramente cocidos

Steamed - al vapor
Looking for a flat to rent during your stay in Barcelona? ShBarcelona is the answer.
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Spanish vocabulary for vegans and vegetarians

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So you're a vegan who just arrived in Barcelona to stay in a short-term rental for your holidays and you don't speak either Spanish or Catalan, but you are starving - let us help you with ordering your first meals!

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Even though this is a news article, it is really helpful for understanding what some Spanish dishes are. It identifies them by name and gives a description of them. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/essential-spanish-dishes/index.html

Another helpful website I found is below! This one is more simple and has a list of some vocabulary words that we don't have in our book.
https://mydailyspanish.com/spanish-food-and-drinks-vocabulary/

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This video goes over some basic phrases you will likely want to use when speaking Spanish in a restaurant, and they're spoken slowly and repeated so you can practice your pronunciation.

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In a restaurant - Speaking Spanish in a restaurant

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https://spanish.yourdictionary.com/spanish-language/learning-spanish/how-to-order-food-in-spanish.html
I think that this website is a wonderful resource to use when learning how to order food in Spanish when dining out because it provides vocabulary lists, example sentences, and a video.

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I liked this site because it expands on the customs common in Spanish speaking countries related to dining out.

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Spanish Eating Customs: Meals

A normal day's breakfast- or desayuno- typically consists merely of a cup of coffee, although it's also commonplace to accompany your steaming café con leche with a croissant or other pastry. While an American traditional breakfast has pancakes, bacon, and eggs, the Spanish "traditional" breakfast consists of the vastly popular churros, served sprinkled with sugar or dunked in hot chocolate.

Spaniards eat their lunch, or comida, between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. Serving as the day's main meal, it is traditionally quite a bit larger than the dinner meal, or cena. A typical lunch will have several courses. The first course is the lighter part of the meal, usually consisting of a salad or soup, while the second course is normally your typical fish or meat dish. A dessert can be a simple piece of fruit, a typical Spanish flan, or a sweet pastry or cake.

While there are of course many people who eat full meals, the Spanish dinner (cena) is traditionally much smaller than the midday comida. It often consisting of something lighter like a salad, a sandwich, or a selection of tapas. Spaniards eat late for this final meal of the day- even more so on weekends and during the summer- sitting down to eat anytime from 9:00 until 11:00 in the evening.

Spanish Eating Customs: Tapas

A tradition begun long ago in the southern city of Seville, Spaniards have since perfected the art of snacking. Going out for tapas consists of travelling from bar to bar and sharing plates of the bars' specialties with a small group of friends. Learn more about tapas!

Spanish Eating Customs: Sobremesa

The name says it all. The word sobremesa literally means "over the table" and refers to the art of conversation after a meal. Instead of taking the last bite and leaving, Spaniards often stay at the table conversing, savoring each other's company, and perhaps sharing a drink. If good conversation ensues, be prepared to stay for hours!

Spanish Eating Customs: Siesta

No, it's not a myth. Yes, the infamous siesta really does exist. It began long ago as after eating the large mid-day meal farmworkers needed to rest and digest before going back out to work the fields. While this daily break doesn't necessarily include a nap, businesses and stores do shut down for about two hours and many people return home to eat with their families.

Spanish Eating Customs: Wine

Whether out at a restaurant or in the home with the family, it is very typical to drink wine along with a meal. So common, in fact, that restaurants offering a menú almost always include wine in the advertised price.

Spanish Eating Customs: Coffee

Coffee is quite the Spanish phenomenon. Many Spaniards drink several cups of their favorite caffeinated beverage in the course of a single day. Coffee also traditionally follows a Spanish meal and is served after the dessert. To fit in with the locals, ask for a café con leche (coffee with milk), a café solo (coffee without milk), or a café cortado (coffee with some milk).

Spanish Eating Customs: Tipping

While its practice is completely voluntary, many restaurant patrons choose to leave a modest tip of around 5-10% after a meal.

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A normal day's breakfast- or desayuno- typically consists merely of a cup of coffee, although it's also commonplace to accompany your steaming café con leche with a croissant or other pastry. While an American traditional breakfast has pancakes, bacon, and eggs, the Spanish "traditional" breakfast consists of the vastly popular churros, served sprinkled with sugar or dunked in hot chocolate.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE21D5kR21s

I liked this video because it was well made and simplified the process of ordering food. What I also liked about the video, and others that they have, is that it's focused on travel like activities.

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Not only does this list have a lot of vocabulary for food items, it also includes things for the back of the house. There's more to the restaurant than what's on the menu, sometimes we might need to know Spanish when working a job with Spanish speakers too.
https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/on-the-line/restaurant-spanish/amp

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This video is excellent for learning how to order food in a restaurant in a Spanish speaking country.

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Here is a good site about how to sound more natural when ordering, plus extras about how to order drinks since many posts already talked about food.

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Being able to confidently order food in public can serve as better proof of your Spanish fluency than any official exam. To pass this trial by fire you'll need to know not only the right words, but also the unspoken cultural norms of the country you're in. Since most textbooks tend to completely ignore this crucial information, we'll explore it in depth here.

Unfortunately, the only cultural norms I know like the back of my hand are those from Spain, so this article will be much more Spain-centric than I'd like. This is not a big deal, because the basics are the same in every flavor of Spanish. If you do most of your food-ordering in a different country, you should get hyperlocal translations from one of your native friends to sound 100% native. That's what I've done with a few of my Mexican, Colombian and Peruvian friends (see the bonus dialogue section at the end). If you have any other local translations, feel free to share them in the comments.

So, for the rest of the article, let's assume you're somewhere along the coast of Spain, it's early night (10pm) and there's a gentle breeze. You and your friends have just picked a table in a terraza (bar/restaurant with outdoor seating) overlooking the sea, and a man wearing black pants and a white short-sleeved shirt comes up to you with a notebook in hand.

Saying hello

Regardless of whether you're standing inside or sitting outside, the first thing you should do is greet the waiter and your fellow patrons (let them know you got this Spanish thing down). You can start with:

-Muy buenas. Ahora mismo os preparo una mesita.
"Very good (ones indeed). Right now I prepare you a table (diminutives are just affectionate flourishes)."

Buenas works as a stand-in for buenas tardes (good afternoons), buenas noches (good nights), and also for buenos días (good (days / morning)), even if it doesn't make any sense because días is masculine. You can use buenas anytime you want to acknowledge someone's presence without necessarily getting into a full-on conversation about how their weekend went.

Pro tip: If you want to expand your greeting repertoire, notice how other people greet the waiter and write down any confusing or unfamiliar expressions. They might range from the casual ¿Qué pasa, Paco? (What's up, Paco?), to the more formal Hola, buenas noches a todos (Hello, good nights to everyone).

Ordering

If the waiter doesn't explicitly ask you what you'd like to drink or eat, proactively tell him:

-¿ Nos pones dos cañas y un tinto de verano, por favor?
"Do you put us two (glasses of beer) and a summer red wine (glass), please?"

Pro tip: Don't order sangria. Look up a recipe and make it at home yourself. If you're outside, copy the locals and order tintos de verano .

We'll talk about it more in the tú vs. usted section, but you must convince your English mind to stop reaching for ¿Me puedes have (as in "Can I have...?") and focus on using and ( poner/traer una cerveza?).

There is a subtle difference between these ordering verbs:

If you're ordering real food or drinks, you can use both, poner or traer.

If you're ordering other things that are far away from the waiter (the menu, the check, a fork, a slice of lemon), use .

(Also, if you're asking for things that are close to the waiter, use dar.)

If you prefer using for ordering real food or drinks, do not ask for permission (¿Puedo tomar...?); instead, say what's going to happen:

This distinction is highly country-specific, but let's highlight a few universal points:

1. No one will feel deeply insulted if you use tú instead of usted, so relax and have fun with it.

2. Instead of putting all your creative energy on appearing polite, focus on noticing how the waiter addresses you. Once you develop the ability to pick up on whether you're being tuteado (addressed using tú) or not, you'll instantly know which one you should be using.

3. If you're much more comfortable saying either tú or usted, practice using the other one. Once you're equally comfortable with both, you'll have no problem switching, and all the politeness-induced anxiety will magically disappear.

Besides conjugating verbs with usted, you can squeeze in a lot of politeness into your interactions by disguising your commands as questions:

In English, it's much more common to make polite requests by talking about your innermost wishes and desires (can I have...?, may I have...?, could I have...?).

