A1Italian

Buying Street Food

Use these practical phrases to confidently order street food, ask about ingredients, and pay in Italian.

Key Phrases

Voice
Ordering a portion · 2 ways to say it

Una porzione, grazie.

casual

One portion, thanks.

A fast, natural way to order when pointing at the food.

Prendo una porzione, per favore.

neutral

I'll take a portion, please.

Using 'prendo' (I take) is the most standard, natural way to order in Italian.

Asking about ingredients · 2 ways to say it

Cosa c'è dentro?

neutral

What's inside?

A simple and direct way to ask what a dish contains.

Quali sono gli ingredienti?

polite

What are the ingredients?

More formal; useful if you need to be careful about food allergies.

Asking about spice

È piccante?

neutral

Is it spicy?

Essential if you are sensitive to spicy food.

Specifying sauce

Senza salsa, per favore.

neutral

Without sauce, please.

Asking the price · 2 ways to say it

Quant'è?

casual

How much is it?

A very common, short way to ask for the total price.

Quanto costa?

neutral

How much does it cost?

Paying cash

Pago in contanti.

neutral

I pay in cash.

In Italian, 'contanti' means cash.

Finding a seat · 2 ways to say it

Dove mangiamo?

casual

Where do we eat?

Ask this to the person you are eating with to decide on a spot.

C'è un tavolo libero?

neutral

Is there a free table?

Ask this to the vendor to find out where you can sit.

Practice Dialogue

Customer
Ciao, prendo una porzione.
Vendor
Questa con la carne?
Customer
Sì. Cosa c'è dentro?
Vendor
Carne, cipolla e patate.
Customer
Ah, bene. È piccante?
Vendor
Un po'. Salsa?
Customer
Senza salsa, per favore. Quant'è?
Vendor
Sono cinque euro.
Customer
Pago in contanti.
Vendor
Ecco il resto.
Customer
Grazie. C'è un tavolo libero?
Vendor
Sì, c'è posto lì.

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