Food customization in Mexico runs on tiny words: con, sin, aparte, tantito, poquito. Learn those and the line becomes less scary.
Your goal is not a perfect sentence. Your goal is a taco that matches your mouth.
The modifier map
| Need | Say this |
|---|---|
| With everything | Con todo |
| Without onion | Sin cebolla |
| Without cilantro | Sin cilantro |
| Sauce aside | Salsa aparte |
| A little lime | Tantito limón |
| Not too much | No tanto |
Salsa, limón, cebolla, and cilantro are the tiny nouns that decide your bite.1234 Eat Mexico’s culinary phrase guide also points out that taco toppings commonly include cilantro, onions, and salsa, which is the local food-line reality behind this whole post.5
Say it after the item
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Tres de pastor, con todo, salsa aparte.Three al pastor, with everything, sauce on the side.
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Dos de suadero, sin cebolla.Two suadero, no onion.
Aparte means separate or aside,6 and it saves shirts.
Do not negotiate every leaf
| Too much | Better |
|---|---|
| No quiero nada verde excepto… | Sin cilantro |
| Quiero la salsa en un recipiente… | Salsa aparte |
| Un poquito de limón pero… | Tantito limón |
The safe order
-
Me da tres de pastor, con todo, salsa aparte, por favor.Can I get three al pastor, with everything, sauce on the side, please?
That sentence is a whole survival kit.
Sources
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Diccionario de la lengua española, salsa — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, limón — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, cebolla — Real Academia Española ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, cilantro — Real Academia Española ↩
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Eat Mexico, Spanish phrases for Mexico City’s culinary scene — Eat Mexico ↩
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Diccionario de la lengua española, aparte — Real Academia Española ↩
Test yourself
tap an answer.
You want everything except onion. What do you say?
Salsa aparte means...
You want a little lime. What works?
