20 Spanish Dishes You Must Try on the Costa Blanca
Paella, tapas, churros and more - a culinary guide to the Alicante region
Spanish food is one of the biggest reasons tourists return to the Costa Blanca year after year. The Alicante region offers a unique blend of Valencian, Andalusian and Mediterranean cuisine, where fresh seafood meets aromatic saffron, ripe tomatoes and the finest olive oil in the world. In this guide I present 20 dishes you must try during your stay on the Costa Blanca - each with a recommendation for the best restaurant, an approximate price and an honest opinion on whether children enjoy it. From the iconic paella valenciana to sweet horchata - this article is your culinary map of the Alicante region.
Why is Spanish food on the Costa Blanca so special?
• Fresh seafood - straight from the port of Santa Pola every morning
• Albufera rice - the best paella rice in the world
• Local olive oil - from the olive groves of Alicante province
• Valencian saffron - the key ingredient in paella
• Menu del dia - a full lunch for 10-15 euros including wine!
• Tapas culture - sample many flavours for little money
Before we get to the list of 20 dishes, it is worth knowing that Costa Blanca cuisine has its own unique character. This is not the same cuisine as in Barcelona or Madrid. Alicante province is famous for rice dishes - arroz in dozens of variants - and for seafood straight from the Mediterranean. If you want to discover local flavours, visit the Mercado Central in Alicante, where you will find the freshest regional products. And now let me take you on a culinary journey through the best Spanish dishes!
What is real paella valenciana and where can you eat it?
Paella is the most famous Spanish dish in the world, but few people know that its homeland is the Valencia region, where Alicante is located. Real paella valenciana is not a seafood dish, as many people think, but a traditional recipe with rabbit, chicken and local vegetables. On the Costa Blanca you will find many rice variants that will surprise you with their richness of flavour.
1. Paella Valenciana
The queen of Valencian cuisine
Traditional paella valenciana contains chicken, rabbit, ferradura green beans, white garrofon beans, tomatoes, saffron and Albufera rice. Cooked over an open flame in a flat pan, it creates the socarrat on the bottom - a caramelised layer of rice that is the hallmark of a master chef. In Valencia this is a dish traditionally eaten on Sundays with the family.
2. Arroz a Banda
The fisherman's rice from Santa Pola
Arroz a banda is a traditional fishermen's dish from Santa Pola and the entire Alicante coastline. The rice is cooked in an intense fish stock, and the fish is served separately (hence the name a banda, meaning on the side). The key accompaniment is alioli - a creamy garlic sauce that enhances the taste of the sea. This is a dish you will not find as good anywhere else as in Santa Pola.
3. Arroz Negro
Black rice with squid ink
Arroz negro is a spectacular dish in which the rice is coloured with squid ink to an intense black colour. Despite its unusual appearance, the flavour is delicate, oceanic and incredibly rich. Served with squid, prawns and alioli. This is one of those dishes you must try at least once, even if the appearance seems off-putting at first. Popular in the coastal restaurants of Alicante.
4. Arroz con Costra
Rice with an egg crust from Elche
This is a local speciality from the city of Elche, less well-known to tourists but absolutely exceptional. Rice with sausages, morcilla (blood sausage), chicken and chickpeas is covered with a layer of beaten eggs and baked in the oven, creating a golden, crispy crust (costra). The end result is a combination of juicy interior with a crunchy surface. A dish typical of Alicante province, unavailable in other regions of Spain.
Which tapas are worth ordering in Alicante?
Tapas are the heart of Spanish culinary culture. Small portions of different dishes allow you to sample many flavours during a single meal. In Alicante the tapas culture thrives particularly in the El Barrio district and around Rambla de Mendez Nunez. The evening ritual of going out for tapas (ir de tapas) is an experience worth having at least once during your Costa Blanca stay.
5. Gambas al Ajillo
Prawns in garlic olive oil
Gambas al ajillo are one of the most popular tapas in all of Spain. Fresh prawns fried in hot olive oil with plenty of garlic and a hint of chilli. On the Costa Blanca the prawns come straight from the Mediterranean, which makes this dish even more delicious. Served in a ceramic dish (cazuela) with bread for dipping in the oil. The simplicity of this dish is its greatest strength.
6. Pulpo a la Gallega
Galician-style octopus
Although this dish originates from Galicia in northern Spain, on the Costa Blanca you will find it in almost every good restaurant. Octopus cooked until tender, sliced, sprinkled with smoked paprika (pimenton) and drizzled with olive oil. Served on a wooden board with thick slices of boiled potatoes. The texture of well-prepared octopus is soft and buttery, with a delicate, oceanic flavour.
