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.
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
