Cordoba Food Guide – What And Where To Eat In Cordoba Spain

Cordoba Food Guide

Most travelers who venture to Cordoba, Spain, head there for the history and architecture. But, there are plenty of great places to eat in the small city. In this Cordoba food guide, we share our tips on what and where to eat in Cordoba. This includes tips on how to find some real Andalusian specialties. 

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How To Find The Best Food In Cordoba

Spain has a regional cuisine. The food you find in Barcelona will be different than in Madrid and different from San Sebastian. The food in Cordoba is more similar to its Andalusian neighbors, including Seville, Malaga, and Granada.

When it comes to the food to eat in Cordoba, we recommend some typical Spanish dishes as well as regional Andalusian dishes.

When we first visited Cordoba we had already been living in Spain for a few years. Yet, some of the dishes we ate were such a surprise. 

That’s because typical Cordoba food includes some of the most famous Spanish food dishes like tortilla and jamon, but also incorporates Andalusian cuisine, dishes that are typical of Andalusia and specific to Cordoba.

Because of the long history of Muslim rule, and the proximity to Africa, dishes included ingredients like saffron, almonds, and spices not otherwise seen in other areas of Spain.

Check out our Spain Food Guide – What To Eat In Spain for more details on regional must-try dishes in Spain.

How To Book Hotels In Spain

Since leaving the US over a decade ago, we’ve traveled to Spain numerous times. We’ve even lived in Spain for over three years. During these trips to Spain, we learned a few things about booking hotels in Spain. We’ve stayed at stunning luxury hotels like the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and the W Barcelona. And sadly we have stayed in our fair share of not-so-great hotels in Spain.

When planning our trips to Spain, we use Booking.com for hotels in Spain. In addition to booking hotels, we’ve used them to book apartments in Spain for longer stays. When we’ve wanted something special, we’ve used Booking to find stunning villas in Spain. We’ve even found some charming and less expensive guest houses in Spain on Booking.com.

WHAT TO EAT IN CORDOBA SPAIN

Cordoba is not often the first Spanish city that comes to mind when people talk about where to eat in Spain. After living in Spain for three years, we learned that pretty much every Spanish city should come to mind when it comes to great Spanish food.

Here’s a look at some of the delicious Spanish dishes we ate during our trip to Cordoba. By no means did we get to sample all the traditional dishes from Cordoba, but if you can sample these dishes during your trip, you’ll walk away satisfied.

In addition to the local dishes below, you can also easily find some of the most classic tapas recipes. This includes croquetas de jamon – probably one of the most popular tapas.

Salmorejo Cordobes

Salmorejo is a typical Andalusia dish that could be considered a cousin of gazpacho, the cold tomato soup that is one of the most famous tapas dishes.

In Andalusia, they have salmorejo. Salmorejo is also a cold tomato soup, but it’s entirely different from gazpacho. It is smooth, thick, and creamy, and normally topped with bits of Jamon and hard-boiled egg. The main difference is that salmorejo is made with bread and sherry. It’s a must-try Cordoba dish!

Salmorejo is much thicker than gazpacho but smooth at the same time. 

Ajoblanco

When summer temperatures hoover around 90 Fahrenheit you’re going to want something cold to eat. Thankfully there’s ajoblanco. Made from bread, crushed almonds, and garlic this soup is served cold.

While most travelers always think of soup needing to be warm, you’ll be thankful for a bowl of ajoblanco if you are in Cordoba in July or August. 

Mazamorra de Almendras

If you like thick, cold soup, then Cordoba is the culinary destination for you. Mazamnmorra de Almendras takes the idea of Salmorejo and makes it a Cordobese version.

Instead of tomatoes, almonds form the base for this cold soup, giving it a different kind of sweetness along with the texture of the almonds.

The version we had was Mazamorra de Almendras con Gelatina de Pedro Ximenez, meaning it was topped with gelatin made from one of the sweet, local sherry varieties, Pedro Ximenez.

The sweetness of the Sherry offset the unique texture of the almond-based cold soup. If you are interested in finding this version, we ate it at Garum 2.1.

Flamenquines

The flamenquín is another Cordoba specialty and one of our favorite Spanish snacks. It’s pretty hefty, filled with protein, and deep-fried.

