Wherever you go in Spain and Latin America you will see boards outside certain restaurants with the words Menú del Día which literally means menu of the day but can be translated as daily special. It is a set menu serving lunch and is one of the largest meals of the day in Spain, typically consisting of three courses and often including coffee, wine, bread and water. If you have Menú del Día, expect to be very full, and make sure you have time for a siesta (an afternoon nap or rest period).
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Hoy comemos menú del día.
Today we’re having the daily special.
¿Vamos por un menú del día?
Shall we go for the daily special?
History
The Menú del Día was originally mandated by a 1965 law in Spain, ensuring that workers who couldn’t return home for lunch could still enjoy a hearty, affordable meal. While it’s no longer a legal requirement, the tradition has endured. Today, the Menú del Día is a staple across Spain and many Latin American countries, offering a popular, budget-friendly dining option.
Ordering
A menu of the day in Spain normally consists of:
- El primer plato (first course/starter): Choose between two to three dishes. Bread is included and will be served with this course. Salad and stew are usually one of the options.
- El segundo plato (main course): Choose between two to three dishes with sides. It is meant to be the main course but quite often primer and segundo plato are equal in size.
- El postre (dessert): One to three options, normally including fruit.
- Water is always included, and sometimes, red wine. When it is the house red wine, it’s quite normal to order lemonade to mix with it. This mixture is called tinto de verano.
- Coffee may be included with the dessert.
De primero quiero ensalada, de segundo filete y de postre tarta de queso.
For the first course, I’d like a salad, for the second course, a steak, and for dessert, a cheesecake.
A menú del día is by far the most economical way to enjoy a large meal, as it always comes at a set price, typically ranging between 10-16 euros, with a slightly higher cost for weekend menus. Most towns have several places offering a menú del día, so it’s a good idea to ask locals for recommendations or check the boards to choose where to eat. The menu is usually quite fixed, meaning you can’t swap dishes with other options. Unless you’re at a vegetarian restaurant, the opciones vegetarianas (vegetarian options) are often very limited or even non-existent, making these menus best suited for flexitarians.
El menú del día es la forma más barata de comer.
The menu of the day is the cheapest way to eat.
