How to Order Tacos in Spanish

Let’s face it—tacos are life. And if you’re traveling somewhere Spanish-speaking (or just hitting up your local taquería), knowing how to order tacos in Spanish is a skill worth having.

Fortunately, ordering tacos doesn’t require an entire semester of Spanish. Learn the names of a few common tacos, know your numbers, and master a couple of simple phrases, and you’re in business.

No one wants to be that person yelling “Uno taco, por favor!” like they just stepped off a cruise ship. Not on my watch. Today, I’m going to teach you exactly how to confidently order tacos like you were born to do it.

Grab a margarita, and let’s taco ‘bout it. 🌮🔥

How Do You Order Tacos in Spanish?

One of the easiest ways to order is:

Quisiera tres tacos de bistec, por favor.
I would like three steak tacos, please.

You can swap bistec for whatever filling you want and change the number accordingly.

For example:

Quisiera dos tacos de pollo, por favor.
I would like two chicken tacos, please.

Quisiera cuatro tacos de carnitas, por favor.
I would like four carnitas tacos, please.

Once you understand that basic formula, ordering gets a whole lot easier.

Types of Tacos in Spanish

Wondering how to say steak taco, chicken taco, or street tacos in Spanish? Here are some common terms you’ll encounter.

English	Spanish
Steak taco	Taco de bistec
Steak tacos	Tacos de bistec
Carne asada taco	Taco de carne asada
Beef taco	Taco de res
Chicken taco	Taco de pollo
Pork taco	Taco de cerdo
Fish taco	Taco de pescado
Shrimp taco	Taco de camarón
Three steak tacos	Tres tacos de bistec

A quick note about street tacos: you may see tacos callejeros used as a translation, but in Mexico, tacos sold by street vendors are generally just tacos. You’ll usually order them by the filling—tacos de bistec, tacos al pastor, tacos de carnitas, and so on.

And if you’re looking for “steak tacos,” don’t be surprised to see both bistec and carne asada. The terminology can vary depending on the meat, preparation, and region.

Key Taco Vocabulary

Before you step up to the taco stand, you need the right words in your arsenal. Here’s your taco survival guide in Spanish:

• Taco – Taco. Congratulations, you’re already winning.
• Tortilla – Tortilla. Corn is maíz and flour is harina.
• Carne – Meat.
• Bistec – Steak.
• Pollo – Chicken.
• Pescado – Fish.
• Camarón – Shrimp.
• Salsa – Sauce.
• Cilantro y cebolla – Cilantro and onion.
• Queso – Cheese.
• Limón – Lime.

And the most important phrase:

👉 “¿Cuántos tacos puedo comer sin que me juzgues?” (How many tacos can I eat before you start judging me?)

The answer is obviously as many as you want.

Common Taco Fillings

If you simply order a “taco,” there’s still one fairly important detail missing: what do you want in it?

Here are some common options you might encounter at a taquería:

• Al pastor – Marinated pork, often cooked on a vertical spit and sometimes served with pineapple.
• Carne asada – Grilled beef.
• Bistec – Steak or beef steak.
• Carnitas – Slow-cooked pork.
• Barbacoa – Slow-cooked meat; the type of meat and preparation can vary by region.
• Chorizo – Seasoned sausage.
• Lengua – Beef tongue.
• Cabeza – Meat from the head of the cow.
• Tripas – Intestines, often cooked until crispy.

Don’t be afraid to ask what’s available:

¿Qué tipos de tacos tienen?
What kinds of tacos do you have?

Now that you know what’s up, let’s put it all together.

How To Order Tacos in Spanish

You step up to the taquero. He’s flipping tortillas like a magician. You make eye contact. It’s go time.

Here’s how to order tacos with confidence:

🔹 “Quisiera tres tacos de asada, por favor.” (I would like three steak tacos, please.)

🔹 “Me da dos tacos de pastor con todo.” (Can you give me two al pastor tacos with everything?)

🔹 “Para mí, cuatro tacos de carnitas sin cebolla.” (For me, four carnitas tacos, no onion.)

🔹 “Voy a tomar cinco tacos de barbacoa y una cerveza.” (I’ll have five barbacoa tacos and a beer.)

You can also keep things incredibly simple:

Tres de bistec, por favor.
Three steak tacos, please.

If you’re ordering several kinds:

Quiero dos de carne asada y uno de pollo, por favor.
I’d like two carne asada and one chicken, please.

Don’t worry about sounding like a native speaker. Being polite and making yourself understood beats trying to perform linguistic gymnastics while six hungry people are waiting behind you.

🚨 Pro Tip: Want to sound even more natural? Add “porfa” instead of “por favor” for a casual touch.

How To Order Taco Toppings

Depending on the taquería, you’ll probably have a salsa bar situation. This is where things get serious. Choose wisely.

🌶 Salsa roja – Red salsa. Usually spicy AF. Approach with caution.

🌿 Salsa verde – Green salsa. Milder, but still brings the heat.

🔥 Salsa habanero – You’ve been warned.

🥑 Guacamole – Because life is better with it.

🧅 Cebolla – Onion

🌿 Cilantro – Cilantro

🍋‍🟩 Limón – Lime

Want everything?

Con todo, por favor.
With everything, please.

Don’t want onions?

Sin cebolla, por favor.
Without onion, please.

And before casually drowning your taco in something capable of removing paint:

You can also ask:

• “¿Cuál es la salsa más picante?” (Which salsa is the spiciest?)
• “¿Pica mucho?” (Is it really spicy?)

(If they laugh, brace yourself.)

Paying for Your Tacos

Once you’ve inhaled your tacos, it’s time to pay.

At street stalls, cash is king. In a sit-down spot, ask for the check with:

💰 “La cuenta, por favor.” (The bill, please.)

And always, ALWAYS thank the taquero:

🙌 “Gracias, estaban deliciosos.” (Thank you, they were delicious.)

People Also Ask

Ready to Order?

You don’t need flawless Spanish to order tacos. Know your numbers, learn the name of the filling you want, throw in a por favor, and you’re most of the way there.

And if all else fails, pointing still works. We’re ordering lunch, not negotiating an international peace treaty.

If tacos are on your travel itinerary, check out our posts about Mexico and Costa Rica for more places to eat, things to do, and firsthand travel experiences.

Now tell me: What’s your go-to taco order?