A2Spanish

Allergies & Dietary Needs

Essential phrases for communicating allergies, dietary restrictions, and checking ingredients in restaurants.

Key Phrases

Voice
Stating a dietary restriction

No puedo comer cacahuetes.

neutral

I can't eat peanuts.

Direct and clear for service staff.

Stating an allergy

Soy alérgica al marisco.

neutral

I am allergic to seafood.

Change 'alérgica' to 'alérgico' if you are male.

Stating dietary habits

No como carne ni pescado.

neutral

I don't eat meat or fish.

Standard way to explain you are vegetarian.

Asking about ingredients · 2 ways to say it

¿Esto lleva leche?

neutral

Does this have milk in it?

A very common verb ('llevar') for asking what is in a dish.

Perdone, ¿la sopa tiene harina?

polite

Excuse me, does the soup have flour?

More polite, starting with 'perdone' to get the waiter's attention.

Ordering without an ingredient · 2 ways to say it

La ensalada, pero sin queso.

neutral

The salad, but without cheese.

A natural, short way to modify your order.

Quiero el pollo, pero ¿puede ser sin salsa?

polite

I want the chicken, but can it be without sauce?

A softer way to ask for a modification to a dish.

Asking for options

¿Tienen algún postre sin azúcar?

neutral

Do you have any dessert without sugar?

Useful for finding safe options on the menu.

Asking for recommendations

Soy celíaco. ¿Qué me recomienda comer hoy?

polite

I am celiac. What do you recommend I eat today?

Polite way to ask the waiter for help with the menu.

Practice Dialogue

Customer
Hola. Una pregunta, ¿esto lleva leche?
Waiter
Sí, la crema de espinacas tiene leche.
Customer
Vale. No puedo comer nada de leche ni queso.
Waiter
Entiendo. El pollo asado no tiene lácteos.
Customer
Perfecto. Voy a pedir el pollo, por favor.
Waiter
¿Quiere patatas o ensalada con el pollo?
Customer
La ensalada, pero sin queso.
Waiter
Claro, una ensalada sin queso. Enseguida.

More Eating & Drinking Out (A2)

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