What Is In Tapas: A Beginner’s Guide

Headed to a tapas restaurant and not sure what to expect? I’ll go over the basics with you, but first, let’s start with what is in tapas. 

Answer: What is in tapas depends on a variety of factors but common tapas include fried potatoes, aged Spanish ham, croquettes, omelets, cheese, fried seafood, stewed meat, and pickled veggies. 

There is no one particular type of tapas or one single ingredient that’s found in all tapas. Each dish is subjective to the restaurant, who is making the dish, and what is in season. 

Below, I have a table laying out an example of what is in tapas. These are common tapas with the main ingredients labeled to give you an idea of what to expect.

Tapas	Main Ingredients
Patatas Bravas	Fried Potatoes
Tortilla de Patatas	Eggs, Potatoes
Jamón	Cured Spanish Ham
Chorizo	Pork Sausage
Almejas a la Marinera	Stewed Clams
Albóndigas	Pork Meatballs
Bacalao	Salt Cod
Pulpo a la Gallega	Octopus, Olive Oil
Pan Con Tomate	Tomatoes, Bread

---

I love tapas and the Spanish tapas culture. It’s more than just food but a way of socializing and enjoying constantly changing food. 

I’ll review what tapas are and what to expect when visiting a tapas restaurant in Spain, and other countries around the world. 

What Is A Spanish Tapas?

Spanish tapas are small, shareable snacks or appetizers meant for sharing with the table. Eating tapas in Spain is more than just a meal, it’s a birth rite passed through generations of eating, drinking, and socializing that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. 

Tapas revolve around variety, with several tapas ordered at once typically with drinks. When food hits the table, everyone snacks away until a new round of tapas and drinks is needed. 

In Spain, it’s common to jump from bar to bar getting a few drinks and a few tapas transforming a normal dinner into an evening full of delicious bites, sipping amazing Spanish wines as you go. 

Desserts usually aren’t tapas, but there are plenty of places to eat the best churros of your life throughout the city.

Are Tapas Free?

In a few areas in Spain, like Granada, tapas are free!

Yuppers. Absolutely free.

What is in these tapas is simple and aren’t full blown meals themselves but a few delicious bites to whet your appetite. Each restaurant will serve tapas alongside your normal meal if you so choose to order a normal sized plate of food. 

The process is simple. You order a drink and a free plate of food follows.

Here is the amazing part: when you order another drink, you get different tapas, usually better than the last. Tapas level up as you continue ordering drinks at the same restaurant. 

The first tapas might be a toasted piece of bread with Spanish ham and cheese with the second round being a tender stew of pork with bread for dipping. A third round might be a juicy mini cheeseburger, and so on. 

There is no picking and choosing on the free tapas. You get what they serve you. 

In Granada, it’s typical to eat tapas a few nights a week, especially when glasses of ridiculously good Spanish wine only costs 2 Euro. It’s a social event with tapas bars, seeing regulars every night for their usual orders. 

Unfortunately, in other more popular cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and San Sebastian, tapas must be paid for. There are a few other cities around the country where you can still chow down for free.

What Are Tapas Outside of Granada?

In most parts of Spain and everywhere else in the world, you must pay for tapas, but each dish is unique and larger than its free counterparts. 

You order each specific tapas from a set menu like any normal dish at a restaurant. The server should explain the different types of tapas available and how many should be ordered for the whole table.

Tapas bars outside of Spain still serve many classical tapas and a few tapas that are unique to that specific restaurant. 

No matter where you eat tapas, the guidelines stay the same with small, shareable plates ordered for the whole table. 

I’ve eaten tapas in Denver, New York, San Francisco, and even Malaysia, and the whole purpose of tapas is to eat and drink exceptionally well while spending time with wonderful people. 

Typical Tapas In Spain

Patatas Bravas– cubed fried potatoes that are served with a spicy sauce or sometimes an aioli. 

Tortilla de Patatas– Not a tortilla used for tacos, this is an egg omelet stuffed with potatoes and sometimes cheese. 

Jamon– the generic word for ham. Jamon on menus usually refers to various dry aged hams like the impeccable Jamon Iberico

Croquettas– bread and fried balls made from various proteins. Fried salt cod is common.

Pan Tumaca– Toasted bread rubbed with garlic and tomato and sometimes served with olive oil

Chorizo– Pork sausage that is sometimes stewed in wine or cider

Albondigas– Meatballs made from various proteins but usually pork or beef 

The list certainly goes on and on but you get the idea. Tapas Bars in Spain will list out their selections and you pick and choose as you go. 

I suggest ordering your tapas in rounds, seeing how you enjoy the meal. With so many shareable plates, ordering too many tapas creates a rush to eat them before they get cold or soggy.

How Many Tapas For 2 People?

Generally speaking 4-6 tapas are the right amount for two people. This depends on the restaurant, and the server should review what is in their tapas and the usual portion sizes.

When in doubt, order less than what you need. Remember, tapas are small plates of food. If you are still hungry, just order some more!

That’s the beautiful part of tapas, ordering what you want when you need it. 

Best City For Tapas In Spain

Granada is the best city for tapas in Spain, especially for the free tapas with the quantity and quality everywhere in the city. 

Granada is the birthplace of tapas and true tapas culture thrives in the city, surviving generations of changes, and even persevering through Covid lockdowns. 

Restaurants and bars serve free tapas with the purchase of a drink. It’s remarkable to experience a food scene so dedicated to its traditions.

If you looking for the best tapas in Granada, I interviewed my local friend Emma and she dives into all the details.

Out of the major cities throughout the country, Granada is reasonably affordable and easy to access through a train ride from Madrid. 

Immerse yourself in true tapas culture and take the trip to Granada for yourself. 

Conclusion: Visit Spain And Eat TAPAS

Now that you understand what is in tapas, it’s time to start planning! In Spain, the food is incredible, the people are nice and the overall experience kept me wanting to experience more.

Tapas involve a culture all on it’s own, allowing you to hop around different bars, socializing with friends, or if traveling alone, making new ones.

With the wide selection available, eating your way through Spain and sampling all the tapas makes for a food filled trip that would make anyone jealous.