They have it on display, ready for customers to see and decide what they want to eat. These types of foods are mostly sandwiches, salads and pastries. Other foods, such as papas bravas and paella, might be prepared from scratch in a restaurant in a special pan. Tapas are tiny dishes often enjoyed late in the afternoon, before the late dinner. You usually go out to restaurants to enjoy them with friends.
The Spanish dishes I have tried are very connected to the local environment since they are from Spain. Paella, for example, is often cooked with seafood, since much of Spain is located on the coast of the ocean. The types of foods I've mentioned above are very popular among the locals, and you can find them in almost any restaurant.
