ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Spain
Five dishes to try in Spain, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Spain
Paella
Saffron rice cooked in a wide pan with chicken and rabbit or seafood.
How to have it: A lunch dish, not dinner; in Valencia order the original with chicken, rabbit and beans.
Tortilla española Tortilla de patatas
Thick omelette of potatoes and eggs, often with onion.
How to have it: Sold by the slice (pincho) in bars all day, usually with a piece of bread.
Jamón ibérico
Cured ham from Iberian pigs, sliced thin by hand.
How to have it: Look for 'bellota' (acorn-fed); order a ración with bread and a glass of wine.
Gazpacho
Chilled blended soup of tomato, pepper, cucumber, garlic and olive oil.
How to have it: A summer dish from Andalusia, often served in a glass; also try thicker salmorejo.
Churros con chocolate
Fried dough sticks dipped in thick hot chocolate.
How to have it: Eaten for breakfast or after a late night out; Madrid's churrerías open early.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Spain famous for?
Paella (saffron rice cooked in a wide pan with chicken and rabbit or seafood) comes first on our list, followed by Tortilla española, Jamón ibérico, Gazpacho and Churros con chocolate.
What is the national dish of Spain?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Spain is Paella: saffron rice cooked in a wide pan with chicken and rabbit or seafood. A lunch dish, not dinner; in Valencia order the original with chicken, rabbit and beans.
Which dishes in Spain are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Tortilla española, Gazpacho and Churros con chocolate. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
Keep exploring
Practical · 3 min readEat your way through a country: how to find the national dishesFood is the fastest way into a place. How to find a country's signature dishes, order them well, eat safely and keep a record of what you have tried.
Planning · 4 min readHow to build a travel bucket list you'll actually useTurn a long wish list into a short plan: sort places by ease, season and effort, pick your next three, and keep the list alive after every trip.
Planning · 4 min readHow to choose the best time to visit anywhereWeather is only one part of it. Learn how to weigh seasons, crowds, prices and events, with real examples of the best months for popular destinations.- Country guidesCountry guidesBest months, weather, holidays and plugs for every country.
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Tick off every dish you try in Spain
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.