First Food Stop

Добър ден!

Dobar den!

Good day!

Walking into a bakery or snack bar — greet before you stare at the display case.

Какво е това?

Kakvo e tova?

What is this?

Point at the mystery pastry behind the glass — the single most useful phrase in any bakery.

Какво ще ми препоръчате?

Kakvo shte mi preporachate?

What would you recommend?

When everything behind the glass looks good — locals love being asked this.

Какво имате за закуска?

Kakvo imate za zakuska?

What do you have for breakfast?

First jet-lagged morning — opens the door to banitsa, mekitsi, and everything else.

Имате ли нещо без месо?

Imate li neshto bez meso?

Do you have something without meat?

The dietary safety net — swap 'месо' for whatever you're avoiding.

Една баница, моля.

Edna banitsa, molya.

One banitsa, please.

Your first real Bulgarian breakfast order — flaky cheese pastry, sold everywhere.

Една минерална вода, моля.

Edna mineralna voda, molya.

One mineral water, please.

The order you'll make ten times a day in a Bulgarian summer.

Сметката, моля.

Smetkata, molya.

The bill, please.

At a sit-down place, catch the server's eye and say this — the bill won't come uninvited.

Какво означава това?

Kakvo oznachava tova?

What does that mean?

Point at the menu word you can't decode — you get an explanation, not just a repeat.

Може ли пак?

Mozhe li pak?

Can you say that again?

The server asks something quick — 'тук или за вкъщи?' — and you need it once more.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

Keeps a friendly server explaining the dishes in Bulgarian at your speed.

Извинете, уча български.

Izvinete, ucha balgarski.

Sorry, I'm learning Bulgarian.

Say it with a smile when you stumble — it instantly turns staff from hurried to helpful.

Беше много вкусно, благодаря!

Beshe mnogo vkusno, blagodarya!

It was delicious, thank you!

On your way out after a good first meal — the compliment Bulgarian cooks genuinely love.

Двама сме.

Dvama sme.

There are two of us.

The first thing you say inside the door — hold up two fingers as you say it and they'll walk you to a table.

Колко човека сте?

Kolko choveka ste?

How many of you are there?

Something you hear before anything else — the host counts your party before picking a table.

Седнете, където желаете.

Sednete, kadeto zhelaete.

Sit wherever you like.

Something you hear in a quiet casual place — nobody will seat you, just pick a table yourself.

Предпочитаме вътре, ако може.

Predpochitame vatre, ako mozhe.

We'd prefer inside, if possible.

They point you at the terrace but it's cold, windy or loud — this steers you back indoors politely.

Заповядайте, ето менюто.

Zapovyadayte, eto menyuto.

Here you are, here's the menu.

Something you hear as the menu lands on the table — 'заповядайте' is the all-purpose 'here you go' you'll hear ten times a meal.

Може ли още малко време?

Mozhe li oshte malko vreme?

Could we have a bit more time?

The waiter comes back and you're still decoding the menu — this buys you another few minutes without stress.

Готови ли сте да поръчате?

Gotovi li ste da porachate?

Are you ready to order?

Something you hear on the waiter's second pass — answer with 'Да' or with 'Може ли още малко време?'

Решихте ли какво ще вземете?

Reshihte li kakvo shte vzemete?

Have you decided what you'll have?

Something you hear as a friendlier version of the same question — 'вземете' (take) is used far more than 'поръчате' in casual places.

Още не сме решили.

Oshte ne sme reshili.

We haven't decided yet.

The honest answer when the waiter is standing over you with a notepad and you need one more minute.

От какво е мусаката?

Ot kakvo e musakata?

What is the musaka made of?

You spotted мусака on the menu and want to know before you commit — swap the dish name for whatever is puzzling you.

Тараторът студена супа ли е?

Taratorat studena supa li e?

Is tarator a cold soup?

Таратор arrives ice-cold — yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill — and it surprises people who ordered it expecting hot soup.

Това пържено ли е, или на скара?

Tova parzheno li e, ili na skara?

Is this fried, or grilled?

Menus rarely say — and the difference between пържено and на скара decides how heavy your first meal is.

Това е на фурна, с кайма и картофи.

Tova e na furna, s kayma i kartofi.

It's oven-baked, with minced meat and potatoes.

