Gamba roja
Photo: dePoniente GDP Almería Occ. · CC BY 2.0

History

The red prawn, Aristeus antennatus, lives between 100 and 3,300 metres down and is fished daily across the Mediterranean; on Benidorm menus it often comes from Dénia, up the coast. Its deep red shell and sweet head make it the luxury order at a seafood meal. In Benidorm, Casa Toni grills bay red prawns by the 200 grams, ConBrassa lists Dénia red prawn on its asador menu, and Rice grills it as a starter.

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Common allergens: Crustaceans

Make it at home

Yield Serves 2Hands-on 10 minTotal 10 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g whole red prawns
  • Coarse sea salt
  • A little olive oil

Method

  1. Heat a heavy griddle or plancha until it is smoking hot.
  2. Sprinkle the griddle with coarse salt and lay the prawns on it.
  3. Cook for about 1 minute on each side, until the shells darken and the flesh just turns opaque.
  4. Serve at once, sucking the juices from the heads.

Tip from the editors. Do not overcook them: a red prawn is ready the moment the flesh loses its glassy look.

Where to eat gamba roja

Gamba roja in Benidorm

Casa Toni ★ 4.3

€€€ SeafoodLevante

Casa Toni has cooked fish and shellfish in Benidorm since 1992, from bay red prawns and almadraba salazones to arroz del senyoret and fideuà for two or more.

OrderBay red prawns from the plancha, then arroz del senyoret for the table.

TipIt sits in the Los Gemelos IV building on Avenida de Cuenca, a few streets back from Levante beach; Sunday is lunch only.

Directions

ConBrassa ★ 4.0

€€€ SteakhousePoniente

ConBrassa is a wood-fire asador on the Poniente seafront in Benidorm, grilling dry-aged beef, wagyu and black angus, with Dénia red prawns and market fish.

OrderA dry-aged steak from the wood grill, with Santa Pola quisquilla shrimp to start.

TipIt joined the city's April 2026 bluefin tuna week; the same group runs El Barranco further along Poniente.

Directions

Rice ★ 4.6

€€€ ValencianFinestrat

Rice is a rice house on the Sierra Cortina estate above Benidorm, in Finestrat, cooking seven rices plus fideuà and rossejat, with grilled red prawns first.

OrderArroz de gamba roja y corvina for two, after a grilled red prawn each.

TipRice dishes are for at least two and the kitchen cooks one rice per table; dinner runs only on Friday and Saturday, so plan a long lunch.

Directions

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