Objective:

To describe the behavior of eating on the street in terms of practices, commensality and sociability in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora.

Methodology:

Based on a quantitative approach and with a probabilistic sampling, a survey was applied to a sample of 516 adults over 18 years old, residing in Hermosillo. Food behavior of the commensals in the urban public space was identified through a cluster analysis.

Results:

The street food consumption is differentiated by age and it varies according to labor and rest days as well as the different time during the day. We found the street is a recreation space for typical Sonoran food such as tacos, hot dogs (dogos) and burros percherones, but also for some culinary innovations. There were three groups of diners identified differentiated by age, preferences in the type of food, spaces and time during the day.

Limitations:

The results of this study are common related to an urban population of a middle socioeconomic class.

Conclusions:

Eating in the street in the city has become a daily practice, mediated by age, which is structured according to work, in addition to being associated with fun, leisure and sociability with family and friends.