Something you hear when you ask about мусака — 'на фурна' means baked in the oven, the giveaway that it's a hot tray dish.

Кое е типично българско?

Koe e tipichno balgarsko?

Which one is typically Bulgarian?

Half the menu is pizza and pasta — this cuts straight to the Bulgarian dishes you actually came for.

Какво поръчват най-често при вас?

Kakvo porachvat nay-chesto pri vas?

What do people order here most often?

A softer ask than demanding a recommendation — it gets you the kitchen's real bestseller.

Препоръчвам ви мусаката, много е хубава.

Preporachvam vi musakata, mnogo e hubava.

I recommend the musaka, it's very good.

Something you hear the moment you ask — waiters here answer with a specific dish, not a shrug, and they mean it.

Днес имаме телешко с гъби.

Dnes imame teleshko s gabi.

Today we have veal with mushrooms.

Something you hear when there's an off-menu dish of the day — often the freshest thing in the kitchen.

Една шопска салата за двама, моля.

Edna shopska salata za dvama, molya.

One shopska salad for two, please.

Шопска — tomato, cucumber, onion, pepper under grated white cheese — is shared from one bowl, not ordered per person.

Една ракия към салатата, моля.

Edna rakiya kam salatata, molya.

One rakia with the salad, please.

Ракия is drunk with the salad at the start of the meal, sipped slowly — not as a shot at the end. Ordering it this way reads as someone who knows.

Каква ракия имате — гроздова или сливова?

Kakva rakiya imate — grozdova ili slivova?

What rakia do you have — grape or plum?

Гроздова (grape) is lighter, сливова (plum) is rounder and heavier — asking which they pour is a normal, respected question.

Салатата сега ли да я донеса, или с основното?

Salatata sega li da ya donesa, ili s osnovnoto?

Shall I bring the salad now, or with the main?

Something you hear right after you order — say 'сега, моля' for the Bulgarian way, salad first with the rakia.

Ракията и салатата идват първи.

Rakiyata i salatata idvat parvi.

The rakia and the salad come first.

Something you hear if you tried to order everything at once — the kitchen sends the cold things out before anything hot.

За мен мусака, моля.

Za men musaka, molya.

Musaka for me, please.

'За мен' plus the dish is how you order at a shared table — it tells the waiter whose plate is whose.

За мен същото.

Za men sashtoto.

The same for me.

Your friend just ordered something that sounds good and you don't want to wrestle with the menu again.

А за вас какво да бъде?

A za vas kakvo da bade?

And what will it be for you?

Something you hear as the waiter's eyes move round the table to you — your cue to say 'За мен...'

Друго ще желаете ли?

Drugo shte zhelaete li?

Would you like anything else?

Something you hear to close the order — 'Засега това е' (that's it for now) is the standard answer.

Значи, две шопски и една мусака, така ли?

Znachi, dve shopski i edna musaka, taka li?

So, two shopska salads and one musaka, is that right?

Something you hear as the waiter reads the order back — listen for the numbers and say 'Точно така' if it's right.

Хлябът отделно ли се плаща?

Hlyabat otdelno li se plashta?

Is the bread charged separately?

Bread is not free here — it's a separate line on the bill, charged per portion, and it only arrives if you ask.

Една порция хляб, моля.

Edna portsiya hlyab, molya.

One portion of bread, please.

Bread is ordered by the порция, not the slice — one portion is a few slices for the table.

Хлябът е по порции, отделно от ястието.

Hlyabat e po portsii, otdelno ot yastieto.

The bread is by the portion, separate from the dish.

Something you hear when you assume bread comes with the meal — it doesn't, anywhere in the country.

Може ли за гарнитура зеленчуци?

Mozhe li za garnitura zelenchutsi?

Can I have vegetables as the side?

Гарнитура is the side that comes on the plate — usually chips, and usually swappable if you ask.

Без гарнитура, само месото.

Bez garnitura, samo mesoto.

No side, just the meat.

You already ordered salad and bread and don't need a pile of chips as well.

Нещо за пиене?

Neshto za piene?

Anything to drink?

Something you hear before the food order — drinks are always taken first, so have an answer ready.

Газирана или негазирана?

Gazirana ili negazirana?

Sparkling or still?

