Time for my favorite subject: food! Spanish food to be exact. My first introduction to Spanish cuisine was in the Basque Country, where I studied abroad. I loved stuffing my face with the pintxos (Basque for tapas) in San Sebastian. Of course, you can’t go to Spain without eating Paella so I also ate many plates of that. When I moved back to Spain to teach English, I branched out and tried a lot of regional and traditional dishes. Every list of things to eat in Spain typically contains the usual suspects – paella, tapas, patatas bravas, tortilla Española, gazpacho…. Those are great, but there are so many other delicious things to eat around the country. I want to show you some mouth-watering dishes from different regions of Spain. Here is a list of six dishes to eat in Spain that will leave you wanting more.
This is the 3rd part of Spain Bucket List series. Here’s the complete series:
Spain Bucket List Series
Culture: 9 Experiences You Must Have in Spain
Food: 6 Dishes to Eat in Spain Besides Paella and Tapas
Packing tips: The Ultimate Packing List for Your Summer Vacation in Spain
Travel Tips: 10 Travel Tips You Need To Know Before Visiting Spain
Inspiration:15 Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit the Cies Islands
Off the beaten path: 8 Underrated Cities You Need To Visit in Spain
Beaches: The 10 Best Beaches in Spain You Should Visit Before You Die
Solo Travel: 10 Unconventional Tips For Female Solo Travelers in Spain
Barcelona: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Barcelona
Granada: Why Granada is the Best Place to Visit in Spain
The Best Dishes To Eat in Spain That Aren’t Paella and Tapas
Rabo de Toro
Rabo de Toro literally means ‘tail of the bull.’ It’s Spain’s take on oxtail, and I approve. Rabo de Toro is my absolute favorite Spanish dish. It’s a rich, hearty stew with minimal ingredients and braised oxtail. It is believed to come from Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. If you’re visiting Madrid, go to Casa Salvador; the Rabo de Toro there is possibly the best in Madrid.
Casa Salvador
Address: Calle de Barbieri, 12, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Pulpo a la Gallega
Galicia, a community in northwest Spain, is the best place to eat seafood in Spain. No questions asked. Spaniards agree too. With an abundance of rivers and a long coastline, the region has long relied on fishing for its economy. That’s how seafood became their specialty. Pulpo a la Gallega, slices of octopus seasoned with paprika, olive oil, and salt, is one of the most popular dishes. If you’re in the capital, Santiago de Compostela, head to Rua Franco, a street in the center, and you’ll be overwhelmed by the number of seafood restaurants to choose from. You can get a mariscada, an assortment of mostly shrimp, crab, razor clams, and lobster, with some marinara-like sauce. What I like about Galician food, and Spanish food, in general, is the simplicity. There are mainly two ingredients used in their cuisine – salt and olive oil. I’m generally a spicy food girl, but it’s nice to take a break from that sometimes.
Solomillo al Whisky
Solomillo is Spanish for sirloin. In this case, we’re talking about beef sirloin. A specialty of Sevilla, Solomillo al Whisky, as the name suggests, is roasted beef sirloin in a whisky sauce. It’s normally served with potatoes. I was skeptical at first, but gave it a try. It was so freaking good!
You may also like: 9 Bucket List Experiences You Must Have in Spain
Bacalao al Pil Pil
A staple of Basque cuisine, Bacalao, or cod, is a must-try. Bacalao al Pil Pil is cod that is simmered in olive oil and garnished with garlic and some herbs. Like Galicia, the Basque Country has excellent seafood. The Bay of Biscay is to the north of the region so they continually get fresh catches.
Cochinillo Asado
This is a roasted suckling pig and my second favorite Spanish dish. The outside is crispy while the inside is moist. This dish is always cooked to perfection at El Botin in Madrid, the world’s oldest restaurant. You have to make a stop there!
Fabada Asturiana
This bean stew comes from the community of Asturias, to the east of Galicia. It is a heavy stew with large beans, chorizo (Spanish sausage), black pudding, and some pork. You can buy canned fabada asturiana at any grocery store, but, of course, it doesn’t come close to one served at a restaurant.
Have you tried any of these dishes? Comment below. If you liked this post, please share!
Somto Ugwueze
Hi! I'm Somto. Two years ago, I stopped making excuses, ditched my indecisive friends, and started booking flights. Today, I'm a full-time solo traveler on a mission to inspire young women to seek new adventures.
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=_vy0qj-WxFoAX-mjbwg&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAPqz89qBOUgOh00AfVwwwiMtUalPvCK3LjBZqNY1ZuAQ&oe=657A6126)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363496891_3960588657501192_2279069811238681499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=LtJTETr6UhgAX99KV_j&_nc_oc=AQmAmH8fEtUCrcX0JC3ab3nmi5MRB4e2Ji-S98sk2ENU8ZKpshumpTsxh4N_r9N8gx8&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfBLHqP4rlViQp28OGkZfCUrWhgAEJg_pGXIiiilHsTNeQ&oe=657922C5)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/364071653_816389820137326_3597345990832080157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=MYF5J3kz_SAAX8LrCKa&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAyBMpI95aIAIlzLZ-1w4-QTfs64lpl2_uEMGTDvZljQA&oe=6578CBC2)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://www.somtoseeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n-256x320.jpg)
Hi there Somoto, you beautiful girl!! I am a new travel blogger myself and I am based in Barcelona. I was looking for Barcelona posts to get some inspiration, and that is how I found your blog.
I love how much valuable information you have here and I love your focus towards black people travel. That’s so smart.
I hope to in the future be able to also discuss blogging (so yes, like you, to have a travel + blogging blog), so I was happy to find your blog. Another one that I follow and love it http://www.heleneinbetween.com (she is also in the travel + blog niche).
Because of that, I wanted to introduce myself to you as I truly believe that great minds think alike. My name is Ana, I am Brazilian and as said, a new blogger based in Bcn. It’s great to meet you and to read your blog!!
Hi Ana,
Thanks for reaching out! I read Helene in Between’s blog, too. Also took her course, Blog Boss Babe. She has so much valuable content. Really appreciate your lovely comment. I’m happy to answer any questions you have about travel blogging.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and suggestions. Will definitely be on the lookout for the Oxtail dish!
Hi Courtney, you’re welcome! You should definitely try Rabo de Toro if you get a chance!