Spanish Phrases for Ordering at a Restaurant (With a Practice Dialogue)
Everything you need to order, ask questions and pay — with a dialogue you can practice.
By the Speak From Scratch team · Updated · 5 min read
Ordering food is one of the first real conversations most travelers have in Spanish — and one of the most satisfying to get right. These phrases cover the whole meal, from getting a table to paying.
Getting a table
| Una mesa para dos, por favor. | A table for two, please. |
| ¿Tienen una mesa libre? | Do you have a free table? |
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under the name… |
Ordering
| ¿Me trae la carta, por favor? | Could you bring me the menu, please? |
| Quisiera… | I would like… |
| Para mí, el pollo, por favor. | For me, the chicken, please. |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| ¿Cuál es el plato del día? | What's the dish of the day? |
Dietary needs
| Soy vegetariano / vegetariana. | I'm vegetarian (m / f). |
| Soy alérgico / alérgica a… | I'm allergic to… (m / f) |
| ¿Esto lleva gluten? | Does this contain gluten? |
| Sin cebolla, por favor. | Without onion, please. |
Paying
| La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? |
| ¿Está incluido el servicio? | Is service included? |
Sample dialogue
| Camarero: ¡Buenas noches! ¿Cuántos son? | Waiter: Good evening! How many of you? |
| Tú: Dos, por favor. | You: Two, please. |
| Camarero: ¿Qué van a tomar? | Waiter: What will you have? |
| Tú: Quisiera la paella y un agua con gas. | You: I'd like the paella and a sparkling water. |
| Camarero: ¿Algo más? | Waiter: Anything else? |
| Tú: No, gracias. Eso es todo. | You: No, thanks. That's all. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you politely order food in Spanish?
Use "Quisiera…" (I would like…) or "¿Me pone…?" (Could you get me…?, common in Spain), and add "por favor". Both sound polite and natural.
How do you ask for the check in Spanish?
Say "La cuenta, por favor." In Latin America you may also hear "¿Me trae la cuenta?"