The first time you hear someone shout “All day!” in a busy kitchen, it can be seriously confusing.
Are they talking about working all day? Ordering food for the whole day? Or just being dramatic?
If you’ve ever watched a cooking show, worked in a restaurant, or seen kitchen slang pop up on TikTok or in texts, you’ve probably wondered what it actually means.
Don’t worry you’re not alone. Kitchen slang has its own fast-paced language, and “all day” is one of those phrases that sounds simple but means something very specific.
Let’s break it down in an easy, real-world way.
Quick Answer:
“All day” means “the total number of a specific dish needed right now.” It’s a professional, fast-paced kitchen term used to keep orders clear and organized during service.
🧠 What Does “All Day” Mean in Text?
In kitchen language, “all day” doesn’t mean the entire day. Instead, it refers to the total count of an item that needs to be prepared or cooked at that moment including current and pending orders.
For example, if multiple tickets call for burgers, a chef might say:
“I’ve got 4 burgers all day.”
That means 4 burgers total need to be cooked no more, no less.
Example sentence:
- “We need 3 pastas all day two table six, one table nine.”
In short:
All day = total count needed = combined orders right now
📱 Where Is “All Day” Commonly Used?
You’ll mostly hear or see “all day” in food-service and casual contexts related to kitchens:
- 🍔 Restaurant kitchens
- 🍳 Professional cooking environments
- 📺 Cooking shows (like Hell’s Kitchen)
- 🎥 TikTok & YouTube chef content
- 💬 Texts between restaurant staff
Tone & formality:
- ✅ Professional but casual
- ❌ Not formal
- ❌ Not flirty
- ✔️ Industry-specific slang
Outside the kitchen, it can confuse people so it’s best kept among those who understand food-service lingo.
💬 Examples of “All Day” in Conversation
Here are realistic, short chat-style examples showing how it’s used:
Example 1
A: how many steaks you got?
B: 5 all day 🔥
Example 2
A: need chicken count
B: 3 all day, one no spice
Example 3
A: burgers?
B: 6 all day 🍔
Example 4
A: pasta order update
B: 4 all day 2 alfredo, 2 red
Example 5
A: are fries included?
B: yeah, 3 fries all day 😅
These examples show how short, clear, and fast the phrase is perfect for a loud, busy kitchen.
🕓 When to Use and When Not to Use “All Day”
Knowing when to use this phrase matters just as much as knowing what it means.
✅ When to Use
- In a restaurant or café kitchen
- During busy service hours
- When confirming total orders
- In casual staff texts or chats
❌ When Not to Use
- In formal emails
- With customers
- In non-kitchen workplaces
- During serious or sensitive conversations
Context Comparison Table
| Context | Example Phrase | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Friend Chat | “5 burgers all day 😂” | Casual & fun |
| Kitchen Talk | “Two salmon all day!” | Clear & fast |
| Work Chat | “Total of two salmon orders.” | Professional |
| “We currently have two orders.” | Formal & clear |
🔄 Similar Slang Words or Alternatives
Here are common kitchen slang alternatives you might hear instead of or along with “all day”:
| Slang / Phrase | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| On the fly | Urgent order | Rush situations |
| Fire | Start cooking now | When order is ready |
| In the weeds | Overwhelmed | Busy kitchen moments |
| 86’d | Out of stock | When item is unavailable |
| Heard | Understood | Confirming instructions |
Each of these, like “all day,” helps keep kitchen communication quick and efficient.
❓ FAQs:
Q1: Does “all day” mean the whole day in a kitchen?
No. It only means the total number of items needed at that moment.
Q2: Is “all day” used outside restaurants?
Rarely. It’s mostly kitchen-specific slang, though fans of cooking shows might use it jokingly.
Q3: Can customers use “all day”?
Not usually. It’s meant for staff communication, not customer orders.
Q4: Is “all day” rude or aggressive?
No it’s neutral and professional within kitchen culture.
Q5: Can “all day” be used in texting?
Yes, but mostly between coworkers or people familiar with kitchen slang.
✅ Conclusion:
So, what does “all day” mean in a kitchen? Simply put, it’s a fast, efficient way for chefs and kitchen staff to say the total number of an item that needs to be prepared right now.
It’s not about time it’s about clarity and speed. While it might sound confusing at first, this phrase is a core part of restaurant communication and helps keep everything running smoothly during busy service hours.
If you ever hear it again in a kitchen or see it in a text from a chef you’ll know exactly what’s going on.