7. Patatas Bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce
Patatas bravas are an absolute tapas classic and one of the cheapest dishes in any bar. Crispy, fried potato cubes topped with a spicy tomato sauce (salsa brava) and often also alioli. Every bar has its own recipe for the sauce, which makes it worth comparing patatas bravas in different places. This is the perfect dish to start an evening of tapas, ordered with a beer (cana) for just a few euros.
8. Croquetas de Jamon
Croquettes with iberico ham
Croquetas are small, fried croquettes with a creamy filling of bechamel sauce and ham. In good establishments the filling is so creamy it flows out when you bite through the crispy coating. The best croquetas are made with jamon iberico, but you will also find versions with cod (bacalao), mushrooms or spinach. These are the best tapas for children - crispy on the outside, creamy inside, with no spicy seasoning.
9. Jamon Iberico
Iberian ham - the king of starters
Jamon iberico is the finest ham in the world, produced from black Iberian pigs fed on acorns (bellota). It is aged for 24 to 48 months, giving it an intense, nutty flavour. At the Mercado Central in Alicante you can buy freshly sliced cuts or taste on the spot. Jamon iberico de bellota is the highest grade - it costs more, but the difference in flavour is enormous. Each slice literally melts on your tongue.
10. Tortilla Espanola
Potato omelette - a classic for any time of day
Tortilla espanola is the simplest and simultaneously most delicious dish in Spanish cuisine. A thick omelette with potatoes and optionally onion, fried in olive oil. Served as a tapa cold or warm, in a sandwich (bocadillo de tortilla) or as a main course. In Spain there is an eternal debate - con cebolla or sin cebolla (with or without onion). Tortilla is the perfect snack for the beach or a picnic, available in every bar for just a few euros.
Which regional Costa Blanca dishes must you try?
Beyond the well-known pan-Spanish dishes, the Costa Blanca has its own unique specialities that you will not find in any other region of Spain. These dishes reflect centuries of fishing tradition, agriculture and Arab influences that shaped this part of the Iberian Peninsula. If you are staying in Gran Alacant, these flavours are right at your doorstep.
11. Cocas
Valencian flatbread with vegetables and fish
Coca is the local answer to Italian pizza - a flatbread with various toppings, typical of the Valencia and Alicante region. The most popular versions are coca de mollitas (with roasted pepper, tuna and onion), coca de tomate (with tomatoes and tomato sauce) and sweet coca amb tomata. At Sunday markets, including the Gran Alacant Sunday market, you will find stalls selling homemade cocas in various flavours.
12. Gazpacho
Cold tomato soup for hot days
Gazpacho is the tourist's best friend on hot Costa Blanca days. A cold soup made from tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil and wine vinegar, blended until smooth and served ice-cold. At temperatures of 35-40°C, typical of summer in Alicante, gazpacho refreshes and nourishes simultaneously. The Andalusian version is thicker, while the Valencian one is slightly more liquid. The related salmorejo from Cordoba is thicker and creamier, served with ham and egg.
13. Fideua
Paella with noodles instead of rice
Fideua is a brilliant dish from Gandia (Valencia province) which replaces rice with thin noodles. Cooked in fish stock with seafood, the noodles absorb all the flavours and create a socarrat on the bottom similar to paella. Served with alioli, fideua is beloved by those who want something different from yet another paella but equally delicious. In the coastal restaurants of Santa Pola it is one of the most frequently ordered items.
14. Pan con Tomate
Bread with tomato and olive oil - the perfection of simplicity
Pan con tomate is the simplest dish in this ranking and simultaneously one of the most delicious. Toasted bread is rubbed with half a ripe tomato, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt. In Valencia it is served as a starter with almost every meal. The secret lies in the quality of ingredients - Spanish tomatoes under the Costa Blanca sun reach an intensity of flavour unattainable in northern Europe. Also served with jamon iberico on top.
What seafood should you try in Santa Pola and Alicante?
The Costa Blanca is paradise for seafood lovers. The port of Santa Pola is one of the most important fishing ports in Alicante province, and every morning fishermen bring in fresh catches. In the coastal restaurants you can eat fish and shellfish that were swimming in the sea that very morning. This is a culinary experience impossible to replicate elsewhere.
