EkGuru › Languages › Spanish › Course › Food and Ordering in Spanish

Food and Ordering in Spanish

Written by: authorship not independently recorded. Maintained by Prakash. Reviewed by: not recorded. Updated: legacy editorial date unknown. Editorial policy and corrections.

Draft: not yet reviewed by a native speaker. Existing availability and indexing are preserved by owner instruction; that is not an editorial approval. Suggest a correction.

🔊 Tap any speaker button to hear the words on this page spoken. Too fast or slow? Use the speed button at the bottom-right of the page.

The phrases that get you fed: ordering, asking for the bill, and the words every menu uses.

Ordering

To order, say Quisiera (I would like) — it is polite everywhere. Quisiera un café, por favor (I would like a coffee, please). The informal Me das… (can you give me…) works with friends but not in a formal restaurant.

Water, please — still or sparkling

Agua is water; agua sin gas is still and agua con gas is sparkling. In Spain tap water is agua del grifo; asking for it is normal, though most restaurants still charge for bottled water.

The bill

Ask for the bill with La cuenta, por favor. In Spain you may also hear ¿Me cobras?. A tip (propina) is not expected in Spain — rounding up is enough — while in much of Latin America 10% is standard.

Useful menu words

Entrada (starter), plato principal (main course), postre (dessert), sin (without) and con (with) are the ones you reach for most: sin cebolla (without onion), con hielo (with ice).

Spanish course Practice Quiz Review