How to order tacos in Spanish: A comprehensive guide

If you ask a Mexican where to eat tacos, they’re more likely to recommend a stand over a restaurant. The problem is that there isn’t a menu with pictures to help you order your tacos. So, it is important to know how to order tacos in Spanish to get the best ones in town.

Ordering tacos in Spanish

Ordering tacos in Spanish ensures a consistent vocabulary regardless of location (stand, taquería, or restaurant). The main difference between these establishments is that in the nice, large restaurant, they will use formal phrases to take your order. Here’s a more common conversation when ordering tacos.

	Action	Spanish	English
Taquero/Waiter	He wants to know what you want to order. Example (d) would be a more formal situation in a restaurant or ‘taquería.’	a) ¿Qué va a querer? b) ¿Qué va a llevar? c) ¿Cuántos van a ser? d) ¿Está listo para ordenar? ¿Cuántos va a querer?	a) What would you like (to order)? b) What would you like (to order)? c) How many would you like? d) Are you ready to order? How many would you like?
You (tú)	Use one of the next options to answer	a) Quiero 3 tacos al pastor y 3 de bistec b) Deme 3 tacos al pastor y 3 de bistec c) 3 al pastor y 3 de bistec	a) I want 3 pork tacos and 3 steak tacos b) I’ll have 3 pork tacos and 3 steak tacos c) 3 pork tacos and 3 steak tacos.
Taquero/Waiter	He wants to know what topping you want in your tacos.	a) ¿Con todo?	a) With all of it? (all the toppings they have)
You (tú)	If you want to try the full experience, use option number a. Otherwise, use option b.	a) Sí, con todo. b) Sin cebolla.	a) Yes, with all. (All the toppings). b) Without onion.

Knowing about Mexican Spanish food is insufficient if you don’t know how to order it. We recommend you deeply comprehend the example conversation mentioned above and practice the confidence required to order at a restaurant.

Common phrases to order tacos in Spanish

The most common way to order tacos in Spanish is to use the verbs querer (want) and dar. Before we get into more examples, let’s look at how you would structure your phrase.

• [Subject] + quiero + [number of tacos]

For example: Quiero 3 tacos al pastor y 3 de bistec (I want 3 pork tacos and 3 steaks)

• [Subject] + deme + [number of tacos]

For example: Deme 3 tacos al pastor y 3 de bistec (I want 3 pork tacos and 3 steaks)

Even though ‘to give’ is the literal translation of dar, when ordering food, you’ll notice that in English, it’s pronounced ‘to have.’ So, conjugating from dar to deme means “I’ll have.”

In English, saying “Give me 3 tacos” may appear rude and aggressive, but the phrase has a different connotation in Spanish. It’s completely acceptable. If you feel you are being too rude, you can soften your phrase like this:

• [Indirect Pronoun] + puede + Dar [infinitive verb] + [number] + [type of tacos]

For example: ¿Me puede dar 3 tacos al pastor y 3 de bistec? (Can I have 3 pork tacos and 3 steaks?)

If the taquero takes your order, he or she will most likely ask what you want to eat. To answer these questions, Mexicans use the most straightforward phrase:

• [Number] + [type of tacos]

For example: 3 al pastor y 3 de bistec (3 pork tacos and 3 steaks)

Types of taco meats

Unlike tacos in the United States or Canada, Mexico has a wide range of meat and, thus, flavor options. Here are all of the different types of meat that you will most likely encounter and choose from:

Al pastor	Seasoned pork. Depending on the city, it can be flavored with pineapple
Bistec	Steak
Asada	Grilled steak
Tripa/Pancita	Tripe
Chorizo	Spiced sausage, or chorizo
Lengua	Tongue. In Mexico, it’s usually from a cow
Arrachera	Skirt steak
Cabeza	Head meat from a cow

Famous toppings for your tacos

In Mexico, toppings are almost as important as meat because they enhance the flavor of your taco. The toppings will vary depending on the taco and the region you’re visiting. These are the most common:

• Con todo

It means with everything or fully dressed. This means you want your taco with all the sauces and garnishes they have, usually beans, diced onion, and cilantro.

• Cilantro y cebolla

Diced onion and cilantro

•  Doble tortilla

Double tortilla. Although tacos are typically served with two tortillas, some restaurants may ask if you want an extra tortilla.

• Salsa verde

It literally means green salsa. It’s made with onion, green chili pepper, and tomato.

• Salsa roja

Red sauce. It’s made with tomato and red chilies.

Some common phrases to ask for a bill

Below are the most common phrases that Mexicans use to pay their bill at a restaurant or a food stand.

• ¿Cuánto va a ser? (How much is it going to be?)
• ¿Cuánto es? (How much is it?)
• ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor? (Could you bring me the bill, please?)

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Frequently asked questions

How do I ask for tacos in Spanish?

To order tacos, simply say, “Quisiera tacos, por favor” which means “I would like tacos, please.”

What are the common types of tacos I can order?

Popular taco choices include “tacos de carne asada” (grilled beef), “tacos al pastor” (marinated pork), and “tacos de pollo” (chicken tacos).

How spicy are Mexican tacos?

Spice levels vary, but you can customize by saying “No muy picante” for not very spicy or “Muy picante” for very spicy.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we have discussed how to order tacos in Spanish. Placing your order smoothly requires confidence to speak Spanish publically (if it’s not your native language, of course!). To develop the confidence, undergo mock practice frequently. It will also improve your Spanish pronunciation.

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