Portuguese cuisine offers a rich and varied palette of flavors and experiences, and knowing the language can enhance your dining adventures in Portugal or Brazil. Whether you’re planning to travel to a Portuguese-speaking country or just interested in learning the language, this guide to Portuguese words for food and dining out will have you ordering like a local in no time.

Restaurante is the Portuguese word for “restaurant.” It’s where you’ll have the opportunity to taste the local cuisine and experience the hospitality for which Portuguese-speaking countries are known.
Vamos jantar em um restaurante típico português esta noite. (Let’s have dinner in a typical Portuguese restaurant tonight.)

When you enter a restaurante, you’ll be greeted and asked how many people are in your party with the phrase: Mesa para quantos? meaning “Table for how many?”
Mesa para dois, por favor. (A table for two, please.)

In a restaurant, the cardápio or menu is where you’ll find the list of food and drinks available.
Pode me trazer o cardápio, por favor? (Could you bring me the menu, please?)

Entradas refers to “appetizers” or “starters” that you eat before the main course.
Vou pedir umas entradas para começar. (I will order some appetizers to start.)

The main dish, or prato principal, is often a hearty course featuring meat, fish, or a vegetarian option.
Qual é o prato principal do dia? (What is the main dish of the day?)

After the main course, you might consider getting some sobremesa, which means “dessert.”
A sobremesa estava deliciosa. (The dessert was delicious.)

For a drink to accompany your meal, you might order a bebida. Portuguese wines, especially the famous vinho do Porto (Port wine), are not to be missed.
Uma bebida fresca para acompanhar, por favor. (A fresh drink to go with it, please.)

If you are looking for something without alcohol, you could ask for an água (water) or sumo (juice).
Uma água sem gás, por favor. (A still water, please.)

When the meal is over, and it’s time to pay, you can say Conta, por favor, which means “Check, please.”
Podemos pedir a conta, por favor? (Can we ask for the check, please?)

In Portugal and Brazil, it’s common to leave a little gorjeta, or “tip,” if the service was good and you’re satisfied with your meal. While not obligatory, it is a polite gesture.
Aqui está um pouco mais para a gorjeta. (Here is a little extra for the tip.)

Remember, in both Portugal and Brazil, dining is not just about the food; it’s a social event. So when you go out to eat, be sure to enjoy the atmosphere, the conversation, and of course, the delightful Portuguese cuisine.

By learning these essential words, you’ll not just enhance your culinary experiences but also improve your Portuguese vocabulary, allowing you to engage more deeply in the vibrant culture surrounding food in Portuguese-speaking countries. With these phrases in your pocket, bom apetite!