Is Take Out a Thing? (Lunch)

Usually there is some quick restaurant in the train stations in Spain but nothing to write home about.
Good maps shows a McDonald's and Burger King on ave. Salvador Dali about 16 minutes' walk from the Dali Museum.

I was thinking nicer restaurants, not fast food. That's why I was wondering if that is done in Spain?

I had to think hard, but I remember Spanish tortilla being a 'to go' street food option, but far and few between.
You would think tapas as an option, but I was surprised to find many closed over lunch in some major cities.
I was last there in 2017, and times have changed since then. There were certainly food delivery services. https://gogoespana.com/en/blog/food-delivery-apps-spain/
You may want a little search through Figueres on one of these services and if you find a suitable restaurant offering delivery at lunch, they most likely could also accommodate take out.

Consider going to a grocery store. Many have pre-prepared foods to take away, or just buy ingredients to make sandwiches or salads. There a Mercadona at Carrer Sant Llàtzer, 54, that is a block or so from the train station.

That Mercadona is near the Figueres station. I'd expect the TGV to depart from Figueres Vilafant, though I haven't verified that.

I don't remember seeing anything inside Vilafant when I passed through there in 2019, and there's no indication of a food source there on Google Maps. There's a place that sounds to me like a bakery, Alexis Forn de Pa, not too far from Vilafant at Carrer Ramon Reig 26. Google Maps tells me it delivers, and it has a rating of 4.7. Some bakeries sell sandwiches.

If you zoom in on Google Maps and move gradually from Vilafant back toward the museum, you'll see some restaurants that are flagged as doing delivery and/or takeout, so I think you'll have options. I spotted a Thai place with a rating of 4.7.

I spotted a Thai place with a rating of 4.7.

I love Thai food, but taking highly fragrant foods like that onto public transport is not very courteous. I'd look to find a good bocadillo, maybe an orange and perhaps some good Spanish beer. Yum.

Ametller Origen is a new higher-end grocery store that has become quite popular throughout Catalonia in the recent years. They have many prepared meals of typical Catalan cuisine. They appear to have a location in Figueres.

A mile from the Vilafant train station is another Mercadona at Carrer de Met Miravitlles. Across the street from it is a Lidl.

Hi All - thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

My fall back was the grocery store, but was hoping for an order ahead, pick up on the way to the station, situation.

This place (recommended as a sit down restaurant in the Fodor's Essential Spain book) actually has Order in advance / Take Out! https://bocam.cat/ (I had to use Google Translate, but they do have an order page for pickup/take out).

I guess if Take Out is not a thing, it's at least sometimes an option for the tourists doing the same dance we are!

You can absolutely order a take out lunch from just about any restaurant in Spain...no need to stoop to Burger King or Mercadona. Try to choose a restaurant and look at the menu online, so you have an idea of what you want before you get to the restaurant. (Or you could just take more time and ask to see the carta once you get there..rermember the "carta," NOT the "menu," which is a different thing entirely. Tell the server, or host, that you want to order a few things from the carta, but to please pack them "para llevar."

I travel to Spain several times a year and have done that a number of times, most recently at a very good, fairly upscale seafood restaurant, where they packed a wonderful racion of tuna belly sashimi with all the condiments...I ate in in my hotel room but you can consume it on the train or anywhere that suits you.

Thank you ekscrunchy! I appreciate you sharing your personal experience and the tips on the terms to use so we communicate clearly!

Sure, depending on the place and the menu, you can ask “para llevar?” (To carry/to go)