tasty, delicious or ???

[NM_teacher]

I am a Russian teacher of English. I had a dispute with my students about what to say when you like your meal. I have been certain for many years that the right phrases to say will be "It's delicious!" or "It tastes good". That's what I was taught. I had meals with a lot of Americans and remember them saying "It's good!", when they liked the food. And I have been certain for many years that you can use the word "tasty" about the food with some particular/ peculiar taste. But you don't say it when you just like the food. All my students, who had some experience talking with English speakers, wanted to use "tasty" in this situation. I strongly objected. Afterwards my belief was shaken, as I looked in a few Enlglish-English dictionaries and found a few definitions for "tasty" saying that it is pleasing to the taste. So was I completely wrong?

[Anglika]

Tasty= having a marked and appetizing flavor <a tasty meal>

"It was very tasty" is certainly an acceptable phrase. I am afraid that in this case your students are right.

[NM_teacher]

Thank you for answering. I have another question. What kind of food I can describe with the word "tasty"? Can it be used about ordinary food like boiled potatoes or fried eggs? Or is it acceptable to say a tasty apple juice, for example?

[bianca]

delicious or tasty means :

"Highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses, especially of taste or smell."

scrumptious - is a good synonym, too.

So, do you think plain foods such as boiled potatoes or eggs are so very appetizing, or savoury, or "highly pleasing or agreeable to your senses"? They may taste OK, good, but 'tasty/delicious' is a long shot, I'd say...

Tasty is, for instance, a meal that causes your mouth to water.
Juice/soda can be tasty, too - you savour it.