Bilingual restaurant menus: how to offer your menu in English and Spanish

Tens of millions of people in the United States speak Spanish at home, and in Puerto Rico most guests read both languages. A bilingual menu makes everyone comfortable ordering, and comfortable guests order more confidently.

Two columns, two menus, or a language switch?

There are three common ways to offer a bilingual menu:

1. Two columns or lines per item. Everything appears twice, so the menu gets long and crowded, especially on a phone.
2. Two separate menus. Clean, but you now maintain two files, and they drift out of sync.
3. A language switch. One menu, two languages. Guests tap EN or ES and the whole menu changes. This is the easiest to read and to maintain.

With a live QR menu like spotmymenu, you pick a main language, add the second one, and guests switch with one tap.

What to translate

• Section names: Starters → Entradas, Mains → Platos fuertes, Desserts → Postres, Drinks → Bebidas.
• Descriptions, which help guests understand what they're ordering.
• Add-ons and options, like "Add avocado" → "Añade aguacate".
• Specials and your tagline.

What to keep as it is

• Signature dish names often stay in the original language: birria, mofongo, carne asada, cacio e pepe. Explain them in the description instead.
• Prices: keep one currency and format.

Tips for natural translations

• Write for your guests, not word for word. "Platos fuertes" reads better than a literal "Principales" for many Latin American and Puerto Rican guests.
• Keep the tone the same in both languages.
• Have a native speaker from your team read it once.
• Keep allergen and diet labels consistent in both languages.

Don't forget the QR code label

Your table card can say both: "Scan for menu · Escanea para ver el menú." Our free QR generator lets you set that label.

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spotmymenu is built in Puerto Rico by a bilingual team, and English & Spanish menus are included in every plan. Try it free for 7 days.