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Instruction

Restaurant Vocabulary

Picture yourself at a restaurant in a Spanish-speaking country. You scan el menú (the menu), place your order, and need to ask el mesero/el camarero (the waiter) for una servilleta (a napkin) or el vaso (the drinking glass) con hielo (ice). Knowing these keywords will help you navigate any dining experience with ease. A meal often starts with un aperitivo/una entrada (an appetizer) before moving on to el plato principal (the main course) and finishing with el postre (the dessert). When you're done, you’ll request la cuenta (the bill) and decide whether to leave la propina (the tip). In Costa Rica, restaurants often include a service charge, so tipping is not always expected. You’ll also practice important verbs like quisiera and me gustaría to order, pagar to pay, and pedir to ask for something. By the end of this lesson, you’ll feel confident ordering, making requests, and interacting with restaurant staff—all in Spanish. ¡Buen provecho!

Term, Translation, Audio, Image
Term	Translation	Audio
el restaurante (de comida rápida/elegante)	the (fast food/nice) restaurant
la servilleta	the napkin
el tenedor	the fork
la cuchara	the spoon
el cuchillo	the knife
la sal	the salt
la pimienta	the pepper
la salsa de tomate	the ketchup
la mayonesa	the mayonnaise
la mostaza	the mustard
el menú	the menu
la reservación	the reservation
el aperitivo/la entrada	the appetizer
el plato principal	the main course
el postre	the dessert
el vaso	the (drinking) glass
el plato	the plate
el tazón	the bowl
el hielo	the ice
la pajita/el popote	the (drinking) straw
el azúcar	the sugar
la crema	the creme
el/la mesero(a), el/la camarero(a)	the waiter, the waitress
la cuenta	the bill
la propina	the tip
pedir(e-i)	to ask/order
poner	to put, to place
traer	to bring
necesitar	to need
faltar	to miss/lack
quisiera	I would like...
me gustaría	I would like...
decir	to say, to tell
dejar	to leave (something)
pagar	to pay
desear	to desire/want
dar	to give

Below, you will find your vocabulary flashcards to help you learn the vocabulary for this lesson. Read the word in Spanish, listen to the pronunciation, then click on the card to flip to the English translation..

Flashcards

Drag and drop the correct image to the Spanish definition.

You Try!

Go Verbs

You already know that some verbs don’t follow regular conjugation patterns, like hacer (to do/make), tener (to have), and venir (to come). Now, you’ll add three more important verbs to your toolbox: traer (to bring), poner (to put/place), and decir (to say/tell). Just like the verbs you’ve learned before, these have irregular yo forms. While the yo form is irregular, the rest of the conjugation follows familiar patterns. These verbs are essential in everyday conversations, whether you’re saying what you bring to a party, where you put something, or what someone is saying.

Let’s start by reviewing the yo forms of the verbs you already know!

Tener - yo tengo
Venir - yo vengo
Hacer - yo hago

Do you notice a pattern? They all end in -go! In Spanish, there is a small group of verbs that fall into this category and are often called “yo go” verbs. Let’s look at the new verbs from this lesson’s vocabulary that follow this pattern.

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Let’s look at some examples in context:

Traer (to bring)

Yo traigo la cuenta a la mesa.
(I bring the bill to the table.)
El mesero trae el aperitivo antes del plato principal.
(The waiter brings the appetizer before the main course.)

Poner (to put, to place)

Yo pongo la sal y la pimienta en la mesa.
(I put the salt and pepper on the table.)
Mi amigo pone la propina en la cuenta.
(My friend puts the tip on the bill.)

Decir (to say, to tell)

Yo digo que el postre es delicioso.
(I say that the dessert is delicious.)
El mesero dice que no hay más hielo.
(The waiter says there is no more ice.)

You Try!

Eating Out

When you're hungry and ready to order food in Spanish, the verb pedir (to order/to ask for) is essential! Whether you're at a fast-food restaurant ordering a quick meal or at a sit-down restaurant for a full dining experience, knowing how to use pedir correctly will help you get exactly what you want. Unlike regular -ir verbs, pedir is a stem-changing verb, meaning the e in the stem changes to i in most forms. Instead of pedo, you say pido (I order). This change also applies to tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms. At a fast-food restaurant, you might say, “Pido una hamburguesa con papas fritas.” (I order a hamburger with fries.) In a sit-down restaurant, you could ask the waiter, “¿Qué me recomienda pedir?” (What do you recommend I order?) By the end of this section, you'll be able to order food in different dining settings and use pedir naturally in conversation. Get ready to practice and place your order like a native speaker!

Since you've already learned how to conjugate pedir, let's review its forms before practicing it in real-life situations.

Review: Conjugation of "Pedir" (e → i stem change)

Spanish

Yo pido

Tú pides

Él, ella, usted pide

Nosotros(as) pedimos

Vosotros(as) pedís

Ellos, ellas, ustedes piden

English

I ask for

You ask for

He, she, you (formal) ask for

We ask for

You all ask for (used in Spain)

They, you all ask for

**Don’t forget that the nosotros and vosotros forms do not take the stem change**

Ordering at a Fast-Food Restaurant

At a fast-food restaurant (restaurante de comida rápida), you usually order at the counter, and the interaction is short and direct. You might use pedir to say what you want, and you might also need to ask for extra items like condiments or napkins. Listen to and read along with this dialog.

