layanluvstotravel

Hi Everyone,

I'm finally done with all our major planning (buses/trains/hotels,etc). What a relief!

Just have one question----any food recommendations for us in Madrid/Seville/Granada/Cordoba/Toledo/Marbella? We don't eat pork nor do we drink alcohol. We also tend to dine at casual or fast food restaurants (keeps our food costs down). Any recommendations?

Robert2533

I'm sorry, but dining at "fast food restaurants" is not dining, it's a refueling stop. You'll be spending time in a country known of its great cuisine and a major part of the experience.

If you don't eat pork (jamón), then there is always fresh fish, delicious veal and oxen and a few chickens on the grill.

Shanti

Check out Let's Go for recommendations on cheaper restaurants. They're more oriented towards cheaper places and I've had good luck eating at some of the restaurants they've recommended.

There are also some websites for info on Halal restaurants which would tie in with your avoiding pork and alcohol - but I have no idea how good these sites are.

I'm vegetarian and had no problem eating in Spain. There are salad bars and vegetarian restaurants in Madrid. There was a very good falafel stand in Granada - I can remember how to get there but can't remember the name. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

alexislovesspain

You will want to aviod "lomo" as well. I would suggest stopping by the local market or the Hypercore/CortesEnglish (sp?) (one is a grocery and one is a department store --- can't remember which is which) And picking up grocery type items and packing picnics. Grocery stores are very interesting places to get a feel of the local culture.

We if we don't have a full blown sit down dinner in Spain, we will eat at the Tapas bars .. you have a wide variety of choices. Although our kids are 4 and 6 .... we WILL NOT eat at fast food restaurants in foreign countries .. (well, there was that one exception while traveling from Spain to France, at night, on a lonely road ... and that McDonalds sign was a welcome sight .... and a education in eating fast food in France - don't excpet ketchup with your french fries)

Enjoy .... and definately try the olives .. they are the best.

bilboburgler

need to watch out for the odd pastry made out of pork fat. Normally very large dish sized bread thing whose name escaes me.

No pork or booze....should be ok. Hope you are not offended if I ask is Pork rejection religious and are there other things you also will not eat or is this just a single medical issue?

alexislovesspain

Bilboburgler .. areyou thinking .. Empanada?

kimhe

Have your main meal at lunch as almost everybody else in Spain. From about 1.30 pm next to all restaurants will offer an excellent value three course Menu del día. These cost normally around 10€, drinks included (I believe a Big Mac meal in Spain is now around 6€, should make your choice extremely easy). Even many upscale places will have a menu del día for 15-20€. Normally you can choose from three starters and three main dishes plus desert, so it's easy to avoid both pork and alcohol (well, the thing about pork can be a bit tricky, as many Spanish dishes are so to speak seasoned with jamón, a tradition that goes back to the 15th century... So ask if the vegetable stew will contain pork to be on the safe side).

Hundreds of these places in all the cities you mention, but here are a couple of suggestions for low cost, high quality and solid lunch. Look for where the locals go, and stay clear of the most obvious tourist trails even though you might stumble upon good options here as well:

Madrid:
Traditional Madrid fare at Casa Marta: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ta-Madrid.html

Great grilled chicken at Casa Mingo: http://www.casamingo.es/

Excellent and affordable Chinese/Asian food at El Rey de los Tallarines (Menu del Día, 9€): http://www.madrid.com/directory/rest...los_tallarines
http://11870.com/pro/rey-tallarines

And last, but not least: Great views and Menu del Día for 9€ at extremely popular Casa de Granada (come early):
http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

Sevilla:
Excellent guide of restaurants/tapas places in Sevilla. Most of these will have a very affordable Menu del Día. Eslava is one of many great favourites with locals:
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/category/eslava/

Stay with tapas or "raciones" to share in the evening. In Granada you get free tapas with every drink (coca-cola, whatever) everywhere, so you do also in a lot of other places in the cities on your route.

Revulgo

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR MADRID
Healthy Madrilenian breakfast, e.g. at Los Viñedos on Calle Virgen de los Peligros 7.
'Zumo de naranja natural' (Just crushed oranges juice), 'Barrita con tomate y aceite' (toast topped with fresh tomato pulp, salt and olive oil)

A very Madrilenian indulgence: hot chocolate with churros (typical fried-dough pastry). Enjoy it at 'Chocolateria Valor' on Calle Postigo de San Martin --close to Plaza Callao--
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...on_churros.jpg

Fresc Co is a restaurant chain specialising in healthy in Mediterranean diet food. Click on "Eng" at the down right corner of the screen.
http://www.frescco.com/

'El Cucurucho del Mar'. Affordable restaurant for seafood.
http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/ma...estaurant.html

Something for doing tapas at a bar's counter:
'Patatas bravas' (chunks of fried potato with spicy tomato sauce). Try it on "Las Bravas" on Calle Espoz y Mina 13, Callejón del Gato or Pasaje Matheu (which are all in the same area)
http://www.lasbravas.com/index_en.html

'Pimientos de Padrón' (small green peppers, fried in olive oil, salted and served in many popular tapas bars in Madrid). Try it at Casa Toni on Calle de la Cruz 14.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zDRl_KCGYQ.../maceiras7.jpg

'Pincho de tortilla' (portion of Spanish potato omelet). Order 1/2 pincho de tortilla at Los Viñedos on Calle Virgen de los Peligros 7.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...a_-_Madrid.jpg

'Bocadillo de calamares' (fried squid roll sandwich) on Calle Botoneras --close to Plaza Mayor-- or at El Brillante on Plaza Atocha. It's a popular saying here: if you go to Madrid and don't taste a 'bocadillo de calamares", you are committing a sin!
http://m0.11870.com/multimedia/image...e3ec9148c.jpeg

Suggested drink for a tapas crawl: 'mosto' by the glass (non-alcoholic juice of grapes).
http://kreixer.com/discema/ESPECIALI...osto_Greip.jpg

layanluvstotravel

Wow, u guys are awesome! Thanks so very much! Just fyi, by fastfood I know it conjures up images of Mcdonalds but we normally don't eat Mcds (although they have some pretty good salads now).

Thanks for the tip about "seasoning with jamon". Did not know that! Bilboburger- no offense taken, it is for religious reasons.

We actually love grocery shopping in foreign countries. I agree it really does give the tourist a feel for the culture. Thanks again!

bilboburgler

Empenada thats the thing. Very stomach filling and a no-no for the OP

If you order toast in a cafe (I have been desperate for breakfast on occasions) you will get toast and then the communal fat is passed around for you to spread it on the toast. No idea what sort of fat

alexislovesspain

Bilboburgler

Glad I could answer that question I love it .. and make it at the holiday .... you are right ... since the dough is flavored with bacon fat .. that will not work for the OP.