
You’ve heard of tapas before, but perhaps you’re wondering what the word even means. Sure, tapas is a type of food, right? But what type of food is it, where does it come from, and what kinds of tapas are there? That’s where The Tapas Sauces is here to help and guide you through.
In our ultimate guide to tapas from Spain, we’ll tell you all you need to know about tapas. What’s more, we’ll even share with you some of the best tapas recipes out there and delve into different regions that have their own signature tapas varieties. Let’s take a look at the best of Spain’s culinary deliciousness.
Tapas explained
Tapas are small dishes of various types of Spanish food that were first intended to accompany drinks in bars. They are, in many ways, like a little piece of dinner, but not a full plate. More like half of a plate.
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of food they are, the answers encompass all things Spanish from meat to poultry to fish and rice and beyond. Tapas are not limited to one type of food. They are a little bit of everything. What makes them tapas is that they come on small plates and are usually small servings of typical Spanish ingredients.
Origins of Tapas
The origin of tapas is somewhat of a mystery. Tapas seem to have been around in Spain as far back as anyone can remember, but here are the main theories.
- When King Alfonso X of Castile (1221–1284) was suffering from an illness, he noticed his health improve after eating small plates of food together with a glass of wine. He then ordered little dishes to be served with wine throughout the rest of his kingdom.
- Another theory, albeit a far more recent one, is that King Alfonso XIII (1886–1941) was visiting the coastal town of Cadiz on a windy day. He ordered a glass of wine in a tavern which was served to him with a piece of ham over the top to stop sand from blowing into the drink. When he ordered his next glass, he asked for it with the lid, or in Spanish, the tapa.
- The third theory is more simple and perhaps, more plausible. Little plates of food were served in bars as a way of pleasing customers and stopping drunkenness. During summer, those plates would have a little lid, or tapa, on top to stop flies from getting to the food.
Types of Tapas by Region
It would be impossible to go through all types of tapas that exist in Spain as there are far too many imaginable. However, let’s take a look at some of the most popular and traditional tapas dishes and the regions they come from, starting with the nation’s capital.

Tapas from Madrid
Perhaps the most famous and popular tapas dish from Spain’s capital city is patatas bravas. These are little cubes of fried potato smothered in a delicious salsa brava. Its popularity, however, has spread way beyond Madrid and it can be found in bars and restaurants throughout the country.
Tapas from Andalusia
Although you can find tapas all over Spain, they are believed to have originated in the southern region of Andalusia. If you were to order a drink in an Andalus bar, they might bring you a little tapa of Spanish omelet, one of the most popular dishes in the country.
What the Spanish call albondigas, we call meatballs, which is another popular tapas dish served in the bars of Spain. What makes them different in Spain, however, is the delicious Spanish sauces they’re paired with, setting them apart from meatballs recipes found elsewhere.
Sevilla style fried chicken lollipops are also worthy of a mention and are a great little tapa to snack on with a drink on the table and something entertaining on the television.
Tapas from the Canary Islands
Spain’s Canary Islands are situated just off the North-Western coast of the African continent. Being at such a crossroads of cultures throughout the centuries enabled the Islands to develop its own unique culinary style, largely influenced by mainland Spain, the Indigenous cultures of the Islands, and the foods brought over from South America.
The greatest example of this culinary fusion can be found in their most famous and popular tapas dish, Papas arrugadas with mojo, a unique and flavorful meal that’s easy to fall in love with.
Pintxos
In the Basque Country, a culturally distinct region of Northern Spain, you won’t find tapas, but rather, what they call pintxos. These are similar but have their own style. They’re typically little servings of fish, such as this cod recipe, served on top of small pieces of bread.
Pintxos are not limited to fish, however, and also include meat, vegetables, and other kinds of ingredients. In other regions of Spain, the word pintxo is used to describe something similar to a tapa, but smaller, like a mini tapa.
Montaditos
Similar to the pintxos of the North, montaditos are a type of tapa involving a little piece of bread. More than often, however, they are not simply one-part food and one-part bread, but rather two-part bread, making them effectively little sandwiches.
The word Mantecadito is sometimes used to describe the same thing, as in this Mantecadito of pork loin Sevilla style recipe.
So, are you now ready to make your own tapas? Dive straight in with one of our delicious Spanish recipes.