Spanish Phrase
Estuvo riquísimo.
Meaning
Literally, “It was extremely delicious.” The phrase uses the past tense of ‘estar’ to talk about a specific meal or dish that was enjoyed, and the superlative –ísimo to stress that it was exceptionally tasty.
When to use
Use this expression right after you finish a meal, a snack, or any food experience you want to praise. It works in informal conversations with friends, family, or even in a casual restaurant review.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estuvoriquísimo
Estuvo (preterite of estar)
‘Estuvo’ is the third‑person singular preterite form of ‘estar’, used for temporary states or events that happened in the past.
Riquísimo (superlative of rico)
‘Riquísimo’ is the absolute superlative of ‘rico’ (delicious). The suffix –ísimo adds the meaning ‘extremely, very’ and is attached directly to the adjective.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué tal la paella de anoche?
How was the paella last night?
Estuvo riquísimo.
It was delicious.
✕Common Mistakes
Fue riquísimo.
‘Fueron’ is the preterite of ‘ser’, which describes inherent qualities, not a temporary experience like a meal.
Riquísimo estuvo.
In Spanish the verb normally precedes the adjective; swapping the order sounds unnatural.
Estuvo rico.
While correct, it lacks the extra emphasis that ‘riquísimo’ provides.
↔Alternatives
Estaba delicioso.
It was delicious.
Qué rico estuvo.
How tasty it was.
Estuvo delicioso.
It was delicious.
Estaba riquísimo.
It was extremely tasty.
Cultural Tip
‘Riquísimo’ is a colloquial, enthusiastic way to compliment food in most Spanish‑speaking countries. It’s more informal than ‘delicioso’ and is often heard among friends or in social media posts. In formal writing you might prefer ‘muy delicioso’ or ‘exquisito’. Also, note that the superlative can be used with other adjectives (e.g., ‘buenísimo’, ‘cómodísimo’).