Food in Spanish

Ordering Food
The word carne can be translated as a general term for “meat.” So, you might see carne as a section on the
menu. However, if carne is listed as a type of meat, it generally refers to beef.

Here are a few more types of meat:

1. pork: puerco, cerdo, lechón
2. chicken: pollo
3. turkey: pavo
4. fish: pescado
5. ham: jamón

Note for vegetarians: Many Latin American countries will interpret “vegetarian” to mean you don’t eat red
meat, so you might end up getting a dish with chicken or fish even after specifying you want a vegetarian
meal. To be on the safe side you might want to say something along the lines of, “Soy vegetariano, no como
ningun tipo de animal.” (I’m a vegetarian, I don’t eat any type of animal.)

Let’s move on to some side dishes:

1. fries: papas fritas*
2. chips: papitas*
3. potatoes: papas

*Usually fries and chips are distinguishable by saying papas fritas versus papitas, but this doesn’t always
apply. Just be prepared for either, and you won’t be disappointed.

4. vegetables: verduras, vegetales
5. rice: arroz
6. salad: ensalada**

**I found out the hard way that the Latin American definition of a salad does not always coincide with a North
American idea of a salad. If you see something like ensalada de zanahorias (carrot salad) you may very well
get just a bowl of shredded carrots. A salad could be basically any cold vegetable. You might want to scope
out the other tables before ordering to see what to expect.

Now for beverages:

1. soda: refresco, gaseosa, soda
2. juice: jugo
3. wine: vino
4. red wine: vino tinto
5. white wine: vino blanco
6. beer: cerveza
7. water: agua*

*In some countries, such as Argentina, you might have to choose between agua con gas (sparkling water)
or agua sin gas (regular water).

Talking to the waiter

You don’t have to chat the waiter up, but it would be nice to be able to do more than announce your entree or
point at the menu. These phrases will help smooth out your exchange
1. Quiero…. (I want….)
2. Me gustaría… (I would like….)
3. ¿Me trae….? (Could you bring me…..)
4. La cuenta, por favor. (The check, please.)
5. ¿Hay algún plato especial hoy? (Is there a special today?)

Note: See file of pdf of the example of food Menu

Key Expressions in Spanish

I’m hungry Tengo hambre

I’m thirsty Tengo sed

May I have a menu, please? ¿Puedo ver al menú, por favor?

What do you recommend? ¿Qué me aconseja?

I’d like… Quisiera…

May I have some…? ¿Puede darme…?

Can I have some more…? ¿Podría darme más…?

Do you have fresh fruit? ¿Tiene usted fruta fresca?

Nothing more, thank you. Nada más, gracias.

Where is the bathroom? ¿Donde esta el baño?

Where is the supermarket? ¿Donde esta el supermercado?

We would like to sit in the non- Quisiéramos sentarnos en la

smoking section please. sección de no fumadores por favor.

Waiter/Waitress Mesero/Mesera

I would like some breakfast. Quisiera desayunar.

I’m on a diet. Estoy a dieta.