"I"-focused requests sound pretty weird in Spanish (¿podría tener...?, quisiera tener..., me gustaría tener...); instead, we focus on what we want the other person to do (¿me traes...?, ¿me puedes traer...?, ¿me podrías traer...?).

Anyway, the default in most bars and restaurants in Spain is to use tú, so let's stick to that for the rest of the article.

If you never got a menu, or if you're overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by the number of choices, you can always ask the waiter:

-Aquí tenéis. Si no habéis probado las "Here you go. If you haven't tried the baby squid croquettes, croquetas de chipirones, os las recomiendo. I recommend them to you."

To explicitly ask for recommendations, notice what the waiter said above (os recomiendo...), and turn it into a question: ¿Qué nos recomiendas? (What do you recommend to us?).

To get useful recommendations, you should always provide a constraint:

-Estoy entre el pez espada y la lubina. ¿ Qué me recomiendas?
"I'm between the swordfish and the European sea bass. What do you recommend to me?"

Who's doing the ordering?

Once you're ready to order, you have two options: fending for yourself or speaking on behalf of the group.

Ordering for yourself is pretty simple: just say para mí and whatever item you've chosen.

Ordering when you're the chosen representative of your group is not that hard either-just tell the waiter what's going to happen:

-Pues una de pulpo, una de huevos rotos y ¿ paella tenéis?
"(So, it's going to be) one (portion) of octopus, one of broken eggs, and paella do you have (it)?"

-Vale, pues entonces una de salmorejo.
"Okay, so then one (portion) of (tomato and bread purée)."

Pro tip: If you see a menu like the one above, you'll sometimes be able to order things in three sizes (from smallest to largest): una tapa (a snack), una media ración (a half portion), or una ración (a portion). When people say "vámonos de tapas" (let's go eat some tapas), what they actually mean is "vámonos de raciones" (let's go eat some portions).

-A ver por aquí... ¿ Les falta alguna cosita?
"Let's see around here (in this table)... Are you missing any little thing?"

Pop quiz: is the waiter asking you in usted-mode or in tú-mode?

You should respond appropriately:

-¿Me podrías traer otro tenedor, por favor? Es que se me ha caído.
"Could you (tú) bring me another fork, please? (The thing is) that it has fallen (from me)."

-¿Me podría traer otro tenedor, por favor? Es que se me ha caído.
"Could you (usted) bring me another fork, please? (The thing is) that it has fallen (from me)."

I recommend reserving (conditional, usted) for very polite requests (or for asking favors that make you feel slightly guilty), and making (present, tú) your default, since it sits somewhere in the middle of the politeness ladder:

If you feel the need to go lower, just decorate hijo with your favorite adjective.

Paying and leaving

If the waiter keeps ignoring you while you try to pull out your textbook-Spanish check-ordering sentence, try using this one:

-Perdona. (Brazo subido. Contacto visual.) La cuenta cuando puedas. (Cejas levantadas. Firmita en el aire.)
"Forgive (me). (Arm raised. Eye contact.) The bill whenever you're able. (Raised eyebrows. Little signing motion in the air)."

If it's a slow night and the waiter has all the time in the world to chat with you, you can be a bit more roundabout and talk about how good the food was (Estaba todo buenísimo, Everything was (very good / delicious)), or ask him if it's possible to take the leftovers home (¿Me podrías poner esto para llevar, por favor?, Could we take this to go, please?), and then ask for the check like a boss:

In bars or in non-fancy restaurants, you can also say ¿Nos cobras? ((Do you / will you) charge us?). Once you pay, say hasta luego , and go for a walk on the beach.

Spanish takeaways

Sounding native when ordering food is just like sounding native when doing anything else: you need to really listen to what natives are saying and notice how it differs from what your gut thinks is right.

Remember that requests in Spanish are almost always "you"-based (¿Me puedes traer...?) instead of "I"-based (Can I have...?).

To sound polite when using tú, you only need to turn the command into a question and smile (¿Me traes una rodaja de limón? 🙂, Bring me a slice of lemon?).

If your polite upbringing keeps rejecting this sentence structure, feel free to append porfa or por favor (¿Me traes una rodaja de limón, porfa?), or insert poder in its present or conditional form for added politeness (¿Me puedes (podrías) traer una rodaja de limón, por favor?). The same guidelines apply when using usted.

If you want to get articles like this one and other secret Spanish content sent to you directly, subscribe to NachoTime.

Bonus: Dialogues in other Spanish flavors

These are three variations on the main dialogue above. I've bolded the most native expressions.

I want to thank Gina, Natalia, Dana, Óscar, Harold, and Víctor for their native help (I also take full responsibility for any mistakes and inaccuracies that may have slipped through).

-Hola, buenas tardes.

-Buenas tardes. ¿ Gustan algo de tomar?
"Good afternoon. Do you enjoy something to drink? (Anywhere outside of Spain, they'll use instead of beber when ordering drinks).

-Dos "Two beers, please. ( chelitas, por favor.
Una chela is a pretty native/informal way of ordering beer). "

-Claro que sí.

-Aquí tienen la carta. Si no han probado las enchiladas de

mole, se las recomiendo mucho.

-No. Solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre la arrachera y las puntas de filete. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

This deserves an interlude.

In Spain, we use tú-vosotros for the informal and usted-ustedes for the formal. Makes sense, right? Why would you pick one from each category? Well, this is what one region of Spain did: most people in the Canary Islands use tú-ustedes for the informal and usted-ustedes for the formal.

This would have just been a linguistic oddity if it weren't for the fact that almost every Spanish ship that went on to "discover" the Americas had its last pre-Atlantic pit stop in the Canary Islands. This meant that many people in favor of using tú-ustedes boarded those ships, which meant that they had a first-mover advantage in deciding how Spanish would be spoken in the entire American Continent.

So, now you know who to blame for the tú-ustedes madness.

Back to the dialogue.

-Yo estoy entre la arrachera y las puntas de filete. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

-Las dos están muy buenas, pero la arrachera es la especialidad de la casa. Viene con guacamole y arroz. ¡Deliciosa!

-Entonces, para mí la arrachera.

-Una arrachera... ¿Y para ti?

-Para mí las enchiladas.

-¿Verdes o de mole?

-De mole, por favor.

-Muy bien, (Using ahorita to mean ahorita les traigo un poco de pan.
right now is super common outside of Spain. We use other diminutives, but for some reason that one never stuck.)

-¿Todo en orden? ¿"Everything in order?
Se les ofrece algo más?
Do you (desire / feel like) anything else?"

-Unas (According to my friend Dana, no one would order just a single slice of lime in Mexico-they'd order the full lime! 😂) tortillas y ¿me podrías traer limón, por favor?
-Claro que sí.

(Also, in Spain, limón means a yellow lemon; in Mexico, it means lime (which we would call lima))

-Disculpe. Forgive (me). ¿

Le encargo la cuenta.
I request you the check. (Another way to say it is nos puede mandar la cuenta?, could you send us the check?)

-Hola, buenas tardes.

-Muy buenas tardes, "Very good afternoons, sigan. ¿Qué desean tomar?
come in. What would you like to drink? (sigan is Colombia-specific, the rest of the Spanish world would say adelante)"

-¿"Do you give us an anise-flavored sugar-cane liqueur and a beer really frozen, please? (It's super Colombian to say regalar instead of dar. They're Nos regalas un aguardientico y una cerveza bien helada, por favor? not actually asking for free drinks.)"

-(In Spain, you'll likely hear aquí instead of acá, but they both mean Acá esta la carta. Si no han probado las empanadas de queso, se las recomiendo, son deliciosas. here).

-¿Tienen arroz con pollo?

-No, lo siento mucho, solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre el ajiaco y la mojarra frita. ¿Qué me recomienda?

-Las dos (To add to the confusion, outside of Spain it's common to describe the flavor of a particular dish as one of its son riquísimas, pero el ajiaco es nuestra especialidad. Le ponemos un poco de crema y alcaparras. Muy sabroso.
essential characteristics (o es bueno o es malo), instead of as a particular state among many (está bueno, pero podría estar malo). If you want to keep your sanity, follow whatever the natives in your region use.)

-Un ajiaco... ¿Y para ti?

-Para mí una mojarra frita.

