Para llevar

Para llevar ("to take away") and its counterpart para aquí ("for here") are the phrases used at Mexican taquerías and taco trucks to say whether an order will be eaten on the spot or carried off.

Usage

Saying "para llevar" tells the cook that the tacos should be packed to carry rather than served on a plate at the stand. The phrase normally comes at the end of an order: Chilango's profile of a Mexico City pastor stand gives "5 de pastor con todo para llevar" as a typical request, combining the number of tacos, the filling, the garnish and the destination.

Chilango variants

Chilango's list of food phrases particular to Mexico City includes "se lo encargo para llevar", a slightly more formal way of asking for an order to go. The magazine ties it to the pace of the city, where people often eat on the way to work or an appointment rather than sitting down.

In the United States

Houstonia magazine's guide to essential taco terms lists both para aquí and para llevar among the phrases a newcomer should learn before ordering at a Houston taco truck, alongside hola, gracias and por favor.

Reviews

See also

• Con todo
• Taco stand
• Taquería
• Taco trucks

References

1. "Los secretos de un taquero de barrio". Chilango. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
2. "Frases de comida que sólo decimos los chilangos". Chilango. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
3. "The Dozen Essential Taco Terms You Need to Know So You Don't Look Like a Gringo". Houstonia Magazine. Retrieved 2026-10-10.