'A' or 'the' when ordering food?

When ordering fast food or Starbucks or the like, you could be ordering many of a single item. You could be ordering for many people, or you could be assembling a meal from many individual menu items. If you're buying coffee to bring back to the office, you might order six or eight Americanos. So in these circumstances you specify the number you want, even when it's one. A Big Mac, or an Americano, as opposed to three Big Macs or four Americanos. When you're at a sit-down restaurant, the expectation is that each person is only ordering one meal. You wouldn't order multiple Jamaican Chicken entrees. Even if two people at the table both order the Jamaican Chicken, they would each order for themselves, and each only order one meal. So in that setting you don't need to specify a number, you're selecting exactly one meal from a limited menu of options, so you indicate which one is THE one you want.

I think it’s a little bit arbitrary, but normally use “the” when ordering off a menu, and “a” when ordering more common items. I think the reason we do that is the menu item is that specific menu item, not just a single object, while you use “a” when it’s not as specific, like a Big Mac is just a Big Mac, but then you might order the Big Mac combo meal.  So yes it looks like you’re doing it right! 

First, it’s *an* Americano Beyond that, Americanos and Big Macs are countable. So it makes sense to use the singular article. The chicken is many pieces so what you’re really saying is something like “the chicken meal” but omitting the e word meal. If you said “ a Jamaican chicken” it would sound like you wanted a whole chicken.

I would say if it’s a generic noun or you could order it somewhere else, use “a” (or “an” if it starts with a vowel like americano). If it’s specific to this place or has a special name, use “the”. “Can I get a hamburger?” vs “Can I get the hamburger combo number 4?” Also, if you are pointing to a menu item, you can use “the” because it’s a defined thing you want. If you are not looking at a menu and hoping they have it, you use “a/an/some”. You also use “an” for “an order of” either a generic thing or a named thing, to specify that you want just one of it. You’d do this if sometimes people get more or if you’re adding it at the end: “an order of chili cheese fries”.

It's A/An when ordering food because there are many interchangeable possible ones of the item you want, there are many burgers at the restaurant and you simply want one of them. The burger would need to be that specific unique burger right here, and is the only one.

"Can I get an Americano?" You have a common understanding with the barista of what an Americano is, and are just requesting one. You are familiar with Americanos as a general concept and are just looking for an item that you assume you are familiar with, and are not expecting the cafe to do something unique or special that other cafes can't (or don't) do. "Can I get an Americano, this size *(point at cup size you want)*, leave room for cream". . "Can I do the Jim's Dogs in Sauce?" This is an item that is (probably) unique to this restaurant, it is possible you don't even know what it is. "The" implies that you are talking about something you see in advertising or on the menu that you reasonably assume is either unique to the restaurant/cafe, or it is a common dish/drink that the cafe does in a unique way. This is sometimes called a "signature" dish / drink. *The* in this instance indicates that you want it made in the way that is unique to that location or that chain. A "signature" item is a food or drink item that is common in practice but that this cafe, pub, etc. does in a unique way that you can only get at their location. The Jim's Dogs in Sauce is a type of hot dog made with sauce that is a secret to this cafe, you can't get it somewhere else. You are making an emphasis that it is *this* particular recipe you are wanting to eat and not just any old hot dog. Hot dogs are a very common item, but Jim's secret sauce is not. You can get a hot dog anywhere, but if you want Jim's Dogs in Sauce you have to visit this specific restaurant, food truck, or cafe and nowhere else. It is a *signature* item that is unique to them, in the same way that you sign your name (your signature) is unique to you. . This being said, people use "a" and "the" interchangeably at times and you may encounter instances where someone orders "Jim's Dogs" using "a". But you are unlikely to see the reverse, it is very unlikely that someone will order "the" Americano (assuming a generic, industry-standard Americano).

When ordering food, use "a" for general or common items like "a coffee" or "a Big Mac," because you're asking for one of many, not a specific one; use "the" when referring to a specific dish, especially if it's a named item on the menu, like "the grilled chicken" or "the chef's special," because both you and the server know exactly which item you're talking about.