15. Sepia a la Plancha
Grilled cuttlefish with lemon
Sepia a la plancha is cuttlefish grilled on a hot plate with a touch of olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. On the Costa Blanca the cuttlefish is exceptionally fresh and tender, far from the rubbery texture of frozen varieties. Served with grilled vegetables or salad, it is one of the healthiest and lightest dishes in this ranking. Ideal for a beach lunch at a chiringuito.
16. Mejillones al Vapor
Steamed mussels with white wine
Steamed mussels are a simple but incredibly tasty item on the Spanish menu. Cooked with white wine, garlic, parsley and a hint of chilli, they create an aromatic sauce into which you dip bread until the last drop. On the Costa Blanca the mussels are large, meaty and fresh. This is one of the cheapest seafood dishes, ideal as a shared starter at the table. In the coastal restaurants of Santa Pola they are served in enormous pots.
What meat dishes are worth trying on the Costa Blanca?
Although the Costa Blanca is famous for seafood, meat dishes play an equally important role here. The Alicante region has a rich tradition of raising and preparing meats, and local sausages, roast lamb and pork dishes are an inseparable part of Spanish home cooking.
17. Embutidos - Chorizo, Morcilla, Longaniza
Spanish cured meats and sausages
Spanish embutidos are a whole family of cured meats and sausages that cannot be missed. Chorizo is a spicy sausage with paprika, morcilla is a version of blood sausage (often with rice in the Alicante region), and longaniza is a delicate pork sausage. Served as tapas, in bocadillos (sandwiches) or as part of a menu del dia. At the Mercado Central you can buy the finest embutidos straight from local producers. Chorizo a la sidra (cooked in cider) is a popular tapa in many Alicante bars.
18. Pisto Manchego
Spanish ratatouille with a fried egg
Pisto manchego is the Spanish version of ratatouille - stewed vegetables (courgette, pepper, tomatoes, onion) often served with a fried egg on top. Simple, healthy and colourful, this dish tastes excellent both hot and cold. Ideal for vegetarians and those seeking a light meal on hot days. On the Costa Blanca vegetables grow under the sun all year round, giving the pisto an extraordinary intensity of flavour. Excellent with bread for dipping in the sauce.
Which Spanish sweets and drinks must you try?
The Spanish have a sweet tooth, and the Costa Blanca offers desserts and drinks you will remember for years. From churros dipped in hot chocolate to ice-cold horchata - these flavours are the quintessence of the Spanish lifestyle. The evening paseo (walk) with a dessert in hand is a tradition you simply cannot resist.
19. Churros con Chocolate
Fried dough with hot chocolate
Churros are crispy, fried dough sticks sprinkled with sugar and served with thick, hot chocolate for dipping. In Spain they are traditionally eaten for breakfast or as a merienda (afternoon snack) between 17:00 and 19:00. On the Costa Blanca you will find churrerias (specialist churros shops) in every town. Churros must be fresh and crispy - if they are soft, it means they have been sitting too long. Porros are a thicker version of churros, popular in the Valencia region.
20. Horchata de Chufa y Turron de Jijona
Tiger nut milk drink and almond nougat
Horchata de chufa is a traditional Valencian drink made from tiger nuts (chufa), served ice-cold with fartons (sweet sticks for dipping). Sweet, refreshing and dairy-free - ideal for hot days. Turron is Spanish nougat with almonds, and Jijona (Xixona) in Alicante province is its world capital. Turron de Jijona (soft) and turron de Alicante (hard) are the two classic varieties. Although associated with Christmas, turron is available in shops all year round.
What to drink on the Costa Blanca - wines and beverages of the Alicante region?
Excellent food deserves excellent drinks. The Alicante region has its own wine denomination of origin (D.O. Alicante), and the local wines pair perfectly with Mediterranean cuisine. Even if you do not drink alcohol, the Costa Blanca has plenty of non-alcoholic beverages worth trying.
D.O. Alicante Wine
Local wines from Alicante province - red Monastrell, white Moscatel. A glass from 2-4 euros in a restaurant.
Recommended: Bodegas Bocopa, Enrique Mendoza
Cafe con Leche & Cortado
Spanish coffee is a ritual. Cafe con leche (large with milk) or cortado (small espresso with a dash of milk). From 1.20 euros.
Recommended: Any cafeteria in the morning!
Tinto de Verano
A refreshing drink of red wine and lemonade. Lighter than sangria, perfect for hot afternoons. From 2-3 euros.
Recommended: Any chiringuito on the beach
Agua de Valencia
A cocktail of cava (Spanish sparkling wine), orange juice, vodka and gin. Refreshing but strong! From 5-8 euros.
