Inklingo

How to Say "eatery" in Spanish

English → Spanish

restaurante

/rre-stow-RAHN-teh//restauˈɾante/

nounA1informal
Use 'restaurante' for any formal or informal place that serves meals, from a casual diner to a fine-dining establishment.
A simple, brightly colored storybook illustration of the exterior of a cozy restaurant building with large windows and a welcoming entrance.

Examples

¿Conoces un buen restaurante de comida mexicana cerca de aquí?

Do you know a good Mexican restaurant near here?

El camarero nos dio una mesa al lado de la ventana del restaurante.

The waiter gave us a table next to the restaurant window.

Abrimos un nuevo restaurante de tapas en el centro de la ciudad.

We opened a new tapas restaurant in the city center.

Masculine Noun

Even though 'restaurante' ends in '-e', it is a masculine word, so you always use the masculine article 'el' before it: 'El restaurante es caro' (The restaurant is expensive).

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La restaurante.”

Correction: El restaurante. Remember to use 'el' for this word, even though many words ending in '-e' can sometimes be feminine.

soda

/SOH-dah//ˈsoða/

nounB1casual
Choose 'soda' for a very casual, local spot, often serving traditional or simple meals, common in some Latin American countries.
A small, cozy outdoor restaurant with wooden tables and a thatched roof, surrounded by tropical plants.

Examples

Vamos a la soda a comer un casado.

Let's go to the diner to eat a 'casado' (traditional dish).

Restaurante vs. Soda

The most common mistake is using 'soda' for any place that serves food. Remember, 'soda' refers to a specific type of casual, local eatery, while 'restaurante' is the general term for almost any dining establishment.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.