A1Spanish

Ordering at a Restaurant

Use these essential phrases to order food confidently and naturally at a Spanish-speaking restaurant.

Key Phrases

Voice
Greeting · 2 ways to say it

¡Buenas!

casual

Hi!

A very common, friendly shorthand greeting used in everyday places.

Hola, buenas tardes.

neutral

Hello, good afternoon.

A standard, polite greeting for entering a restaurant.

Asking for a table

Una mesa para dos, por favor.

neutral

A table for two, please.

Asking for the menu

La carta, por favor.

neutral

The menu, please.

Asking for a recommendation

¿Qué plato está rico?

neutral

What dish is good?

A natural way to ask the staff what is tasty here.

Ordering a dish

Quiero el pollo, por favor.

neutral

I want the chicken, please.

Native speakers drop 'yo' (I); just use the verb 'quiero'.

Stating your choice

Para mí, la ensalada.

neutral

For me, the salad.

Very common when ordering in a group or answering 'And for you?'

Ordering drinks

Y para beber, agua.

neutral

And to drink, water.

Complimenting the food

Todo está muy rico.

neutral

Everything is very tasty.

Asking for the bill

La cuenta, por favor.

neutral

The bill, please.

Asking about payment

¿Aceptan tarjeta?

neutral

Do you accept cards?

Practice Dialogue

Customer
Hola. Una mesa para dos, por favor.
Waiter
Buenas tardes. Aquí tienen la carta.
Customer
Gracias. ¿Qué plato está rico hoy?
Waiter
El pollo está muy rico.
Customer
Bien. Quiero el pollo, por favor.
Waiter
Perfecto. ¿Y para beber?
Customer
Para mí, agua.
Waiter
Muy bien. ¿Y para su amiga?
Customer
Ella quiere un jugo.
Waiter
Excelente. En un momento.

More Eating & Drinking Out (A1)

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