Ordering Fast Food in Spanish: phrases and conversations

Hello! In this lesson, we will learn the essential vocabulary, phrases, and questions for ordering fast food in Spanish. You will listen to things customers and waiters say or ask in these places through many examples, and you will also have the chance to practice with two listening activities and engaging exercises in several interactive quizzes. Let’s get started…

Key vocabulary: Fast food in Spanish

In Latin America, it is very common for each country to have its own dishes as part of its fast food menu. However, there are several dishes that are very popular in The Americas and other continents like Europe the same way. The following image illustrates some of these dishes, which change a little in name and recipe from country to country.

The vocabulary for Popular Fast Food Dishes in Spanish

Interactive quiz No. 1

Look at the pictures of fast food below and drag the names of each one to the correct spaces. Then, check your answers.

A waiter’s common questions in Spanish

First, to order fast food in Spanish, you need certain basic phrases such as “Por favor” (please), “Gracias” and some common greetings and farewells. Below, there are some other specific expressions and questions that waiters ask so that they can take your order at a fast food restaurant in Spanish. Take some time to analyze each of the examples and its translation. These examples will be the basis for both listening activities in this lesson, so try your best to remember as many as possible.

¡Buenos días! ¿En qué puedo servirle?

Good Morning. What can I do for you?

¿Qué desea ordenar?/¿Qué le gustaría ordenar?

What would you like to order?

¿Qué le gustaría tomar?/ ¿Qué va a tomar?

What would you like to drink?

¿Quiere su orden para comer acá o para llevar?/¿Servida o para llevar?

Would you like to eat here or to go?

El combo número tres incluye una hamburguesa, papas y un vaso de soda.

Set number three includes a hamburger, french fries and a glass of soda.

Muchas gracias por su orden. Espere 5 minutos por favor.

Thank you very much for your order. Wait 5 minutes please.

A customer’s common questions in Spanish

As a costumer (el cliente), you need to tell the waiter what you want to order. Notice how important expressions in the conditional tense such as “Me gustaría…” and “Quisiera…” are. Here are some other common phrases and questions you should learn to order fast food in Spanish:

¡Buenos días! Por favor deme el combo número 2. Gracias.

Good morning! I’ll order set number 2. Thank you.

Me gustaría ordenar el combo número 1. ¿Viene con soda o té?

I would to order set number 1. Does it come with soda or te?

Deme un segundo… Bien, voy a llevar una hamburguesa mediana con papas.

Give me a second … Well, I’m going to order a medium hamburger with french fries.

¿Qué incluye el combo familiar? / ¿Qué trae el combo familiar?

What does the family set include?

¿Cuánto es en total? / ¿Cuánto es por todo?

How much is it in total?

Interactive quiz No. 2

Read these short dialogues about fast food in Spanish, using the questions and expressions above, and drag the words to the correct spaces.

Listening Activity No. 1: Ordering Fast Food in Spanish – Comida Rápida

Listen to a conversation between a waiter and a customer in Spanish. Identify what the customer wants to order and then complete the interactive quiz about the recording.

Key phrases and questions in the conversation:

“¿Qué más desea ordenar?”, means “What else would you like to order?”
“¿Algo más señor?”, means “Something else Sir?”

Conversation script: Ordering fast food in Spanish

Vendedor: Buenos días. ¿Qué desea ordenar?
Cliente: Buenos días. ¿Me puede dar un sándwich de atún por favor?
Vendedor: Claro, no hay problema. ¿Qué más desea ordenar?
Cliente: Sí, también quiero el combo número tres.
Vendedor: ¿Qué le gustaría tomar?
Cliente: ¿Qué bebidas tienen?
Vendedor: Tenemos café, refrescos naturales, té de limón y soda.
Cliente: Tomaré un vaso mediano de té de limón.
Vendedor: ¿Algo más señor?
Cliente: Solamente eso, gracias.

Listening Activity No. 2: Ordering in Spanish at a restaurant

Look at the image below with a simple menu and listen to someone ordering food in a fast-food restaurant in Spanish. Then, solve the interactive quiz about the recording.

Key vocabulary in the conversation:

“Una porción extra de papas fritas”, means “An extra of french fries”
“¿Desea agregarle algo más?”, means “Would you like to add something else?”
“Está bien, aquí tiene”, means “That’s ok. Here you go!”

Conversation script: Ordering in Spanish at a restaurant

Vendedor: ¡Bienvenido! ¿Qué le gustaría ordenar?
Cliente: Gracias. ¿Me puede mostrar el menú por favor?
Vendedor: Si claro, aquí tiene el menú. Hoy tenemos una oferta especial. El combo número uno y el combo número dos vienen con una porción extra de papas fritas.
Cliente: ¡Excelente! El combo uno trae una hamburguesa pequeña con una orden de papas y el combo dos trae dos piezas de pollo con ensalada.
Vendedor: También tenemos un combo familiar. El combo familiar incluye 6 piezas de pollo, 4 papas fritas, 4 panes y 4 ensaladas.
Cliente: Está bien. Voy a ordenar el combo número dos entonces.
Vendedor: Ok, dos piezas de pollo con ensalada, más una porción extra de papas fritas. ¿Desea agregarle algo más?
Cliente: Si, quiero agregarle otra porción de papas fritas por favor.
Vendedor: ¿Qué le gustaría tomar? – Tenemos café, té verde, jugo de naranja y soda.
Cliente: Voy a tomar un vaso de jugo de naranja.
Vendedor: ¿Desea ordenar algo más?
Cliente: No, eso es todo. ¿Cuánto es en total?
Vendedor: Son 5 dólares con 50 centavos.
Cliente: Está bien, aquí tiene.

This is the end of this lesson. Hopefully, you will remember the most important phrases that we introduced through the examples and listening activities. Practice recording yourself and compare your pronunciation with the audios in this lesson. Now, go find a restaurant where you can order fast food in Spanish. ¡Hasta pronto!