Recommended: Bars in El Barrio, Alicante
How to order food in Spanish restaurants?
Menu del Dia - the best deal
Between 13:00 and 16:00 most restaurants offer the menu del dia (set meal of the day) for 10-15 euros. It includes a starter, main course, dessert, drink and bread. This is the best way to discover Spanish cuisine without breaking the bank. Ask for the menu del dia as soon as you enter the restaurant.
Meal times in Spain
Spaniards eat late: breakfast 8:00-10:00, lunch 13:30-15:30, dinner 20:30-22:30. Many restaurants are closed between 16:00 and 20:00. If you arrive for lunch at 12:00, you may have an empty restaurant (which has its advantages!).
Tipping and bills
In Spain tipping is not mandatory, but rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% is appreciated. IVA (VAT) is already included in the price. Ask for the bill by saying la cuenta, por favor. Card payment is widely accepted, although smaller bars may prefer cash.
Useful Spanish phrases
Una mesa para [number] personas (table for...), la carta por favor (menu please), sin picante (not spicy), para compartir (to share), para ninos (for children), alergico a... (allergic to...). Waiters in tourist areas usually speak English.
Where to buy local products on the Costa Blanca?
If you want to prepare Spanish dishes in your own kitchen or bring local delicacies home, the Costa Blanca offers many places where you can buy the highest quality products. From market halls to Sunday markets - here is your culinary shopping map.
Mercado Central Alicante
Historic market hall with hundreds of stalls. Seafood, jamon, cheeses, olive oil, spices. Mon-Sat 7:00-14:30.
Gran Alacant Sunday Market
Every Sunday: local products, olive oil, honey, homemade preserves, cocas and bread at low prices.
Santa Pola Fishing Port
The freshest fish and seafood straight from the boats. Fish auctions at 17:00, retail sales in the morning.
Mercadona / Consum Supermarkets
Wide range of local products at affordable prices. Deli section with jamon, cheeses and olive oil.
What is the TOP 5 Spanish dishes for children?
Based on our experience with children in Costa Blanca restaurants, here is the ranking of the highest-rated dishes by the youngest diners:
Approximate food prices on the Costa Blanca (2026)
• Menu del dia: 10-15 euros
• Paella (2 people): 18-28 euros
• Tapas (portion): 3-8 euros
• Churros con chocolate: 3-6 euros
• Cafe con leche: 1.20-2 euros
• Beer (cana): 1.50-3 euros
• Glass of wine: 2-4 euros
• Menu infantil: 6-8 euros
• Horchata + fartons: 3-5 euros
• Bocadillo (sandwich): 3-5 euros
Rafał Prońko
Właściciel Brisa Alacant
Właściciel apartamentu wakacyjnego Brisa Alacant od 2023 roku, regularnie odwiedzam Costa Blanca i znam region z własnych doświadczeń. Wszystkie miejsca opisane na blogu odwiedziłem osobiście — zdjęcia i porady pochodzą z moich własnych wizyt. Pomagam gościom odkrywać najlepsze atrakcje regionu Alicante.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between paella valenciana and seafood paella?
Authentic paella valenciana originates from the Valencia region and is traditionally prepared with chicken, rabbit, green ferradura beans, white garrofon beans, rosemary, saffron and olive oil. It is a dish from the Albufera area where rice has been cultivated for centuries. Seafood paella, known as paella de marisco, is a newer version containing prawns, mussels, squid and other seafood, popular in the coastal restaurants of the Costa Blanca. Valencians consider it an adaptation rather than the original recipe. There is also arroz a banda, rice cooked in fish stock served with alioli, typical of Alicante and Santa Pola. The most important rule is the socarrat, the caramelised layer of rice on the bottom of the pan, which is the hallmark of a well-prepared paella. In Alicante the best paella can be found at restaurants near Playa San Juan or in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, where local establishments have been serving it for generations.
How much does a typical meal cost in a Costa Blanca restaurant?
Meal prices on the Costa Blanca are significantly lower than in many northern European countries, especially if you choose the menu del dia, the set meal of the day. A typical menu del dia costs between 10 and 15 euros and includes a starter, main course, dessert, drink and bread. This is the best way to enjoy a full meal at a good price. A single dish in a restaurant costs between 8 and 18 euros depending on the establishment and type of food. Paella for two people costs between 18 and 28 euros. Tapas cost between 3 and 8 euros per portion, and a beer or glass of wine between 2 and 4 euros. In beach bars known as chiringuitos prices are slightly higher but still affordable. Eating in small restaurants away from tourist routes is considerably cheaper. At the Mercado Central in Alicante you can buy fresh produce and prepare a meal in your apartment, which is the most economical option for families with children on holiday.