A flamenquin includes a slice of pork loin, a slice of Jamon, and a piece of cheese, which is rolled up and deep fried. More often it is served as a racion, rather than a tapa, and is made for sharing.

We ate this version at El Paseo Iberico and it really hit the spot, particularly with a little salmorejo and pickled vegetables on the side. You can find this on almost every tapa bar menu in Cordoba.

Lechuga al Ajillo – Lettuce with Garlic

Lechuga al Ajillo translates to lettuce with garlic and that’s just what it is. Often large chunks of lettuce, with grated or diced fried garlic, and drizzled with olive oil and vinegar. It’s the perfect way to start a meal in Cordoba, particularly during the hot summers.

Berenjenas a la Miel – Fried Eggplant with Honey

This is another Andalusian dish that is a must-eat in every city visited in the region. We certainly did.

Fried eggplant with honey is simply amazing and makes a perfect tapa. Sometimes the eggplant is sliced and sometimes it is cut into eggplant fingers.

It is breaded and deep fried and drizzled with honey. The sweetness of the honey offsets the fried flavor of the vegetable perfectly.

This more contemporary version had just a taste of honey but was topped with salmorejo and scrambled eggs. We also had more traditional versions at Casa El Pisto.

After you get back from Cordoba, try making our Berenjenas con Miel recipe at home.

Rabo de Toro

Rabo de Toro is oxtail, which is a specialty of Andalusia. It seemed to be everywhere in Cordoba. This includes Rabo de Toro stews and croquettes. After discovering this dish in Cordoba, Eric and I love it so much that we learned how to make it at home. Here’s our recipe.

We tried it at Garum 2.1 in a more contemporary way, an oxtail “churro” where the Rabo de Toro was stuffed inside a thin pastry and deep fried.

It was served as churros normally are, with hot chocolate. In this case, the sweetness and richness of the oxtail were offset by the warm, bittersweet chocolate.

I am not sure I could eat this regularly (as I can with authentic churros and chocolate) but it was unique for sure. For a more traditional version of oxtail, try the Rabo de toro croquettas at El Abanico in the Jewish Quarter. But in fairness, we found our all-time favorite rabo de toro while traveling in Malaga. But you’re going to have to ask nicely where to find it.

Caracoles

It’s still strange writing that we love eating snails. But we do. Living in Spain like we did it’s nearly impossible not to find a region that doesn’t have its own take on cooking these tiny mollusks.

In Girona, it was with salt and pepper. Cordoba, it’s a flavorful broth made with almonds. Regardless of how they are cooked, we highly recommend tasting them. 

WHERE TO EAT IN CORDOBA SPAIN

Eric and I discovered a wide variety of traditional cafes and higher-end restaurants in Cordoba. This variety of restaurants allows travelers of all budgets to eat well. Here are some of the restaurants in Cordoba we visited during our trip.

Contemporary Restaurants In Cordoba

Restaurante La Regadera Cordoba

La Regadera is a contemporary restaurant only a few minutes’ walk along the river from the Mezquita. The decor is light and airy, with a view into the kitchen, through an indoor herb garden they use for dishes.

We shared one starter and two mains, which was enough for us. Each dish was a portion more than a tapa size, and they were great about letting us share. ed.

To me, this was some of the best food in Cordoba. It’s on the higher end of the price scale, with a meal for two, with a bottle of Spanish wine, for about €100. It was worth it. 

Try the duck confit Puntalette, which is similar to a risotto, the Suckling Lamb, and the Iberian Pork Cheeks.

Restaurante La Regarera Cordoba is at Ronda Isasa 10, down the promenade from the Mezquita and facing the river. 

Garum 2.1 Cordoba

Garum is another great option for more contemporary versions of traditional Andalusian cuisine. Although more expensive than a typical Cordoba tapas bar, it’s not as expensive as La Regadera.

In the past, their salmorejo has won the best in Cordoba. We ordered 4 tapas, which was more than enough food for two.

Try their award-winning salmorejo, their award-winning Rabo de Torro churro, and their cochifrito de lechal, a portion of deep fried suckling pig, including a pig hand. 

Garum 2.1 Cordoba is at Calle de San Fernando 120-122, about a 10-minute walk from the Mezquita away from the Jewish Quarter. 

