In Spanish tapas, what does the serving term ración usually mean?

In Spanish tapas service, ración usually means a full portion of a dish, generally larger than a tapa or media ración.

Spanish menus may distinguish between a tapa, a media ración, and a ración. A tapa is a small serving, a media ración is a half portion, and a ración is a larger plate intended for sharing or for a more substantial serving. Exact sizes are not standardized nationally, so restaurants can interpret the categories differently.

The term is useful when ordering because it describes quantity rather than a particular recipe. A ración might consist of fried seafood, cured ham, cheese, potatoes, vegetables, or another dish listed by the restaurant. In some places, customers order several raciones for the table.

Ración should not be confused with pintxo, which usually describes a specific small snack format, often on bread or a skewer. Likewise, a complimentary tapa is a serving custom in some regions, not the meaning of ración.