Restaurant and Takeaway
Ресторант и храна за вкъщи
Sit down for a full meal or take it away — get a table, order courses, and pay
90 phrases · 17 parts · Elizabeth, native voice, Sofia · free to read and hear
Менюто, моля.
Menyuto, molya.
The menu, please.
Once you're seated and want to see what they serve.
Arrive and get seated
2 phrases
Добър вечер!
Dobar vecher!
Good evening!
The evening greeting as you step into the restaurant and catch the host's eye.
Маса за двама, моля.
Masa za dvama, molya.
A table for two, please.
Said at the door before you're shown to a table — change the number for your party.
Read the menu and order courses
5 phrases
Менюто, моля.
Menyuto, molya.
The menu, please.
Once you're seated and want to see what they serve.
Имате ли ястие на деня?
Imate li yastie na denya?
Do you have a dish of the day?
Many places have an off-menu daily special — this asks for it.
Бих искал шопска салата, моля.
Bih iskal shopska salata, molya.
I would like a shopska salad, please.
Ordering a starter — shopska salad is the classic opener to a Bulgarian meal.
За основно ще взема кебапче.
Za osnovno shte vzema kebapche.
For the main I'll have kebapche.
Moving on to the main course — 'за основно' signals you're ordering by courses.
Чаша червено вино, моля.
Chasha cherveno vino, molya.
A glass of red wine, please.
Adding a drink to the order — swap 'червено' for 'бяло' for white.
Settle the bill and box up leftovers
3 phrases
Може ли сметката?
Mozhe li smetkata?
Can I have the bill?
The bill never comes uninvited — catch the server's eye and ask.
Може ли да платим разделно?
Mozhe li da platim razdelno?
Can we pay separately?
Splitting the bill with whoever you came with — ask before they total it up.
Може ли кутия за вкъщи?
Mozhe li kutiya za vkashti?
Can I get a takeaway box?
Too much food left — this gets you a box to take the rest home.
Handle menu words and questions you don't know yet
3 phrases
Какво има в това ястие?
Kakvo ima v tova yastie?
What's in this dish?
For an unknown dish name — useful when you're avoiding an ingredient too.
Имате ли меню на английски?
Imate li menyu na angliyski?
Do you have a menu in English?
When the menu is all Cyrillic and you need a second to decode it — many places keep one.
Моля, повторете.
Molya, povtorete.
Please repeat.
The server lists the specials too fast — this asks for another pass.
Get seated — reservations, party size, and where you sit
6 phrases
Имате ли свободна маса?
Imate li svobodna masa?
Do you have a free table?
Walk-in with no booking — ask at the door whether anything is open.
Запазих маса за двама.
Zapazih masa za dvama.
I reserved a table for two.
You booked ahead — say so as you arrive so the host can seat you.
Имам резервация на името на Мартин.
Imam rezervatsiya na imeto na Martin.
I have a reservation under the name Martin.
The host asks whose name it is under — swap in your own name.
Има ли места навън?
Ima li mesta navan?
Is there seating outside?
On a warm evening you want the terrace — ask before they seat you inside.
Може ли маса до прозореца?
Mozhe li masa do prozoretsa?
Can we have a table by the window?
A small preference the host can usually accommodate if it's quiet.
Колко трябва да чакаме за маса?
Kolko tryabva da chakame za masa?
How long do we have to wait for a table?
They're full — find out if it's worth waiting or better to move on.
Order the first course — salads, soups, and shared starters
7 phrases
За мен таратор, моля.
Za men tarator, molya.
For me, tarator, please.
Tarator — cold cucumber-and-yogurt soup — is the summer starter everyone orders.
Една шопска салата без лук, моля.
Edna shopska salata bez luk, molya.
One shopska salad without onion, please.
Order the classic salad your way — 'без лук' drops the raw onion.
Имате ли боб чорба?
Imate li bob chorba?
Do you have bean soup?
Bob chorba is the everyday Bulgarian bean soup — check if it's on today.
Една пилешка супа, моля.
Edna pileshka supa, molya.
One chicken soup, please.
A gentle starter — good when you want something warm and light.
Какви салати предлагате?
Kakvi salati predlagate?
What salads do you offer?
Salads are half the menu here — ask what's available beyond shopska.
Може ли лютеница с хляб?
Mozhe li lyutenitsa s hlyab?
Can we have lyutenitsa with bread?
Lyutenitsa — the roasted pepper-and-tomato relish — to spread on bread while you wait.
За начало ще вземем сирене по шопски.
Za nachalo shte vzemem sirene po shopski.
To start we'll have sirene po shopski.
A hot starter of baked white cheese with tomato and egg — 'за начало' means to start.
Order the main course — grilled meats and traditional plates
8 phrases
За основно искаме една мешана скара.
