A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What do you recommend" in Spanish
Ask for a waiter's best dish or drink suggestions at a restaurant.
¿Qué me recomienda?
keh meh reh-koh-MYEN-dahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
When you're at a restaurant and want to ask your server for their personal favorite dish or a popular item. This is also great for asking about drinks if you're undecided.
Alternatives
- ¿Qué me aconseja?Slightly more formal, implies seeking expert advice.
- ¿Qué recomiendas?Use this if you're speaking to someone your own age or younger, or a friend.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'recomendar' with 'recommend'
While they look similar, 'recomendar' is the correct Spanish verb for 'to recommend'.
Using 'recomiendo' instead of 'recomienda'
Remember to use the 'usted' form 'recomienda' when addressing a server, unless you know them well.
A small cultural note
Asking for a recommendation is very common and often leads to discovering local specialties. Servers are usually happy to share their favorites.
Frequently asked
what do you recommend spanish restaurant
The most common phrase is '¿Qué me recomienda?'. This directly asks the server for their recommendation.
what do you recommend informal spanish
If you're talking to a friend or someone your age, use the informal '¿Qué recomiendas?'.
how to ask waiter for suggestion spanish
You can ask '¿Qué me recomienda?' to get a suggestion from the waiter. It's polite and widely understood.
