In Spanish tapas culture, a ración is a larger shared serving than an individual tapa.
Spanish menus commonly distinguish between a tapa, a media ración and a ración. A tapa is generally a small portion, while a ración is intended for sharing by several diners. The exact size varies by restaurant, city and dish, so the term describes the serving format rather than a fixed weight.
The word ración literally means “portion” or “ration.” In bars and restaurants, it is especially useful for ordering dishes such as fried fish, sliced ham, cheese, potatoes or prepared salads for the table.
A media ración means half a ración and is usually positioned between a personal tapa and a full shared plate. These terms are not names for particular recipes, which is why the same dish may be available as a tapa or a ración depending on the establishment.