Walking into a restaurant in Spain or Latin America and ordering confidently in Spanish is one of those small victories that makes the whole trip feel different. It is also very achievable, even as a beginner — because restaurant conversations follow a predictable script.
This guide gives you that script: the real phrases used at each stage of a restaurant meal, from sitting down to paying the bill.
Before You Sit Down
If you do not have a reservation, you will need to ask for a table:
¿Tienen mesa para dos personas? — Do you have a table for two? ¿Tienen una mesa libre? — Do you have a free table? Tengo una reserva a nombre de… — I have a reservation under the name of…
The waiter (el camarero in Spain, el mesero in Latin America) will seat you or tell you the wait.
Asking for the Menu
¿Me puede traer la carta, por favor? — Can you bring me the menu, please? ¿Tienen menú del día? — Do you have a set menu? (very common in Spain — usually starter, main, dessert + drink for a fixed price) ¿Qué recomienda usted? — What do you recommend?
The menú del día is one of Spain’s great institutions — a three-course lunch for €10–15, available at most restaurants Monday to Friday. Always worth asking about.
Ordering Drinks
The waiter will often start with drinks:
¿Qué van a tomar? — What will you have (to drink)?
Your answers:
Para mí, agua con gas, por favor. — For me, sparkling water, please. Una cerveza, por favor. — A beer, please. Un vino tinto / blanco / rosado. — A red / white / rosé wine. Un café solo / con leche / cortado. — An espresso / white coffee / cortado. Un zumo de naranja. (Spain) / Un jugo de naranja. (Latin America) — An orange juice.
Ordering Food
When you are ready:
¿Están listos para pedir? — Are you ready to order? Sí, voy a tomar… — Yes, I’ll have… Para mí, la ensalada y el pollo, por favor. — For me, the salad and the chicken, please. ¿Qué lleva este plato? — What does this dish contain? ¿Viene con guarnición? — Does it come with a side dish?
If you want to order the same as someone else:
Lo mismo para mí. — The same for me.
Dietary Requirements and Allergies
These phrases can be important:
Soy vegetariano/a. — I am vegetarian. Soy vegano/a. — I am vegan. Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos / al gluten / al marisco. — I am allergic to nuts / gluten / shellfish. ¿Tiene opciones sin gluten? — Do you have gluten-free options? ¿Contiene carne? — Does it contain meat?
During the Meal
If you need something:
Perdone, ¿me puede traer más pan? — Excuse me, could you bring more bread? ¿Me trae otro tenedor, por favor? — Could you bring me another fork, please? Está muy bueno. — It’s very good. Está delicioso. — It’s delicious.
If something is not right:
Perdone, creo que hay un error en mi pedido. — Excuse me, I think there is a mistake with my order. Pedí el pollo, no el pescado. — I ordered the chicken, not the fish.
Asking for the Bill
This is the moment every traveller needs to get right:
La cuenta, por favor. — The bill, please. ¿Me trae la cuenta? — Could you bring me the bill? ¿Está incluido el servicio? — Is service included? ¿Aceptan tarjeta? — Do you accept card? ¿Podemos pagar por separado? — Can we pay separately?
Tipping culture varies: in Spain, rounding up or leaving a few euros is common but not obligatory. In Mexico, 10–15% is the standard. In most of Latin America, check whether propina (tip) is already included.
Useful Words to Recognise on a Menu
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| carne | meat |
| ternera / vaca | beef |
| cerdo | pork |
| cordero | lamb |
| pollo | chicken |
| pescado | fish |
| marisco | seafood |
| verduras / legumbres | vegetables |
| primer plato | starter / first course |
| segundo plato | main course |
| postre | dessert |
| al horno | baked |
| a la plancha | grilled |
| frito | fried |
| crudo | raw |
| picante | spicy |
A Complete Restaurant Exchange
Here is how a full exchange might look:
Waiter: Buenas tardes. ¿Tienen reserva? You: No, pero ¿tienen mesa para dos? Waiter: Sí, claro. Por aquí, por favor. ¿Qué van a tomar de bebida? You: Una cerveza y un agua sin gas, por favor. Waiter: ¿Y para comer? You: Para mí, la ensalada mixta y el pollo a la plancha. ¿Viene con guarnición? Waiter: Sí, con patatas. You: Perfecto. Gracias. … You: Perdone, ¿nos trae la cuenta? Waiter: Ahora mismo.
Keep Practising
These phrases work best when they come naturally — without having to think. Review the Survival Phrases guide for the broader set of travel phrases, and the Vocabulary Kit: At the Restaurant for a full set of food and drink vocabulary. Then head to The Gym to practise them in real sentence exercises.
The goal is to reach the point where you can walk into any restaurant in a Spanish-speaking country and handle the entire experience without switching to English. With these phrases, you are already most of the way there.