by Spanish cuisine has been popular in Great Britain for decades, but it was only in the early noughties that they met the mainstream. Before that, Chorizo, now a main support of British kitchens, was only available in specialist shops. Relatively few guests would have grown lyrically over Manchego.
Coveted dishes such as Tortilla and Paella were longest. They could be easiest to understand – eggs, rice. In fact, the Spanish omelett is said to have arrived in Great Britain in Great Britain a few years later. Gazpacho followed in the 1930s when European tourism flourished.
Nevertheless, it took another 70 or so years before Spanish food was anchored in British culture until Calamari became a synonym for pub menus and anchovies in olive oil in order to become one of the most excited dishes for Instagram.
It was London restaurants such as the now closed finos and (still openly) Brindisa one of the best-known names in the scene (knew that they had Perello olives?)-that paved the way for interpretation, evolution and dutiful homage to Spanish cultural nous.
La Vina, the shop Hall Market, should also get a nod, also Don Pepe, which was opened directly on the Edgware Road in 1974 and led to an article in the French restaurant guide Les Routiers two decades later. Unfortunately, the restaurant seems to have closed in the time when it was needed to explore this piece.
In addition, there are 10 restaurants that you should try.
José
In Great Britain 20 years ago, only die -hard food fans, who ate wealthy elite and gangsters with pads in Andalusia Gamba Blanca Al Ajillo Con Huevos Rotos. Thanks to the pioneer chefs like Jose Pizarro, pretty much everyone now does. It is the same story with crocodas, tortillas, boquerones in good olive oil and sheets by Jamon Iberico, who glitter alongside Pints of Estrella. Pizarro opened his first self-titled Tapas bar in Bermondsey two decades ago and today strewn some in London. The original is still the best. Order Pan Con tomato, black pudding with squid and a bottle of chilled red from Alicante.
194 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ, Josepizarro.com
Cambio del Tercio
Cambio de Tercio was opened in Kensington in 1995 and could possibly qualify as an institution for 30 years. Kylie often goes in the city. In fact, the colorful Spanish restaurant offers a long list of regular guests for celebrities and could be known for its amount of tennis: Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer are all fans. Carlos Alcaraz has taken over the coat in recent years and is said to feel at home in the restaurant. It is a Spanish community in the neighborhood in every respect-it is proud of high-end. Those who can manage £ 100 per capita will find exemplary salmon with crispy rice, flow-torched-Seebrasse with Yuzu and Aji Amarillo Chili and one of the best dishes from Cambio: tomatoes that were cooked with sweet Oloroso sherry and Spanish blue cheese for eight hours.
163 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0LJ, Cambiioderciogroup.co.uk
Ibai
It is rare to have a new restaurant in London open and not to hear about it. From the critic to the influencer, the cook to the food author, everyone agrees that the Basque restaurant is a good addition to the city. One of the trio behind the company is Nemanja Borjanovic, a restaurateur who is widely attributed as a man, the ex-milk beef to London-a word for Leurra and Donotsia, two other Spanish restaurants that are worth their time and with which he is involved-and which helps the Staeks. Try the Galician blonde, which is cooked over flames in the open kitchen, and have it have fries, salad and one of many excellent wines with french fries. The “croque ibai”, a roasted sandwich made of carabinero tricks, Boudin Noir and Tomme de Brebis (a half-soft cheese of the pyrannies), this is one of the best ways to spend £ 20 in the city.
92 Bartholomew Close, EC1A 7BN, ibai.london
Great
Tollington’s is a Spanish accentual canteen of a restaurant in a former Chippy that was essentially falling and becomes another gail. Instead, it quickly became a place that they found on vacation and were excited – simple dishes, wormwood off the barrel, cheeky small tables in corners full of people who talk about star signs. Everything would be gently modest if it hadn’t been for the hype who rolled like a wave in 2024. Not every dish was a top level during a recent visit, but for the most part the food is noise. The easier, the better, in general: if there are crab donuts, you will receive it, however, whatever tortilla; This is a place for long afternoons full of imaginative, inventive snacks, small glasses of beer and well -moved seafood.