Za osnovno iskame edna meshana skara.
For the main we want a mixed grill.
Meshana skara is a shared platter of grilled meats — the classic table centrepiece.
Две кюфтета, моля.
Dve kyufteta, molya.
Two kyufte, please.
Kyufte — flat grilled meatballs — usually ordered by the piece.
Една свинска пържола, моля.
Edna svinska parzhola, molya.
One pork chop, please.
A grilled pork chop — a staple main across Bulgarian mehanas.
За мен пилешко филе, моля.
Za men pileshko file, molya.
For me, chicken fillet, please.
A lighter grilled option when you're not in the mood for red meat.
Пържолата добре изпечена, моля.
Parzholata dobre izpechena, molya.
The chop well done, please.
Tell the grill how you want it cooked — 'добре опечена' means well done.
Имате ли прясна риба?
Imate li pryasna riba?
Do you have fresh fish?
Fish is often catch-of-the-day — check it's fresh before you commit.
Ще опитам сарми.
Shte opitam sarmi.
I'll try sarmi.
Sarmi — stuffed cabbage or vine leaves — a homestyle dish worth trying.
Колко голяма е порцията?
Kolko golyama e portsiyata?
How big is the portion?
Portions vary a lot — ask so you don't over-order before the mains arrive.
Sort out sides, swaps, and how things are prepared
6 phrases
Една порция пържени картофи, моля.
Edna portsiya parzheni kartofi, molya.
One portion of fries, please.
Add a side of fries — often ordered separately from the main.
Каква гарнитура има към ястието?
Kakva garnitura ima kam yastieto?
What side comes with the dish?
'Гарнитура' is the side that comes with a main — ask what's included.
Може ли ориз вместо картофи?
Mozhe li oriz vmesto kartofi?
Can I have rice instead of potatoes?
Swap the default side — kitchens will usually change it if you ask.
Люто ли е това?
Lyuto li e tova?
Is this spicy?
Check the heat before you order — some Bulgarian dishes come with fresh chilli.
Без чесън, моля.
Bez chesan, molya.
Without garlic, please.
A quick instruction to the kitchen to leave the garlic out.
Може ли повече сос?
Mozhe li poveche sos?
Can I have more sauce?
Ask for extra sauce on the side when the plate arrives a little dry.
Finish with something sweet and a coffee
5 phrases
Имате ли десерти?
Imate li deserti?
Do you have desserts?
Ask to see the sweet options once the plates are cleared.
Едни палачинки с мед и орехи, моля.
Edni palachinki s med i orehi, molya.
Some pancakes with honey and walnuts, please.
Palachinki — thin pancakes — with honey and walnuts is a classic finish.
За мен баклава, моля.
Za men baklava, molya.
For me, baklava, please.
The syrupy layered pastry — a common dessert on Bulgarian menus.
Едно кафе след десерта, моля.
Edno kafe sled deserta, molya.
One coffee after the dessert, please.
Order the espresso to land after dessert, not with it.
Имате ли билков чай?
Imate li bilkov chay?
Do you have herbal tea?
A caffeine-free way to end the meal — most places keep a few herbal blends.
Order water, beer, wine, and rakia
6 phrases
Една бутилка негазирана вода, моля.
Edna butilka negazirana voda, molya.
One bottle of still water, please.
Water is ordered, not free — 'негазирана' is still, not sparkling.
Може ли газирана вода?
Mozhe li gazirana voda?
Can I have sparkling water?
If you prefer fizzy, 'газирана' is the word the server is waiting for.
Може ли чаша вода от чешмата?
Mozhe li chasha voda ot cheshmata?
Can I have a glass of tap water?
Tap water isn't standard — you have to ask for it specifically.
Една наливна бира, моля.
Edna nalivna bira, molya.
One draft beer, please.
'Наливна' is draft; ask this way to get it from the tap rather than a bottle.
За мен една ракия, моля.
Za men edna rakiya, molya.
For me, one rakia, please.
Rakia is the fruit brandy that traditionally opens a meal alongside salad.
Чаша бяло вино, моля.
Chasha byalo vino, molya.
A glass of white wine, please.
The white counterpart to the red — 'бяло' for white by the glass.
Flag allergies and dietary needs so the kitchen adapts
7 phrases
Аз съм вегетарианец.
Az sam vegetarianets.
I am a vegetarian.
State it up front so the server steers you away from meat dishes.
Имате ли вегетарианско ястие?
Imate li vegetariansko yastie?
Do you have a vegetarian dish?
Ask directly for a meat-free option rather than scanning the whole menu.
Алергичен съм към ядки.
Alergichen sam kam yadki.
I'm allergic to nuts.
A safety statement — say it clearly so the kitchen keeps nuts off your plate.
