A1Spanish

Buying Street Food

Use these phrases to confidently order street food, ask about ingredients, and handle cash payments.

Key Phrases

Voice
Ordering · 2 ways to say it

Una porción, por favor.

neutral

One portion, please.

The standard, polite way to order a single serving.

Quiero una porción.

casual

I want one portion.

A slightly more direct way to order, common at busy stalls.

Asking ingredients · 2 ways to say it

¿Qué lleva esto?

neutral

What does this have in it?

Use this to ask about the specific ingredients in a dish.

¿De qué es?

casual

What is it made of?

A very common, shorter way to ask about the filling, like meat or cheese.

Asking about spice

¿Es muy picante?

neutral

Is it very spicy?

An essential question before trying unknown street food.

Specifying spice level · 2 ways to say it

Sin picante, por favor.

neutral

Without spice, please.

The clearest way to request a mild version.

No quiero picante.

casual

I don't want spice.

A direct statement of your preference.

Requesting sauce

¿Hay salsa?

neutral

Is there sauce?

Ask this if you want to add condiments to your food.

Asking the price

¿Cuánto es?

neutral

How much is it?

The standard phrase for asking the total price.

Paying

Pago en efectivo.

neutral

I am paying in cash.

Useful to state since many street stalls do not take cards.

Asking where to sit

¿Hay mesas?

neutral

Are there tables?

A simple way to find out if there is a place to sit nearby.

Practice Dialogue

Traveler
Hola. ¿De qué es esto?
Vendor
Es de pollo con queso.
Traveler
¿Es muy picante?
Vendor
No, no es picante.
Traveler
Una porción, por favor.
Vendor
¿Con salsa?
Traveler
Sí, salsa, pero sin picante. ¿Cuánto es?
Vendor
Son cincuenta pesos.
Traveler
Pago en efectivo. ¿Hay mesas?
Vendor
Sí, allí. Gracias.

More Eating & Drinking Out (A1)

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