172 Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, N4 3AJ, greatthton.shop
Sabor
The popular Basque chef Nieves Barrigan opened Sabor 2018 and a Michelin star was soon given. The restaurant crosses Spain and its culinary nous, from the tapas joints of Andalusia to Galicia, the meat shop asadors in between. The restaurant is divided accordingly and divided into sections that are dedicated to these very different types of cooking. Everyone would serve them and everyone would bring them to a lively region of Spain. Whether you want Octopus and Morcilla or fried calamari with chili jam is with you.
35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR, saborrestaurants.co.uk
Tasca
Not strictly Spanish – Tasca also borrows techniques, flavors and traditions from France and Portugal, but is all the better to put together Iberian flavors, and his place is deserved here. The menu is great fun, meanders out of pork and shrimp cachorrinhos (grilled sandwiches, which can be found in the working class in the working class in Iberia) on toast. It would be advisable to keep up for a long evening to explore the wine list, which is very accessible thanks to the specialist knowledge of sommelier Sinead Murdoch. And then to snacks on Octopus -Gildas in front of Confit ride, beetroot and ricotta tartlets and monk fishing with white beans full of taste and tail.
255 Paradise Row, E2 9le, Cav255.london
Morito
A word here for the fashionable tapas joint Morito, without which Tollington would probably not exist. It could be fair to say that Morito was the first New Age, a place that contributed to hugging the Gildas, the feta and better tomatoes by pioneer London. Visiting means accepting that we have to pay more attention all ingredients. To ask: “What is life without Ajo Blano?” And to say: “It is actually quite important that I trust myself with Escalavida so that I can visit the parents -in -law.” You have the idea. Morito is fabulous. Have the crispy chickpeas, the fried eggplant and the Salzkabeljau.
Hackney, Exmouth Market (above), Morito.co.uk
Andanza
Due to the opening – in November 2020 – Andanza was never attractive that it deserved. Perhaps you remember that something else has consumed the world’s attention. But lately this tapas bar has become a place in an old betting shop where it can be possible, and rightly so: It is not just a looker with all its clever detailed, hand-carved oak counter, a television that shows old programs from the eighties-but also the food is beautiful. Go for foie grass pintxo, great, long inkfish legs over curled potatoes and a Spanish -infloator slide with Manchego and Green Salsa. There is also a spacious wine list: Be sure to try the Txacoli, a slightly sparkling, super dry wine from northern Spain if you don’t have it before.
66 Weston Street, SE1 3st, Andanza.co.uk
Mountain
Tomos Parry is a chef who wears Loewe suits at Gabelish Awards ceremonies in Torino. He deserves it: Berg, his Basque inspired follow-up to Brat, is located in the 88th place on the list of the best restaurants in the world, is quite always full and brings the best Welsh products that can be presented for Soho. It is cooked with the whole flair of a violent and mousstemed cook from Bilbao. That means the food hops; Langoustines could arrive in a pillow -like splendor with spicy mayonnaise and omelettes – the city’s conversation, when the restaurant opened in 2023 – fold eggs that fold like waves over spider crabs and curls with black truffles.
16-18 but Street, W1F 9rd, Mountainbeakstreet.com
Meson Don Felipe
Like Don Pepe, Meson Don Felipe is another old, family -run fixture that passed the test of the time. That could be a will enough. Does it serve the best Spanish food in London? Obviously not. It doesn’t have to. The menu still explains what Patatas Bravas is to cry out loudly – “Chips!” – But you see, there is absolutely nothing wrong to sit down to Croquetas de Atun, Sardinas Fritas and Albondigas, not least if you left £ 30 with a change. A rarity in London today. In any case, it is a charming small restaurant, the service is hectic but happy, the wine list is extremely affordable, but with curve balls for those who want to enjoy something decent, and the dining room brings a rather authentic energy.
53 The cut, SE1 8LF, mesondonfelipe.co.uk
