🍷 Spanish Food & Cuisine Guide

Overview

Spanish cuisine is incredibly diverse, varying dramatically from region to region. From the seafood-rich dishes of Galicia to the rice-based paellas of Valencia, from Basque pintxos to Andalusian fried fish, Spain offers one of Europe's most exciting culinary experiences.

Spanish food culture centers around social eating, fresh ingredients, and time-honored traditions. Meals are meant to be enjoyed slowly with friends and family, often late into the evening.

🕐 Spanish Meal Times

Understanding when Spanish people eat is crucial for travelers:

• Breakfast (Desayuno): 7-10am. Usually light — coffee with toast, pastry, or churros. €2-5.
• Mid-morning snack: 11am-12pm. Common in some regions. Coffee and small bite.
• Lunch (Comida): 2-4pm. THE MAIN MEAL. Multi-course, often with wine. This is when to order menú del día.
• Merienda (afternoon snack): 5-7pm. Coffee/tea with pastry, especially for children.
• Dinner (Cena): 9-11pm. Usually lighter than lunch, but restaurants get busiest 9:30-10:30pm.

Important: Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner (5-8pm). Kitchen might close earlier than advertised, especially for lunch (stops taking orders ~3:30pm).

🍴 Essential Spanish Dishes

Tapas & Small Plates

• Patatas bravas: Fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and aioli. Found everywhere, €4-6.
• Jamón ibérico: Premium cured ham from acorn-fed pigs. €8-20 depending on quality.
• Tortilla española: Thick potato and egg omelet. Simple but delicious. €3-5 portion.
• Croquetas: Creamy fried croquettes (ham, cod, mushroom varieties). €1-2 each.
• Pan con tomate: Toasted bread rubbed with tomato, olive oil, and salt. Catalan staple. €2-4.
• Pulpo a la gallega: Galician-style octopus with paprika and olive oil. €10-15.
• Pimientos de Padrón: Small green peppers, fried in olive oil. "Some are hot, some are not!" €4-6.

Rice Dishes

• Paella valenciana: Traditional with rabbit, chicken, green beans. ONLY at lunch. Valencia region. €12-18/person (min 2).
• Paella de marisco: Seafood paella (touristy but popular). €14-20/person.
• Arroz negro: Black rice with squid ink and seafood. €12-16.
• Fideuà: Like paella but with noodles instead of rice. Coastal regions. €12-16.

Soups & Stews

• Gazpacho: Cold tomato soup, perfect for summer. Andalusia. €4-6.
• Salmorejo: Thicker, creamier version of gazpacho. Córdoba specialty. €5-7.
• Cocido madrileño: Hearty chickpea and meat stew. Madrid in winter. €12-18.
• Fabada asturiana: White bean stew with chorizo and morcilla. Asturias. €10-14.

Seafood

• Pescaíto frito: Fried fish, Andalusian style. Mixed plate €8-12.
• Gambas al ajillo: Garlic prawns in olive oil. €8-14.
• Espetos: Sardines grilled on beach over wood fire. Malaga specialty. €8-12.
• Percebes: Gooseneck barnacles (acquired taste!). Galicia. €25-40/kg.

Meat Dishes

• Chuletón: Massive T-bone steak. Often sold by weight (€40-60/kg).
• Rabo de toro: Oxtail stew. Córdoba and bull-fighting regions. €12-16.
• Cochinillo: Roast suckling pig. Segovia specialty. €18-25.
• Chorizo al vino: Chorizo sausage cooked in red wine. €5-8.

🗺️ Regional Specialties

• Catalonia (Barcelona): Pan con tomate, escalivada (roasted vegetables), crema catalana (dessert).
• Basque Country: Pintxos (elaborate tapas), bacalao al pil pil (cod), txangurro (spider crab).
• Valencia: Paella, horchata (tiger nut drink), fartons (sweet pastries).
• Andalusia: Gazpacho, fried fish, salmorejo, flamenquín (breaded pork roll).
• Galicia: Pulpo, empanada (savory pie), percebes, albariño wine.
• Madrid: Cocido madrileño, callos (tripe), huevos rotos (broken eggs with ham).
• Castilla: Roast lamb (lechazo), cochinillo, morcilla (blood sausage).

