15 Ways To Say 'Delicious In Spanish' That Will Make You Sound Like A Native Food Critic

Learning how to say "delicious in Spanish" is about much more than just translating the word. As of December 2025, the best and most natural way to compliment a meal varies dramatically based on who you're talking to, the country you're in, and the level of flavor intensity you want to convey. Using the wrong phrase—or just sticking to the textbook word—can instantly mark you as a tourist, missing out on the rich, flavorful language of Spanish cuisine.

This comprehensive guide goes beyond the basic vocabulary to give you the exact phrases, regional nuances, and advanced adjectives you need to sound like a true native food critic, whether you're in a tapas bar in Madrid or a taquería in Mexico City. Master these expressions, and you'll be complimenting the chef like a local in no time.

The Essential Trinity: Your Go-To Words for "Delicious"

Forget everything else for a moment. These three words form the foundation of complimenting food across the Spanish-speaking world. Understanding the subtle difference between them is the key to achieving topical authority in your conversation.

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1. Rico / Rica (The Casual & Universal Favorite)

The most common and versatile way to say "delicious" or "tasty" in Spanish is rico (or rica for feminine nouns like *comida* or *sopa*).

• Meaning: Tasty, delicious, rich (in flavor).
• Usage: This is the go-to, everyday compliment, widely used across Latin America, especially in Mexico, and is perfectly acceptable in Spain.
• Example: ¡Qué rico está este taco! (How delicious this taco is!)

2. Delicioso / Deliciosa (The Formal & Safe Bet)

This is the direct translation of "delicious," but it often sounds a bit more formal or literary in everyday conversation.

• Meaning: Delicious.
• Usage: Use this in formal settings, when speaking to an older person, or when you want to emphasize a dish's exquisite quality. It's safe but less common than *rico*.
• Example: La cena fue absolutamente deliciosa. (The dinner was absolutely delicious.)

3. Sabroso / Sabrosa (The "Flavorful" Compliment)

While *rico* and *delicioso* focus on the overall experience, *sabroso* specifically highlights the great flavor or seasoning of the food.

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• Meaning: Flavorful, savory, tasty.
• Usage: Excellent for dishes with complex or intense seasoning, like stews (*guisos*) or well-marinated meats.
• Example: Este pollo está muy sabroso. (This chicken is very flavorful/tasty.)

The Intensifiers: Saying "Extremely Delicious"

When "delicious" just isn't enough, Spanish offers a powerful set of intensifiers to express that a dish is truly outstanding. These are formed by adding the suffix -ísimo (or -ísima) to the core adjective.

• Riquísimo / Riquísima: This is the superstar of compliments, meaning "extremely delicious" or "super tasty." It is arguably the most common and enthusiastic way to compliment food across the Spanish-speaking world.
• Buenísimo / Buenísima: Literally "very good," but contextually means "delicious." This term is particularly common in Spain.
  • Pro-Tip (Spain): In Spain, you will often hear ¡Está bueno! (It is good!) or ¡Estaba buenísimo! (It was extremely good!) as the most natural compliment.
• Exquisito / Exquisita: Reserved for food that is truly gourmet, super delicious, or of exceptional quality. It’s a step above *delicioso*.

Grammar Deep Dive: Master the Ser vs. Estar Rule

To sound truly fluent, you must understand the difference between using the verbs Ser (*Es*) and Estar (*Está*) when describing food. This is a crucial element of topical authority.

• Use ESTAR (*Está*) for Taste (Temporary State): When you are complimenting a specific dish you are currently eating or have just eaten, you use *estar* because the taste is a temporary state.
  • Correct: ¡La sopa está riquísima! (The soup is extremely delicious!)
  • Correct: ¡Está delicioso! (It is delicious!)
• Use SER (*Es*) for Inherent Quality: Use *ser* when the characteristic is inherent to the food itself, like its general nature or type.
  • Correct: El chocolate es delicioso. (Chocolate is delicious—as a general statement.)
  • Correct: El pastel es dulce. (The cake is sweet—an inherent quality.)

Advanced Expressions & Compliments to the Chef

Native speakers rarely just use a single adjective. They often use idiomatic phrases that convey a deeper appreciation for the meal. These are the phrases that will truly impress your host or the chef.

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The Finger-Licking Compliments

These phrases express that the food is so good, you want to savor every last drop.

• ¡Está para chuparse los dedos! (It's finger-licking good!) This is a charming and common phrase used when a dish is exceptionally flavorful.
• ¡Qué barbaridad! (What an amazing thing!) Used to express shock and awe at how good something is.
• ¡Tiene buena pinta! (It looks great!) Use this before you even take a bite to compliment the presentation.

Complimenting the Cook Directly

You can use these phrases to show respect and gratitude to the person who prepared the meal, whether it’s a chef or a family member.

• Mis felicitaciones para el chef. (My compliments to the chef.)
• ¡Eres un(a) excelente cocinero/a! (You are an excellent cook!)
• ¡La comida estuvo espectacular! (The food was spectacular!)

Topical Authority: 15 Essential Spanish Food Adjectives (LSI Keywords)

To fully describe a dish, you need more than just "delicious." Expanding your vocabulary with these LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords will make your Spanish sound rich and nuanced. These 15 entities are crucial for a complete food vocabulary:

By integrating these 15+ descriptive entities into your vocabulary, you move far beyond the basic "delicious" and gain the ability to articulate exactly why a dish is so good, solidifying your status as a knowledgeable Spanish speaker and food enthusiast.