-Una mojarra frita... Muy bien. (In Spain, we use ahora for eventual actions, and reserve ya for more Ya les traigo pan.
immediate ones. I guess in this case it would depend on how fast the waiter is planning on moving.)

-¿Cómo van? ¿Les puedo ofrecer algo más?
"How are you (going / doing)? Can I offer you anything else?"

-¿Nos regalas sal y un poquito de limón?

-Claro que sí. Con mucho gusto.

-Acá la tienen.

-Hola, ¿cómo están? ¿Qué les gustaría tomar?

-Porfa, ¿nos puedes traer un par de cervecitas y un pisco sour?

-Claro, se las traigo ahorita.

-Aquí tienen la carta. Si no han probado nuestro

ceviche, se los recomiendo.

-¿Tienes arroz con mariscos?

-No, lo siento, solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre el seco de cabrito y el lomo saltado. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

-(This isn't Peru-specific, but I wanted you to notice that sometimes the reply will be masculine (meaning los platos, Los dos son muy buenos. Pero el lomo saltado es la especialidad de la casa. Lo hacemos con lomo fino y un poco de vinagre. Nos queda riquísimo. the dishes), and others it will be feminine (meaning las cosas, the things))

-Un lomo... ¿Y para usted?

-Para mí el seco de cabrito.

-Y un seco... Muy bien. Ahorita les traigo un poco de pan.

-Sí, ¿me podrías traer un limoncito cortado?

-Disculpa. ¿Me traes la cuenta por favor?

-Aquí tiene la cuenta.

I've put a million links here, and due to the second law of thermodynamics, entropy will increase until a statistically significant subset of them will stop working. Let me know if you found any dead ones, so I can keep the chaos under control.

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How to Sound Natural When Ordering Food in Spanish | NachoTime Spanish

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Being able to confidently order food in public can serve as better proof of your Spanish fluency than any official exam. To pass this trial by fire you'll need to know not only the right words, but also the unspoken cultural norms of the country you're in.

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This USA Today article offers vocabulary outside of this weeks text vocabulary. Phrases such as "nos trae la cuenta, por favor" means "can you get the check please?" This is just one example of the phrases explored through this article

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Ordering food in a Spanish-speaking country such as Mexico is as easy as remembering a few set phrases, understanding the menu and remembering to be courteous to your server. Learn a few basic hints to get through any dining situation.

Ordering Food in Spanish

Get a Table

Ask for a table in Spanish. If you'd like a table for two, say "Una mesa para dos, por favor." You can also phrase it as a question: "¿Una mesa para dos?" Substitute an appropriate number (uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco) for the number of diners. When you are seated, remember to say "muchas gracias."

Ordering Beverages

Order your beverages. Your server may ask something like "¿Qué van a tomar?" Respond with "un vaso de" for a glass of something ("agua" for water, "leche" for milk), "un café" for coffee, "una cerveza" for beer, and "una botella de" for a bottle of something, such as "una botella de vino blanco de la casa" (a bottle of the house white wine). Add pleasantries such as "quisiera" (I would like) or "me gustaría" (I would like), and don't forget to say "por favor."

Decide What to Eat

Peruse the menu (el menú). Though there will likely be many familiar dishes, regional cooking varies all over the Spanish-speaking world, and individual locales may have different words for dishes than the terms you're accustomed to, according to Drlemon.net. Consult your phrasebook or pocket translator if there are items with which you are unfamiliar. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, make sure to tell your server so he can accommodate you best: "Soy vegetariano/a (estricto/a)" ("I'm a vegetarian (vegan)").

Ordering Food

Your server may approach and ask something like "¿Qué desean Ustedes?" You could say "Quisiera" followed by your order or "¿Me trae?" followed by your order and "por favor" (if ordering for the table, say "¿nos trae?"). For a half portion, ask for "media porción"; use the prepositions "con" and "sin" to specify "with" and "without" something, respectively, such as: "Todo mio orden sin queso, por favor" ("I would like my whole order without cheese, please").

Hailing the Wait Staff

Get your server's attention. In Mexico, if getting a male waiter's attention, say "joven" and say "señorita" for a waitress. In Spain, a waiter is "camarero" while "señorita" is appropriate anywhere. Words for male servers vary around the Spanish-speaking world, so try to pick up on the word others around you are using.

Finishing Up

After finishing your meal, your server may ask "¿Desean algo de postre?" which means "Would you like dessert?" If you would, order. If you do not want dessert, say: "No, gracias, ¿nos trae la cuenta, por favor?" ("No thank you, could we just have the check, please?)

Tip

Always use the Usted form with a server. If you slip up and use the tú form, correct yourself quickly. It is a common form of disrespect in Spanish to use the tú form with servers.

About the Author

Erik Steel is a graduate of the University of Michigan, earning his bachelor's degree in Russian. Steel has worked as writer for more than four years and has contributed content to eHow and Pluck on Demand. His work recently appeared in the literary journal "Arsenic Lobster."

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

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Ordering food in a Spanish-speaking country such as Mexico is as easy as remembering a few set phrases, understanding the menu and remembering to be courteous to your server. Learn a few basic hints to get through any dining situation. Ask for a table in Spanish.

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Here is a fun quiz to practice the lingo!

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About This Quiz & Worksheet

This quiz/worksheet set allows you to test your ability to order food in Spanish. See if you can identify the correct terms for different dishes and meal items.

Quiz & Worksheet Goals

Answer these questions to make sure you know about:

Translating English to Spanish, such as saying you're allergic to something

The Spanish word for what you would start your meal off with

Common phrases used between a waiter and a diner

Skills Practiced

Problem solving - use acquired knowledge to solve Spanish translation practice problems

Information recall - access the knowledge you've gained regarding how a waiter would likely begin a conversation with a diner

Knowledge application - use your knowledge to answer questions about what you would likely begin and end a meal with in a restaurant

Additional Learning

You can learn more about food and the Spanish language by reviewing the lesson titled Ordering Food: Spanish Practice Activity. This lesson will help you learn words and phrases like:

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quiz & worksheet - placing a food order in spanish | study.com

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Quiz & Worksheet - Placing a Food Order in Spanish | Study.com

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This quiz/worksheet set allows you to test your ability to order food in Spanish.

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I found this site interesting because it talks about the most common foods eaten in spain. A few of the items surprised me!  https://www.spain-holiday.com/Spain/articles/top-ten-spanish-foods

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This lady is pretty funny and she teaches you what not to do when ordering food!

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How to Order Food in Spanish. Pedir comida en español.

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This blog was very helpful and covered a broad range of terms and phrases that are helpful when eating at a restaurant.

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Who doesn't love to eat?

What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?

Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!

Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.

Access to a fully-equipped kitchen can be hard to come by while traveling, and you may well prefer to dedicate your time to seeing the sights rather than grocery shopping (though I'll be the first to tell you that exploring a local market can be extremely fun). Talk to locals, find out where the local hot spots are, and ask about regional cuisine. People love to talk about food as much as they love to eat it!

No plans to travel? Join in on the fun by visiting a local Mexican restaurant or Spanish tapas bar with a Spanish-speaking staff.

Before you arrive at your destination, equip yourself with the following words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Spanish speaker!

Finding your table

If you've chosen a swanky bistro that is regularly flooded with devoted patrons, you may need to make a reservation ahead of time. Call them up on the phone and be sure to greet with a friendly salutation. Next, tell them "I would like to make a reservation for # people." "Quisiera hacer una reserva para # persona(s)." They will then ask you, "Under whose name?"

If you're like me and, uh, typically fail to plan well in advance, you can slip into a full restaurant by requesting a seat at the bar:

May I sit at the bar? - bar? (poh-dree-ah sen-tar-may en el bar)

Special dietary preferences are often viewed with a suspicious eye in Latin America. You really need to specify with your server what it is that you cannot eat. Clearly state:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen Ecuadorian restaurants serve meat-laden soups to disappointed vegetarian friends. So, my advice to you is to always double-check that your order doesn't contain something you don't want to eat.

Navigating the restaurant

Waiter, waitress - (cah-mah-reh-roh), camarera (cah-mah-reh-rah)

Waiter, waitress (Latin America only) - mesero (meh-ser-oh), mesera (meh-ser-ah)

The paper-signing hand gesture translates smoothly enough. Most small restaurants in Latin American will not accept credit cards, tarjetas de crédito (tahr-heh-tahs deh creh-dee-toh), so it's best to carry some cash, efectivo (eh-fek-tee-voh), on hand in case of emergency.

