What Does À La Carte Mean? Full Simple Explanation (2026)

If you’ve ever sat down at a restaurant and stared at the menu wondering what “à la carte” means, don’t worry you’re not alone.

The first time I saw it, I thought it was some fancy dish I had never heard of. Turns out, it wasn’t a dish at all, but a way the restaurant organized their menu.

And honestly, once you understand it, it makes eating out a lot easier.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

Quick Answer: “À la carte” means “individual items priced separately.”

It’s a restaurant term used when you can order each item on its own instead of buying a full meal or combo.

🧠 What Does À La Carte Mean?

À la carte is a French phrase that means “according to the menu.”
In English, it’s used to describe ordering single food items separately rather than as part of a set meal.

Simple Example:

“We ordered everything à la carte, so we only paid for the items we wanted.”

It’s all about choice, flexibility, and paying for items individually.

In short: À la carte = individual items = pick what you want and pay for each.

📱 Where Is À La Carte Commonly Used?

You’ll see à la carte in different food-related situations:

🍽️ Restaurants especially dine-in and fine dining
🍕 Menus with customizable options
🍱 Buffet-style places that also sell extras
🍔 Restaurants offering add-ons (fries, drinks, sides)
📱 Food delivery apps (items listed individually)

It’s considered semi-formal, but you’ll find it in casual places too.

💬 Examples of À La Carte in Conversation

Here are natural, everyday examples of how people use it:

1.
A: do they have meal deals?
B: nah it’s all à la carte here.

2.
A: why is it so pricey?
B: cuz everything’s à la carte even the sides 😭

3.
A: should we get the combo?
B: i’d rather order à la carte so I get only what I want.

4.
A: fries don’t come with the burger?
B: nope, those are à la carte.

5.
A: is the drink included?
B: no, that’s à la carte too.

6.
A: this menu is confusing
B: just order à la carte pick what u want separately

7.
A: why is the bill so high??
B: we ordered everything à la carte bro 😭😭

🕓 When to Use and When Not to Use À La Carte

✅ When to Use

When explaining restaurant pricing
When ordering individual items
When choosing custom meals
When sides or extras aren’t included
When comparing meal deals vs separate items

❌ When Not to Use

In casual texting unrelated to food
When talking about non-food items
When you mean “combo meal”
When the menu already includes everything in a set
In very informal chats where simple English works better

📊 Comparison Table

Context	Example Phrase	Why It Works
Restaurant	“Are the sides à la carte?”	Clear food-related question
Food Delivery	“Drinks are à la carte on this app.”	Explains extra charges
Casual Text	“Let’s order à la carte so we choose more.”	Informal but accurate
Fine Dining	“Our menu is fully à la carte.”	Professional tone
Buffet Add-ons	“Desserts are à la carte only.”	Clarifies pricing

🔄 Similar Words or Alternatives

Term	Meaning	When to Use
Combo	Meal items grouped together	Fast food, casual dining
Set Menu	Preselected multi-course meal	Fine dining
Prix Fixe	Fixed-price full meal	Fancy restaurants
Side Order	Extra item added to meal	Casual menus
Add-on	Optional extra item	Delivery apps
A la minute	Cooked to order	Kitchen/restaurant slang

❓ FAQs:

1. Is “à la carte” only used in fancy restaurants?

No. It’s used everywhere from diners to fast-food places to fine dining.

2. Does à la carte mean expensive?

Not always. It just means each item is priced separately.
Sometimes it’s cheaper, sometimes not.

3. What’s the opposite of à la carte?

A combo meal, set menu, or prix fixe menu where items come together.

4. Do à la carte items include sides?

Usually no sides, drinks, sauces, and toppings are often separate.

5. Can you use “à la carte” in normal texting?

Yes, but only if you’re talking about food or menus.

Conclusion:

À la carte is a simple but useful restaurant term that means every item is priced separately, giving you full control over what you order.

Whether you’re choosing sides, customizing meals, or comparing prices, knowing this phrase helps you avoid surprises on the bill and understand menus clearly.

It’s widely used in restaurants, delivery apps, and food conversations.

Now that you know its meaning and how to use it correctly, your next dining experience whether casual or fancy will feel a lot easier and more informed.