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 tostada on the side is the only giveaway that this is not, in fact, from a Peruvian place. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 26 Dec. 2025

The concept aims to highlight the seafood of Baja California, items like blue fin tuna or hamachi tostadas and aguachiles. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Dec. 2025

The tuna tartare tostadas and epic crab nachos—ingeniously topped with cheddar cheese grits—came highly recommended and didn’t disappoint. —David Shaftel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2025

New appetizer plates include an $18 mango shrimp ceviche with cucumber, jalapeños, onion, cilantro, and avocado, served with a tostada and an $18 scallop crudo with aguachile, cucumber, Fresno chiles, avocado and cilantro. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 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"