At the Restaurant

Beyond the basics of ordering, understanding restaurant culture in the Spanish-speaking world will help you feel at home wherever you dine. This lesson explores different types of eating establishments, dietary requirements, meal times, tipping customs, and regional dishes.

---

Types of Eating Establishments

Spanish	English	Description
el restaurante	restaurant	Full-service dining
el bar / la cafetería	bar / cafe	Drinks and light snacks
la taberna / el mesón	tavern / traditional eatery	Traditional food and atmosphere
el chiringuito	beach bar	Seasonal, on the beach
la marisquería	seafood restaurant	Specialises in fish and shellfish
la taquería	taco restaurant	Mexican street-food style
la parrilla / el asador	steakhouse / grill	Grilled meats
el comedor	dining room / canteen	Simple, affordable meals
la fonda	small, family-run eatery	Common in Latin America
el food truck / la comida callejera	food truck / street food	Mobile or street stalls

---

Meal Times in the Spanish-Speaking World

Spanish-speaking countries have different meal schedules from English-speaking ones. Understanding them will help you plan your day.

Spain

Meal	Spanish	Typical Time
Breakfast	el desayuno	7:00 - 9:30
Mid-morning snack	el almuerzo / la media mañana	10:30 - 11:30
Lunch	la comida	13:30 - 15:30
Afternoon snack	la merienda	17:00 - 18:30
Dinner	la cena	21:00 - 23:00

Latin America (varies by country)

Meal	Spanish	Typical Time
Breakfast	el desayuno	7:00 - 9:00
Lunch	el almuerzo / la comida	12:00 - 14:00
Dinner	la cena / la comida	19:00 - 21:00

Cultural note: In Spain, lunch (la comida) is the main meal of the day and can last one to two hours. Dinner is typically light and late. In many Latin American countries, lunch is also the main meal, but dinner times are earlier than in Spain.

---

Dietary Requirements

Spanish	English
Soy vegetariano/a.	I am vegetarian.
Soy vegano/a.	I am vegan.
No como carne.	I do not eat meat.
No como pescado.	I do not eat fish.
Tengo alergia a los frutos secos.	I am allergic to nuts.
Tengo alergia al marisco.	I am allergic to shellfish.
Soy intolerante a la lactosa.	I am lactose intolerant.
Soy celíaco/a. / No puedo comer gluten.	I am coeliac. / I cannot eat gluten.
¿Tienen opciones sin gluten?	Do you have gluten-free options?
¿Tienen platos vegetarianos?	Do you have vegetarian dishes?
¿Este plato lleva huevo?	Does this dish contain egg?

Tip: In Spain, be aware that jamón (ham) is so common that some people do not consider it "meat" in the traditional sense. If you are vegetarian, always specify: "No como carne ni jamón." (I do not eat meat or ham.)

---

Tipping Customs by Country