Q: How do you ask for a menu in Spain?

In Spain, the English word “menu” translates to ( la ) carta , so when asking for a menu, always refer to the word, carta , like so: ¿ Me puede traer la carta, por favor ? (Could you bring me the menu, please?) or La carta, por favor . (The menu, please.) The word menú actually does exist in Spanish, although it is used to refer to the set and fixed-priced menus, usually given in restaurants for lunch and termed as menú del día (menu of the day). So remember, when ordering a la carte in Spain, the menu is referred to as ( la ) carta .

Question 1

How do you ask for a menu in Spain?

Accepted Answer

In Spain, the English word “menu” translates to (la) carta, so when asking for a menu, always refer to the word, carta, like so:

¿Me puede traer la carta, por favor? (Could you bring me the menu, please?) or

La carta, por favor. (The menu, please.)

The word menú actually does exist in Spanish, although it is used to refer to the set and fixed-priced menus, usually given in restaurants for lunch and termed as menú del día (menu of the day).

So remember, when ordering a la carte in Spain, the menu is referred to as (la) carta.

Question 2

How to order to-go food in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

While to-go food and establishments are still not the norm in Spain and very much the exception, in case you are faced with a restaurant or shop that offers meals to-go, then the correct term would be comida para llevar (food to go).

Here are some examples of use:

Es para llevar, por favor. (It’s to go please.)

Quisera pedir para llevar, por favor (I would like to order to-go, please.)

Question 3

What do you recommend in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

If you are in a restaurant in Spain and would like to ask your server for recommendations on the dishes, etc., a simple way to ask for them would be:

¿Qué nos recomienda? (What would you recommend?)

Or if it’s just you: ¿Qué me recomienda? (What would you recommend?)

¿Qué nos sugiere? (What would you suggest?)

¿Tiene alguna sugerencia? (Do you have any suggestions?

Question 4

How to say you’re allergic to something in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Nowadays, more and more food establishments are asking their clients beforehand if they have any dietary restrictions, food allergies or intolerances, and Spain is no exception.

However, it is always best to be on the safe side when it comes to food allergies or intolerances and to communicate them clearly beforehand to your server. Here is a clear way to do so when ordering:

Perdone, soy alérgica / alérgico a… (Excuse me, I am allergic to…) and fill in the blanks.

Perdone, soy intolerante a… (Excuse me, I am intolerant to…) and fill in the blanks.

Here is a list in Spanish of the most common food allergens:

Frutos secos (nuts, in general)

Nueces (walnuts)

Marisco (seafood)

Crustáceos (crustaceans)

Cacahuetes (peanuts)

Huevos (eggs)

Leche (milk)

Soja (soy)

Gluten (gluten)

Lactosa (lactose)

Sésamo (sesame)

Pescado (fish)

Question 5

How much to tip in a restaurant in Spain?

Accepted Answer

Good question, as there is no consensus or general rule really when it comes to tipping at a restaurant or in an establishment in Spain, nor is it mandatory. So to decide whether to tip (referred to as la propina) or not in Spain, let’s go by what is customary.

To understand what is customary, some background on the food and beverage landscape in Spain, where servers and staff are normally protected by the minimum wage, so tipping is not so much considered part of their more basic income, rather than a (nice) addition to it.

So, it is really up to the client to decide whether to tip or not based on the quality of the service they receive. Also, some restaurants may already include service charge, so best to check out the bill beforehand, just in case.

Either way, more often than not, it is a generalized practice to tip, usually between 5-10%, ideally 10%.

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