Spanish · Food & Drink
"What do you recommend?" in Spanish: ¿Qué me recomienda?
¿Qué me recomienda?
What do you recommend? is ¿Qué me recomienda? It uses usted with the waiter: recomienda. For a friend use ¿Qué me recomiendas? For several staff, ¿Qué me recomiendan? keeps ustedes, not vosotros.
First visit
¿Qué me recomienda de la casa?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ¿Qué me recomienda?
Say it
keh meh rreh-koh-MYEN-dah
/ke me rekoˈmjenda/
keh meh rreh-koh-MYEN-dah. Stress MYEN. Softly roll or tap the rr in recomienda. Keep ¿Qué me recomienda? connected.
"What do you recommend?" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? (usted) Default with restaurant staff. | Default with restaurant staff. |
| ¿Qué me recomiendas? | What do you recommend? (tú) With a friend helping you choose. | With a friend helping you choose. |
| ¿Qué me recomiendan? | What do you recommend? (ustedes) Plural staff or a couple of locals. | Plural staff or a couple of locals. |
| ¿Cuál me recomienda? | Which one do you recommend? When choosing between clear options. | When choosing between clear options. |
How to use ¿Qué me recomienda? in real life
- 1First visit
¿Qué me recomienda de la casa?
What do you recommend from the house specialties?
Adds de la casa after recomienda.
- 2Between two dishes
¿Cuál me recomienda, el pescado o el pollo?
Which do you recommend, the fish or the chicken?
Cuál with recomienda.
- 3Asking both servers
¿Qué me recomiendan para compartir?
What do you recommend for sharing?
Ustedes form recomiendan.
Mistakes English speakers make with ¿Qué me recomienda?
Incorrect: ¿Qué me recomendáis?
Correct: ¿Qué me recomiendan?
Latin American Spanish uses ustedes: recomiendan, not vosotros recomendáis.
Incorrect: ¿Qué me recommend en inglés?
Correct: ¿Qué me recomienda?
Use recomienda. English recommend is not the Spanish verb form.
Good to know
Servers often answer with the house special when you ask qué me recomienda. That recomienda question is friendly and normal, not pushy. For several staff, qué me recomiendan uses ustedes in Latin America. Vosotros recomendáis stays a Spain classroom form.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Asking the waiter for help
ChatPal
¿Qué me recomienda hoy?
What do you recommend today?
You
Sí, ¿qué me recomienda sin picante?
Yes, what do you recommend that isn't spicy?
ChatPal
El arroz está suave.
The rice is mild.
You
Entonces eso pido.
Then I'll order that.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What do you recommend?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you recommend?" in Spanish
Usted or tú?
With staff, ¿Qué me recomienda? (usted) is the safe default. With friends, recomiendas.
How do I ask a group?
¿Qué me recomiendan? using ustedes. Avoid vosotros in Latin American Spanish.
Is this too formal?
No. ¿Qué me recomienda? is everyday restaurant politeness.
How do I follow up?
After ¿Qué me recomienda?, say Perfecto, eso quiero or Quisiera eso, then order.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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