Restaurant Vocabulary is essential for anyone who wants to speak English confidently while dining out. Learning the right words helps you understand menus, communicate with staff, and enjoy your meals.
This guide covers 70 essential restaurant words, divided into categories like food, staff, places, verbs, and adjectives. Each word comes with its meaning and example, making it easy to use in real-life situations. With these words, you’ll be ready to order, dine, and practice English for Restaurant situations like a pro.
Restaurant Areas and Places Vocabulary
These words describe common areas and places you see inside a restaurant. Learning them will help you understand signs, instructions, and where to go when you arrive.
1. Restaurant
Meaning: A place where people go to eat meals.
Example: This restaurant is very popular.
2. Entrance
Meaning: The place where you enter the restaurant.
Example: Please wait at the entrance.
3. Dining area
Meaning: The main area where customers eat.
Example: The dining area is clean and quiet.
4. Table
Meaning: Furniture where customers eat their food.
Example: Our table is near the window.
5. Chair
Meaning: A seat used for sitting at a table.
Example: Please take a chair.
6. Counter
Meaning: A long surface where food is ordered or served.
Example: You can order at the counter.
7. Kitchen
Meaning: The place where food is prepared.
Example: The chef is in the kitchen.
8. Restroom
Meaning: A room with a toilet and sink.
Example: The restroom is at the back.
9. Waiting area
Meaning: A place to wait before getting a table.
Example: Please sit in the waiting area.
10. Exit
Meaning: The place where you leave the restaurant.
Example: The exit is on the left.
Menu and Food Restaurant Vocabulary
These words are commonly found on restaurant menus. Learning food and menu vocabulary will help you understand what to order and describe what you like.
11. Menu
Meaning: A list of food and drinks in a restaurant.
Example: Can I see the menu, please?
12. Appetizer
Meaning: A small dish eaten before the main meal.
Example: We ordered an appetizer first.
13. Main course
Meaning: The main dish of a meal.
Example: The main course was delicious.
14. Dessert
Meaning: Sweet food eaten after a meal.
Example: I want dessert after dinner.
15. Soup
Meaning: A liquid food made with vegetables or meat.
Example: The soup is hot.
16. Salad
Meaning: A dish made with vegetables.
Example: I ordered a fresh salad.
17. Steak
Meaning: A piece of cooked meat.
Example: The steak is very tender.
18. Chicken
Meaning: Meat from a chicken.
Example: I like grilled chicken.
19. Fish
Meaning: Food made from fish.
Example: The fish is fresh.
20. Rice
Meaning: A common food made from grains.
Example: Rice comes with the meal.
21. Pasta
Meaning: Italian food made from wheat.
Example: She ordered pasta.
22. Sauce
Meaning: Liquid added to food for flavor.
Example: This sauce is spicy.
23. Side dish
Meaning: Extra food served with the main dish.
Example: Fries are a side dish.
24. Drink
Meaning: A liquid you can drink.
Example: I want a cold drink.
25. Special
Meaning: A dish offered for a limited time.
Example: Today’s special is chicken soup.
Restaurant Staff and Roles Vocabulary
These words describe the people who work in a restaurant. Knowing these roles will help you understand who to speak to and who serves you.
26. Waiter
Meaning: A man who serves food and drinks.
Example: The waiter took our order.
27. Waitress
Meaning: A woman who serves food and drinks.
Example: The waitress was very friendly.
28. Server
Meaning: A person who brings food and drinks to customers.
Example: Our server was helpful.
29. Host
Meaning: A person who welcomes customers.
Example: The host showed us our table.
30. Hostess
Meaning: A woman who welcomes customers.
Example: The hostess greeted us.
31. Chef
Meaning: A person who cooks food.
Example: The chef prepared the meal.
32. Cook
Meaning: A person who helps prepare food.
Example: The cook works in the kitchen.
33. Manager
Meaning: A person who manages the restaurant.
Example: The manager solved the problem.
34. Cashier
Meaning: A person who takes payments.
Example: Pay the cashier at the counter.
35. Barista
Meaning: A person who prepares coffee and hot drinks.
Example: The barista made a cup of coffee.
Ordering and Dining Restaurant Vocabulary
Ordering and dining restaurant vocabulary includes common restaurant words used when ordering food and eating at a restaurant. Learning this restaurant vocabulary in English will help beginners communicate clearly and feel more confident when dining out.
36. Order
Meaning: To ask for food or drinks.
Example: I want to order now.
37. Reservation
Meaning: An arrangement to save a table.
Example: I made a reservation online.
38. Menu item
Meaning: One food or drink on the menu.
Example: This menu item is popular.
39. Portion
Meaning: The amount of food served.
Example: The portion is large.
40. Table service
Meaning: Food is served at your table.
Example: This restaurant offers table service.
41. Self-service
Meaning: Customers serve themselves.
Example: It is a self-service restaurant.
42. Cutlery
Meaning: Knives, forks, and spoons.
Example: The cutlery is clean.
43. Napkin
Meaning: A cloth or paper used while eating.
Example: Please use a napkin.
