In this post: Have you ever ordered in Spanish, only for the waiter to answer in English? You’re not alone. In this post, you’ll learn authentic phrases and strategies for adults learning Spanish that keep waiters speaking Spanish the entire meal.

You sit down at a restaurant in Mexico, or maybe your favorite Mexican place down the street and you’re so ready to practice your Spanish.

The menu’s in front of you, you’ve rehearsed what you’re going to say, and… before you even finish your sentence, the waiter responds… in English 😒

It’s beyond frustrating.

I know what it feels like to have been learning Spanish for a while and feeling pretty confident.

So, when visiting a Spanish-speaking restaurant, you feel like you should be totally in your element - you know the vocabulary and can anticipate the questions the waiter will ask you.

Only to find that when the Spanish-speaking waiter detects the slightest accent or the slightest error on your part, they immediately switch to English.

Sometimes, their English is actually worse than your Spanish! But, it doesn’t matter. From that point on, it’s hard to get them to switch back.

What gives?

In this post, I’ll share three magic (and authentic) phrases I use so waiters keep speaking Spanish with me the entire meal—plus a bonus expression that always impresses.

Dominique Cordero Monroy sitting on the floor and smiling.

¡Hola!

I’m Dominique, an adult Spanish learner and Spanish coach with 15+ years of experience. I’ve lived in Madrid, Barcelona, and Mexico City.

After thousands of meals in Spanish-speaking countries, battling with the waiter to speak to me in Spanish, these are the tricks I’ve learned to keep the conversation en español.

What you’ll learn in this post:

Why waiters switch to English (and why it’s not personal)
3 phrases that instantly make you sound more confident (+one bonus)
How to handle it if waiters switch to English anyway

Why Waiters Switch to English (Hint: It’s Not Personal)

Here’s a question I get from adults learning Spanish all the time:

“Why does my waiter switch to English even if I speak Spanish well?”

1. Training and habit:

Mexico is one of the best places to travel if you’re learning Spanish. But if you’re in tourist-heavy areas like Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, or certain neighborhoods in Mexico City, English is often the default in restaurants. Waiters are trained to “spot” native English speakers and switch to English to make you feel more comfortable.

And if you’re working on speaking more Spanish in your community in the U.S., there’s something you should know: bilingual staff, especially younger generations, may switch without thinking twice.

In academic term,s this quick and often subconscious shifting is sometimes referred to as language accommodation.

It’s not a critique of your Spanish - it’s a habit. Think of it as professional good practice for the waiter.

2. The way words roll off your tongue.

Sometimes it just comes down to your pronunciation.

One language learner put it this way:

“Bad pronunciation is like listening to a radio with interference.”

If you can start your order with a phrase that you say really well with a little-to-no accent (and lots of confidence!), you’re more likely to keep the interaction with the waiter in Spanish.

And honestly, you don’t need ‘perfect’ pronunciation for a waiter to stay in Spanish, just not noticeably non-native pronunciation. (More on that in a bit).

So if you’re wondering… “Will the waiter keep speaking English even if I try Spanish?”

That’s something you can take into your own hands. How?

Try These Three Magic Expressions To Keep Waiters Speaking Spanish

Knowing some expressions you’re sure you can ‘nail’ in Spanish will help you reduce your speaking anxiety, let you stop worrying about your accent and just have more Spanish conversations already.

For example, you can get an instant pronunciation confidence boost with this one:

Phrase #1: Skip “Para Mí” and Use “Voy a Querer”

What’s the best phrase to start ordering in Spanish?

I’m going to let you in a little secret:

I used to order with “para mí…” And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - it’s completely correct Spanish.

So why make a change?

The “A-R-A” sound in para is a hard sound combination for most English speakers, and waiters pick up on our accent right away.

Now, whenever I order at a restaurant, I start with “voy a querer…”

It rolls off the tongue more easily, sounds natural, and signals confidence. For example:

Voy a querer un pozole chico, por favor.
Voy a querer un licuado de mamey, por favor.

