English, Spanish and Portuguese On Menus In Latin America

Countries with Spanish as an official language. From Wikipedia.

1 Spanish - English Menu Words

I started my search for menu terms by going back to one of my early blog posts which told me this: 

Spanish-English Hotel Menus

adobado - pickled

ajo - garlic

anguila - eel

agua - water

arroz - rice

calamares - squid

caldo - broth / soup

cálida/o - warm

caliente - hot

cerdo - pig

charasko - steak

chuleta - chop

churrasco - steak (churrasco de ternera - beef steak)

combinados - combinations

con - with

croquetas - croquettes

del - of the

empanada - pie

ensalada - salad

entremeses - appetisers

espanola (note sign over the n) - Spanish (style of cooking)

especial - special

filete - fillet / steak

frita - fried

galeras - 

gallego - Galician (in Spanish and Italian you do not have capital letters at the start of a country or country style

hamburguesas - burgers

huevos - eggs

lomo - back

lubina - sea bass

marisco - seafood

menu - menu

merluza - hake

Meso 

meson (accent on the on for emphasis) - house (like the French word maison)

mixta - mixed

o - or

pan - bread

parillada - barbecue

pasteles - pastries / cakes

patatas - potatoes

pechuga - poultry breast

plancha - griddle, iron, plate

plato - plate or dish

platos - plates / dishes

pollo - chicken

postre - dessert

Primer - first / starter

pudin - pudding

quesadilla - tortilla (omelette or wrap) covered in cheese

queso - cheese

rusa - Russian

Segundo - second

spaguetis - spagetthi

tartas - tarts

ternera - veal / beef 

tomate - tomatoes

tortilla - thin omelette containing slided potatoes and onions cooked in olive oil

ternera - veal

variados - varied

vino - wine

y - and

I asked Gemini for some Spanish and Portuguese menu terms and got this

2 Spanish Menu Terms

Cooking Style & Preparation

• A la plancha: Grilled on a flat metal griddle.

• Al ajillo: Cooked with garlic and olive oil.

• Asado / A la parrilla: Grilled or barbecued over open flames.

• Frito / Empanado: Fried / Breaded.

• Al horno: Baked or roasted in an oven.

Popular Dishes & Specialties

• Tapas: Small, shareable savory dishes or appetizers.

• Empanada: Baked or fried pastry dough filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables.

• Ceviche: Raw fish cured in fresh citrus juices, seasoned with chili peppers and onions.

• Tortilla Española: A thick Spanish omelet made with eggs, potatoes, and onions.

• Gazpacho: Cold, blended tomato and vegetable soup.

Meats, Seafood & Extras

• Mariscos / Pescado: Seafood / Fish.

• Jamón: Cured ham (e.g., Jamón Ibérico or Serrano).

• Carne de res / Ternera: Beef / Veal.

• Pollo / Cerdo: Chicken / Pork.

• Salsa / Queso: Sauce / Cheese.

Countries with Portuguese as an official language.

The Portuguese island of Madeira is a popular destination for people from the UK and Europe. You can visit the Madeira wine wineries, which we did, my husband and I and we took members of our walking/hiking holiday to D'Oliveira winery in the centre of the capital city. 

3 Portuguese Menu Terms

Cooking Style & Preparation

• Grelhado: Grilled.

• Assado: Roasted or baked.

• Refogado: Sautéed with an aromatic base (usually garlic, onions, and olive oil).

• Frito / Apressado: Fried.

• Ao molho: Served in a sauce or gravy.

Popular Dishes & Specialties

• Bacalhau: Salt cod—a staple ingredient in Portuguese cuisine prepared in dozens of ways (e.g., Bacalhau à Brás).

• Francesinha: A rich sandwich from Porto made with bread, meats, melted cheese, and a thick beer/tomato sauce.

• Feijoada: A rich stew of black (or red) beans, pork, and beef.

• Pastel de Nata: Classic warm egg custard tart dusted with cinnamon.

• Petiscos: Small shareable plates or finger foods (the Portuguese counterpart to tapas).

Meats, Seafood & Extras

• Frutos do mar / Peixe: Seafood / Fish.

• Camarão / Chouriço: Shrimp / Spiced pork sausage.

• Carne de vaca / Porco: Beef / Pork.

• Frango: Chicken.

• Queijo / Arroz: Cheese / Rice.

I asked Gemini about the similarities and differences regarding Uruguayan food and Argentinian food and got this answer:

3 Summary Spanish and Portuguese Menu terms

You find nearly identical menus at traditional steakhouses (parrillas) in both Montevideo and Buenos Aires,

Uruguay's cuisine stands out with dishes like the 

Chivito, 

Pamplona, and wood-fired grilling methods, whereas 

Argentina features greater regional diversity in dishes like 

empanadas and 

stew (locro).

4 Useful Websites For Translating Spanish and Portuguese Menus & Learning Words

translate google

duolingo.com

Useful Books With Spanish and Portuguese Words

Portuguese and Spanish sections on eating out and menus are in

European Phrase Book Dorling Kingdersley Eyewitness Travel Guides