10 Must-Try Dishes in Spain and How to Order Them

By Marta Prieto

Reading time: 0 minute

June 19, 2025

Contents

Introduction

1. Paella: Spain’s Flavorful Classic

2. Tapas: Share Small Plates, Create Big Memories

3. Jamón Ibérico: Rich, Cured Ham Deluxe

4. Tortilla Española: The Spanish Omelette

5. Gazpacho: Cold Andalusian Soup

6. Churros con Chocolate: Sweet Spanish Treat

7. Pulpo a la Gallega: Octopus from Galicia

8. Pisto Manchego: Spain’s Ratatouille

9. Fabada Asturiana: Hearty Bean Stew

10. Croquetas: Creamy Mini Rolls

How to Order at a Spanish Restaurant (Restaurant Spanish Vocabulary)

Dining in Spain: Tips for Tourists

Soccer, Culture, and Food Combine

Practical Guide: How to Order at a Spanish Restaurant

Conclusion

Introduction

Exploring Spanish food to try is a fun and delicious way to dive into Spanish food culture. Knowing how to order food in Spanish and using Spanish menu phrases makes dining more exciting and respectful. Here are popular Spanish dishes and simple ways to order them so your meal becomes a true Spanish experience.

1. Paella: Spain’s Flavorful Classic

What makes it special: Paella comes from Valencia. It is saffron rice mixed with seafood, meat, and vegetables (paella mixta) or just seafood (paella de mariscos).
Why try it: It's one of the most must try foods in Spain for tourists full of color, flavor, and history.
How to order: “Quisiera una ración de paella mixta, por favor.” (I’d like a portion of mixed paella, please.)

2. Tapas: Share Small Plates, Create Big Memories

What makes them special: Tapas and paella pair perfectly. Tapas are small dishes like olives, cheese, and patatas bravas. They let you enjoy a variety of flavors.
Why try it: Tapas are at the heart of dining in Spain tips you eat with friends and try lots of dishes.
How to order: “Queremos probar varias tapas, por favor.” (We’d like to try several tapas, please.)

3. Jamón Ibérico: Rich, Cured Ham Deluxe

What makes it special: Spanish food to try often includes cured meats. Jamón Ibérico is top-tier, made from black Iberian pigs.
Why try it: It’s a gourmet experience of Spanish flavors and tradition.
How to order: “Una tapa de jamón Ibérico, por favor.” (A portion of Iberian ham, please.)

4. Tortilla Española: The Spanish Omelette

What makes it special: Eggs, potatoes, and onions cooked together create a thick omelette called tortilla española.
Why try it: It’s a simple, tasty staple you’ll find everywhere in Spain.
How to order: “Una ración de tortilla española, por favor.”

5. Gazpacho: Cold Andalusian Soup

What makes it special: A refreshing mix of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers served cold perfect for hot days in Spain.
Why try it: It’s a light and healthy must try foods in Spain classic.
How to order: “¿Me puede traer un gazpacho andaluz, por favor?” (Can you bring me gazpacho from Andalusia, please?)

6. Churros con Chocolate: Sweet Spanish Treat

What makes it special: Long, crispy pastries dusted with sugar and dipped in thick, warm chocolate.
Why try it: It’s a beloved Spanish food sweet treat, often eaten for breakfast or dessert.
How to order: “Unos churros con chocolate, por favor.” (Some churros with chocolate, please.)

7. Pulpo a la Gallega: Octopus from Galicia

What makes it special: Tender octopus seasoned with paprika and olive oil, served on wood boards.
Why try it: It's a unique seafood dish and part of dishes to try in Spain.
How to order: “Un plato de pulpo a la gallega, por favor.”

8. Pisto Manchego: Spain’s Ratatouille

What makes it special: This is a hearty mix of tomato, peppers, zucchini, and egg, similar to French ratatouille.
Why try it: A tasty, healthy vegetarian option in Spanish restaurant vocabulary.
How to order: “Quisiera probar el pisto manchego, por favor.”

9. Fabada Asturiana: Hearty Bean Stew

What makes it special: A rich stew from Asturias made with beans, chorizo, and morcilla (blood sausage).
Why try it: Ideal for colder days and a filling popular Spanish dish.
How to order: “Me gustaría una ración de fabada asturiana, por favor.”

10. Croquetas: Creamy Mini Rolls

What makes it special: Fried rolls filled with creamy béchamel plus meat or fish.
Why try it: Versatile and delicious dishes to try in Spain include croquetas de jamón or pollo.
How to order: “Nos trae unas croquetas de jamón, por favor.”

How to Order at a Spanish Restaurant (Restaurant Spanish Vocabulary)

Learning ordering at a restaurant in Spanish goes beyond memorizing dishes. Here are useful phrases:

“¿Me trae la carta, por favor?”: Can you bring the menu, please?
“¿Qué recomienda?”: What do you recommend?
“¿Está incluido el servicio?”: Is service included?
“La cuenta, por favor.”: The bill, please.
“Está delicioso. Muchas gracias.”: It’s delicious. Thank you very much.

Mixing these phrases with dish names helps you eat confidently and politely.

Dining in Spain: Tips for Tourists

Go slow: Dining in Spain is often a meal and a conversation. Enjoy each course especially tapas, which is all about sharing and talking.
Try local menus: Many restaurants offer menú del día; a set meal with soup, main, drink, and dessert at a good price.
Pay attention: Spanish menus and staff often use polite language. Listen carefully and smile, it goes far. When you're aware of cultural etiquette in Spain, you'll have a much more pleasant experience.

Soccer, Culture, and Food Combine

Many Spaniards connect soccer and food, sharing meals before or after matches, using Spanish menu phrases and chants together! For example, a group can meet at a tapas bar before the game. They might enjoy tapas and paella while cheering for the team at a local café.

Why These Foods Are Rich in Culture

Each traditional Spanish dish carries local history and flavor:

Paella reflects Valencia’s farming and seaside heritage.
Jamón Ibérico shows Spain’s tradition of cured meats.
Churros con chocolate brings joy to family breakfasts.
Pisto and fabada reflect Spain’s regional diversity, from La Mancha to Asturias.

Eating these foods and using Spanish dishes helps you learn vocabulary. You experience both culture and language together.

Practical Guide: How to Order at a Spanish Restaurant

Ask for a menu (“¿Me trae la carta, por favor?”).
Listen to a recommendation (“¿Qué recomienda?”).
Order politely: “Yo quiero…” or “Quisiera…” + dish name.
Check if service is included: “¿Está incluido el servicio?”
Ask for the bill: “La cuenta, por favor.”
Show appreciation: “Está delicioso. Muchas gracias.”

Using these steps with Spanish menu phrases makes dining easy and fun.

Conclusion

Dining in Spain is an adventure of taste, language, and tradition. From tapas and paella to pulpo, fabada, and churros, each dish connects you to the heart of Spanish culture. Learning Spanish restaurant vocabulary and practicing ordering food in Spanish helps you enjoy meals confidently and respectfully.

Try these must try foods in Spain for tourists, use simple phrases, and enjoy the experience. Share your favorite dishes or stories about ordering with friends or online. Also, keep exploring Spanish food and language on your journey!

Marta Prieto

By Management Team

Marta Prieto, Director of Academics at Comligo, combines a strong academic background with entrepreneurial experience. She previously founded and led De La Mano Spanish, a successful Spanish school in Asia. Passionate about language education, Marta prioritizes motivation, communication, and interaction to ensure Comligo’s programs provide engaging and effective Spanish learning experiences.