The Spanish word for the larger, flute-shaped version of a taquito is flauta.
A flauta is a Mexican rolled-tortilla dish whose name refers to its long, narrow shape: flauta means “flute” in Spanish. It is typically filled with ingredients such as shredded chicken, beef, cheese, or barbacoa, then fried until crisp. Taquitos are generally the smaller version, although terminology varies by region and restaurant.
The distinction is useful but not absolute. In many descriptions, both flautas and taquitos are grouped with tacos dorados, or “golden tacos,” because the filled tortillas are fried. Flautas may be made with corn or flour tortillas, while taquitos are more commonly associated with small corn tortillas.
These foods are often served with lettuce or cabbage, crema, guacamole, cheese, and red or green salsa. They should not be confused with enchiladas, which are rolled tortillas covered in sauce rather than usually fried until crisp. Sope, gordita, and tostada have different shapes and preparation methods.