There’s not really a difference. In the context of ordering food, both work. Usually the more unique or expensive the item is, the more likely you would find someone refer to it with “the” instead of “a”. You can pretty much just always use “a” though with the exception being upscale sit down restaurants when referring to dishes on the menu (you would still say “a water” though)

"a" and "an" are both indefinite articles and have the same meaning. The only difference is that when the next word begins with a vowel we use "an". Otherwise, use "a". There is an exception, but it's mainly nerds who pay attention to it. Sometimes, words beginning with "h" (e.g. "historic") are supposed to use "an", as in, *this is **an** historic occasion*. But, if you say *this is **a** historic occasion*, it's unlikely anyone will notice or correct you.

Default is A. I only use 'the' when order a main meal at a restaurant. could I get the rib-eye steak, a side of fries, and a coke please?

Other people have gone more in detail but I will say that native speakers use both all the time even if one way is supposed to be better than the other. If I’m a cashier and one person says “Can I get a hamburger?” and someone else says “Can I get the hamburger?”, I wouldn’t even notice they said it differently.

A and the both work, although to be pedantic there's a slight difference in meaning. A means one of many, the means the item specific to the restaurant.

Please don't take the advice of those saying "Can I get..." At best, it sounds highly informal.

As others have said, grammatically there is a difference. But honestly we use them both interchangeably and no one will notice the difference between definite and indefinite articles in this situation. Sure you could say “the special” because it’s specific, but they don’t just have one so “a special” would be perfectly fine and often used. In this case a vs an would be more noticeable than a/an vs the because “a apple” or “an special” sound funny

[removed]

Knowing when to use **a** or **the** is often difficult for students of English. But when ordering food *it really doesn’t matter* because it can go either way. Use a or an to refer to one of many things. Use the to refer to a specific one of many things. But when ordering food: "I'll have **the** double cheeseburger" *( as opposed to all the other sandwiches on the menu)*. "I'll have **a** double cheeseburger" *(one of the many double cheeseburgers you make each day)*.

Either works because when you order off of a menu, you are ordering an item specific to that business. You can say "I want the Big Mac" at a McDonald's, because no other business sells it. It is specific to that business, so it is technically correct and admissible to use the definite article. On the other hand, they make millions of them, so it is also appropriate to use the indefinite article, as you do when you say, "I would like a Big Mac." In terms of style, if the item is unique to that restaurant or bar, user the definite article, or no article at all if it includes a proper name in the name of the menu item. For instance, "I'll have the Oki-Dog" At Oki-Dog in Los Angeles. Or, "I'll have Celia's Dinner Special", at Celia's restaurant in San Francisco.

According to Official Restaurant Etiquette, when ordering in an actual restaurant with waiters and wine and such, “the” is preferred. It’s sort of a nod to the idea that the dish isn’t an off-the-rack sandwich but a specially and individually prepared dish—of which they may only have a few portions prepared, or even just one. So, according to “proper” etiquette, you’d ask the waiter, “Please, may I have the broiled salmon?” At McDonald’s or Starbucks or anywhere that the thing you’re ordering is one of a million they’ve already made that day, saying “May I order the Big Mac?” would come across as ridiculously fussy and pretentious. When in doubt, use “a.” It’s socially much more acceptable to use “a” at an Olive Garden while ordering “a Tour of Italy” as compared to asking “May I order the Dave’s Double?” at a Wendy’s. Others are correct also that even in those more casual scenarios, you might use “the” to refer to a special or signature dish even at a hot dog stand. But this is sort of an intentional affectation; it’s as if you’re saying “I’ve gotta try The One and Only Ultra-Deluxe Doug’s Dog”

Both can be used, it just depends on context. Think about it like this. "A / an" means "one." Saying "An Americano" is the same as "one Americano." Its like you are ordering one thing. "The" is like a category. "The bigmac" as opposed to any other type of burger.

Most of the time either will work. Short order places and fast food "a" or "an" especially work well. At fancy places "the" works better.

For me, it just depends on what I'm ordering.

Stop saying “can I get”!! They’ll get it for you.