What is a tostada?

A tostada is a flat, fried corn tortilla with a topping such as beans or pork. It’s usually doused with salsa and sprinkled with garnishes such as lettuce or onions. Taken together as a whole, this is called a tostada.

Pork and bean tostadas at Café en Acallí in Ajijic

Pork and a bean tostada, served at Café en Acallí.

But the plain fried tortillas themselves, without anything on them, are also called tostadas. Entire stores, called tostaderías, dedicate themselves to the production of tostadas for homes and restaurants in the area. Tostadas can also be used for chips and salsa or to accompany a posole.

WATCH: This video of a rather advanced tostada production line from another part of Mexico.

Common types of tostadas around Lake Chapala include tostadas de ceviche (shrimp or fish cured with lime juice), pierna (pork leg) and sencilla (no meat, usually beans). Common garnishes include lettuce or sliced cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and perhaps a little cheese or a drizzle of crema.

A tostada with shrimp ceviche, pico de gallo salsa, and avocado.

A shrimp ceviche tostada at Lobo de Mar Mariscos.

Tostadas are a common way to eat ceviche, which is fish or shrimp that isn’t cooked with heat but instead cured using lime juice. It’s usually mixed with carrot, zucchini, onion, cucumber and tomato.

Pork and a bean tostada at Cenaduría Memo, which has been in business for 50 years.

LEARN MORE: About common types of Mexican food found at Lake Chapala by reading the food guide.