Имате ли ястия без глутен?
Imate li yastiya bez gluten?
Do you have gluten-free dishes?
Ask what's safe when you avoid gluten — grills and salads are usually fine.
Не понасям лактоза.
Ne ponasyam laktoza.
I can't tolerate lactose.
Useful in a cuisine heavy on yogurt and white cheese — flag it early.
Има ли лук в това?
Ima li luk v tova?
Is there onion in this?
Check a hidden ingredient before ordering — swap 'лук' for whatever you avoid.
Не ям свинско.
Ne yam svinsko.
I don't eat pork.
Say it plainly — pork is common here, so the server needs to know.
Get more of the little things during the meal
7 phrases
Донесете още хляб, моля.
Donesete oshte hlyab, molya.
Bring more bread, please.
You've mopped up the lyutenitsa — ask for another basket of bread.
Донесете вода, моля.
Donesete voda, molya.
Bring water, please.
A quick request when the table's run dry mid-meal.
Донесете салфетки, моля.
Donesete salfetki, molya.
Bring napkins, please.
Grilled food gets messy — ask for extra napkins without fuss.
Донесете солта, моля.
Donesete solta, molya.
Bring the salt, please.
The shaker isn't on the table — ask the server to bring it over.
Може ли лед, моля?
Mozhe li led, molya?
Can I have ice, please?
Drinks often come room-temperature — ask for ice if you want it cold.
Може ли още една чаша?
Mozhe li oshte edna chasha?
Can we have another glass?
Sharing a bottle and short a glass — a small ask the server handles fast.
Имате ли детско столче?
Imate li detsko stolche?
Do you have a high chair?
Dining with a small child — ask whether they can seat them.
Raise a problem and send a plate back politely
6 phrases
Храната е студена.
Hranata e studena.
The food is cold.
State the problem plainly so the kitchen can reheat or remake it.
Това не съм поръчвал.
Tova ne sam porachval.
I didn't order this.
A dish arrived that isn't yours — flag it before you're charged for it.
Месото е недопечено.
Mesoto e nedopecheno.
The meat is undercooked.
Send it back to the grill — 'недопечено' means it needs more time.
Може ли да смените това ястие?
Mozhe li da smenite tova yastie?
Can you take this dish back?
The polite way to ask them to remove a plate you can't eat.
Поръчката ми е грешна.
Porachkata mi e greshna.
My order is wrong.
Something's off with what arrived — a calm opener before you explain.
Тази чаша не е чиста.
Tazi chasha ne e chista.
This glass isn't clean.
Ask quietly for a replacement when a glass or fork comes marked.
Settle up — card, tip, splitting, and the receipt
6 phrases
Ще платим всичко заедно.
Shte platim vsichko zaedno.
We'll pay for everything together.
The opposite of splitting — tell them to put it all on one bill.
Може ли да платя с карта?
Mozhe li da platya s karta?
Can I pay by card?
Smaller places may be cash-only — check before they bring the terminal.
Задръжте рестото.
Zadrazhte restoto.
Keep the change.
Paying cash and tipping in one move — rounding up is the usual gesture.
Бакшишът включен ли е?
Bakshishat vklyuchen li e?
Is the tip included?
Some bills add service — check before you tip on top of it.
Мисля, че сметката не е вярна.
Mislya, che smetkata ne e vyarna.
I think the bill isn't right.
Query a total that looks off — ask them to run through it with you.
Може ли касова бележка?
Mozhe li kasova belezhka?
Can I have a receipt?
Ask for the printed receipt — useful for expenses or just your records.
Take it with you or have it delivered
6 phrases
Това за вкъщи, моля.
Tova za vkashti, molya.
This to go, please.
Ordering to take away rather than eat in — 'за вкъщи' means to go.
Може ли да опаковате храната?
Mozhe li da opakovate hranata?
Can you pack up the food?
Ask them to box the order so you can carry it out.
За колко време ще е готово?
Za kolko vreme shte e gotovo?
How long until it's ready?
Get a wait estimate so you know whether to sit or come back.
Правите ли доставка до вкъщи?
Pravite li dostavka do vkashti?
Do you do home delivery?
Check whether they deliver before you plan to eat at home.
Доставяте ли до този адрес?
Dostavyate li do tozi adres?
Do you deliver to this address?
Delivery zones are limited — confirm your address is covered.
Искам да поръчам за вземане.
Iskam da poracham za vzemane.
I want to order for pickup.
Placing an order you'll collect yourself — 'за вземане' means for pickup.
Leave a warm impression
1 phrase
Благодаря, изглежда чудесно!
Blagodarya, izglezhda chudesno!
Thank you, it looks wonderful!
As the plates land on the table — a small compliment the kitchen appreciates.