Page Text: Grab a bite in Bilbao, Spain
Grab a bite in Bilbao, Spain
by George Black
1. Chorizo is a spicy start
2. Menudo is something you can stomatch
3. Asado has something for everyone
4. Ribeye is the big guns of food
5. Black pudding is rather surprising
6. Taters are the perfect side dish
7. Potato tortilla is lighter
8. Croquettes are quick and cozy
9. Tapas are ubiquitous
10. Pinxtos are to the point
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The largest city in the province of Biscay and in the Basque Country as a whole, Bilbao reflects the uniqueness of the region and its culture to its fullest. The urban centre is surrounded by mountains, giving the place a very scenic look and becoming the hub for development and cultural life. Its developing rapid transit system, museums, a new airport, and renovation programs also make Bilbao the spearhead of modernization in this part of Spain and Europe in general. On 8 November 2017, Bilbao was named the Best European City. But what about the food?
1. Chorizo is a spicy start
Chorizo
Сhorizo is a cured spiced sausage made from chopped pork and red pepper. The dish is extremely popular in both Mexican and Spanish cooking.
#2 of 338 steak restaurants in Bilbao
Steakhouses, European, Spanish
Cam. de San Roque Bidea, 89, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
ClosedOpens at 12:30PM $$$$
This time we'll go in heavy. Many food enthusiasts will recognize chorizo as the go-to dish when it comes to spicy and Spanish-feeling dishes in restaurants around the world. It's a fermented, cured, smoked sausage, which may be sliced and eaten without cooking, or added as an ingredient to add flavour to other dishes. Spanish chorizo is made from coarsely chopped pork and fat, seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, and salt. Many variations exist depending on the local recipes and chef's imagination in a restaurant of your choice.
An interesting option would be Txakoli Simon.
2. Menudo is something you can stomatch
Menudo
Menudo is a spicy tomato-based Mexican soup made with pork meat, vegetables, garbanzo beans and green. It is served with chopped onion, celery and a dash of oregano.
#10 of 2438 restaurants in Bilbao
Pizza, Italian
Calle Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 14, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
ClosedOpens at 1:30PM $$$$
The second offering is more popular for its Mexican variation, even though European chefs have something to contribute. Menudo is traditionally recognized as a soup made with cow's stomach in broth with a red chilli pepper base. Menudo takes a long time to prepare as the tripe takes hours to cook, and the recipe may include a variety of ingredients and side dishes such as salsa. The mix is usually garnished with chopped onions, chiles, cilantro, and often with lime juice.
Casa Leotta Bilbao is an interesting option here.
3. Asado has something for everyone
Asado
Asado is veal roasted on a skewer, grilled or charcoal. Usually, for this dish, either ribs, or a whole carcass, or a thin edge are taken. Cooking methods are also different, but the meat must be cooked over charcoal. At the same time, the meat is not pickled, a minimum of spices are used.
#133 of 2438 restaurants in Bilbao
German
Zabalgune Plaza, 7, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Closed now $$$$
Continuing with the hard and heavy trend, let's talk about grilled meat. Barbeque is a beloved kind of food in this part of Europe, and Spaniards know how to make great meat. For example, there's a tradition of making asado which has attained cult status on both sides of the ocean. An asado usually consists of beef, pork, chicken, chorizo, and morcilla which are cooked on a grill called a parrilla. Red wine and salad is a great combination to accompany the meat.
Asado can be found at places like Ein Prosit.
4. Ribeye is the big guns of food
Ribeye
The rib-eye is one of the most well-known types of steaks around the globe. Ribeye steaks are taken from the upper rib cage area, particularly near the neck part, which is lightly worked and has excellent fat marbling running through the meat. When cooked, the fat marbling melts and renders into the steak, which gives extra beefy flavor and a juicy, moist, and tender texture.
#42 of 2857 pubs & bars in Bilbao
Spanish, Barbecue
Hurtado de Amezaga Kalea, 5, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
ClosedOpens at 1:30PM $$$$
We're getting bigger and better in terms of hefty meals on our list. Blibao has a surprisingly large number of people who adore ribeye steaks. Sometimes steaks are served as part of the aforementioned asado, but the juiciest most delicious options are standalone. Adding spices, herbs, proper drinks - many ways exist to complete the combination for a decently prepared ribeye steak. The rick, as it often does, lies in finding the best chef around for the best available meat.
Casa Rufo is a good restaurant in this case.
5. Black pudding is rather surprising
Black pudding
Pudding originated on the British Isles, where it still is one of the most common meals. Ingredients include pork fat or beef suet and a cereal, precisely oat groats or barley groats. Black pudding also contains pork or beef blood, whereas white pudding does not. Another ingredient, a herb called pennyroyal, distinguishes pudding from blood sausages served in other countries.