Need help remembering these words? Use FluentU to hear give them context and cement them in your memory!

FluentU offers a growing collection of authentic videos, including various clips, movies, music and more. It's an entertaining way to immerse yourself in Spanish the way native speakers really use it, while actively building your vocabulary.

Understanding regional food traditions

While traveling, always ask the locals:

What is the typical food of this region? - ¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? (kwahl ehs lah koh-mee-dah tee-pee-kah deh ehs-tah reh-hee-ohn)

What do you recommend? -(keh meh reh-koh-mee-ehn-dah) Don't be afraid to ask the waiter what he or she recommends.

Drinks - Bebidas (beh-bee-dahs)

When seated at a restaurant, the first thing a waiter will ask is what you'd like to drink. Know your refreshment vocabulary so you can get straight to reading the menu!

Common flavors of juice or smoothie you might like to order are:

Breakfast - Desayuno (deh-sah-yoo-noh)

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. Learn how to order breakfast so you can fuel your adventure-filled day abroad!

Oatmeal - (ah-veh-nah) Don't be alarmed if you get something unexpected. In Latin America, oatmeal is most commonly served as a cool, sweet beverage as opposed to the sticky glop you know and love. It's delicious!

Lunch - Almuerzo (ahl-mwer-zoh)

An almuerzo is a great representation of common home cooking, and is usually the best bargain. They serve something different daily, so you are welcome to ask:

What's for lunch today? - ¿Qué tiene el almuerzo de hoy? (keh tee-eh-neh ehl ahl-mwer-zoh de oy)

What's today's menu? -¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? (kwahl ehs ehl meh-noo deh oy)

Does this come with X? - ¿Viene con X? (bee-eh-neh kohn X)

Almuerzo generally includes:

Dinner - Merienda (meh-ree-ehn-dah)/Cena (ceh-nah)

There are two commonly used words for dinner: and . In most parts of Latin America, merienda refers to an average evening meal and cena is reserved for special occasions - like a big Christmas Eve turkey dinner. In Spain, merienda is a small meal meant to tide you over between el almuerzo and la cena. In both contexts, merienda is a light, simple meal - often bread and cheese, a hot chocolate, or another modest snack. Don't worry though, after an authentic almuerzo there is a good chance you won't even be hungry by the evening!

Here's some important menu lingo that will get you through ordering any meal:

Seafood - Mariscos (mah-rees-kohs)

Meats - Carne (car-nay)

Pork tenderloin - (loh-moh deh ser-doe)

Fruits and Vegetables - Frutas y verduras (froo-tahs ee ver-doo-rahs)

Food preparation

Breaded - apanado (ah-pah-nah-doh) or empanado or empanizado *very regional word

Dessert - Postre (poh-stray)

Culinary Specialties of the Spanish-speaking world

Here's what you've been waiting for! While at home or abroad, try to seek out traditional cuisine from the Spanish-speaking world to better immerse you in the language and culture. There's nothing better that justifying indulgence with an educational experience!

Ceviche - A lemony seafood soup served all along the coasts of Central and South America. Each country has its own distinct flavor and style!

Chicharrón - Pork rind extravaganza! This fried, seasoned pig skin is a beloved snack throughout Latin America and parts of Spain.

Churros - Crispy, sugar-coated fried dough - how could anyone resist?

Dulce de tres leches - A moist, super-sweet cake that features three forms of milk (natural, dried, and condensed).

Gazpacho - The cold, refreshing tomato soup popular in Spain.

Paella - A classic Spanish dish that blends rice, beans, seafood, meat, and savory seasonings.

Patacones/Tostones - These crisp, fried plantain slices are a common side dish throughout Latin America.

And One More Thing...

Ready to reinforce all your new knowledge of Spanish food? Have a hankering to learn some more?

Wishing you could see some of these dishes being cooked up?

Then you'll love FluentU.

FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, commercials, news, and inspiring talks and turns them into Spanish learning experiences.

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You'll learn Spanish as it's actually spoken by real people.

You can practice all the delicious vocabulary in the post above by watching countless food-related videos, such as "Necessary Foods in Your Kitchen," "Mouth-Watering Fusilli with Chipotle and Arrachera" and "Classic Peruvian Ceviche."

FluentU has a wide variety of videos-topics like soccer, TV shows, business, movies and even magical realism, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's Learn Mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and it recommends you examples and videos based on the words you've already learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they're learning the same video.

Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store for iOS and Android devices.

https://www.fluentu.com/spanish/blog/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!

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Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary: 89 Words and Phrases You Should Know

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Who doesn't love to eat?What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.Access to a fully-equip

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I like this video because it uses phrases while they are out eating. It also has subtitles so you can follow along. It also inserts phrases like, "Can you say this slower" etc. phrases that you REALLY need to know when you are first learning Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE21D5kR21s

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This is a neat discussion board from Duolingo on food related vocabulary in Spanish.

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Just some quick tips about ordering food in spanish at a restaurant- always use usted!  I like how straightforward the website is with specific blurbs to use. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/order-food-spanish-21251.html

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I really enjoyed this youtube video. They teach you simple and effective ways to order food and drink when you are in a Spanish speaking country or restaurant.

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How to Order Food in Spanish (Ordering a Meal at a Restaurant)

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This short article by Nachotime Spanish gives people quick tips on how to have short yet correct food conversations in Spanish. I like this source because the vocabulary is easy to remember if you are a beginner

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Being able to confidently order food in public can serve as better proof of your Spanish fluency than any official exam. To pass this trial by fire you'll need to know not only the right words, but also the unspoken cultural norms of the country you're in. Since most textbooks tend to completely ignore this crucial information, we'll explore it in depth here.

Unfortunately, the only cultural norms I know like the back of my hand are those from Spain, so this article will be much more Spain-centric than I'd like. This is not a big deal, because the basics are the same in every flavor of Spanish. If you do most of your food-ordering in a different country, you should get hyperlocal translations from one of your native friends to sound 100% native. That's what I've done with a few of my Mexican, Colombian and Peruvian friends (see the bonus dialogue section at the end). If you have any other local translations, feel free to share them in the comments.

So, for the rest of the article, let's assume you're somewhere along the coast of Spain, it's early night (10pm) and there's a gentle breeze. You and your friends have just picked a table in a terraza (bar/restaurant with outdoor seating) overlooking the sea, and a man wearing black pants and a white short-sleeved shirt comes up to you with a notebook in hand.

Saying hello

Regardless of whether you're standing inside or sitting outside, the first thing you should do is greet the waiter and your fellow patrons (let them know you got this Spanish thing down). You can start with:

-Muy buenas. Ahora mismo os preparo una mesita.
"Very good (ones indeed). Right now I prepare you a table (diminutives are just affectionate flourishes)."

Buenas works as a stand-in for buenas tardes (good afternoons), buenas noches (good nights), and also for buenos días (good (days / morning)), even if it doesn't make any sense because días is masculine. You can use buenas anytime you want to acknowledge someone's presence without necessarily getting into a full-on conversation about how their weekend went.

Pro tip: If you want to expand your greeting repertoire, notice how other people greet the waiter and write down any confusing or unfamiliar expressions. They might range from the casual ¿Qué pasa, Paco? (What's up, Paco?), to the more formal Hola, buenas noches a todos (Hello, good nights to everyone).

Ordering

If the waiter doesn't explicitly ask you what you'd like to drink or eat, proactively tell him:

-¿ Nos pones dos cañas y un tinto de verano, por favor?
"Do you put us two (glasses of beer) and a summer red wine (glass), please?"

Pro tip: Don't order sangria. Look up a recipe and make it at home yourself. If you're outside, copy the locals and order tintos de verano .

We'll talk about it more in the tú vs. usted section, but you must convince your English mind to stop reaching for ¿Me puedes have (as in "Can I have...?") and focus on using and ( poner/traer una cerveza?).

There is a subtle difference between these ordering verbs:

If you're ordering real food or drinks, you can use both, poner or traer.

If you're ordering other things that are far away from the waiter (the menu, the check, a fork, a slice of lemon), use .

(Also, if you're asking for things that are close to the waiter, use dar.)

