One thing is for sure about life in Spain: you never run out of food to eat. One thing that Spaniards are super proud is their food. This year, I get to experience the food in Spain in a different way. Part of that means eating pinchos on Calle Laurel.
This year is my first year living in La Rioja. Where is La Rioja? Well it’s a nice and small region up North. Up here, the tapas are called pinchos. Much like tapas down South, they are small plates of food that you eat with a drink. However they’re a bit different than the tapas I had in Granada. So I thought I would round up some of my favorite pinchos that I’ve tried in Logroño.
Pinchos on Calle Laurel
If this is your first time in Logroño, you will want to head here. This is the famous Calle Laurel. However don’t expect to sit down. On the weekends, this street is packed full of people. There’s definitely not enough seating. In fact, you have to be a bit aggressive when ordering at the bar.
Typically you find your spot along the street. There are often tables where you can stand, so the group claims one. Then one person goes inside to order the drinks and pinchos for everyone.
This was Calle Laurel on a Friday afternoon. To be fair, it was a holiday in Spain on this day. When the people in Logroño aren’t working, they’re out drinking wine and eating pinchos.
hhhh
Some spots for pinchos on Calle Laurel
1. Juan y Pinchamé
I love anything with pineapple, so I said “heck yes” to this pincho when my friend suggested I try it. I just love the mixture of sweet and salty. The shrimp is fried in some salt and olive oil. Each one is served with a slice of bread. Riojanos (and really all Spaniards) love their bread. They eat it with everything.
Juan y Pinchamé has some other pinchos to try such as croquetas, a classic Spanish dish that consists of cheese and meat fried together in a ball.
2. Pulpería La Universidad
In case you didn’t already know, pulpo means octopus. It may seem weird to you to eat octopus, but in Spain, it’s completely normal. In Logroño, there’s a place that focuses just on octopus.
Before you write it off, just try it! When I first tried octopus in Spain several years ago, I was a bit apprehensive. However I ended up loving it.
Both times that I’ve been to this spot, we’ve gotten pulpo a la gallega. That just means octopus cooked the way they do up in the Galicia region of Spain.
This spot has some other dishes with octopus in them. You’ll just have to try them all to see what you like!
3. Bar Lorenz, Tío Agus
This is where you go when you want to really fill up. This place is always an essential stop when I’m out going from bar to bar on Calle Laurel. There’s the mini sandwich you have to get.
Basically it’s pork tenderloin with this secret sauce. All I know is that the sauce has no peanuts (because I’m allergic and I ask everywhere I go). Other than that, it’s kind of a secret what makes this pincho so good. Either way, it’s always a place I stop at.
These are just a few of my favorite spots. The truth is, there are so many places worth trying in Logroño. Some other classic dishes you have to try are champion a la plancha (shrimp and mushrooms with bread) , patatas bravas (potatoes with this kind of spicy but very good sauce) and mini burgers. You can find out all the information on the restaurants and pinchos on Calle Laurel here.
Have you tried pinchos in Spain? What were some of your favorites?
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