#12 of 2438 restaurants in Bilbao
Spanish, European
Pl. Nueva, 12, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Open now $$$$
Maybe it's the influence of European integration taking effect, but black pudding is not the first thing that would traditionally come to mind when talking about Spanish cuisine and the offerings of local restaurants in the Basque Country. However, the subsistent aspirations of the region align with this particular choice of the dish quite well. Black pudding is actually no pudding at all, it's a type of meat sausage made from pork or beef blood, with pork fat or beef suet, and a cereal, usually oatmeal, oat groats or barley groats.
Try some black pudding at Gure Toki.
6. Taters are the perfect side dish
Taters
This is another variation of fried potatoes and it is served with a variety of flavors such as pepper or bacon. They can be fried in a pan or deep-fried.
#5 of 2857 pubs & bars in Bilbao
American, Fast food
Printzipe Kalea, 3, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Closed now $$$$
This one is great with the meat dishes we've mentioned above. Potatoes are often used with other kinds of food, especially if they are prepared in certain proper ways. For example, there are taters , grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried. it's easy to imagine how a side dish like that can be used with meat, sauces, herbs, and spices. The one most important features of potato-based meals is that they are extremely pliable for specific recipes.
Tegobi offers some of the most interesting taters around, or patatas, as they are often called.
7. Potato tortilla is lighter
Potato tortilla
In its most basic form, the tortilla is a potato and egg open-faced omelet that derives most of its flavor from olive oil.
#1 of 1942 cafes in Bilbao
Vegetarian
Harategi Zahar Kalea, 3, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Closed now $$$$
As we go further, the dishes on the list are getting lighter and lighter. But lighter does not mean simpler or blander. For example, the dish called "Spanish tortilla" is quite popular, its common name also being simply potato tortilla . The basic recipe boils down to an omelette made with eggs and potatoes. Upgrading and diversifying the classic formula is possible, thus, making potato tortilla quite flexible. This is what makes the dish known from the early 19th century relevant to this day.
Bohemian Lane Pastelería Vegana is a safe bet for this kind of food.
8. Croquettes are quick and cozy
Croquettes
Croquettes, especially stuffed with jamon, are often served at tapas bars. The dough is mainly made with stuffing (jamon, ham, seafood) and with the béchamel sauce.
#3 of 338 steak restaurants in Bilbao
European, Spanish, Grill, Steakhouses
García Rivero Maisuaren Kalea, 7, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Open now $$$$
As we're keeping things lighter as we go along, it's time for dumplings. They are small, compact, and can be almost dietary in terms of their nutritional value. In Spain, there's the famous kind of dumplings called croquettes , they have a particularly thick binding and are usually jamón, chicken or saltcod. Many bars and restaurants may offer novel, less traditional versions of croquettes with more varied fillings and ingredients such as apples, wild mushrooms, blood sausage, cheeses, tuna, etc.
Try your luck with original and classic recipes at ASADOR INDUSI.
9. Tapas are ubiquitous
Tapas
Tapas refers to any snack served at the bar for beer or wine. It can be nuts, chips or olives, or independent dishes like seafood, sandwiches, different cold and hot appetizers. Often, small "tapas" are included in the cost of the drink. A popular entertainment of the Spaniards is to move from the bar to the bar, drinking wine or beer and eat tapas.
#94 of 2857 pubs & bars in Bilbao
Spanish, European
Diputazio Kalea, 8, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Closed now $$$$
The croquettes from the previous paragraph are often used as a variation of tapas. " Tapas " is a general term covering a range of small dishes served at bars and restaurants to accompany various drinks. It's a long-standing tradition that started with mere pieces of bread being used as the side dish but in time, different meats were added to the bread, cheese, herbs and seafood were introduced, even peanuts became part of the tapas paradigm. Today, inventive tapas are a must in a good Spanish establishment.
El Globo taberna is quite good in that area, worth taking a look.
10. Pinxtos are to the point
#100 of 2438 restaurants in Bilbao
European, Spanish
Pl. Nueva, 5, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
ClosedOpens at 11AM $$$$
A special kind of tapas should be the perfect closing item on our list this time. Pinxtos deserve their own spot precisely because they have evolved from regular tapas thanks to the unique way they combine several products as ingredients. This dish is especially popular in the Basque Country and usually include fish such as hake, cod, anchovy; tortilla de patatas; stuffed peppers; and croquettes. The name "pinxtos" comes from the toothpick used to keep ingredients from falling off the bread, as well as to keep track of the number of items that the customer has eaten.
For an authentic Basque food experience, places like Iturriza Taberna are available.
The largest city of the Basque Country and one of the most developed and important cities of Spain has a lot to offer. Food is only part of a great experience you may have. Check it out!