How to Order Food in Spanish

Erik Steel, Leaf Group Updated April 17, 2017

Ordering food in a Spanish-speaking country such as Mexico is as easy as remembering a few set phrases, understanding the menu and remembering to be courteous to your server. Learn a few basic hints to get through any dining situation.

Ordering Food in Spanish

Get a Table

Ask for a table in Spanish. If you'd like a table for two, say "Una mesa para dos, por favor." You can also phrase it as a question: "¿Una mesa para dos?" Substitute an appropriate number (uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco) for the number of diners. When you are seated, remember to say "muchas gracias."

Ordering Beverages

Order your beverages. Your server may ask something like "¿Qué van a tomar?" Respond with "un vaso de" for a glass of something ("agua" for water, "leche" for milk), "un café" for coffee, "una cerveza" for beer, and "una botella de" for a bottle of something, such as "una botella de vino blanco de la casa" (a bottle of the house white wine). Add pleasantries such as "quisiera" (I would like) or "me gustaría" (I would like), and don't forget to say "por favor."

Decide What to Eat

Peruse the menu (el menú). Though there will likely be many familiar dishes, regional cooking varies all over the Spanish-speaking world, and individual locales may have different words for dishes than the terms you're accustomed to, according to Consult your phrasebook or pocket translator if there are items with which you are unfamiliar. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, make sure to tell your server so he can accommodate you best: "Soy vegetariano/a (estricto/a)" ("I'm a vegetarian (vegan)").

Ordering Food

Your server may approach and ask something like "¿Qué desean Ustedes?" You could say "Quisiera" followed by your order or "¿Me trae?" followed by your order and "por favor" (if ordering for the table, say "¿nos trae?"). For a half portion, ask for "media porción"; use the prepositions "con" and "sin" to specify "with" and "without" something, respectively, such as: "Todo mio orden sin queso, por favor" ("I would like my whole order without cheese, please").

Hailing the Wait Staff

Get your server's attention. In Mexico, if getting a male waiter's attention, say "joven" and say "señorita" for a waitress. In Spain, a waiter is "camarero" while "señorita" is appropriate anywhere. Words for male servers vary around the Spanish-speaking world, so try to pick up on the word others around you are using.

Finishing Up

After finishing your meal, your server may ask "¿Desean algo de postre?" which means "Would you like dessert?" If you would, order. If you do not want dessert, say: "No, gracias, ¿nos trae la cuenta, por favor?" ("No thank you, could we just have the check, please?)


  • Always use the Usted form with a server. If you slip up and use the tú form, correct yourself quickly. It is a common form of disrespect in Spanish to use the tú form with servers.

About the Author



Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/ Images

This story is part of Travel Tips