Dialogue: Alejandro and Lola at a Fast-Food Restaurant

(Alejandro and Lola are ordering at a fast-food restaurant.)

Empleado: ¡Hola! ¿Qué van a pedir?

Alejandro: Yo pido una hamburguesa con papas fritas y un vaso de agua.

Lola: Yo pido un sándwich de pollo y un refresco.

Empleado: ¿Necesitan algo más?

Alejandro: Sí, ¿puede traer salsa de tomate y una servilleta?

Empleado: Claro. Aquí tienen.

Ordering at a Sit-Down RestaurantAt a sit-down restaurant (restaurante elegante), the experience is longer, and you interact more with el mesero (the waiter). You might need to ask for recommendations, order different courses, and request items throughout the meal. Listen to and read along with this dialog.

Dialogue: Alejandro and Lola at a Sit-Down Restaurant

(Alejandro and Lola are at a restaurant, ready to order.)

Mesero: Buenas noches. ¿Qué van a pedir?

Lola: Yo pido una entrada de pan con crema y el plato principal de arroz con pollo.

Alejandro: Yo pido pescado con verduras.

Mesero: Muy bien. ¿Y para beber?

Lola: Yo quiero un vaso de agua con hielo.

Alejandro: Yo necesito un refresco.

Mesero: Perfecto. Su comida viene pronto.

You Try!

Restaurants in Costa Rica

When you sit down for a meal in Costa Rica, you're experiencing more than just food—you're stepping into a culture that values fresh ingredients, family gatherings, and unhurried meals. Unlike the fast-paced dining you may be used to, restaurants in Costa Rica encourage you to take your time and enjoy every bite. You’ll find a variety of places to eat, from small, family-run sodas serving traditional dishes like casado to larger restaurants offering a mix of local and international flavors. Tipping isn’t always necessary, as many restaurants include el servicio (the service charge) in la cuenta (the bill). By the end of this section, you’ll be able to describe different types of restaurants in Costa Rica and understand what makes dining there unique. ¡Buen provecho!

A typical restaurant in Costa Rica is referred to as a soda. A soda is a small, local eatery that offers affordable, home-cooked meals and is a favorite among both locals and visitors looking for an authentic Costa Rican dining experience. Unlike larger restaurants, sodas have a more casual and welcoming atmosphere, often run by families who take pride in preparing traditional dishes with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

One of the most common meals served at a soda is the casado, a hearty dish that typically includes rice, black beans, plantains, a protein (such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish), a small salad, and sometimes tortillas or cheese. Many sodas also serve gallo pinto, the country’s famous breakfast dish made with rice and beans, often paired with eggs, cheese, or sweet plantains.

Traditional Costa Rican restaurant Soda – colorful wooden house surrounded by lush tropical vegetation in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Restaurants and shops in a central street in the urban center of the city

Sodas can be found in various locations, from small town centers to residential neighborhoods. Some are even set up in the garage of someone’s home or in a modest building nearby, making them feel more like a home-cooked meal than a restaurant experience. These hidden gems allow visitors to enjoy Costa Rican hospitality and savor meals prepared with care, just as they would be in a local household.

When dining at a soda, don’t expect a fancy menu or fast service—meals are prepared fresh and served at a relaxed pace, encouraging customers to sit back and enjoy. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a traditional meal, eating at a soda is one of the best ways to experience the true flavors and culture of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is also home to many of America’s favorite fast-food restaurants, such as KFC, McDonald's, Subway, and more. While these restaurants have the same recognizable branding and general menu structure as in the United States, they often include unique twists to reflect local tastes and culinary traditions.

One of the most noticeable differences is the inclusion of rice and beans in many meals. In Costa Rica, it’s common to see menu items featuring gallo pinto (a traditional rice and bean dish), fried plantains, or even yuca fries as an alternative to regular French fries. For example, at McDonald's, you might find a breakfast platter that includes gallo pinto alongside eggs and tortillas. At KFC, instead of just mashed potatoes, you can get arroz y frijoles as a side.

Urban scene with KFC fast food restaurant on second avenue in the urban center of the city

"Pollolandia" - cheap eats, easy menu, delicious chicken. Popular fast food restaurant sign in Costa Rica.

Another key difference is the availability of regional flavors and ingredients. Some fast-food chains in Costa Rica offer tropical fruit juices like guanábana (soursop), cas (Costa Rican guava), or tamarindo (tamarind) instead of sodas. At Subway, you might see locally inspired sandwiches featuring ingredients such as avocado, spicy chorizo, or special Costa Rican sauces.

Despite these small differences, the overall fast-food experience remains familiar—quick service, combo meals, and drive-thrus are common. However, in Costa Rica, eating out is often more of a social experience, so it’s not unusual to see families or friends sitting and chatting long after they’ve finished their meal. Whether you're grabbing a quick burger or a sandwich, expect a touch of Costa Rican flavor in every bite!

Let's Review

In this lesson, you learned how to order food in Spanish at both fast-food and sit-down restaurants using the stem-changing verb pedir. You also reviewed verbs with irregular yo forms, such as traer, poner, and decir, which are essential for requesting and receiving items while dining. Additionally, you explored what restaurants are like in Costa Rica, from small, family-run sodas serving traditional dishes like casados to familiar American fast-food chains with a local twist—often including rice and beans on the menu.

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