If you prefer using for ordering real food or drinks, do not ask for permission (¿Puedo tomar...?); instead, say what's going to happen:

This distinction is highly country-specific, but let's highlight a few universal points:

1. No one will feel deeply insulted if you use tú instead of usted, so relax and have fun with it.

2. Instead of putting all your creative energy on appearing polite, focus on noticing how the waiter addresses you. Once you develop the ability to pick up on whether you're being tuteado (addressed using tú) or not, you'll instantly know which one you should be using.

3. If you're much more comfortable saying either tú or usted, practice using the other one. Once you're equally comfortable with both, you'll have no problem switching, and all the politeness-induced anxiety will magically disappear.

Besides conjugating verbs with usted, you can squeeze in a lot of politeness into your interactions by disguising your commands as questions:

In English, it's much more common to make polite requests by talking about your innermost wishes and desires (can I have...?, may I have...?, could I have...?).

"I"-focused requests sound pretty weird in Spanish (¿podría tener...?, quisiera tener..., me gustaría tener...); instead, we focus on what we want the other person to do (¿me traes...?, ¿me puedes traer...?, ¿me podrías traer...?).

Anyway, the default in most bars and restaurants in Spain is to use tú, so let's stick to that for the rest of the article.

If you never got a menu, or if you're overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by the number of choices, you can always ask the waiter:

-Aquí tenéis. Si no habéis probado las "Here you go. If you haven't tried the baby squid croquettes, croquetas de chipirones, os las recomiendo. I recommend them to you."

To explicitly ask for recommendations, notice what the waiter said above (os recomiendo...), and turn it into a question: ¿Qué nos recomiendas? (What do you recommend to us?).

To get useful recommendations, you should always provide a constraint:

-Estoy entre el pez espada y la lubina. ¿ Qué me recomiendas?
"I'm between the swordfish and the European sea bass. What do you recommend to me?"

Who's doing the ordering?

Once you're ready to order, you have two options: fending for yourself or speaking on behalf of the group.

Ordering for yourself is pretty simple: just say para mí and whatever item you've chosen.

Ordering when you're the chosen representative of your group is not that hard either-just tell the waiter what's going to happen:

-Pues una de pulpo, una de huevos rotos y ¿ paella tenéis?
"(So, it's going to be) one (portion) of octopus, one of broken eggs, and paella do you have (it)?"

-Vale, pues entonces una de salmorejo.
"Okay, so then one (portion) of (tomato and bread purée)."

Pro tip: If you see a menu like the one above, you'll sometimes be able to order things in three sizes (from smallest to largest): una tapa (a snack), una media ración (a half portion), or una ración (a portion). When people say "vámonos de tapas" (let's go eat some tapas), what they actually mean is "vámonos de raciones" (let's go eat some portions).

-A ver por aquí... ¿ Les falta alguna cosita?
"Let's see around here (in this table)... Are you missing any little thing?"

Pop quiz: is the waiter asking you in usted-mode or in tú-mode?

You should respond appropriately:

-¿Me podrías traer otro tenedor, por favor? Es que se me ha caído.
"Could you (tú) bring me another fork, please? (The thing is) that it has fallen (from me)."

-¿Me podría traer otro tenedor, por favor? Es que se me ha caído.
"Could you (usted) bring me another fork, please? (The thing is) that it has fallen (from me)."

I recommend reserving (conditional, usted) for very polite requests (or for asking favors that make you feel slightly guilty), and making (present, tú) your default, since it sits somewhere in the middle of the politeness ladder:

If you feel the need to go lower, just decorate hijo with your favorite adjective.

Paying and leaving

If the waiter keeps ignoring you while you try to pull out your textbook-Spanish check-ordering sentence, try using this one:

-Perdona. (Brazo subido. Contacto visual.) La cuenta cuando puedas. (Cejas levantadas. Firmita en el aire.)
"Forgive (me). (Arm raised. Eye contact.) The bill whenever you're able. (Raised eyebrows. Little signing motion in the air)."

If it's a slow night and the waiter has all the time in the world to chat with you, you can be a bit more roundabout and talk about how good the food was (Estaba todo buenísimo, Everything was (very good / delicious)), or ask him if it's possible to take the leftovers home (¿Me podrías poner esto para llevar, por favor?, Could we take this to go, please?), and then ask for the check like a boss:

In bars or in non-fancy restaurants, you can also say ¿Nos cobras? ((Do you / will you) charge us?). Once you pay, say hasta luego , and go for a walk on the beach.

Spanish takeaways

Sounding native when ordering food is just like sounding native when doing anything else: you need to really listen to what natives are saying and notice how it differs from what your gut thinks is right.

Remember that requests in Spanish are almost always "you"-based (¿Me puedes traer...?) instead of "I"-based (Can I have...?).

To sound polite when using tú, you only need to turn the command into a question and smile (¿Me traes una rodaja de limón? 🙂, Bring me a slice of lemon?).

If your polite upbringing keeps rejecting this sentence structure, feel free to append porfa or por favor (¿Me traes una rodaja de limón, porfa?), or insert poder in its present or conditional form for added politeness (¿Me puedes (podrías) traer una rodaja de limón, por favor?). The same guidelines apply when using usted.

If you want to get articles like this one and other secret Spanish content sent to you directly, subscribe to NachoTime.

Bonus: Dialogues in other Spanish flavors

These are three variations on the main dialogue above. I've bolded the most native expressions.

I want to thank Gina, Natalia, Dana, Óscar, Harold, and Víctor for their native help (I also take full responsibility for any mistakes and inaccuracies that may have slipped through).

-Hola, buenas tardes.

-Buenas tardes. ¿ Gustan algo de tomar?
"Good afternoon. Do you enjoy something to drink? (Anywhere outside of Spain, they'll use instead of beber when ordering drinks).

-Dos "Two beers, please. ( chelitas, por favor.
Una chela is a pretty native/informal way of ordering beer). "

-Claro que sí.

-Aquí tienen la carta. Si no han probado las enchiladas de

mole, se las recomiendo mucho.

-No. Solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre la arrachera y las puntas de filete. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

This deserves an interlude.

In Spain, we use tú-vosotros for the informal and usted-ustedes for the formal. Makes sense, right? Why would you pick one from each category? Well, this is what one region of Spain did: most people in the Canary Islands use tú-ustedes for the informal and usted-ustedes for the formal.

This would have just been a linguistic oddity if it weren't for the fact that almost every Spanish ship that went on to "discover" the Americas had its last pre-Atlantic pit stop in the Canary Islands. This meant that many people in favor of using tú-ustedes boarded those ships, which meant that they had a first-mover advantage in deciding how Spanish would be spoken in the entire American Continent.

So, now you know who to blame for the tú-ustedes madness.

Back to the dialogue.

-Yo estoy entre la arrachera y las puntas de filete. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

-Las dos están muy buenas, pero la arrachera es la especialidad de la casa. Viene con guacamole y arroz. ¡Deliciosa!

-Entonces, para mí la arrachera.

-Una arrachera... ¿Y para ti?

-Para mí las enchiladas.

-¿Verdes o de mole?

-De mole, por favor.

-Muy bien, (Using ahorita to mean ahorita les traigo un poco de pan.
right now is super common outside of Spain. We use other diminutives, but for some reason that one never stuck.)

-¿Todo en orden? ¿"Everything in order?
Se les ofrece algo más?
Do you (desire / feel like) anything else?"

-Unas (According to my friend Dana, no one would order just a single slice of lime in Mexico-they'd order the full lime! 😂) tortillas y ¿me podrías traer limón, por favor?
-Claro que sí.

(Also, in Spain, limón means a yellow lemon; in Mexico, it means lime (which we would call lima))

-Disculpe. Forgive (me). ¿

Le encargo la cuenta.
I request you the check. (Another way to say it is nos puede mandar la cuenta?, could you send us the check?)

-Hola, buenas tardes.

-Muy buenas tardes, "Very good afternoons, sigan. ¿Qué desean tomar?
come in. What would you like to drink? (sigan is Colombia-specific, the rest of the Spanish world would say adelante)"

-¿"Do you give us an anise-flavored sugar-cane liqueur and a beer really frozen, please? (It's super Colombian to say regalar instead of dar. They're Nos regalas un aguardientico y una cerveza bien helada, por favor? not actually asking for free drinks.)"

-(In Spain, you'll likely hear aquí instead of acá, but they both mean Acá esta la carta. Si no han probado las empanadas de queso, se las recomiendo, son deliciosas. here).

