La Cova Fumada in Barcelona's Barceloneta invented the bomba (a potato fritter with meat and spicy sauce) in 1944. No sign, no menu, cash only, the canonical version.
Tip: Open weekday lunch only; cash only. Order three bombas, anchovies and beer; expect to share a table.
Address: Carrer del Baluard 56, 08003 Barcelona
El Quim de la Boqueria in Barcelona's market is the Quim Marquez counter where the fried-eggs-with-squid is the city's most photographed market plate.
Try: Fried eggs with squid
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday. Get there at 09:00 for a stool; cash and card both accepted.
Conesa Entrepans on Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has toasted bocadillos since 1951: 90+ fillings, Sant Jaume working classic.
Try: Toasted bocadillos
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order by number from the wall list; cash and card; counter takes 10 to 30 minutes.
Casa Amalia in Barcelona's Eixample runs a market-side counter with conserves and Catalan plates: a quick tapas stop at lunch hour for the working crowd.
Try: Catalan canned tapas
Tip: Lunch counter only weekdays. The canned mussels with the menu del dia at 13 euros is the value pick.
La Paradeta in Barcelona's Born is the pick-your-own-seafood counter where you choose by the kilo from ice trays, cooked grilled or boiled while you wait.
Try: Fresh seafood by the kilo
Tip: No reservations. Pay first at the counter, then sit for your number. Closed Monday.
Bar Tomas in Barcelona's Sarria has fried patatas bravas since 1949: a single canonical recipe of double-fried potatoes with the two-sauce ali-oli and red.
Try: Patatas bravas
Tip: Open daily until 22:00. The bravas with both sauces is the order; no reservations.
Can Pizza in Barcelona's Sant Antoni is the canonical Neapolitan pizza counter: AVPN-certified dough, San Marzano tomato, and a slice-shop window at lunch.
Try: Napolitan pizza by the slice
Tip: Open daily. The Margherita is the order; the slice-shop window is open 13:00-15:30 only.
