How to Order at a Restaurant in Spanish

A restaurant is one of the best places to use your Spanish, because the script is predictable and the staff want to help. Here's everything you need from the door to the bill.

• Hola, buenas. Una mesa para dos, por favor. — OH-lah BWEH-nahs. OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah dohs — Hi. A table for two, please.
• La carta, por favor. — lah KAR-tah — The menu, please.
• ¿Qué me recomienda? — keh meh reh-koh-MYEN-dah — What do you recommend?
• Para mí, … — PAH-rah mee — For me, … (then name your dish).
• ¿Está incluida la propina? — ehs-TAH een-kloo-EE-dah lah proh-PEE-nah — Is the tip included?
• La cuenta, por favor. — lah KWEN-tah — The bill, please.
• Estaba todo delicioso. — ehs-TAH-bah TOH-doh deh-lee-SYOH-soh — It was all delicious.

String these together and you can handle a whole meal in Spanish. The last step is making them feel natural — which only happens when you say them out loud to someone who answers back. Practise with a Spanish speaker before your next trip.