💰 Budget Eating Tips

Menú del Día (Menu of the Day)

The BEST budget option in Spain. Available at lunchtime (1:30-4pm) in most restaurants:

• 3 courses + bread + drink (wine, beer, or soft drink)
• Price: €10-15 in local places, €12-18 in tourist areas
• Usually includes: starter, main, dessert/coffee
• Quality ranges from basic to excellent — check what locals are eating
• Written on chalkboard or separate menu, sometimes not advertised to tourists

Free Tapas Cities

In some cities (mainly Granada, León, Salamanca), you get FREE tapas with every drink:

• Order beer, wine, or soft drink (€2-3)
• Receive a free tapa (small plate of food)
• More drinks = more different tapas
• Can have a full dinner for €6-9 (3 drinks = 3 tapas)
• You don't choose the tapa — the bar decides

Markets

Food markets offer cheap, fresh meals and ingredients:

• Breakfast: Fresh juice, coffee, tostada (€3-5)
• Lunch: Market stalls serve simple cooked meals (€6-10)
• Picnics: Buy cheese, ham, bread, fruit for beach/park meals
• Best markets: Mercado Central (Valencia), La Boqueria (Barcelona), Atarazanas (Malaga)

Supermarket Hacks

• Ready-made meals from Mercadona or Carrefour: €3-6
• Fresh bread €0.50-1, good cheese €3-5, quality jamón €5-10
• Local wine bottles from €2-5 (better quality than price suggests)
• Pre-made tortilla española: €3-5 (perfect for picnics)

🍷 Spanish Drinks

Wine

• Rioja: Famous red wine region. Full-bodied, oak-aged.
• Ribera del Duero: Premium reds, often pricier than Rioja.
• Albariño: White wine from Galicia, pairs perfectly with seafood.
• Cava: Spanish sparkling wine from Catalonia. Alternative to champagne.
• Sherry: Fortified wine from Jerez. Try fino or manzanilla (dry styles).
• House wine (vino de la casa): €8-12/bottle, €2-3/glass

Beer

• Caña: Small draft beer (~200ml). €1.50-2.50.
• Doble: Double-sized beer (~400ml). €2.50-4.
• Clara: Beer with lemon soda (refreshing in summer). €2-3.
• Popular brands: Estrella, Mahou, Cruzcampo, San Miguel

Other Drinks

• Sangría: Wine punch with fruit (touristy but fun). €10-15/pitcher.
• Tinto de verano: Red wine with lemon soda (locals' summer drink). €2-3.
• Horchata: Sweet tiger nut drink from Valencia. €2-4.
• Vermouth: Sunday pre-lunch tradition with olives and chips. €3-4.
• Café con leche: Coffee with milk (breakfast staple). €1.50-2.50.

🥐 Breakfast & Desserts

Breakfast

• Churros con chocolate: Fried dough with thick hot chocolate. €4-6.
• Tostada con tomate: Toast with crushed tomato and olive oil. €2-3.
• Croissant/Napolitana: Pastries with coffee. €2-4.
• Bocadillo: Sandwich (ham, cheese, tortilla). €3-5.

Desserts

• Crema catalana: Catalan custard with burnt sugar top. Similar to crème brûlée. €4-6.
• Flan: Caramel custard. Found everywhere. €3-5.
• Tarta de Santiago: Almond cake from Galicia. €4-6.
• Torrijas: Spanish French toast (especially during Easter). €4-5.
• Turron: Almond nougat candy (Christmas specialty). €5-15/box.

📝 Dining Etiquette & Tips

• ✔ Don't expect dinner before 9pm. Kitchens open 8:30-9pm at earliest.
• ✔ Tipping is NOT mandatory. Round up or leave €1-2 for good service. 5-10% for exceptional service.
• ✔ Bread (pan) is often brought automatically. You may be charged €1-2 if you eat it.
• ✔ Ask for "la cuenta" (the bill). They won't bring it until requested.
• ✔ Splitting bills (dividir la cuenta) is acceptable, but paying separately by card can be annoying for staff.
• ✔ Water: specify "agua del grifo" (tap) or you'll get bottled (€2-4). Tap water is safe.
• ✔ Paella is a lunch dish — never eat it for dinner (it's likely pre-made/reheated).
• ✔ Paella minimum 2 people. Single portions are not traditional.
• ✔ "Para llevar" = to go/takeaway.
• ✔ Service can be slow — it's not rude, it's the pace of life. Relax and enjoy.

🏪 Where to Eat

• Bar de barrio: Neighborhood bar. Best menú del día and authentic tapas. Cheap.
• Mercado/Market stalls: Fresh, cheap, local atmosphere. Great for breakfast and lunch.
• Cervecería: Beer-focused bar with tapas. Casual and social.
• Marisquería: Seafood restaurant. Can be pricey but fresh.
• Taberna: Traditional tavern. Good wine and tapas.
• Restaurante: Sit-down restaurant. More formal, higher prices.
• Chiringuito: Beach bar/restaurant. Seafood and paella, premium prices for location.

Avoid: Restaurants with photos on the menu, places with touts outside, anywhere serving paella for dinner. These are tourist traps.