At a Brazilian Self-Service Restaurant: Serve Your Plate and Pay
Understand common restaurant questions and ask whether a meal is charged by weight or as a fixed-price plate.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Self-service restaurants let customers choose from food on display, but the setup varies. Ask É por quilo? (Is it by weight?) or É preço fixo? (Is it a fixed price?). Some places use another system, so confirm before filling a plate if you are unsure.
Ask how the meal is served and priced
Prato means plate or meal, buffet is commonly used for a buffet, and balança is a scale. Follow staff instructions about whether to weigh your plate before or after eating.
É por quilo ou preço fixo?
Is it by weight or a fixed price?
Onde pego o prato?
Where do I get a plate?
Preciso pesar o prato antes de sentar?
Do I need to weigh the plate before sitting down?
Choose food and ask a quick question
Use um pouco de (a little of) or só (just/only) to describe what you want. If you cannot identify a dish, ask O que é isso? (What is this?) or Tem carne? (Does it have meat?). These short questions help you choose without knowing every ingredient name.
If you have a dietary need, our separate food-allergy and dietary-needs guide offers more specific phrases. Ask the restaurant directly about ingredients and preparation when you need accurate information.
Pode colocar só um pouco, por favor?
Could you put just a little, please?
Como chama este prato?
What is this dish called?
Tem uma opção sem carne?
Is there a meat-free option?
Finish the meal and pay
After choosing your food, check whether you pay at the counter or with a staff member. Ask Onde eu pago? (Where do I pay?) or Posso pagar com cartão? (Can I pay by card?). Local arrangements differ, so follow the directions you receive.
If you enjoyed the meal, Estava muito bom (It was very good) is a warm, simple comment. Clear questions about the process make the rest of the meal easier to manage.
Onde eu pago?
Where do I pay?
Posso pagar com cartão?
Can I pay by card?
Estava muito bom, obrigado.
It was very good, thank you.
Put it into practice
Practice asking whether the meal is by weight, how to identify a dish, and where to pay. The staff can confirm how that particular restaurant works.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Where do I get a plate”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.