Schedule changes by group text
You text "can u come at 4 tmrw" and get a thumbs up. Then your prep cook shows up at 5 because the message read differently in translation, and you're short on the line for a 60-top.
For restaurant owners & kitchen managers
Call in the kitchen crew. Before the rush.
A taped-up restaurant Spanish cheat sheet gets you through "fuego" and "86 the salmon." It won't get you through a schedule change, a new hire's first-day questions, or a call about a late paycheck. intelecho places a real phone call to your cook or dishwasher and translates both sides live, so you can say exactly what you mean.
- 46 languages
- No app for either side
- Free 5-minute demo calls
39.2%
of US cooks are Hispanic or Latino
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages393,200
openings for cooks projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook68%
of US Latinos speak Spanish at home
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2024 Census Bureau dataThe challenge
Where the conversation gets stuck
Your bilingual sous chef is not a switchboard
Every call to a Spanish-speaking cook goes through the one person who speaks both languages. That person is also running expo, ordering produce, and trying to take a day off.
New hires guess at the details
You hire constantly. A new dishwasher needs to know when to arrive, which door to use, what to wear, and who to ask for. A rushed conversation at the back door misses half of it.
Calls you can make today
Real situations, handled by phone
Calling in a cook for a busy night
A private party just booked for Saturday. You call your line cook, explain the headcount and start time, and ask if he can pick up a double. He asks about the menu and you answer on the spot.
First-day instructions for a new dishwasher
Before the first shift, call to cover the basics: arrive at 3:30, use the alley door, wear non-slip shoes, and ask for Carmen. She can ask questions back instead of nodding along.
Sorting out a pay question
A prep cook says her check was short. You call to walk through the hours on her timecard, confirm what she worked, and tell her when the correction will hit her account.
A supplier who prefers Spanish
Your produce vendor's driver keeps arriving during lunch service. You call him directly to move deliveries to 9 a.m. and explain where to stage the cases.
What it sounds like
A sample call, English ⇄ Spanish
Each person speaks naturally in their own language. intelecho translates every turn so each side hears the other in a clear AI voice.
Languages that come up most
- Spanish
- Mandarin Chinese
- Cantonese
- Vietnamese
- Nepali
- Haitian Creole
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Korean
Hispanic workers make up 39.2% of US cooks and 35.0% of dishwashers (BLS, 2025), and after Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese are the most common languages among US residents who speak English less than very well (2024 ACS via Migration Policy Institute). Indigenous languages some kitchen workers speak, such as Mixteco, Zapoteco, K'iche' and Mam, are not supported yet.
Translating both waysEnglish ⇄ Spanish
Kitchen manager · EnglishHi Marcos, it's Dana from Lupe's Grill. Can you come in tomorrow at 4 instead of 5?Line cook hears: Hola Marcos, soy Dana de Lupe's Grill. ¿Puedes venir mañana a las 4 en lugar de a las 5?
Line cook · EspañolSí, puedo. ¿Es por el evento privado?You hear: Yes, I can. Is it for the private event?
Kitchen manager · EnglishYes. Sixty guests at 6. I need you on the grill and prepping the salsas.Line cook hears: Sí. Sesenta invitados a las 6. Te necesito en la parrilla y preparando las salsas.
Line cook · EspañolPerfecto. Llego a las 4 y empiezo con las salsas.You hear: Perfect. I'll be there at 4 and start on the salsas.
How it works
Three steps from this page to a translated call
- 01
Grab two numbers
Enter your cell and your cook's phone number. Pick English for you and Spanish, or another language, for them. Add your name so they know it's the boss calling.
- 02
Answer first, then they ring
intelecho calls you, then calls your employee. They hear a short intro in their language explaining it's a translated call from you.
- 03
Talk like you would on the line
Say one thing at a time: the shift, the time, the task. Pause, let the translation land, and let them answer in their own words.
Get it right
Tips for smoother calls
- Call before or after service, not during the rush. A quiet walk-in or the parking lot beats a loud kitchen.
- Use the station names your crew already knows. "Grill," "fry," and "dish pit" translate more clearly than house slang.
- Repeat times and dates at the end of the call and ask them to say them back. "Saturday at 4" is worth confirming twice.
- Follow up with a short text listing the shift, start time, and who to ask for, so there's something to check later.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is this better than learning restaurant Spanish?
It's a different tool. Kitchen Spanish phrases help during service when you need a quick "behind" or "two minutes." intelecho is for the longer phone calls where details matter, like schedules, pay, and new-hire instructions.
Does my cook need to download an app?
No. intelecho calls their regular phone number, landline or cell. They just pick up and talk. You start the call from the intelecho website on your phone or computer.
Can I use it to call a whole shift at once?
No. Each call connects you with one person. The free demo also allows only 3 calls at a time across the whole service, so plan your calls one after another.
What if my dishwasher speaks Mixteco, not Spanish?
Mixteco and other Indigenous languages of Mexico and Guatemala are not supported yet. If your employee is comfortable in Spanish, a Spanish call may work, but ask them first and use a human interpreter when it matters.
Is the call recorded?
No. intelecho does not record call audio or store transcripts. Phone numbers go to Twilio to connect the call, and audio goes to OpenAI for translation.
Make your first translated call
Enter your number and theirs, pick both languages, and pick up when we ring you. It takes about a minute to set up.
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