Spanish food culture is one of the great pleasures of visiting Benidorm, yet many tourists end up eating in tourist-trap restaurants serving average international food. This guide reveals the authentic local dishes you must try, where to find the best versions of each, and the food customs that locals follow - from the sacred lunch hour to the late-night tapas ritual. Eating well in Benidorm is easy once you know what to look for.
Must-Try Local Dishes
The Costa Blanca has its own distinctive culinary identity based on fresh Mediterranean seafood, locally grown rice and vegetables, and the region's excellent olive oil. Arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish stock, served with alioli) is the signature dish of the area - different from paella but equally delicious. Fideuà is a version of paella made with thin noodles instead of rice, originating just north of Benidorm in Gandia. Espencat is a local salad of roasted peppers and aubergines with salt cod - simple and outstanding.
- Arroz a banda: The local signature rice dish, cooked in fish stock, served with alioli
- Paella Valenciana: Authentic paella with chicken, rabbit, and green beans (NOT seafood)
- Fideuà: Noodle version of paella, originated nearby in Gandia
- Gambas a la plancha: Grilled fresh prawns with lemon and sea salt
- Dorada a la sal (salt-baked sea bream): The classic Mediterranean fish preparation
- Horchata: Refreshing cold drink made from tiger nuts (chufa) - a Valencia speciality
- Espencat: Roasted pepper and aubergine salad with salt cod
- Turrón: Almond nougat made in nearby Jijona - the best in the world
Tapas Culture: How to Do It Right
Tapas eating in Spain is a social ritual with its own rules. You do not order a main course - you order multiple small dishes to share. Start with cold tapas (jamón, pan con tomate, olives), then move to hot tapas (gambas al ajillo, croquetas, patatas bravas). Order two or three dishes at a time so they arrive fresh and hot. In the Old Town, many bars still give a free tapa with each drink - take advantage of this. The best tapas bars do not have photos on the menu; look for handwritten chalkboards.
In Spanish tapas bars, always ask "¿Tiene tapas?" (Do you have tapas?) rather than assuming. Many bars will have hidden tapas menus not on display. Locals eat tapas standing at the bar, not seated - joining this ritual gets you faster service and often slightly better treatment.
Paella: The Rules
Paella is the most misunderstood dish in Spain. The authentic Valencian paella contains chicken, rabbit, and green beans - not seafood. Seafood paella (Paella de Marisco) is a different dish, equally delicious but distinct. Never order paella for one (it cannot be cooked properly in small quantities). Order at lunchtime when it is freshly made - evening paella is usually reheated. If it arrives in under 20 minutes, it was pre-made. Good paella takes 25-35 minutes. Look for the crispy caramelised rice layer at the bottom (socarrat) - this is the mark of an expert cook.
Breakfast Spanish Style
A traditional Spanish breakfast is simple: a café con leche (milky coffee), a fresh pastry (croissant, ensaimada, or napolitana), or a tostada (toasted bread) with tomato and olive oil. For something more substantial, try a bocadillo de tortilla (bread roll with potato omelette). Churros with thick hot chocolate are a weekend treat and widely available in Benidorm. Skip the hotel buffet once and try a local café for an authentic and usually much cheaper breakfast experience (2-4 EUR total).
Drinks & Bar Culture
Spanish wine is excellent and affordable - a glass of house wine costs 2-3 EUR in most local bars, a full bottle 8-15 EUR. The local Valencia region produces good red wines from the Utiel-Requena appellation and refreshing whites from Alicante. Tinto de verano (red wine with lemon soda) is the quintessential summer drink. Gin and tonic (Gintonic in Spanish) is served in enormous balloon glasses with elaborate garnishes - a Spanish institution. For non-drinkers, horchata, fresh-squeezed orange juice (2-3 EUR), and coffee are excellent alternatives.
- Coffee: Café con leche (milk), café solo (espresso), cortado (small milk) - all under 2 EUR
- Beer: Estrella Damm or Voll-Damm on tap, typically 2-3 EUR for a caña (small glass)
- Wine: House wine 2-3 EUR per glass, decent bottle 10-15 EUR in a restaurant
- Sangria: Refreshing but more expensive than wine - make your own or find a fair-priced bar
- Water: Tap water is safe to drink, ask for "agua del grifo" to avoid paying for bottled
- Fresh juice: Freshly squeezed Valencia orange juice available everywhere, 2-3 EUR
Old Town Benidorm - the best area for authentic tapas and local food