Something you hear the second you say 'вода' — газирана is fizzy, негазирана is still.

Може ли кана чешмяна вода?

Mozhe li kana cheshmyana voda?

Could we have a jug of tap water?

Tap water is safe in Sofia, but it isn't put on the table by default — many places will steer you to a bottle instead.

Една голяма бутилка вода за масата.

Edna golyama butilka voda za masata.

One large bottle of water for the table.

The simplest way to get water in front of everyone without a per-glass negotiation.

Каква наливна бира имате?

Kakva nalivna bira imate?

What draft beer do you have?

Наливна means on tap — most casual places pour one or two local brands and won't list them on the menu.

Не ям месо, но ям сирене и яйца.

Ne yam meso, no yam sirene i yaytsa.

I don't eat meat, but I eat cheese and eggs.

Says more than 'вегетарианец' — it hands the waiter something to actually work with off a meat-heavy menu.

Кои ястия са постни?

Koi yastiya sa postni?

Which dishes are lenten?

Постен means no meat, dairy or egg — an Orthodox fasting category that most menus mark, and the fastest route to vegan food here.

Постните ястия са на последната страница.

Postnite yastiya sa na poslednata stranitsa.

The lenten dishes are on the last page.

Something you hear when you ask about постни ястия — many menus group them together rather than flagging them individually.

Може ли да не е люто?

Mozhe li da ne e lyuto?

Could it be not spicy?

Asked when you order something with чушки or лютеница and you'd rather taste the dish than the heat.

Ястията излизат, когато са готови.

Yastiyata izlizat, kogato sa gotovi.

The dishes come out as they're ready.

Something you hear if you look confused when one plate arrives alone — Bulgarian kitchens send food out when it's done, not all together.

Може ли да ги донесете заедно?

Mozhe li da gi donesete zaedno?

Could you bring them together?

Worth asking up front if you'd rather everyone eat at the same time — say it when you order, not after.

Веднага ви ги нося.

Vednaga vi gi nosya.

I'll bring them right away.

Something you hear when you flag something down — 'веднага' is the waiter's promise it's next.

Добър апетит!

Dobar apetit!

Enjoy your meal!

Something you hear as the plate lands, and something diners say to each other before the first bite — answer with 'Благодаря'.

Нямаме прибори.

Nyamame pribori.

We don't have any cutlery.

Прибори — knife, fork, spoon — sometimes arrive with the food rather than the table setting. Say this and they appear.

Може ли още една вилица?

Mozhe li oshte edna vilitsa?

Could we have another fork?

One fork short, or one dropped on the floor — the quickest fix at the table.

Казах без лук, а тук има лук.

Kazah bez luk, a tuk ima luk.

I said without onion, and there's onion in it.

The шопска came with raw onion after you asked for it left out — stated calmly, this gets it remade.

Мисля, че това е за другата маса.

Mislya, che tova e za drugata masa.

I think this is for the other table.

A plate nobody ordered lands in front of you — flag it before someone else's dinner goes cold.

Може ли да смените тази чиния?

Mozhe li da smenite tazi chiniya?

Could you change this plate?

A chipped or not-quite-clean plate — a neutral way to ask for a swap without making it a complaint.

Как беше всичко?

Kak beshe vsichko?

How was everything?

Something you hear as the plates are cleared — it's a real question, and a warm answer buys you a warm welcome next time.

Всичко беше супер, благодаря.

Vsichko beshe super, blagodarya.

Everything was great, thank you.

The all-purpose answer to 'Как беше всичко?' — short, sincere and enough.

Мусаката беше страхотна.

Musakata beshe strahotna.

The musaka was fantastic.

Naming the dish instead of praising 'the food' is what makes the compliment land — cooks here take it personally, in the good way.

Може ли да прибера чиниите?

Mozhe li da pribera chiniite?

May I take the plates?

Something you hear as the waiter reaches for your plate — 'Да, благодаря' or 'Още не съм свършил'.

Още не съм приключил.

Oshte ne sam priklyuchil.

I haven't finished yet.

Your cutlery is down but you're still going — this stops the plate disappearing.

Ще желаете ли десерт или кафе?

Shte zhelaete li desert ili kafe?

Would you like dessert or coffee?

