The tastiest traditional dishes of Spain
The top 3 according to 123 votes from people: Spanish omelette (tortilla de patatas) · Andalusian gazpacho · Paella valenciana. (Updated Dec 31, 2025.)
The Spanish dishes that keep showing up in food guides and must-try lists, from north to south. Savoury dishes only; desserts have their own list.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 20
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1
Spanish omelette (tortilla de patatas)
Egg, potato and olive oil (onion or no onion is an eternal debate); the most homely and widespread dish in the country.
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2
Andalusian gazpacho
Cold soup of tomato, pepper, cucumber, garlic, oil and vinegar, typical of the Andalusian summer.
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3
Paella valenciana
Dry rice in a paella pan with chicken, rabbit, butter beans and green beans; the traditional recipe from the Valencian farmlands.
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4
Galician-style octopus (pulpo a la gallega)
Octopus boiled in a copper pot, served on a wooden plate with paprika, coarse salt and olive oil; the star of Galician fairs.
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5
Roast suckling pig (cochinillo asado)
Milk-fed piglet roasted in a wood oven, so tender that in Segovia it is carved with the edge of a plate.
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6
Cocido madrileño
Chickpea stew with meat, pork fat, chorizo and vegetables, served in three courses: soup, chickpeas and meats.
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7
Bread with tomato (pa amb tomàquet)
Bread rubbed with ripe tomato, olive oil and salt; the Catalan side for almost everything.
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8
Croquetas
Fried breaded béchamel, usually with ham, chicken or salt cod; a classic in bars and homes.
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9
Garlic prawns (gambas al ajillo)
Prawns in a clay dish with sizzling oil, garlic and chilli; made for dipping bread.
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10
Fabada asturiana
Asturian white beans with 'compango': chorizo, Asturian black pudding, cured pork shoulder and pork belly.
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11
Iberian ham
Cured leg of Iberian pig; acorn-fed ham from Guijuelo, Jabugo, Los Pedroches or Dehesa de Extremadura is the most prized.
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12
Bacalao al pil pil
Salt cod confit in oil with garlic and chilli whose gelatin emulsifies into a sauce; a gem of Basque cooking.
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13
Fideuà
Like a paella but with thin noodles and fish or seafood, born in Gandia; served with aioli.
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14
Salmorejo cordobés
Cold cream of tomato, bread, garlic and olive oil, thicker than gazpacho, topped with boiled egg and ham.
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15
Padrón peppers
Small green peppers fried with coarse salt: 'some are hot and some are not'.
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16
Pisto manchego
Stewed tomato, pepper, onion and courgette, often topped with a fried egg.
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17
Lacón con grelos
Boiled cured pork shoulder with turnip greens, potatoes and chorizo, typical of the Galician carnival.
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18
Calçots with romesco sauce
Spring onions grilled over embers and dipped in romesco sauce; the stars of the calçotadas of Valls.
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19
Migas
Day-old bread crumbled and fried with garlic, pork belly and chorizo; a shepherds' dish from Extremadura, Aragon and La Mancha.
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20
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce (and sometimes aioli); the most ordered tapa in Madrid bars.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 20… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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21
Oxtail stew (rabo de toro)
Oxtail slowly braised in red wine, typical of Córdoba.
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22
Papas arrugadas with mojo
Small potatoes boiled in very salty water, with red or green mojo; the quintessential Canarian side dish.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (5)
Este finde hice fabada siguiendo la lista y salió de diez. Viva Asturias 💛
Echo de menos el marmitako, que en verano en la costa vasca no hay nada mejor.
Tortilla primera, como tiene que ser. Con cebolla, eso sí.
Sin cebolla!! 😤
Las papas arrugadas con mojo picón las últimas? Ni de broma, eso es lo mejor de Canarias.