Asking for a Restaurant Recommendation

You want a local's honest opinion on where to eat nearby.

You
Disculpe, ¿me recomienda un buen restaurante por aquí cerca?
dees-KOOL-peh, meh rreh-koh-MYEHN-dah oon bwehn rrehs-tow-RAHN-teh por ah-KEE SEHR-kah?
Excuse me, can you recommend a good restaurant around here?
'Por aquí cerca' means 'around here nearby' — a very natural way to ask about places in the area.
Local
¿Quiere comida típica o algo más internacional?
KYEH-reh koh-MEE-dah TEE-pee-kah oh AHL-goh mahs een-tehr-nah-syoh-NAHL?
Do you want typical local food or something more international?
You
Comida típica, por favor. Quiero probar algo de aquí.
koh-MEE-dah TEE-pee-kah, por fah-VOR. KYEH-roh proh-BAR AHL-goh deh ah-KEE.
Typical local food, please. I want to try something from here.
'Comida típica' is the phrase locals use for traditional regional food — use it and people will get excited to share their favorites.
Local
Le recomiendo 'El Rincón Criollo'. Está a dos cuadras de aquí. La comida es muy rica y no es caro.
leh rreh-koh-MYEHN-doh ehl reen-KOHN kree-OH-yoh. ehs-TAH ah dohs KWAH-drahs deh ah-KEE. lah koh-MEE-dah ehs mooy RREE-kah ee noh ehs KAH-roh.
I recommend 'El Rincón Criollo'. It's two blocks from here. The food is really good and it's not expensive.
'Rico/rica' means delicious when talking about food — it's much more common than 'delicioso' in everyday speech.
You
¡Perfecto! ¿Qué plato me recomienda?
pehr-FEHK-toh! keh PLAH-toh meh rreh-koh-MYEHN-dah?
Perfect! What dish do you recommend?