Something you hear once the mains are cleared — coffee after the meal is standard, dessert optional.

Извинете, може ли за момент?

Izvinete, mozhe li za moment?

Excuse me, could you come over for a second?

How you catch a passing waiter without waving — say it as they walk by, then ask for the bill.

Заедно или отделно?

Zaedno ili otdelno?

Together or separately?

Something you hear the moment you ask for the bill — Bulgarian waiters split bills by person without complaint, so answer plainly.

Заедно, моля.

Zaedno, molya.

Together, please.

One person is paying for the table — the direct answer to 'Заедно или отделно?'

Отделно, моля. Аз плащам моето.

Otdelno, molya. Az plashtam moeto.

Separately, please. I'll pay for mine.

Everyone pays their own — completely normal here, and the waiter will tally each person at the table.

Заповядайте сметката.

Zapovyadayte smetkata.

Here's the bill.

Something you hear as the folder or printed slip hits the table — check it before you reach for your card.

Може ли да платя с карта на масата?

Mozhe li da platya s karta na masata?

Can I pay by card at the table?

Waiters bring a handheld terminal to you — you almost never walk to a till in a sit-down place.

С карта или в брой?

S karta ili v broy?

By card or in cash?

Something you hear before the waiter walks off — answering now saves them a second trip for the terminal.

Сега ще донеса терминала.

Sega shte donesa terminala.

I'll bring the card machine now.

Something you hear after you say 'с карта' — stay put, the terminal comes to you.

Само в брой ли приемате?

Samo v broy li priemate?

Do you only take cash?

Small family places and village mehanas can still be cash-only — worth asking before the meal, not after.

Имате ли ресто от петдесет евро?

Imate li resto ot petdeset evro?

Do you have change for fifty euros?

Bulgaria switched to the euro in January 2026 and small places often can't break a big note — ask before you hand it over.

Направете ги трийсет.

Napravete gi triyset.

Make it thirty.

The classic Bulgarian tip: round the bill up to a clean number as you hand over the money. Around ten percent is normal, more is generous.

Бакшишът е отделно, в брой.

Bakshishat e otdelno, v broy.

The tip is separate, in cash.

Card terminals here rarely prompt for a tip, so tips are usually left in cash on the table or handed over directly.

В сметката има ли такса обслужване?

V smetkata ima li taksa obsluzhvane?

Is there a service charge on the bill?

Most places don't add one, but tourist-strip restaurants sometimes do — check before you tip on top.

Тоалетната отзад ли е?

Toaletnata otzad li e?

Is the toilet at the back?

Half a guess and half a question — usually gets a nod and a pointed finger instead of a paragraph you can't follow.

Тоалетната е в дъното вдясно.

Toaletnata e v danoto vdyasno.

The toilet is at the far end on the right.

Something you hear in reply — 'в дъното' (at the far end) and 'вдясно' / 'вляво' are the two words to lock in.

Кое ястие казахте?

Koe yastie kazahte?

Which dish did you say?

The waiter recommended something at speed and the dish name vanished — this asks for just that one word again.

Може ли да ми го покажете в менюто?

Mozhe li da mi go pokazhete v menyuto?

Could you show me it in the menu?

Sound isn't working — pointing at the printed line gets you there in two seconds.

Извинете, не чух добре.

Izvinete, ne chuh dobre.

Sorry, I didn't catch that.

Loud room, fast waiter — this blames the noise rather than your Bulgarian, and keeps the conversation in Bulgarian.

Опитах на български, но не се получава. Може ли на английски?

Opitah na balgarski, no ne se poluchava. Mozhe li na angliyski?

I tried in Bulgarian, but it isn't working. Could we do this in English?

The last resort, and only after you have visibly tried — leading with the attempt is what keeps it friendly instead of rude.

Благодаря, ще дойдем пак!

Blagodarya, shte doydem pak!

Thank you, we'll come again!

Said standing up from a table you enjoyed — in a neighbourhood place this is how you become a regular.

Заповядайте пак при нас!

Zapovyadayte pak pri nas!

Come back and see us again!

Something you hear on the way out — the standard Bulgarian send-off from a restaurant, and it's meant.

Приятна вечер!

Priyatna vecher!

Have a nice evening!

The evening version of 'приятен ден' — the last thing you say at the door.