-¿Tienen arroz con pollo?

-No, lo siento mucho, solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre el ajiaco y la mojarra frita. ¿Qué me recomienda?

-Las dos (To add to the confusion, outside of Spain it's common to describe the flavor of a particular dish as one of its son riquísimas, pero el ajiaco es nuestra especialidad. Le ponemos un poco de crema y alcaparras. Muy sabroso.
essential characteristics (o es bueno o es malo), instead of as a particular state among many (está bueno, pero podría estar malo). If you want to keep your sanity, follow whatever the natives in your region use.)

-Un ajiaco... ¿Y para ti?

-Para mí una mojarra frita.

-Una mojarra frita... Muy bien. (In Spain, we use ahora for eventual actions, and reserve ya for more Ya les traigo pan.
immediate ones. I guess in this case it would depend on how fast the waiter is planning on moving.)

-¿Cómo van? ¿Les puedo ofrecer algo más?
"How are you (going / doing)? Can I offer you anything else?"

-¿Nos regalas sal y un poquito de limón?

-Claro que sí. Con mucho gusto.

-Acá la tienen.

-Hola, ¿cómo están? ¿Qué les gustaría tomar?

-Porfa, ¿nos puedes traer un par de cervecitas y un pisco sour?

-Claro, se las traigo ahorita.

-Aquí tienen la carta. Si no han probado nuestro

ceviche, se los recomiendo.

-¿Tienes arroz con mariscos?

-No, lo siento, solo los domingos.

-Yo estoy entre el seco de cabrito y el lomo saltado. ¿Cuál me recomiendas?

-(This isn't Peru-specific, but I wanted you to notice that sometimes the reply will be masculine (meaning los platos, Los dos son muy buenos. Pero el lomo saltado es la especialidad de la casa. Lo hacemos con lomo fino y un poco de vinagre. Nos queda riquísimo. the dishes), and others it will be feminine (meaning las cosas, the things))

-Un lomo... ¿Y para usted?

-Para mí el seco de cabrito.

-Y un seco... Muy bien. Ahorita les traigo un poco de pan.

-Sí, ¿me podrías traer un limoncito cortado?

-Disculpa. ¿Me traes la cuenta por favor?

-Aquí tiene la cuenta.

I've put a million links here, and due to the second law of thermodynamics, entropy will increase until a statistically significant subset of them will stop working. Let me know if you found any dead ones, so I can keep the chaos under control.

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How to Sound Natural When Ordering Food in Spanish | NachoTime Spanish

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Being able to confidently order food in public can serve as better proof of your Spanish fluency than any official exam. To pass this trial by fire you'll need to know not only the right words, but also the unspoken cultural norms of the country you're in.

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This is a tutorial video about how to order food, while speaking in Spanish. The video also talking about the most commonly used phrases used when ordering food and common mistakes made.

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This video has fun pictures and common words or phrases you can use while out at a restaurant. It includes the way things may taste such as "bitter," and "sweet."

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how to speak Spain Spanish :at the restaurant

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If you desire to teach the language, why not acquire how to speak Spain Spanish and do it right? Discover how to speak Spain Spanish similar a Spaniard does? Most people study languages from reports or audio classes, and a few attend courses at one time or twice a week.

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The graphics in this video are great. It was super helpful to have Spanish being the spoken language, while also having subtitles for the Spanish AND English. It is a sweet little scene of a family at a restaurant.

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How to Order Food at a Restaurant in Mexico  | Innovative Spanish

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Here is a great link to vocabulary in order from finding a table to leaving. I found ti very helpful!
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/

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I love Spanish food, learning how to order food in restaurants and street food trucks. I enjoyed this podcast especially because they break down each sentence.

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Doorway To Mexico - Mexican Spanish Podcast

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Learn Spanish: Ordering Street Food in Mexico

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First off-this website's name is hilarious. Second off-it has a video that is already posted but it has a lot of the short sentences written out. For me, its easier to read Spanish than to hear it. So if I can do both, read it while someone is speaking, it is so helpful!

https://gringosabroad.com/how-to-order-food-in-spanish/

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This website has common phrases and food items to help you learn how to order at a restaurant in Spanish.

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Phrases and vocabulary for ordering food and drink

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Simple ways to order at a restaurant.

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How to Order Food in Spanish (Ordering a Meal at a Restaurant)

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This website has an amazing glossary of cooking terms.

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Mexican Food And Cooking Terms - GourmetSleuth

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Welcome to our glossary of Spanish food and cooking terms. Each term is translated into English and includes the pronunciation as well as a brief definition.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sIf0q6c-0w

This video walks you through restaurant related vocab as well as how to order. It's all in Spanish which is kind of a fun challenge!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5IVtVjT79I

This teaches you how to order food specifically from food trucks,
which is pretty cool.

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Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda? Good afternoon. What do you recommend?

Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda? Good afternoon. What do you recommend?

Pues, hoy tenemos un revuelto de setas buenísimo. Well, today we have a great wild mushroom omelette.

Me pone una tapa, y una ración de solomillo, pero que esté muy hecho. I'll have a small dish of that, and a full portion of the tenderloin, but make it well done.

De acuerdo, aunque está mas sabroso vuelta y vuelta. All right, although it's tastier when just seared.

Vale, me fío de usted. Y tráigame una copa de rioja. OK, I trust you. Also bring me a glass of rioja.

Aquí tiene. ¡Que aproveche! Here you go. Enjoy your meal!

Types of dish

el primer plato, entrante starter
la tapa small dish (plural: tapas)
la media ración half portion
la ración full portion
el plato combinado mixed plate (a main course and side dish together)
el postre dessert

Types of eatery

el restaurante restaurant
el bar bar, serving either drinks only or drinks and tapas
la tasca tavern, serving tapas
la cafetería café usuallly serving coffee, tea, pastries and cakes
el mesón rustic inn

Restaurant food

el solomillo tenderloin
el filete fillet
la ternera beef, veal
con salsa de ... with ... sauce
la sopa soup
el gazpacho cold soup, usually tomato-based
el salmorejo cold soup, thicker than gazpacho (typical of Andalucía)
el pescaíto frito fried fish
la lubina sea bass
la dorada gilt-head bream
los calamares squid (rings)
los chipirones baby squid
los chocos, la sepia cuttlefish
el pulpo octopus
las gambas prawns
las papas bravas sauted potatoes with spicy sauce
las patatas potatoes
la ensaladilla (rusa) (Russian) salad
el bocadillo, el montadito sandwich

Drinks

el agua (sin gas/con gas) (still/sparkling) water
la cerveza beer (bottle)
una caña beer (small draft)
el vino wine
el refresco soft drink
el café (sólo/cortado/con leche) coffee (black/dash of milk/white)
la copa glass (for wine)
el vaso glass (for water)

Other things to say ...

¿me pone / trae ...? could I have ...?
¿cuál es el menú de hoy / del día? what is today's set menu?
¿me trae la cuenta, por favor? could I have the bill, please?
no como carne, ni pescado I don't eat meat, not even fish
tengo alergia a las nueces I'm allergic to nuts
¡camarero, me parece que hay un pelo en mi sopa! waiter, I think there's a hair in my soup
tráigame la hoja de quejas y reclamaciones bring me the complaints book (Spanish establishments are required by law to have one)
está asqueroso it's disgusting
está riquísimo its really tasty
Topics

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Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda? Good afternoon. What do you recommend? Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda? Good afternoon. What do you recommend? Pues, hoy tenemos un revuelto de setas buenísimo. Well, today we have a great wild mushroom omelette. Me pone una tapa, y una ración de solomillo, pero que esté muy hecho.

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Here is a website I found that has some useful phrases and words for when you go out out to eat.

http://www.fluentu.com/spanish/blog/spanish-restaurant-vocabulary-words-phrases/

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http://www.speakinglatino.com/basic-spanish-lessons-ordering-food/

I like this site becausae not only does it give instructions on how to say the foods, it also gives warnings on what to check for to avoid getting something different than what you thought you ordered. There is also a sample menu!

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I liked this video because it shows you actually ordering in person, and this video even shows you alternative ways to ask for something.

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Free Bonus Video: http://gringoespanol.com/pointing In today's video, I don't have 3 questions for you like I did for asking directions. I'm not going to give you 5 simple steps like I did for using transportation. Food isn't like that. Food can get really complicated really fast.

