How to order food in Spanish: 30 Spanish restaurant phrases you need to know

On a trip around Spain? In this article, we will show some Spanish restaurant phrases that will come really handy.

No matter how cheap tourism can be in many places of Europe and the strategies you come up with to make your money last, you will eventually need to crash in some eatery and order food in Spanish to avoid starvation. Or a drink, if it is one of those hot Summer days screaming wildfire. 

We will display phrases that are useful from both the waiter’s/bartender’s and the customer’s (turns out to be you) point of view.

In your case, rest assured that the phrases will elicit a prompt response from those working at the restoration establishment and the appearance of food on your plate and anything to drink in your glass or cup. 

Of course, ordering at a restaurant in Spanish will not only help your urge to soothe but will be an egregious way to practice your Spanish linguistic skills.

Thus, you will kill two birds with a stone… And hopefully one of those birds will show up out of an oven or a pan right onto your dish! Even the two of them if your appetite definitely readies you to devour a whole flock.

Here’s the list:

FROM THE WAITER’S END YOU MAY HEAR:

1. ¿Tiene (sing.)/Tenéis (plu.) reserva? — Do you have a reservation?
2. Señor White, su mesa está lista. Sígame, por favor. — Mr. White, your table is ready, please follow me.
3. ¿Está listo (sing.)/Estáis listos (plur.) para pedir? — Are you ready to order?
4. ¿Qué le (sing.)/os (plu.) gustaría de beber? — What would you like for a drink?
5. ¿Le (sing.)/Os gustaría probar el vino? –Would you like to taste the wine?
6. ¿Cómo desea su filete? — How would you like your steak?
7. Poco cocido — rare
8. Al punto — medium-rare
9. Bien cocido — well done
10. ¿Eso es todo? — Is that all?
11. ¿Desea/Deseáis una guarnición? — Do you want any sides?
12. ¡Buen provecho!/¡Qué aproveche!— Enjoy your meal!/Bon appettite
13. Le/Les gustaría alguna otra cosa? — Would you like anything else?
14. ¿Puedo retirar los platos? — Can I take it?
15. ¿Todo bien? —Everything alright?

INSTEAD, THIS IS WHAT YOU COULD SAY AS THE CUSTOMER:

1. Desearía hacer una reserva. — I would like to make a reservation.
2. ¿Tenéis mesas disponibles/libres? — Do you have any free tables?
3. ¿Nos puede traer el menú, por favor? — Could we have the menu, please?
4. Soy alérgico/a a… — I’m allergic to…
5. Soy vegetariano/a – I’m a vegetarian/veggie
6. Soy vegano/a – I’m a vegan
7. ¿Qué nos recomienda? — What would you recommend us?
8. Aún no estamos listos. — We’re not ready yet.
9. Me gustaría una botella de vino blanco/tinto. — I’d like a bottle of White/red wine.
10. ¿Nos trae otra cerveza, por favor? —Could we have another beer please?
11. ¿Me puede traer el ketchup/la mayonesa? — Could you please bring me the ketchup/the mayonnaise?
12. Este plato está demasiado picante – This dish is too spicy.
13. Estuvo todo exquisito – Everything was delicious.
14. ¿Me lo puede poner para llevar, por favor? – Can I have a doggy bag please?
15. ¿Podría traerme la cuenta, por favor? – Could you please bring me the bill?

ADDITIONAL PHRASES YOU CAN USE:

• Never forget to say Buenos días/Buenas noches (Good day/Good evening) when you hit somewhere to order food in Spanish. 
• Mesa para (dos, tres, cuatro) personas, por favor – Please, a table for (two, three, four) people.
• ¿Me puede traer la lista de vinos, por favor? – Would you please bring me the wine chart?
• ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? – Can I pay by credit card?
• Queremos pagar por separado/cuentas separadas. ¿Se puede? – We wish to have separate bills. Is it possible?

AND NOW… TO EAT AND DRINK!

So, here are some phrases to order food in Spanish. As you can see, these phrases are also useful for you to learn how to order a drink in Spanish.

And it is very important that you keep into account that in Spain eating can be considered much of a religious act.

Spaniards are known to have not three, but even five meals a day, with such exotic hours to have dinner as after 10 p. m. Finding an open restaurant/pub in Spain at said times should not be a feat. 

Also, if you are willing to have a lighter meal, perhaps not a complete course, you can sign up for the very famous tapas, which is what most appetizers are called in pubs or bars particularly designed for their consumption (as we have pointed out in another article).

The tapas are very affordable, match light alcoholic beverages – e.g., beers – really well, and are perfect to keep up an animated conversation in a livened-up environment! 

So, don’t play it safe and go for your tapas as well. No Spanish experience is complete without them.

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