This one swap has made a huge difference for me.

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Phrase #2: “Le Encargo,” An Authentic Mexican-Spanish Choice

If you’re traveling in Mexico and want to sound extra natural, try “le encargo…” when ordering:

Le encargo unas enchiladas verdes, por favor.

It’s like saying, “I put you in charge of this order.”

It’s respectful and warmly received, especially in more traditional restaurants. And it’s very likely to keep the conversation in Spanish.

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Phrase #3: “¿Me Podría Traer…?” For a More Natural, Native Touch

Now you’ve ordered your food, but something’s missing. Maybe you need another fork, a fresh cup of coffee, or an extra plate for sharing.

If you’re at a beginner level, you might say something like:

Necesito un cuchillo.

That will definitely get you what you want.

But if you’re past the basics, there’s a way to make your request sound instantly more natural and polite.

Try this instead:

¿Me podría traer un cuchillo, por favor?

¿Me podría traer un café de olla, por favor?

This literally means “Could you bring me…?”

And as an added bonus, it uses podría in the usted form, which adds a level of respect and formality that native speakers notice.

It’s one of those phrases that makes you sound like an experienced Spanish speaker without having to use complex grammar. And the best part? You can plug in almost anything you need:

¿Me podría traer otra servilleta, por favor?
¿Me podría traer un plato extra, por favor?

Use this in place of necesito and you’ll immediately set a more confident, respectful tone, which can help keep the whole conversation flowing in Spanish.

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Bonus Phrase: “¿Les Hace Falta Algo?” for Group Dining

When waiters check in on a table, you’ll often hear: “¿Les hace falta algo?” (Is anything missing?).

The first time I noticed this, I was having dinner with my husband and mother-in-law at Saks in San Ángel, Mexico City. The waiter came over and asked, “¿Les hace falta algo?”

My mother-in-law responded, “Sí, nos hace falta un plato de fruta para la nena.”

You can use it too:

Nos hace falta un cuchillo.
Falta otro café. (using the verb faltar on its own, not as a verb like ‘gustar’)

It’s more group-oriented than “necesitar” which can sound very “I” centered, which subtly comes across as more polite.

If you’ve been working on pushing yourself past intermediate and towards more advanced and authentic levels of Spanish, this is just the kind of expression you’ll want to learn.

What to do if a waiter continues to speak to you in English?

So here you are, armed with some great new expressions to take to the restaurant.

But here’s the reality:

Even if you start strong, sometimes the waiter will still slip into English.

My rule when that happens? Respond in Spanish. Every time.

Keep giving your order, asking questions, and making small talk in Spanish.

But what if the waiter doesn’t get your subtle hint to switch back to Spanish?

Instead of sweating it in the restaurant and wondering

How can I politely ask to stay in Spanish?

Go in with a planned phrase. Like this one:

¿Podría hablarme en español, por favor? Estoy practicando.

Aim for clearness and confidence when you say this. Nine times out of ten, they’ll smile and switch right back.

Get Waiters to Speak to You in Spanish: Confidence, Clarity & Respect

Trust me, I’ve learned from lots of embarrassing and red-faced experiences that confidence matters when you’re trying to use Spanish at a restaurant.

When you start with a confident, native-like phrase, you set the tone for the entire interaction.

You’re showing the waiter you’re serious about using Spanish and that they don’t need to “make it easier” for you by switching to English.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for practicing between restaurants and getting waiters to speak Spanish with you:

Spanish Restaurant Phrases & When to Use Them

Situation	Spanish Phrase	Why It Works
Ordering food	Voy a querer…	Sounds confident & native-like
Placing a respectful order	Le encargo…	Polite, common in Mexico
Asking if anything is missing (group)	¿Les hace falta algo?	Native group dining phrase
Requesting continued Spanish	¿Podría hablarme en español, por favor?	Sets intent politely

Which phrase will you try next time you’re at a restaurant?

Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed these tips, sign up for my newsletter for beginners to Spanish or Intermediate Spanish learners to get more real-life Spanish you can actually use.