The Philippines is known for its famous dishes and skilfully Filipino chefs worldwide. So, if you’re ordering food from an authentic Filipino restaurant, you’ll need to know the vocabulary. You don’t want to end up being unhappy about the food you’ll eat. So, to order food in Tagalog, you’ll need an example or two.
The locals of the Philippines enjoy their food like it’s their pride and joy. Many Filipinos even do contests in their barangays to determine which nanay holds the best recipe. These well-thought-of recipes are handed down to every generation and even overseas. That’s why you’ll find many Filipino restaurants worldwide serving scrumptious adobo, bagnet, and sisig. Who knows, there might even be a Filipino restaurant near you now! That makes it worthwhile to be prepared to memorize the important restaurant vocabulary.
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How To Order Food In Tagalog
A full-course meal for Filipinos usually consists of only drinks, the food itself with rice, and sometimes soup. If your tummy has extra room for a Filipino dessert, you can also choose from the common halo-halo, ice cream, ube-flavored desserts, or turon. All these depend on which dining area you will go to, though! But what you ate for that breakfast, lunch, or dinner will already fill you up so fast.
I hope you’re hungry for knowledge; we’re here to practice ordering food in Tagalog. Do mind that if you see the ellipsis (three dots), you can fill in the name of the food you’re going to order. We’ve also included phrases and sentences to practice with your Filipino friends when dining.
I know you’re already hungry, so without further ado, let’s learn how to order food in Tagalog!
Etiquette When Ordering Food In A Filipino Restaurant
Were you looking for the best meals to discover and sate your palate? We’ve covered the 20 most popular Filipino foods you should try. But if you’re game for Filipino snacks, try Ensaymada or Kakanin! Continue your journey to discover the best dessert or dish while talking to the locals. But before we discover the Tagalog words and phrases you need to speak to locals, let’s observe the etiquette inside a Filipino restaurant.
Don’t Be Too Hasty In Choosing Your Food
You might know the characteristic “Filipino Time,” where someone might end up being late after 10-15 minutes as decided by the host. But, when it comes to Filipino cuisine, you might need to choose carefully. Certain Tagalog slang words for food, such as hangry (hungry+angry), chibog (food), or tomjones (hungry), point to Filipinos’ love for eating and drinking. So don’t hold back when choosing what’s on the menu. But if there’s one thing we’ll be sure of, you’ll have a hard time choosing from all the delicious meals the Philippines have to offer.
Need a guide? Here’s what you can expect:
- Breakfast in the Philippines can start any day and end any day
- Lunch and dinner are heavy with rice and soup, but you can opt for salads, veggies, and sometimes a healthier alternative such as vegetarian or vegan.
It’s Common For Guys To Pay The Bill First
This concept may sound too ancient for you, but in the Philippines, many people still observe the patriarchal concept of being the head of the household. And with that comes the financial responsibility of men to pay for the bills. Don’t be surprised by this act! Many Filipinos would love to libre (treat/pay for) their friends, partners, and family.
You Can Use A Gesture To Catch The Attention Of The Waiters
A waiter for Filipinos is usually not the same as in other countries. If you’re visiting the Philippines for the first time, you might be surprised how many free services you’ll get. These are often a traditional Filipino gesture of hospitality. Things like free in-house water, or as you can say, “Kuya, may tubig po kayo?” (Kuya, do you have a glass of water?”) or even tea when you are eating Chinese food are expected in many food places. Guests of a household, too, can ask for water. The host will gladly offer the coldest glass to quench their thirst in the hot and humid temperature of the Philippines.
Every Meal May Start With A Prayer
The Philippines is a religious country, and most families have their relihiyon (or religion) to uphold. It is very crucial for families to start any meal with a prayer, giving thanks for the meal, their blessings, and the people who are with them while eating. It’s a great way to show a sign of camaraderie, too, as a way of communing with those they love and sharing the opportunities that come to them.
You Can Chat While Eating
Eating while chatting may sound foreign or rude to many of you, but in the Philippines, it’s normal. It’s a sign that you are enjoying the company of the people surrounding you. In fact, it’s even inappropriate not to talk to your Filipino host or the family you’re dining with. So you might be up for the challenge of speaking Tagalog for the whole day. They might even order more food to keep the conversation going!
Sometimes, Filipinos also choose to eat at a carinderia or turo turo (or eatery in English), a smaller place to eat Filipino foods with cheaper options. You might not use some of these etiquettes when ordering, but instances like gestures to get the seller’s attention or chatting are a must.
How Do You Say Order Food In Tagalog?
There is no direct translation for the word order when it comes to ordering food in a restaurant. Instead, you’ll hear Filipinos say the phrase, pabili po ng...
Or most, Filipinos will just say, gusto ko umorder ng…
Other Tagalog Food Vocabulary
Missed some of the words or can’t translate them yet? We’re here to help! Here’s a list of Tagalog words related to ordering. Ready? Memorize this Tagalog vocabulary list with me!
Frequently Asked Questions On How To Order Food In Tagalog
What Do Filipinos Say Before Eating?
Filipinos will utter a prayer or just say salamat po when the waiter has served the meal. There is no definite phrase for Filipinos to say before eating, unlike the Koreans and Japanese.
Can You Take Out Food In The Philippines?
Yes, if you are full and can’t finish your food, it’s best to take out your food instead. This is where the long-running joke of “i-Sharon mo na yan” came from. You might be surprised that even the hosts themselves will put the food inside plastic containers for you to take the food home.
What Are Considered Bad Manners When Ordering Food In Tagalog?
As mentioned earlier, the reason why you need to take the food home is that many Filipino families consider it bad manners if someone doesn’t finish their food. Another impolite gesture for Filipinos while ordering food is being noisy. Many younger generations wouldn’t mind the noise. Especially if it’s a cafe or a popular restaurant. But you will definitely see some stares from other Filipino families if your table is considered the noisiest.
Order A Delicious Filipino Meal With The Help Of Ling App
Still hesitating to utter a single Filipino word, fearing you will mess up? That’s okay; we’re bound to make mistakes in speaking a new language. Even if you’re way ahead of your language level, there are times when you get confused about grammar rules, pronunciation, and some tricky questions. So, you’ll need a great language-learning app that you can practice with daily.
Want to study further? There are more vocabulary words that you can find when learning Tagalog in the Ling app. It is the best choice to go about your day, learn new words, and effectively develop a new memorization technique that you can use for other skills, too.
If you’re ready to focus on being a master of languages or want to try out how to order food in Tagalog, or even learn Tagalog itself, download the Ling app now!
