30 budget eating worth the trip across Spain, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Spain guides.
Bar Pinotxo (budget) ★ 4.6 · Barcelona
raval · Mercat de la Boqueria stall 466, La Rambla 91, 08001 Barcelona
Bar Pinotxo in Barcelona's Boqueria market does a market-breakfast counter from 06:30: chickpeas and blood sausage, a coffee and a glass for under 12 euros.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The chickpea breakfast is the order; get there before 09:00 for a stool.
Casa Dani ★ 4.6 · Madrid
salamanca · Calle Ayala 28, 28001 Madrid
Casa Dani in Mercado de la Paz in Madrid has cooked the city's most-talked-about tortilla de patatas for 40 years; the pincho runs 2 euros and the menu del dia stays at 13 euros for three courses.
Tip: Walk-in only. Closed Sundays. The pincho de tortilla at 2 euros is the cheapest tortilla in Madrid; menu del dia under 13.
Ganbara (counter setas) ★ 4.6 · San Sebastián
San Jeronimo Kalea 21, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Ganbara on San Jeronimo in San Sebastian's Old Town serves a single mushroom-and-egg-yolk pintxo from the counter under 7 euros, the autumn budget bite in mushroom season.
Tip: October to December peak; closed Sundays and Mondays.
La Cova Fumada (budget) ★ 4.5 · Barcelona
barceloneta · Carrer del Baluard 56, 08003 Barcelona
La Cova Fumada in Barcelona's Barceloneta serves bombas and anchovies under 14 euros: cash-only, lunchtime weekday, the canonical pre-elBulli neighbourhood lunch.
Tip: Open weekday lunch only; cash only. Three bombas, anchovies and a beer for 12 euros.
Casa Labra (pincho counter) ★ 4.5 · Madrid
centro · Calle de Tetuan 12, 28013 Madrid
Casa Labra near Puerta del Sol in Madrid fries the bacalao rebozado at its 1860-founded counter, with the pincho de bacalao still under 2 euros, a cana for 2.50 and the standing-room bar a working-day local.
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Cash preferred. Bacalao plus cana under 4 euros; the dining room runs more expensive.
Chocolateria San Gines ★ 4.5 · Madrid
centro · Pasadizo de San Gines 5, 28013 Madrid
Chocolateria San Gines off Calle Mayor in Madrid has fried the churros con chocolate since 1894; a set of 6 churros and a thick chocolate cup runs 4.30 euros, the cheapest 24-hour breakfast in the centre.
Tip: Walk-in only. Open 24 hours daily. Cash and card. The 03:00 to 05:00 post-club slot has the fastest queue.
Bar Txepetxa ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Pescaderia Kalea 5, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Bar Txepetxa on Pescaderia in San Sebastian sells the vinegar-cured anchovy pintxo from 3 euros, the seafood-counter budget order with a Txakoli for under 6.
Tip: Two anchoas with a Txakoli for under 8 euros. Counter standing only.
Antonio Bar ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Bergara Kalea 3, 20005 Donostia-San Sebastian
Antonio Bar on Bergara in San Sebastian's Centro serves a wedge of the 28-egg tortilla with a cana under 7 euros, the locals' lunchtime budget plate.
Tip: Tortilla finishes by 14:30. Stand at the counter; cash and card both.
Goiz Argi ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Fermin Calbeton Kalea 4, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Goiz Argi on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town fires the brocheta de gambas to order for under 5 euros, the canonical Old Town budget bite with a Txakoli.
Tip: Stand only; the brochette plus a Txakoli is under 8 euros.
La Vina ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián
Calle 31 de Agosto 3, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
La Vina on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian sells the burnt Basque cheesecake wedge from the counter under 5 euros, the city's most famous dessert without the sit-down bill.
Tip: Wedge to take away or eat standing. Closed Mondays.
Conesa Entrepans (budget) ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
gotic · Carrer de la Llibreteria 1, 08002 Barcelona
Conesa Entrepans on Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter has run toasted bocadillos since 1951: 90+ fillings, 5 euro sandwich, a lunchtime steal.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order by number from the wall; counter takes 10 minutes.
Can Paixano (budget) ★ 4.4 · Barcelona
barceloneta · Carrer de la Reina Cristina 7, 08003 Barcelona
Can Paixano in Barcelona's Barceloneta pours pink cava at 1.50 euros and serves a chorizo bocadillo at 1.50: three cavas and a bocadillo is 8 euros total.
Tip: Open Mon-Sat lunchtime and evenings. Standing only; the bar closes by 22:00 on weekdays.
Casa Camacho ★ 4.4 · Madrid
malasana · Calle de San Andres 4, 28004 Madrid
Casa Camacho in Madrid's Malasana has run the 1928 working-class taberna since its founding, with yayo cocktails for 3 euros, tortilla pincho 3 and a complete cheap lunch under 9 euros at standing-room.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar. Whole meal under 9 euros each.
Casa Revuelta ★ 4.4 · Madrid
centro · Calle Latoneros 3, 28012 Madrid
Casa Revuelta off Plaza Mayor in Madrid has fried the bacalao rebozado at the counter since 1924, with the pincho at 5 euros, cana 2.50, the whole working-day lunch under 7 euros at the standing-room bar.
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. Cod sells out by 15:30 on weekends.
Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles ★ 4.4 · Madrid
lavapies · Plaza de Cascorro 18, 28005 Madrid
Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles on Plaza Cascorro in Madrid's Lavapies has cooked the caracoles in spicy chorizo broth since 1942; a racion serves two for 12 euros, eaten with bread at the standing-room bar.
Tip: Walk-in only Sundays during the rastro market. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. Sundays 12:00 to 16:00 is the local hour.
