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 of what to eat and drink, so you don’t miss out on the incredible cuisine during your first visit.
13 Best Drinks & Food in The Canary Islands
1. 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
2. Goat Cheese
When we first landed on Fuerteventura Island, it was hard to miss the larger number of goats hopping around everywhere. Luckily 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.
3. Mojo Sauce
We rarely had food 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 Canary Islands cuisine.
4. 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.
The first time we tried this delectable was at tapas night in Las Palmas. You won’t want to miss this special route of the tapas in the capital city of Gran Canaria every Thursday!
5. Seafood Soup
It should come as no surprise that much of the best food in the Canary Islands comes from the sea! The first thing we do when eating out in Spain is scan for fish. Many of the most popular Spanish foods to eat are seafood items, even in on a Madrid food tour.
A truly local place on the ocean should have some type of tasty 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.
6. 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 around the beaches in Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
You may not think of it as something enjoyable on a hot sunny day. Yet, you’ll quickly see it makes for the perfect appetizer after a day of adventures.
More Delicious Canary Islands Food
7. Fresh Fish
By now, you know that fish is a staple of Canarian cuisine, 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.
The bottom line is don’t skip the fish if you want the best Canary Islands food!
8. Ropa Vieja
If you went just purely off the Spanish translation, you might not be drawn in by this food in the Canary Islands. 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 canaries, but you should also know it’s the national dish of Cuba!
9. 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 part of what to eat in Canary islands, we can assure you it’s fantastic. In fact, after our first taste, we couldn’t eat a meal without them!
10. 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.
11. 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!
12. 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 in the Canary Islands food scene.
Rancho Canario consists of chick peas, potatoes, vegetables, and usually some type of meat. The texture of this 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!
13. 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 topped with a sweet caramel glaze. While there are many sweet treats to choose from, flan is by far our favorite.
Have any questions on this article or want to share more of what to eat in the Canary Islands? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte and Jake
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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.
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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.