If you’re planning to visit a Portuguese-speaking country or want to try a Brazilian dish in a restaurant, it’s important to know how to order food in Portuguese. In this post, I will show you the most common phrases to use in this situation and how to pronounce them like a native. Let’s get started!
Before Entering the Restaurant
Before you enter the restaurant, you might have some questions to check if it’s the right choice. Here are some phrases to use at this moment:
“Você tem uma mesa para [número de pessoas]?”
Do you have a table for [number of people]?
“Aceita cartão?”
Do you accept credit cards?
“Tem área para fumantes?”
Do you have a smoking area?
Good to Know: In Brazil, it is prohibited to smoke in public places, including restaurants. So, it’s important to ask if the restaurant has a smoking area if you’re a smoker. Another good thing to know is that almost 100% of the restaurants in Brazil accept card payments, but some very small or family-owned restaurants may only accept cash. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ask about payment methods before placing your order.
Upon Sitting at the Table
If you decide to enter a restaurant, these are some phrases you can use to ask for a menu:
“Você poderia me trazer o cardápio, por favor?”
Can you bring me the menu, please?
“Posso ver o cardápio, por favor?”
Can I see the menu, please?” (audio)
How to Order Food in Portuguese
To order what you want, you can use the phrases below. There are two ways: a polite way and a slightly more informal way.
“Eu gostaria de um [nome do prato]“
I would like a [dish’s name] (Polite way)
“Eu quero um [nome do prato]“
I want a [dish’s name] (More informal way)
Good to Know: In Brazil, you don’t need to be extremely polite, so you can be a bit informal most of the time. If you are concerned about not being rude, just say ‘por favor’ at the end of your request or order; it will be sufficient.
How to Ask About the Ingredients of a Dish (If You Have Any Allergies)
If you have any allergies, it’s important to ask about the ingredients. Brazilian cuisine includes a lot of dishes prepared with milk, nuts, and seafood.
“Tem [nome do ingrediente] nesse prato?”
Does this dish have [ingredient’s name]?
If the answer is yes to the ingredient you are allergic to, you can ask:
“Dá para tirar o [nome do ingrediente]?”
Can I get it without [ingredient’s name]?”
During the Meal
During the meal, the waitress might ask if everything is okay. If you like the food, you can say:
“Está tudo perfeito”
It’s perfect
“Tudo certo.”
Everything’s okay.
Tip: In Brazil, it’s considered impolite to directly say that you don’t like the food. So, if you don’t enjoy your meal, it’s better just not to eat it. You can leave a review about the food after leaving the restaurant, where you can be honest and state your reasons.
If You Have Trouble
If something is not right with your order, you can say:
“Desculpe, eu pedi [item], mas recebi [outro item].”
Sorry, I ordered [item] but received [another item].
Asking for the Bill
When you’re ready to leave, you can ask for the bill:
“Você poderia trazer a conta, por favor?”
Could you bring the bill, please?
Asking About Payment Methods
To inquire about payment methods, you can ask:
“Vocês aceitam cartão?”
Do you accept credit cards?
About restaurants in Brazil
In Brazil, you don’t need to give tips in restaurants. A 10% service charge is already included in all restaurant bills, so you don’t need to pay more, and it isn’t considered impolite. If you really liked the service, you can give additional tips directly to the waitress. About the 10% on the bill, you can ask to have it removed and not pay for it, but this may seem very rude. Brazilians only request not to pay this 10% if the service is really horrible.
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