Bar Tamboril ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián
Arrandegi Kalea 2, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Bar Tamboril on Arrandegi next to Plaza de la Constitucion in San Sebastian's Old Town turns out garlic-mushroom pintxos for under 4 euros, the budget hot bite of the family.
Tip: Counter standing only; closed Tuesdays.
Bar La Ideal ★ 4.3 · Madrid
centro · Calle Botoneras 4, 28012 Madrid
Bar La Ideal off Plaza Mayor in Madrid is the bocadillo de calamares counter where a full bocadillo, cana and a slice of lemon runs under 8 euros, defining the Madrileno cheap working-day lunch since 1955.
Tip: Walk-in only at the counter. Bocadillo 5.50 euros, cana 2.50; cash preferred at the bar.
Casa Mingo ★ 4.3 · Madrid
centro · Paseo de la Florida 34, 28008 Madrid
Casa Mingo on Paseo de la Florida in Madrid is the 1888 Asturian sidreria where a whole roast chicken and a bottle of natural cider feeds two people for 18 euros, with no service charge.
Tip: Walk-in only. Roast chicken 12 euros plus 6 euro bottle of sidra; arrive before 13:30 or after 22:00 to avoid the queue.
La Castela (menu del dia) ★ 4.3 · Madrid
retiro · Calle de Doctor Castelo 22, 28009 Madrid
La Castela near El Retiro in Madrid runs the working-day menu del dia at 18 euros: three courses with bread, water and a glass of wine, with the daily-changing pizarra carte for the regulars.
Tip: Book two days ahead for weekday lunch. The bar serves the same pizarra menu standing for half the dining room price.
La Mejillonera ★ 4.3 · San Sebastián
Calle del Puerto 15, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
La Mejillonera on Calle del Puerto in San Sebastian has cooked mussels by the dozen since 1967, served standing at the bar with bravas and a cana for under 10 euros.
Tip: Standing only. Closed Wednesdays. Cash and card both.
Bar Sport ★ 4.3 · San Sebastián
Fermin Calbeton Kalea 10, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Bar Sport on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town fires foie a la plancha to order for under 5 euros, the late-evening budget pintxo of the working Old Town crowd.
Tip: Counter standing only; the foie plus Txakoli is under 8 euros.
Can Vilaro (menu del dia) ★ 4.2 · Barcelona
sant-antoni · Carrer del Comte Borrell 86, 08015 Barcelona
Can Vilaro in Barcelona's Sant Antoni runs a 13 euro menu del dia Mon-Sat lunch: three courses with bread, water, glass of wine and dessert; cash easier than card.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The 13 euro menu del dia runs 13:30 to 16:00. Cash easier than card here.
Casa Toni ★ 4.2 · Madrid
centro · Calle de la Cruz 14, 28012 Madrid
Casa Toni near Sol in Madrid serves the offal canon at counter prices: oreja a la plancha 6 euros, callos 8, cana 2.50; the whole working-day lunch runs under 10 euros at the standing-room bar.
Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only at the standing-room bar. Closed Wednesdays. The bar is full by 13:00.
El Rey de Gallinejas ★ 4.2 · Madrid
lavapies · Calle del Embajadores 84, 28012 Madrid
El Rey de Gallinejas in Madrid's Embajadores quarter serves the offal cheap-eat canon (fried lamb intestine and lamb-belly fat) at 6 to 8 euros per racion, the working-quarter Madrileno lunch since 1947.
Tip: Walk-in only. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays. The racion of gallinejas with patatas runs 10 euros under all conditions.
Casa Vergara ★ 4.2 · San Sebastián
Calle Mayor 21, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Casa Vergara on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town since 1948 turns out the bacalao al pil pil pintxo for under 4 euros, the canonical budget bite from the church-step counter.
Tip: Terrace fills first; the pintxo plus Txakoli is under 6 euros.
Fermin Calbeton (formerly Casa Tiburcio) ★ 4.2 · San Sebastián
Fermin Calbeton Kalea 40, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian
Casa Tiburcio on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town, rebranded Fermin Calbeton in 2022, runs a working-day menu del dia at 13 to 15 euros, with three courses and wine.
Tip: Menu del dia served 13:00 to 15:30 weekdays.
Casa Julia (budget lunch) ★ 4.0 · Barcelona
born · Carrer del Comerç 36, 08003 Barcelona
Casa Julia in Barcelona's Born runs a 13 euro three-course Catalan menu del dia Mon-Sat lunch: bread, water, glass of red, dessert, all part of the price.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The Wednesday lunch is the cleanest catch; book for groups of four or more.
Casa Fernandez (budget late-night) ★ 4.0 · Barcelona
sant-antoni · Carrer del Comte d'Urgell 100, 08011 Barcelona
Casa Fernandez in Barcelona's Sant Antoni runs an open-late kitchen with main courses under 14 euros: steak frites, fried squid, every day until 01:00.
Tip: Open every day until 01:00. The fried squid is the late-night order; cash and card.
Veggie Garden (menu del dia) ★ 4.0 · Barcelona
raval · Carrer dels Angels 3, 08001 Barcelona
Veggie Garden in Barcelona's Raval runs the city's cheapest sit-down vegetarian lunch: 9 euros for a three-course Indian thali with curry, rice, dessert.
Tip: Open daily 12:00 to 23:00. The 9 euro lunch menu del dia is the steal; the masala dosa is also good.
El Tigre ★ 4.0 · Madrid
chueca · Calle de las Infantas 23, 28004 Madrid
El Tigre in Madrid's Chueca pours large jarras of cana with free heaped plates of bravas, croquetas, oreja and jamon at the standing-room counter, every drink coming with a full free plate of tapas.
Tip: Cash only. Walk-in only at the bar; no table service. A jarra of cana for 5 euros gets a full free plate of tapas.