What Does 86 Mean in a Restaurant?

Short answer: In a restaurant, “86” means an item is out of stock and can no longer be ordered, as in “86 the salmon.” It can also mean remove something from an order (“86 the onions”) or, less often, refuse service to a guest. The origin of the term is uncertain; there are several popular theories but no confirmed source.

Kitchen whiteboard listing 86'd menu items — Keep the 86 list where every server can see it.

How 86 is used

Sold out: “86 the short rib” means no more short rib tonight.
Remove from an order: “Burger, 86 the pickles.”
Remove a person: in bars, being “86’d” can mean a guest is no longer served.

Manage the 86 list

The kitchen calls the 86 as soon as an item runs out.
The expo or manager updates the POS so servers cannot ring it in.
Servers are told before pre-shift or right away during service.
Write it on the board and in the shift notes.

Shift notes help the next team know what ran out and why. See shift notes and the restaurant manager daily checklist.

Prevent frequent 86s

Check par levels in the line check. See the line check sheet.
Track which items run out and on which days.
Staff up on busy days so prep is not cut short.

Other restaurant terms

See the full restaurant lingo list, including in the weeds, on the fly and all day.

Keep the team informed

EZTime team chat lets managers send an 86 update to everyone on shift, and scheduling helps match prep staff to busy days.

Frequently asked questions

What does 86 mean?

An item is out of stock or should be removed.

What does 86’d mean at a bar?

The guest will no longer be served.

Where does 86 come from?

No one knows for sure; there are several theories but no confirmed origin.

Send 86 updates to everyone on shift. Start your 14-day trial or book a demo.

Updated November 2026.