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This instructor is enthusiastic. She goes over basic words too not just specific to ordering food.

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http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/resources/spanish/vocabulary-lists/ordering-food-in-restaurant/
Another list of common foods/restaurant phrases

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I know I always put games on these Padlets, but I feel that I learn better in a more interactive type style. So here is a link to a bunch of games to help you with Spanish vocabulary words. I did the food one because it pertained to this discussion, but there are also others like clothing, telling time, phrases, numbers, etc. I really like that these games have pictures so you can match the word to a picture.

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Choose the Spanish subject you would like to learn, revise the vocabulary and then test your Spanish skills with the interactive quiz. If you wish to first sped time going through the vocab, then study with our Spanish flashcards (all include audio) or visit the visual Spanish picture dictionaries page. Exercises and quizzes on the this Spanish learning pageare of most use to beginner or lower intermediate level students or travelers, and those with some level of Spanish language proficiency may like to play the Spanish spelling games, suitable for tablet and PC screens only. For those who are looking for exercises to polish their general vocabulary on specific learner themes, visit the Spanish practice games page.

Online Spanish learning games include:

Numbers in Spanish game - quizzes with audio to learn count in Spanish. Play the numbers from 1-12 game, to begin your Spanish studies, then play the 13-20 game which also includes 1-12 and provides the additional numbers to 20. With the 0-100 game, you will learn multiples of 10. Arithmetic games in which you add the Spanish words for numbers together to choose the correct answer. For learning a few more Spanish numbers visit the learn Spanish numbers page.

Spanish phrases - common and useful phrases in el idioma español (the Spanish language) for beginners and travelers. Basic communication with the most common salutations and greetings, and phrases for ordering food or asking directions. 2 games - Spanish phrases game 1 with the more common greetings and salutations. Then play the more advanced Spanish phrases game 2. Exercise and word list with spoken Castilian Spanish provided by a native Spanish speaker with a clear accent. For a few further basic Spanish salutations and an explanation of their usage, visit the Spanish greetings page. For learning some lingo for an upcoming trip, including accommodation and restaurant related phrases, visit the Spanish travel phrases page. If you'd like to learn a couple of survival phrases for a weekend break to Majorca or to surprise a Mexican amigo/a, check out our how to say hello in Spanish webpage. For people in or seeking a romantic relationship with a Spanish Latin person, visit our how to say I love you in Spanish webpage with audio recordings.

Colours in Spanish game - online exercise for learning the most 11 common color adjectives in the Spanish language. Simple, colourful Spanish game suitable for young children and casual adult learners seeking an interactive visual learning style. Spanish game that assists word memorization through repetition. Students can first use our Spanish flashcards: colours as a study aid for memorizing these adjectives.

Fruit and vegetables in Spanish game - 15 of the most useful words for Spanish fruit and vegetables in a simple Spanish game with Castilian audio. For elementary level students and kids, and a fun classroom learning tool. In this Spanish game, you should pay attention to the definite article associated with the noun, as this will be of great importance for when you move on to the study of Spanish grammar. For those looking for teaching tools for presenting this vocab to a class, check out our Spanish picture dictionary: fruit and veg. Illustrated dictionary includes audio and animations that appeal to kids.

Food and drinks in Spanish game - some of the most useful common food vocabulary with Castilian audio in a simple and colorful Spanish game designed for kids or school students and children. The gender of each noun is shown by the definite article, and the student should pay attention to this. 15 multiple-choice questions for beginners.

Animals in Spanish game- learn the words for animals and then play this engaging Spanish practice quiz. This vocab can be presented to a class of younger learners with our Spanish picture dictionary: animals, with fun animations of creatures and critters. For a tool for drilling these words, our Spanish flashcards: animals provides an interactive and effective learning activity.

Spanish furniture quiz - learn the most common household furniture items from a vocabulary list with audio, and then test your vocabulary retention with the fun practice quiz. For a visual aid for teaching this vocab in a classroom learning, see if our Spanish picture dictionary: furniture meets your needs.

Vocabulary quizzes - two Spanish games with vocabulary lists and audio, each of which contains 33 Spanish words. Beginners may wish to first take the simpler Spanish game with 17 words. Choose either vocabulary game 1 or the second exercise - vocabulary game 2. Entertaining language education exercises with voice audio recordings for relaxed vocabulary acquisition and effective vocabulary memorization.

To be and to have - ser y tener. Online Spanish game for learning these crucial verbs, as well as the Spanish personal pronouns. Complete the sentence with the correct conjugation. Lower intermediate difficulty level Spanish language arts game. An engaging and quirky Spanish game that serves as an easy introduction to Spanish grammar.

Verbs game - infinitive form. List of words with Castilian audio and quiz. Learn some of the most useful verbs in the Spanish language. An introduction for beginners to Spanish grammar, and a fun break from the class textbook!

Two verb conjugation quizzes - activities for learning to conjugate a few Spanish verbs in the present tense, with verb tables and fun practice quizzes. Learn to conjugate the verbs 'cocinar - to cook', 'bailar - to dance, 'beber - to drink, 'dormir - to sleep', 'hablar - to talk', and 'escribir - to write' with the verb conjugation quiz 1, and the verbs 'comprar - to buy', 'limpiar - to clean', 'conducir - to drive', 'leer - to read', 'vender - to sell' with the verb conjugation quiz 2. Games that provide the ideal entry point for Spanish language students beginning verb conjugation.

Days and months in Spanish game - learn the seven days of the week and the 12 months of the year in a simple visual Spanish game that is suitable for kids and elementary students. Traveling in Spanish speaking countries will be made much easier if you can understand a calendar, or read a bus timetable!

Vocabulary builders (for PCs and tablets) - as you begin to acquire more Spanish vocabulary, these two Spanish games each offer 48 additional words. Match the written or spoken Spanish word with the corresponding English word. Vocabulary builder game 1 and then play the slightly more advanced vocabulary builder game 2.

Words, colors and numbers games - after learning basic vocabulary and the numbers as featured in other Spanish games offered on this site, you may wish to try this beginners' grammar game, which is an introduction to sentence structure and word order, and the use of adjectives in Spanish. Two Spanish games - words, colors and numbers 1 and the slightly more difficult words, colors and numbers 2. An ideal introduction to Spanish grammar for beginners.

Spanish spelling games - this section currently offers five games for spelling Spanish words; colors, verbs (infinitive form), animals and two vocabulary games. First fill in the gaps in the word with the correct letters in this Spanish bee style quiz, and then choose the definite article that goes with noun. Spanish games designed to help the learner to memorize which nouns are masculine and which are feminine.

Advanced Spanish games: five intermediate to advanced level vocabulary practice games. For those progressing beyond the beginner-level learning materials on this introduction to the Spanish language page. Learn the sorts of general vocabulary you will need for understanding general newspaper articles or Spanish fairytale stories. Spanish games suitable for tablet and PC sized screens only.

Mobile and tablet games for Spanish - there are several games with audio on our Spanish for mobile pages including colors, numbers, phrases, animals and vocabulary. If you come to this site with a mobile device you will be automatically redirected to this page.

Further Spanish learning resources

Spanish vocabulary lists: for learning a little extra general vocab on a range of Spanish topics and themes. Vocabulary lists include audio.

For information on Spanish linguistics, the history and origins of the language, and the countries in the world where Spanish is spoken visit the Spanish linguistic information page. On learning strategies and the value of learning Spanish, see the learn Spanish language page.

Dual text hygiene presentation in Spanish and English - 'wash your hands' in Spanish. Study a few simple sentences and words in Spanish relating to the most basic good hygiene practices.

If these learning games pages aren't appropriate for your level of Spanish, go to our Spanish learning links page. This page serves as a guide for students to Spanish resources on the net. Review of electronic study and translation tools, learning videos and current affairs sites suitable for those beginning to read Spanish articles.

