If you had told younger me that one day I’d be sitting at a table in Spain, happily sharing plates of tapas with friends, I probably would’ve laughed and asked if there were chicken tenders involved.
I grew up in Tennessee, which means my diet was, let’s call it, comfortably predictable. Fried food, classic Southern staples, and not a lot of seafood. When you grow up nowhere near the ocean, “fresh seafood” isn’t exactly a weekly occurrence.
So when I moved to Spain, entering the world of tapas felt a little intimidating at first. There are a lot of things on Spanish menus that I’d never seen before, and some of them still make me pause for a second. But over time, I’ve found my favorites. Now, I will say upfront that these are probably the most basic tapas on the menu. If you’re a Spanish food expert, you might roll your eyes a little, and that’s fine.
I’m exploring at my own pace over here, okay? So here are my top five favorite tapas in Spain that I order again and again.
1. Patatas Bravas
If there’s one tapa I will order every single time without hesitation, it’s patatas bravas. Think crispy potatoes, usually cut into cubes, served with a spicy tomato-based sauce and sometimes a creamy aioli on top. Simple? Yes. Incredible? Also yes. It’s one of those dishes that feels familiar enough to someone like me who grew up on potatoes in every possible form. But the sauce gives it that Spanish twist that makes it way more interesting than your average fries.
Every restaurant does their version a little differently, which honestly just gives me an excuse to keep ordering them “for research.”
2. Croquetas
Next up, the legendary croquetas. These little fried bites are basically creamy goodness wrapped in breadcrumbs and fried until golden. The filling can vary, but the most common one is jamón (Spanish ham). The inside is smooth and rich, almost like a thick béchamel sauce, and the outside has that perfect crispy shell.
As someone who spent most of her childhood loving anything fried, croquetas felt like a safe entry point into Spanish food. Comfort food, but make it European.
3. Pimientos de Padrón
I was honestly surprised by how much I love pimientos de padrón. They’re small green peppers that are usually blistered in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. That’s it, simple. The fun part is that most of them are mild, but every once in a while, you’ll bite into one that’s randomly spicy. It’s basically culinary roulette. They’re light, flavorful, and somehow disappear from the plate way faster than you expect.
4. Chorizo al Vino Tinto
Now we’re getting into serious flavor. Chorizo al vino tinto is Spanish chorizo sausage cooked slowly in red wine until it becomes rich, juicy, and full of flavor. The sauce alone is reason enough to order it, especially when there’s bread involved for dipping. And trust me, there’s always bread involved in Spain. This is one of those tapas that feels cozy and satisfying, especially if you’re sitting outside at a little bar in the evening.
5. Gambas al Ajillo
Now this one is kind of a big deal for me. Remember how I said I didn’t grow up eating much seafood? Well, gambas al ajílló has officially converted me. This dish is shrimp cooked in sizzling olive oil with lots of garlic and a little chili. It usually arrives at the table still bubbling in a small clay dish. The smell alone will make you hungry. For someone who used to be a little hesitant about seafood, this was a huge step. But once you try it, it’s hard not to love it.
Tapas culture is honestly one of my favorite parts about living in Spain. Instead of ordering one giant meal, you get to try a bunch of different dishes, share them with friends, and turn dinner into a whole social event. And while my tapas choices might be considered beginner level by Spanish standards, I’m completely okay with that. I came from a pretty basic diet in Tennessee, so the fact that I’m happily eating garlic shrimp and blistered peppers already feels like personal growth.
Give me a little time! Who knows. By next year, I might even be ordering the really adventurous stuff. So tell me, what’s your favorite tapa?
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
