A stroll around the streets of the cities in Spain is interestingly bereft of food stalls but this does not mean that the “street food” culture cannot be found here. The main issue is that selling food on the streets is illegal due to hygiene reasons. However, in almost every city, you will see many bars where you can enjoy the delicious local cuisine.
The many different regions of Spain have their own customs and dialects or languages. They also have their own specialties beyond the popular Jamon and churros. To catch the best of what Spain has to offer, head over to these places:
1. The Basque Country
Compared to the rest of the country, this area is lesser-known unless you come to the film festival in San Sebastian or to visit the Guggenheim Museum. But it is truly a destination for food lovers, with little specialties called “pintxos” served in street food sizes. Most pintxos have one small slice of local bread (similar to baguette) topped with different ingredients like seafood, Jamon, cheese, and everything else in between.
2. Galicia
If you are a seafood fan or simply want to enjoy more of the fruits of the sea, then this is the place for you. The most popular is the Galician style octopus (Pulpo a Feira) and the exotic goose barnacles (percebes) which are found on the side of the cliffs where the sea hits. Non-seafood street food to try out includes fried green peppers (pimientos de padron) and empanadas (the traditional tuna pie).
3. Barcelona
Barcelona is the top spot to enjoy history, good food, and the beach. They also have their unique dishes you should definitely try out. One of them is Pa amb tomàquet, a famous breakfast of toasted bread rubbed with tomato and seasoned with salt and olive oil. Some versions have some garlic rubbed on the toasted bread before the tomato.
Some other street food is coca, their version of pizza. Escalivada is a dish with tomatoes, onions, eggplant, peppers and anchovies on top. Butifarra con monguetes, on the other hand, is a traditional grilled sausage with pink or white beans.
4. Madrid
The capital is a perfect stop to enjoy the best of Spanish cuisine. Make sure to try out their local hits like callos (tripe) and caracoles a la Madrileña (snails cooked Madrid-style). If you want to try out something with meat, then go for Cocido Madrileño, which is a pork stew with some vegetables and chorizo.
Other Street Food To Enjoy
Beyond the dishes mentioned above, there are some other street food delicacies you might find all over the country. For example, chocolate con churros is a favorite of those with a sweet tooth. For a quick snack, bocadillo is another great idea, which is Spanish bread with different fillings ranging from cheese and Jamon to seafood like calamares (squid). Lastly, tortilla is another classic, with the combination of potatoes and egg being a filling and delicious snack.
Apart from being delicious, street food in Spain is also inexpensive and you can find them in every bar in every city, so you can pamper your stomach during your trip here.
