Lingular
Menu

Restaurant Words in Spanish

Learn the vocabulary of menus, table service, ordering and paying at a restaurant.

Step 1 of 3

Spanish restaurant service vocabulary

El mesero/la mesera is common in much of Latin America; el camarero/la camarera is common in Spain. Mozo/moza is another regional option.

La carta is the menu listing choices. El menú can mean a menu generally or a set meal, depending on context.

  • el meserowaiter · el meh-SEH-roh
  • el chefchef · el SHEHF
  • el comensaldiner · el koh-mehn-SAHL
  • la reservareservation · lah reh-SEHR-bah
  • la cartamenu (list of dishes) · lah KAHR-tah
  • el menú del díaset menu · el meh-NOO dehl DEE-ah
  • la mesatable · lah MEH-sah
  • la terrazaterrace · lah teh-RAH-sah
  • el servicioservice · el sehr-BEE-syoh
  • el pedidoorder (restaurant) · el peh-DEE-doh
0 / 30 learnt

Restaurant Words in Spanish: the full list

Review the vocabulary by topic, then use the printable worksheet to check your recall.

Quick answer: waiter is el mesero, chef is el chef, diner is el comensal, reservation is la reserva, menu (list of dishes) is la carta, set menu is el menú del día, table is la mesa, terrace is la terraza, service is el servicio, and order (restaurant) is el pedido.

Spanish restaurant service vocabulary

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
waiterel meseroel meh-SEH-roh
chefel chefel SHEHF
dinerel comensalel koh-mehn-SAHL
reservationla reservalah reh-SEHR-bah
set menuel menú del díael meh-NOO dehl DEE-ah
tablela mesalah MEH-sah
terracela terrazalah teh-RAH-sah
serviceel servicioel sehr-BEE-syoh
order (restaurant)el pedidoel peh-DEE-doh

Spanish words for courses and table settings

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
appetizerla entradalah en-TRAH-dah
main courseel plato principalel PLAH-toh preen-see-PAHL
side dishla guarniciónlah gwahr-nee-SYOHN
portionla porciónlah por-SYOHN
dessertel postreel POHS-treh
drinkla bebidalah beh-BEE-dah
napkinla servilletalah sehr-bee-YEH-tah
forkel tenedorel teh-neh-DOR
knifeel cuchilloel koo-CHEE-yoh
spoonla cucharalah koo-CHAH-rah

Spanish vocabulary for ordering and paying

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
bill (restaurant)la cuentalah KWEHN-tah
tipla propinalah proh-PEE-nah
receiptel reciboel reh-SEE-boh
to order (food)pedirpeh-DEER
to recommendrecomendarreh-koh-mehn-DAHR
to serveservirsehr-BEER
to taste / try (food)probarproh-BAHR
to paypagarpah-GAHR
vegetarianvegetarianobeh-heh-tah-RYAH-noh
spicypicantepee-KAHN-teh
Restaurant Words in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation
Restaurant Words in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation. Download the chart · Printable worksheet · Save to Pinterest

Questions about restaurant words in spanish

How do you say menu in Spanish?

La carta is the list of dishes; el menú is also used. Menú del día usually means a set daily menu.

What is waiter in Spanish?

Mesero/mesera is common in Latin America, while camarero/camarera is common in Spain. Mozo/moza is also regional.

How do you ask for the bill in Spanish?

La cuenta, por favor means the bill, please. Cuenta is the usual restaurant-bill word.

What is the main course in Spanish?

El plato principal means the main course. La entrada or el entrante usually refers to an appetizer.

What does picante mean on a menu?

Picante means spicy or hot from spices. Caliente describes temperature instead.

Does propina mean tax?

No. La propina is a tip; el impuesto is a tax. Whether service is included depends on the restaurant and location.

Keep learning Spanish

Food and Drinks in Spanish

Meals, meat and fish, drinks and desserts, with the words each country uses and practice for every word.

Common Spanish Verbs

77 everyday verbs from ser and estar to buscar and encontrar, with the present tense and practice for every verb.

Numbers in Spanish 1–100

Count to 100 with three patterns, hear each number, and practise in the page. Your score is kept for every number.

Law and Crime Words

Learn the vocabulary of laws, courts and crimes, with clear distinctions between similar terms.

Government and Politics Words

Read political vocabulary for institutions, elections and civic participation.

Banking Words

Learn account, transfer and loan vocabulary used at a bank and in banking apps.

Social Media Words

Learn the words for profiles, posts and online interactions, with common interface alternatives.

All Spanish word lists

Lists by level and topic, from beginner to advanced.

Updated · Pronunciation guides use Latin American Spanish.