Traditional Tapas Bars In Cordoba

El Paseo Iberico

What was once El Potrillo, just up the road, is now known as El Paseo Iberico. El Paseo is a rustic bar, filled with locals. It is operated by one man, Argimiro, a jack-of-all-trades, who is the bartender, server, cook, and Jamon slicer.

Stop in for mega flamenquines, great sliced Jamon, and the atmosphere. They are also known for their grilled garlic mushrooms. There is a small bar at the front and some tables in the rear. 

El Paseo Iberico is at Calle Lucano 2. They are about a 10-minute walk from the Mezquita, down a pleasant road with shops, bars, and restaurants.

Taberna San Miguel – Casa El Pisto

Walking away from the Jewish Quarter and the Mezquita, Cordoba’s main shopping street is Calle Jesus Maria. It’s a great street to wander around and perhaps stop for a drink or coffee along the way.

At the top of the street, at the corner of Plaza de San Miguel is Casa El Pisto, a great option for very traditional Cordoba tapas. They opened in 1880, so that has to say something.

They have a small tapas bar in the front, along with a handful of high-top tables as well as plenty of seating for full meals. The menu offers tapas, medio raciones, and raciones for many of the dishes.

Try the Lecuga al Ajillo, Costillas Adobo, which are small marinated pork ribs, and the Jaimitos al Limon, which are deep-fried, breaded sardines.

Casa El Pisto is at Plaza de San Miguel 1. 

Another recommended nearby option is Taberna Montillana, but we didn’t get a chance to dine there. They are open all day if you miss the dining hours at Casa El Pisto. They also have a much larger bar area, and a smaller dining area, so they are great for casual tapas.

Casa Pepe de la Juderia

When wondering where to eat in Cordoba Spain for classic Spanish and Andalusian food with a nice atmosphere, this is your choice. It’s classically decorated with white stone walls and a romantic patio for outdoor dining in nicer weather. There is also a small tapas bar in the front for a quick bite, but it is more of a restaurant than a tapas bar. 

It’s in the heart of the Jewish Quarter and close to most centrally located Cordoba hotels. Try the fried eggplant with honey, Sephardic lamb, and the salmorejo.

Casa Pepe de la Juderia is at Calle Romero 1. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Bar Santos for Tortilla

There are two places called Bar Santos near the Mosque. The one that is most well-known is Bar Santos on Calle Magistral Gonzales. It’s on the northeast corner of the Mosque.

There is also a Taberna Bar Santos on the south end as well, on Calle Corrigidor Luis de la Cerda. We went to both. I thought the tortilla was moister at Taberna Bar Santos, but on a busy day, I could see Bar Santos being popular as it is more rustic and traditional.

They are both well-known for their tortilla, a mixture of egg and potato. My guess is that they are known for their tortilla because of the size they serve. They are huge! Stop in for a snack at either, perhaps ordering one tortilla and a couple of glasses of vermouth to start the day.

El Tercio Viejo

If you are visiting during snail season, which is the Spring, head to El Tercio Viejo for their tapas of snails. Eat the snails and then drink the broth! Seriously. They are famous for them. It’s a simple little bar and kind of out of the way if staying in the Jewish Quarter, so there is no reason to trek out there if not for the snails. Try them!

Tips On Finding The Best Food In Cordoba

A few notes to help you find the best typical Spanish food in Cordoba and to understand a typical menu in Cordoba.

Most menus include both a tapa and a racion. A tapa is a small plate whereas a racion is a full-sized plate, which equates to what people are used to eating for dinner.

Most tapas restaurants will offer a tapa, a ½ racion (or medio racion), or a racion. Not all sizes are available for all dishes, but the menus are pretty clear.

We try to only order tapas so that we can try as many Spanish food specialties as possible. If you are traveling in a group, then a larger size might be better.

Cost Of Food In Cordoba

As for the cost of eating out in Cordoba, the best tapas in Cordoba can cost less than €5. This makes it very affordable to eat well in the city.

Tapas range from €2-7, depending on whether this dish is a vegetable, meat, fish, or seafood. Raciones are a little more expensive, ranging from €7-15.

A media racion will fall somewhere in the middle. Unlike in Granada or Seville where it is common to tapa hop from bar to bar, it is more common in Cordoba to choose a restaurant and sit down for lunch and dinner.