Eating out is one of the best parts of Brazil, and a few restaurant Portuguese phrases turn a stressful order into a warm exchange. Waiters are patient, portions are generous, and trying Portuguese gets you extra smiles. Here is everything you need, from getting a table to asking for the check, plus a couple of cultural tips that catch tourists off guard.
Getting a table and the menu
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Uma mesa para dois, por favor | A table for two, please |
| O cardápio, por favor | The menu, please |
| Você tem menu em inglês? | Do you have a menu in English? |
| O que você recomenda? | What do you recommend? |
| Qual é o prato do dia? | What’s the dish of the day? |
Ordering food and drinks
The magic word is eu gostaria de (I would like), softer and more polite than eu quero (I want).
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Eu gostaria… | I would like… |
| Para mim, … | For me, … |
| Uma água (sem gás / com gás) | A water (still / sparkling) |
| Uma cerveja bem gelada | A nice cold beer |
| Um cafezinho, por favor | A little coffee, please |
| Está delicioso! | It’s delicious! |
| Mais um(a), por favor | One more, please |
Dietary needs and allergies
Important ones. Brazilians are used to accommodating, but be clear.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Tem opção vegana / vegetariana? | Is there a vegan / vegetarian option? |
| Eu sou vegetariano / vegetariana | I am vegetarian (man / woman) |
| Eu sou vegano / vegana | I am vegan |
| Eu tenho alergia a… | I am allergic to… |
| Eu tenho intolerância ao glúten / à lactose | I am gluten / lactose intolerant |
| Sem glúten, por favor | Gluten-free, please |
| Sem cebola / sem pimenta | No onion / not spicy |
| Isso tem carne? | Does this have meat? |
Paying the bill
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| A conta, por favor | The check, please |
| Aceita cartão? | Do you take card? |
| O serviço está incluído? | Is the service charge included? |
| Pode dividir a conta? | Can you split the bill? |
| Está certo, obrigado | It’s all good, thank you (keep the change) |
A few restaurant phrases turn a stressful order into a warm exchange.
The takeaway
With a handful of restaurant phrases you can order confidently, handle allergies, and pay without confusion, and Brazilians will love that you tried. Practice eu gostaria de and a conta, por favor until they are automatic, and keep the free 101-phrase travel guide on your phone for the rest of the trip. The Survival Kit below has these and more, with audio.
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip in restaurants in Brazil?
A 10 percent service charge (taxa de serviço) is usually already on the bill, so extra tipping is optional. You can round up or leave a bit more for great service.
How do I ask for the bill in Brazil?
Say a conta, por favor. The check rarely comes on its own, so you need to ask. Add aceita cartão? to check they take card.
How do I say I'm vegetarian in Portuguese?
Eu sou vegetariano (man) or eu sou vegetariana (woman). For vegan, use vegano/vegana. Get more with the travel phrases guide.
Written by Rafael
Rafael has helped hundreds of learners drop the textbook stiffness and speak the way Brazilians actually do. Say oi →
Written by Rafael, Brazilian Portuguese teacher. Questions or a phrase you want covered?Say oi →
Written to help you sound like yourself, not a textbook. See the method behind the blog.
Comments
Got a question, or a phrase you want covered? Leave a comment. You sign in with GitHub, no new account, no spam.