Which Spanish food do children enjoy the most?
Children on the Costa Blanca have an enormous choice of tasty dishes that they will love. The absolute favourite is churros con chocolate, fried dough sticks served with thick hot chocolate for dipping. Patatas bravas, roasted potatoes with a tomato and pepper sauce, are another children's favourite dish. Croquetas de jamon, fried croquettes with ham, disappear from the plate in seconds. Tortilla espanola, the classic potato omelette, is mild in flavour and filling. Pan con tomate, bread with tomato and olive oil, is a simple snack that children love to eat with their fingers. For dessert we recommend horchata, a sweet milky drink made from tiger nuts that is perfectly refreshing on hot days. Turron, Spanish nougat with almonds, is a festive treat available all year round. It is also worth trying helado artesanal, artisan ice cream, which in Alicante comes in dozens of fruit flavours. Most restaurants offer a menu infantil, a special children's menu priced at 6 to 8 euros.
Where can you buy the best local products in Alicante?
The best place to buy local products in Alicante is the Mercado Central, a historic market hall in the city centre open from Monday to Saturday between 07:00 and 14:30. There you will find fresh seafood straight from the port of Santa Pola, local fruits and vegetables, manchego cheese, jamon iberico sliced into thin cuts, and olive oil from surrounding groves. At the Mercado Central it is worth visiting the spice stalls, particularly for Valencian saffron which is a key ingredient in paella. In Gran Alacant a Sunday market is held every week where you can buy local products, olive oil, honey and homemade preserves at much lower prices than in supermarkets. In Santa Pola at the port you will find the freshest fish and seafood which fishermen bring in every morning. Mercadona and Consum supermarkets offer a wide range of local products at affordable prices. I also recommend visiting bodegas, the wineries, around Xalo and Pinoso where you can buy local wines directly from the producer.
Are there options for vegetarians and allergy sufferers on the Costa Blanca?
Costa Blanca cuisine offers many options for vegetarians and people with food allergies. Traditional meat-free dishes include gazpacho and salmorejo, cold vegetable soups that are ideal for hot days, pisto manchego which resembles ratatouille, escalivada made from roasted vegetables, and tumbet with potatoes, aubergine and peppers. Patatas bravas, pan con tomate and tortilla espanola are further vegetarian classics. At the Mercado Central in Alicante you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts of excellent quality. Restaurants in Alicante increasingly offer vegan and gluten-free options, particularly in the Rambla and San Juan districts. It is useful to know the phrases sin gluten meaning gluten-free, sin lactosa meaning lactose-free, vegetariano and vegano, which will make ordering easier. Most waiters understand food allergies and are happy to adapt dishes. Spanish law requires allergens to be labelled on restaurant menus, so in most establishments you will find detailed information about ingredients. For those with a nut allergy it is wise to avoid turron and certain desserts containing almonds.
Źródła i odnośniki
- Turismo Comunitat Valenciana - Gastronomy of the Valencia Region(dostęp: 2026-05-15)
- Denominacion de Origen Arroz de Valencia - Official Website(dostęp: 2026-05-15)
- Mercado Central Alicante - Official Market Hall Website(dostęp: 2026-05-15)
- Turron de Jijona - Consejo Regulador IGP Jijona y Turron de Alicante(dostęp: 2026-05-15)
- Denominacion de Origen Vinos Alicante - Alicante Province Wines Portal(dostęp: 2026-05-15)
Discover the flavours of the Costa Blanca with Brisa Alacant!
Our apartment in Gran Alacant is the perfect base for culinary discoveries. The best restaurants in Alicante are just 20 minutes away, and local markets are literally around the corner. The fully equipped kitchen lets you prepare Spanish dishes from products bought at the Mercado Central or the Sunday market. The flavours of Costa Blanca are waiting for you!
More about culture and life on the Costa Blanca
If Spanish cuisine has captured your interest, be sure to visit the Mercado Central in Alicante — a historic market hall with hundreds of stalls. Plan your stay in Gran Alacant, from where the best restaurants in the region are just minutes away. And every Sunday do not miss the Sunday market with local products.
Przeczytaj również
Mercado Central Alicante - Market Hall
Hundreds of stalls with the freshest products of the Alicante region.
GuidesGran Alacant - Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca.
Local CultureGran Alacant Sunday Market
Weekly market with local products and handmade crafts.