About Digital Dialects Spanish

All Spanish language learning games are free to use, do not require registration, and are suitable for kids and students of different ages. Spanish games that teachers can incorporate into classroom lessons, set as a homework exercise, or that can be used by independent learners as a self study Spanish resource. An introduction to listening, reading, comprehension and communication in the Spanish language. Spanish games employ the fun, fast and easy study method of vocabulary drills. Learn many useful words from the sentence or word lists, and then play the Spanish learning games to test your language skill levels. Other learning exercises include Spanish games to learn basic grammar and sentence structure, verb infinitive form lists, verb conjugation games and spelling games. Travelers to Spanish countries will find the phrases sections particularly helpful, as well as the numbers in Spanish games and basic vocabulary sections. Kids and school students will find some of the visual and interactive vocabulary drills, such as the animal words in Spanish game, or the Spanish food game enjoyable. The audio and words or phrases used on this website are Castilian Spanish (from Spain). As this website is designed for beginners or lower intermediate Spanish learners, the vocabulary and phrases included in these Spanish games will be familiar to all native Spanish speakers, whether in Spain, Latin America, Africa or elsewhere. Each Spanish study topic includes word lists with audio for learning the correct (Castilian) Spanish pronunciation, and Spanish practice games for testing your learning progress.

Other Romance language sections with several language acquisition games and native audio on Digital Dialects include the learn French games language learning page, learn Italianlanguage games, learn Brazilian Portuguese language games and learn Romanian language resources page.
We hope you enjoyed these Spanish language games! Buena suerte con tus estudios de español (Good luck with your Spanish studies).

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Spanish language learning games | Digital Dialects

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Choose the Spanish subject you would like to learn, revise the vocabulary and then test your Spanish skills with the interactive quiz. If you wish to first sped time going through the vocab, then study with our Spanish flashcards (all include audio) or visit the visual Spanish picture dictionaries page.

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I like this video because it is simple and short but uses images to accompany the audio recordings of common and useful phrases for eating out.

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Spanish for Restaurants - Basic Spanish Lessons

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This is a fairly extensive lists of food names, useful expressions and also a few cultural tidbits. I especially like the pictures of some common restaurant dishes from around the Spanish speaking world.

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Who doesn't love to eat?

What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness?

Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry!

Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience.

Access to a fully-equipped kitchen can be hard to come by while traveling, and you may well prefer to dedicate your time to seeing the sights rather than grocery shopping (though I'll be the first to tell you that exploring a local market can be extremely fun). Talk to locals, find out where the local hot spots are, and ask about regional cuisine. People love to talk about food as much as they love to eat it!

No plans to travel? Join in on the fun by visiting a local Mexican restaurant or Spanish tapas bar with a Spanish-speaking staff.

Before you arrive at your destination, equip yourself with the following words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Spanish speaker!

Finding your table

If you've chosen a swanky bistro that is regularly flooded with devoted patrons, you may need to make a reservation ahead of time. Call them up on the phone and be sure to greet with a friendly salutation. Next, tell them "I would like to make a reservation for # people." "Quisiera hacer una reserva para # persona(s)." They will then ask you, "Under whose name?"

If you're like me and, uh, typically fail to plan well in advance, you can slip into a full restaurant by requesting a seat at the bar:

May I sit at the bar? - bar? (poh-dree-ah sen-tar-may en el bar)

Special dietary preferences are often viewed with a suspicious eye in Latin America. You really need to specify with your server what it is that you cannot eat. Clearly state:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen Ecuadorian restaurants serve meat-laden soups to disappointed vegetarian friends. So, my advice to you is to always double-check that your order doesn't contain something you don't want to eat.

Navigating the restaurant

Waiter, waitress - (cah-mah-reh-roh), camarera (cah-mah-reh-rah)

Waiter, waitress (Latin America only) - mesero (meh-ser-oh), mesera (meh-ser-ah)

The paper-signing hand gesture translates smoothly enough. Most small restaurants in Latin American will not accept credit cards, tarjetas de crédito (tahr-heh-tahs deh creh-dee-toh), so it's best to carry some cash, efectivo (eh-fek-tee-voh), on hand in case of emergency.

Need help remembering these words? Use FluentU to hear give them context and cement them in your memory!

FluentU offers a growing collection of authentic videos, including various clips, movies, music and more. It's an entertaining way to immerse yourself in Spanish the way native speakers really use it, while actively building your vocabulary.

Understanding regional food traditions

While traveling, always ask the locals:

What is the typical food of this region? - ¿Cuál es la comida típica de esta región? (kwahl ehs lah koh-mee-dah tee-pee-kah deh ehs-tah reh-hee-ohn)

What do you recommend? -(keh meh reh-koh-mee-ehn-dah) Don't be afraid to ask the waiter what he or she recommends.

Drinks - Bebidas (beh-bee-dahs)

When seated at a restaurant, the first thing a waiter will ask is what you'd like to drink. Know your refreshment vocabulary so you can get straight to reading the menu!

Common flavors of juice or smoothie you might like to order are:

Breakfast - Desayuno (deh-sah-yoo-noh)

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. Learn how to order breakfast so you can fuel your adventure-filled day abroad!

Oatmeal - (ah-veh-nah) Don't be alarmed if you get something unexpected. In Latin America, oatmeal is most commonly served as a cool, sweet beverage as opposed to the sticky glop you know and love. It's delicious!

Lunch - Almuerzo (ahl-mwer-zoh)

An almuerzo is a great representation of common home cooking, and is usually the best bargain. They serve something different daily, so you are welcome to ask:

What's for lunch today? - ¿Qué tiene el almuerzo de hoy? (keh tee-eh-neh ehl ahl-mwer-zoh de oy)

What's today's menu? -¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? (kwahl ehs ehl meh-noo deh oy)

Does this come with X? - ¿Viene con X? (bee-eh-neh kohn X)

Almuerzo generally includes:

Dinner - Merienda (meh-ree-ehn-dah)/Cena (ceh-nah)

There are two commonly used words for dinner: and . In most parts of Latin America, merienda refers to an average evening meal and cena is reserved for special occasions - like a big Christmas Eve turkey dinner. In Spain, merienda is a small meal meant to tide you over between el almuerzo and la cena. In both contexts, merienda is a light, simple meal - often bread and cheese, a hot chocolate, or another modest snack. Don't worry though, after an authentic almuerzo there is a good chance you won't even be hungry by the evening!

Here's some important menu lingo that will get you through ordering any meal:

Seafood - Mariscos (mah-rees-kohs)

Meats - Carne (car-nay)

Pork tenderloin - (loh-moh deh ser-doe)

Fruits and Vegetables - Frutas y verduras (froo-tahs ee ver-doo-rahs)

Food preparation

Breaded - apanado (ah-pah-nah-doh) or empanado or empanizado *very regional word

Dessert - Postre (poh-stray)

Culinary Specialties of the Spanish-speaking world

Here's what you've been waiting for! While at home or abroad, try to seek out traditional cuisine from the Spanish-speaking world to better immerse you in the language and culture. There's nothing better that justifying indulgence with an educational experience!

Ceviche - A lemony seafood soup served all along the coasts of Central and South America. Each country has its own distinct flavor and style!

Chicharrón - Pork rind extravaganza! This fried, seasoned pig skin is a beloved snack throughout Latin America and parts of Spain.

Churros - Crispy, sugar-coated fried dough - how could anyone resist?

Dulce de tres leches - A moist, super-sweet cake that features three forms of milk (natural, dried, and condensed).

Gazpacho - The cold, refreshing tomato soup popular in Spain.

Paella - A classic Spanish dish that blends rice, beans, seafood, meat, and savory seasonings.

Patacones/Tostones - These crisp, fried plantain slices are a common side dish throughout Latin America.

And One More Thing...

Ready to reinforce all your new knowledge of Spanish food? Have a hankering to learn some more?

Wishing you could see some of these dishes being cooked up?

Then you'll love FluentU.

FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, commercials, news, and inspiring talks and turns them into Spanish learning experiences.

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You'll learn Spanish as it's actually spoken by real people.

You can practice all the delicious vocabulary in the post above by watching countless food-related videos, such as "Necessary Foods in Your Kitchen," "Mouth-Watering Fusilli with Chipotle and Arrachera" and "Classic Peruvian Ceviche."

FluentU has a wide variety of videos-topics like soccer, TV shows, business, movies and even magical realism, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's Learn Mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and it recommends you examples and videos based on the words you've already learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they're learning the same video.

Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store for iOS and Android devices.

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!

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Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary: 89 Words and Phrases You Should Know

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Who doesn't love to eat? What's more important? Your waistline or your happiness? Explore delicious local foods while abroad - you won't be sorry! Spending time at restaurants can really factor into your cultural immersion and Spanish language learning experience. Access to a fully-equip