44. Plate
Meaning: A flat dish for food.
Example: The plate is hot.
45. Bowl
Meaning: A round dish for food.
Example: Soup is in the bowl.
46. Glass
Meaning: A container for drinks.
Example: I need a clean glass.
47. Tray
Meaning: A flat item used to carry food.
Example: Put the food on the tray.
48. Refill
Meaning: To fill again.
Example: Can I get a refill, please?
49. Takeaway
Meaning: Food ordered to eat elsewhere.
Example: I ordered takeaway food.
50. Dine in
Meaning: To eat inside the restaurant.
Example: We want to dine in.
Restaurant Verbs You Must Know
Restaurant verbs are an important part of learning restaurant vocabulary in English, especially for beginners. These common restaurant words are used when ordering food, speaking to staff, and enjoying a meal. Learning these verbs will help you use English for restaurant situations more naturally and confidently.
51. Order
Meaning: To ask for food or drinks.
Example: I want to order lunch.
52. Serve
Meaning: To give food to customers.
Example: The waiter will serve the food.
53. Cook
Meaning: To prepare food.
Example: The chef cooks fresh meals.
54. Eat
Meaning: To have food.
Example: We eat dinner here often.
55. Drink
Meaning: To take liquid into your mouth.
Example: I drink water with my meal.
56. Pay
Meaning: To give money for food.
Example: We will pay at the counter.
57. Reserve
Meaning: To book a table in advance.
Example: I want to reserve a table.
58. Choose
Meaning: To decide what food to order.
Example: Please choose your meal.
59. Taste
Meaning: To try food to know the flavor.
Example: Taste the soup first.
60. Enjoy
Meaning: To like something.
Example: I enjoy this meal.
Restaurant Adjectives and Descriptive Words
Using restaurant adjectives is an important part of learning restaurant vocabulary in English. These descriptive restaurant words help you talk about food, service, and your dining experience clearly. This section is especially useful for restaurant vocabulary for beginners and everyday English for restaurant situations.
61. Delicious
Meaning: Very good to eat.
Example: The food is delicious.
62. Fresh
Meaning: Recently made or prepared.
Example: The salad is fresh.
63. Hot
Meaning: Having a high temperature.
Example: The soup is hot.
64. Cold
Meaning: Having a low temperature.
Example: The dessert is cold.
65. Clean
Meaning: Not dirty.
Example: The restaurant is clean.
66. Busy
Meaning: Having many customers.
Example: The restaurant is busy today.
67. Popular
Meaning: Liked by many people.
Example: This place is popular.
68. Comfortable
Meaning: Feeling relaxed and good.
Example: The chairs are comfortable.
69. Affordable
Meaning: Not expensive.
Example: The prices are affordable.
70. Tasty
Meaning: Having a good flavor.
Example: The meal is tasty.
Restaurant Vocabulary Exercises (Practice Section)
Learning restaurant words is easier when you practice using them. In this section, you will find Restaurant vocabulary exercises designed for beginners and anyone learning English for Restaurant situations. These exercises will help you remember important restaurant words, understand their meanings, and use them correctly when dining out.
1. Match the Word with Its Meaning
Connect each word to the correct meaning:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Menu | a. Person who serves food |
| 2. Chef | b. List of food and drinks |
| 3. Waiter | c. Place to wait for a table |
| 4. Waiting area | d. Person who cooks food |
Answer Key: 1→b, 2→d, 3→a, 4→c
2. Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct word from the list:
[table, dessert, order, kitchen, drink, reservation]
- I want to _______ a pizza.
- The _______ is very clean.
- Please bring me a cold _______.
- We are sitting at a big _______.
- I want chocolate _______ after dinner.
- I made a _______ for 7 PM tonight.
Answer Key: 1→order, 2→kitchen, 3→drink, 4→table, 5→dessert, 6→reservation
3. Multiple Choice Quiz
Choose the correct answer:
- Who cooks food in a restaurant?
a) Waiter
b) Chef
c) Host
Answer: b) Chef - Where do customers enter a restaurant?
a) Exit
b) Kitchen
c) Entrance
Answer: c) Entrance - What is a “side dish”?
a) The main course
b) Extra food served with the main dish
c) A drink
Answer: b) Extra food served with the main dish - What does “dine in” mean?
a) Eat inside the restaurant
b) Take food home
c) Make a reservation
Answer: a) Eat inside the restaurant
Learning Restaurant Vocabulary is an important step for anyone who wants to feel confident when dining out or using English for Restaurant situations. By mastering these 70 essential restaurant words, including places, food, staff, verbs, and adjectives, you can easily understand menus, communicate with staff, and enjoy your meals without confusion.
Remember, practicing with exercises like matching, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple-choice quizzes will help you retain the vocabulary more effectively.
If you want to expand your English skills further in the hospitality industry, check out our guide on English for Hotel: Practical Vocabulary and Dialogues, which provides useful phrases and vocabulary for hotel situations.
Start using these words today, and you’ll notice a big improvement in your confidence and fluency when speaking English in restaurants and hotels!
