Mexican Food & Drink

The check, please

Asking for the bill at a Mexican restaurant: "¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?" or the warmer "¿Me regala la cuenta?". A common move is the "signing in the air" gesture to your waiter. The bill won't arrive until you ask — rushing you out is considered rude.

To go / Takeout

"Para llevar" means "to go" or "takeout" — the opposite of "para comer aquí" (to eat here). At a taquería or café you'll be asked "¿para aquí o para llevar?". Essential for grabbing tacos on the move.

Is it spicy? / It's spicy

In Mexico, "picoso" means spicy/hot from chile. "¿Está picoso?" asks if a dish is spicy; "no pica" means it isn't. Much of Latin America says "picante", but Mexicans often say "picoso" — a crucial question for travelers who can't handle the heat.

Mexican street snack

"Antojitos" are traditional Mexican street snacks and small dishes — tacos, quesadillas, sopes, tlacoyos, esquites, and more. From "antojo" (a craving). The word captures Mexico's incredible street-food culture: cheap, fresh, and everywhere.

Fruit water (aguas frescas)

Aguas frescas are Mexico's beloved fruit drinks — water blended with fruit, seeds, or flowers and a little sugar. Classics include agua de jamaica (hibiscus), horchata (rice and cinnamon), and tamarindo. "¿De qué tienes aguas?" asks which flavors they have.