Comer fuera, disfrutar, pedir, saborear:
Eating-out vocabulary covers the essential Spanish words and phrases you need to dine in a restaurant, café, or any food establishment—from understanding menus to ordering, paying, and expressing satisfaction.
- Spans from A1 to B1 levels, focusing on practical terms for real-life situations.
- Includes common menu items (platos, bebidas, postres), typical restaurant phrases (¿Tiene mesa para dos?), and useful expressions for ordering and paying (Quisiera..., La cuenta, por favor).
- Helps learners gain confidence and fluency in social dining contexts.
la cuenta = the bill/check.
'plato principal' is main course.
Polite forms include 'Quisiera...', 'Me gustaría...', 'Para mí...'
Key Vocabulary
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| El restaurante | Restaurant | |
| La cafetería | Café | Coffee shop, casual dining |
| El menú | Menu | Sometimes called "la carta" |
| El plato | Dish / Plate | |
| El aperitivo | Appetizer | "El entremés" also used |
| El plato principal | Main course | |
| El postre | Dessert | |
| La bebida | Drink | |
| El camarero / La camarera | Waiter / Waitress | |
| La mesa | Table | |
| La reserva | Reservation | |
| La cuenta | Bill / Check | |
| El vaso | Glass | |
| La taza | Cup | Usually for coffee or tea |
| El tenedor | Fork | |
| El cuchillo | Knife | |
| La cuchara | Spoon | |
| Probar | To try / Taste | |
| Pedir | To order | (Yo pido...) |
| Recomendar | To recommend | |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? | |
| ¿Está incluido el servicio? | Is the tip included? |
'El postre' means dessert.
Typical Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Tiene mesa para dos? | Do you have a table for two? |
| ¿Me puede traer el menú? | Can you bring me the menu? |
| Quisiera pedir... | I would like to order... |
| Para mí, ... | For me, ... |
| ¿Qué recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| ¿Cuál es el plato del día? | What is the dish of the day? |
| ¿Pueden traer la cuenta, por favor? | Can you bring the bill, please? |
| ¿Aceptan tarjetas? | Do you accept credit cards? |
| ¿Está incluido el servicio? | Is the tip included? |
| Estoy listo para pedir | I'm ready to order |
Quisiera pedir... is 'I would like to order...'
To ask for the bill: 'La cuenta, por favor' or '¿Nos cobra?'
Sample Menu Items
| Category | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Appetizers | Ensalada, Sopa, Tapas | Salad, Soup, Tapas |
| Main Courses | Pollo, Pescado, Carne, Pasta | Chicken, Fish, Meat, Pasta |
| Desserts | Helado, Tarta, Fruta | Ice cream, Cake, Fruit |
| Drinks | Agua, Vino, Cerveza, Café | Water, Wine, Beer, Coffee |
Pollo, pescado, and carne are common main courses.
Conclusion
Mastering Spanish eating-out vocabulary opens the door to richer travel and cultural experiences, making every meal more enjoyable and interactive.
- Covers key words for menus, ordering, and dining situations.
- Empowers learners to use Spanish confidently in restaurants of all kinds.
- Includes both vocabulary and practical phrases for all steps of a meal.