Our three weeks in the Canary Islands were spent exploring, swimming, hiking, and of course… Eating!! We had countless delicious meals on our trip, from typical Canarian food to local island specialties. In this Canary islands food guide we cover all the best things you can expect to eat and drink during your next visit.
Canary Islands Travel
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Barraquito
Ready for coffee with a special kick? The Canary Islands have created their own twist to this morning treat. A Barraquito is a strong espresso with condensed milk and a splash of licor 43.
The original Barraquito started on the island of Tenerife, but can now be found throughout the Canaries. They are especially popular as an after lunch pick me up following a massive plate of the day!
→ Spain’s Plato del Dia: A Lunch to Rival All Others
Goat Cheese
When we first landed on the island of Fuerteventura it was hard to miss the larger number of goats hopping around the island. Lucky for cheese lovers, these animals make the tastiest one on the Canaries!
The hard queso is dense and features a paprika rind. You’ll see this Canarian food everywhere from the many restaurants to grocery stores, and even at gas stations.
Mojo Sauce
We rarely had a meal in the Canary islands without asking for a side of Mojo Sauce! It comes in orange mojo rojo and green mojo verde, and served with potatoes.
This one of a kind sauce is a mix of garlic, chili peppers, bell peppers, and other local ingredients. We couldn’t get enough off this stuff to go with all our typical Canarian food.
Sautéed Mushrooms in Olive Oil
Mushrooms cooked in olive oil are a common tapa on mainland Spain, and this specialty has migrated to the islands. It’s best eaten with bread, and is a great dish to share with others or have as a starter.
→ Gran Canaria’s Route of the Tapas: Thursday Night in Las Palmas
Seafood Soup
It should be no surprise that much of the best food in the Canary Islands comes from the sea! The first thing we do in Spain when checking out a menu is scan for fish.
A truly local place on the ocean should have some type of seafood soup to get you started. Real authentic bowls will have shrimp, clams, and all the other goodies you’d expect. So when searching for what to eat in the Canary Islands make sure to try the seafood soup!
Lentil Soup
Speaking of soup… How about some lentils? This healthy Canarian food can be seen on menus all around Europe, but we especially enjoyed it on the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
You may not see it as something to be eaten on a hot sunny day. Yet you’ll quickly see it makes for the perfect appetizer after a day of adventures.
Fresh Fish
By now you know that fish is a staple of Canarian food and there’s endless choices to enjoy. Almost every plato del dia comes with a seafood option as an entree.
We felt like this was the perfect accompaniment to the famous salted potatoes with mojo sauce. Some of our favorite fish meals were simply grilled with lemon or served with a tomato sauce. Bottom line is don’t skip the fish when looking for the best Canary Islands food!
Ropa Vieja
If you went just purely off the Spanish translation you might not be drawn in by this typical Canarian food. However, we can assure you it is 100% worth trying!
Ropa Vieja or “old clothes” is a stew with shredded beef and vegetables. This food can be found throughout the Canary Islands, but you should also know it’s the national dish of Cuba!
Papas Arrugadas
We have already mentioned this classic Canarian food side, but it really deserves its own section. Papas Arrugadas are boiled potatoes with mojo sauce.
While that might not sound like the most exciting thing to eat in the Canary islands, we can assure you it’s fantastic. In fact, after our first taste we couldn’t eat a meal without them!
Octopus Salad
Out of all the appetizers we encountered eating food in the Canary Islands this was our absolute favorite! The fresh octopus salad is certainly a special treat to start your meal. Smothered in garlic lime sauce, this seafood dish is a must order if you see it anywhere in Spain.
→ 40 Popular Spanish Foods & Drinks: Tapas, Seafood, & More
Huevos Rotos
Huevos Rotos or “Broken Eggs” is another must-try dish in the Canary Islands. Usually, it’s served with fries or potatoes. We were skeptical at first as anything with french fries feels a little gimmicky. Yet when we dived into the yoke, crispy potatoes, and chorizo we were immediately sold!
Rancho Canario Soup
When we first walked into a restaurant and saw big vats of Rancho Canario we knew we needed to try it! This bean based soup is as authentic as it gets.
Rancho Canario consists of chick peas, potatoes, vegetables, and usually some type of meat. The texture of this typical Canarian food is thick so it tastes almost more like a stew than a soup. Definitely come hungry when sitting down for the filling Rancho Canario!
Flan
Did you really think we would write a Canary Islands food guide without including dessert? Flan has been our go-to in Europe for quite some time now, and some of the best we’ve had were in Spain.
The delicious desserts are made with eggs and typically topped with a sweet caramel glaze. While there are many sweet treats to choose from, flan is by far our favorite to eat in the Canary Islands!
Hope we didn’t make you to hungry! Comment below and let us know what your favorite foods are to eat in the Canary Island.
Safe Travels,
Brigitte and Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Where To Stay on Gran Canaria
Ultra Luxury – VEINTIUNO Emblematic Hotels – Adults Only – Modern upscale design seen throughout the hotel property and rooms. Daily breakfast and beautiful tropical rooftop with an outdoor swimming pool.
Fun Vacation – Maresía Canteras Urban Hotel – Tropical island style hotel just steps from Las Canteras beach. Bright rooms with comfy Balinese bed. Hotel also has a beautiful terrace to relax and enjoy a drink at night after exploring.
Hostel Life – Avocado Surf Hostel – As one of the more upscale hostels in town the Avocado Surf Hostel is located near the beach and center of Las Palmas. Gorgeous international decor fills the rooms and even features a large terrace. Location close to many restaurants serving great typical Canarian food.
For more places to stay on while you sample all the food in the Canary Islands you can explore the latest prices here!
Pin For Later ↓
Explore Spain
Best of Spain: 40 Foods & Drinks – Visiting in Winter – Costa Del Sol – 13 Best Drinks – 22 Fun Facts – 11 Cities in Southern Spain – Vueling Airlines Tips
Granada: Best Tapas – 15 Fun Things to Do – Alhambra de Granada
Nerja: 15 Things to do – Best Tapas – 7 Beautiful Beaches – Playa Burriana – Nerja Caves
Small Towns: Mijas – Frigiliana – Rupit – Cadiz – Ronda
Gran Canaria: Agaete Natural Pools – Volcano Hike
Fuerteventura: 12 Best Beaches – Aguas Verdes Natural Pool – Popcorn Beach
Tenerife: Playa Amarilla – Mount Teide Volcano Drive – Boat Tour
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Spain Travel Planning
Flights: We always find the best flights using Skyscanner. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly between cities in Spain than driving or taking the train!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Spain road trip!
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around Spain. You can book a tour of the Madrid Royal Palace, skip the line and explore the Alhambra de Granada, or even jump on a Tenerife Dolphin cruise!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
wow ..where did you eat ..most of this looks disgusting .. shame because some of the restaurants and food on the Canary Islands ..where I live are outstanding ..just none of the above.
Author
Hi Cassie,
These photos are from our trips to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. No matter how it looks we can promise you all our food experiences have been super delicious in the Canary Islands. Where do you live? Maybe you can give us some recommendations for our next visit.