tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstä-də 

variants or less commonly tostado

tō-ˈstä-(ˌ)dō 

plural tostadas also tostados

: a tortilla deep-fried in hot oil

also : a tostada that is topped with a mixture of ingredients (such as seasoned meat, cheese, and lettuce)

Examples of tostada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The crispy and spicy queso taco is a top seller, same for the Cambodian pork tostada with fish sauce. —Beth D'addono, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025

Get the recipe > Roasted corn and cauliflower top these crunchy tostadas that get a drizzle of nutty-peppery chile sauce. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025

Each spoonful delivers a burst of briny freshness and is often paired with saltine crackers and tostadas. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Barbacoa at Aqui es Texcoco is served by the pound, in soft or hard shell tortillas, or as a quesadilla, tostada or pita sandwich. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, from Spanish, feminine of tostado, past participle of tostar to toast, roast, from Late Latin tostare — more at toast entry 2

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tostada

• armada
• entrada
• espada
• hamada
• jornada
• kannada
• posada
• quebrada
• ramada
• sagrada
• arthropoda
• intifada

Kids Definition

tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstäd-ə 

: a fried tortilla

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, a feminine form of tostado "fried," from Spanish tostado "toasted"