Spanish Vocabulary: In the Restaurant

ordering spanish food in spain If you're planning on going to Spain anytime soon, you'll probably want to eat out at a Spanish-speaking restaurant. The most common problem for foreigners is understanding the local menu and communicating with the waiters in order to get the right dish. Learning how to order food at a restaurant and knowing some basic Spanish vocabulary will help you to feel more confident when eating out.
The following Restaurant Guide provides the most important words that are likely to be encountered on a typical menu in Spain as well as some useful phrases to help you make a reservation and place your order in an easy way. ¡Buen provecho!

Booking a table:
I would like to reserve a table for two people for tonight / for tomorrow night / for 8 o'clock.	Quisiera reservar una mesa para dos personas para esta noche / para mañana por la noche / a las ocho.

Arriving at the Restaurant:
Waiter (Waitress)	el camarero (for women: Miss = Señorita)
Have you booked a table?	¿Ha reservado una mesa?
I have a reservation for the name Mayer.	Tengo una reserva al nombre de Mayer.
A table for two, please.	Una mesa para dos, por favor.
Can we sit at the table next to the window?	¿Podemos sentarnos en la mesa al lado de la ventana?

Placing your order:
Can I look at the menu please?	¿Puedo ver el menú por favor?
What would you like to drink / eat?	¿Qué le gustaría beber / comer?
I would like to have…	Quisiera….
What would you recommend?	¿Qué me recomienda?
What is the dish of the day?	¿Cuál es el plato del día?
Do you have vegetarian dishes?	¿Tienen platos vegetarianos?
What is included?	¿Qué está incluido?
Do you have a wine list?	¿Tienen una carta de vinos?
We're not ready yet.	Todavía no estamos listos.
That's all, thank you.	Eso es todo, gracias.
Breakfast	el desayuno
Lunch	la comida
Supper	la cena

Drinks:
Glass	el vaso (for water) / la copa (for wine)
Beverage	la bebida
Soft drink	el refresco
Juice	el zumo
Still / sparkling water	agua sin gas / agua con gas
Beer	la cerveza
Red / white wine	el vino tinto / blanco
Champagne	el champán
On the rocks	con hielo

Parts of a Menu:
Starter	la entrada / el primer plato
Soup	la sopa
Salad	la ensalada
Main dish	el plato principal
Chicken	el pollo
Beef / veal	la ternera
Pork	el cerdo
Well-done	bien cocido
Medium	medio cocido
Rare	poco cocido
Fish	el pescado
Bread	el pan
Butter	la mantequilla
Rice	el arroz
Pasta	la pasta
Potatoes	las patatas
Vegetables	las verduras
Sauce	la salsa
Pepper	la pimienta
Dessert	el postre
Ice cream	el helado
Cake	el pastel
Yoghurt	el yogur
Chocolate	el chocolate
Fruits	las frutas
Coffee	el café
With milk	con leche

During the meal:
Cheers	¡Salud!
Is it spicy?	¿Está picante?
Knife	el cuchillo
Spoon	la cuchara
Fork	el tenedor
Napkin	la servilleta
Would you like to have anything else?	¿Desean algo más?
That's not what I ordered.	Esto no es lo que he pedido.
Can you bring me some salt, please?	¿Puede traerme un poco de sal, por favor?
Can I have some more bread / water?	¿Puede traerme más pan / agua?
It was delicious.	Estaba delicioso.

Paying:
The bill, please.	La cuenta, por favor.
Can I pay with credit card?	¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?
Is service included?	¿La propina está incluida?
Tip	la propina
This is for you.	Esto es para usted.
Thank you.	Gracias.