The Best Food In Malaga You Must Try

Today I’m going to help you find the best food in Malaga, or of not I’ll be sharing the dishes I enjoy down there.

Malaga is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Spain, and in Europe as well. Malaga is one of the large urban centers on Costa del Sol in southern Spain, with a rich cultural heritage, beautiful beaches and many entertainment areas and offers countless options for relaxation and leisure.

Flamenco dances, jazz music, shopping sessions, bright sun and wonderful beaches define Malaga as a captivating tourist destination. Not to mention that fun in Spain means tasting at least several of the seducing gastronomic Spanish creations.

If you want to intimately get accustomed to the area’s traditions, you need to try the local dishes. There are countless amazing chefs in Malaga, specialized on cooking seafood in particular – fish and sea shells, shellfish and squid. Wander the Old Town and find where the locals eat.

However, once you arrive in Malaga, the first dish you simply have to order is Pescado Frito (well-fried fish), espeto (sardines cooked in a specific manner), cazon en adobo (tuna marinated in garlic and vinegar) and coquinas (mussels cooked in wine white).

Moreover, all terraces located on the beach serve a great dish called chiringuitos, which are in fact fried sardines.

Malaga’s cuisine combines centuries old traditions of the people who wondered throughout these lands. A culinary specialty that defines the region is the traditional jamon, which is dry ham pork that is sold in special shops here, resembling those that offer jewelries.

Like in all respectable Spanish cities, most restaurants here serve tapas (appetizers, about two euros per serving – in other Spanish cities, tapas are offered for free, accompanying wine or other drinks) and paella.

Malaga is also the city where a great type of wine is produced – the Malaga wine. Its flavour and colour have the purpose to mask the sweet taste of this wine. Malaga wines have a greater longevity and are very expensive, and Lagrima is the most expensive wine of this origin. Malaga is also well known for its sweet wines, in particular ‘Malaga Dulce,’ a fortified wine served with dessert.

10 Top Food In Malaga Dishes To Try

1. Sardine Skewers ( Espetos de Sardinas )

This is a popular dish that you can only taste in Malaga. It consists of sardines skewered on thin, long canes, which are roasted over wood. It’s common to find this recipe in beach bars or chiringuitos.

Espetos de Sardinas are a popular beachfront treat and one of the most typical foods of Malaga.

Fresh sardines are skewered on sticks and grilled over an open flame in a barbecue pit, usually in a wooden fisherman’s boat on the beach. Add that quintessential squeeze of lemon and you’ve got a simple yet iconic dish.

2. Porra Antequerana

It’s also known as cold porra. It’s a cold soup typical of Antequera, made with tomatoes, bread, red pepper, olive oil, salt, vinegar, and garlic. It’s served with bits of Serrano ham and hard-boiled egg. A hearty and refreshing dish that’s ideal for the hottest summer days.

Porra Antequerana is yet another cold soup, and it shares similarities with both salmorejo and gazpacho!

While salmorejo is originally from Cordoba, porra is from Antequera, in the north of the Malaga province.

Traditionally, porra is a little thicker than salmorejo as it contains slightly more bread and less tomato, and it also uses green bell peppers in its base.

Porra is typically garnished with a boiled egg, ham, and tuna fish, but you will find plenty of variation in this

3. Malaga Salad

This salad typical of the province of Malaga is often prepared in summer, as it’s light and refreshing. Its ingredients are potato, orange, cod, spring onion, olives, and olive oil.

4. Ajoblanco

It’s believed that the origin of ajoblanco comes from Al-Andalus and that it was a mixture of what the population had at hand at that time. This recipe contains breadcrumbs, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, water, and almonds. Ajoblanco is eaten cold and in summer.

Ajoblanco is another cold soup (traditional food in Malaga often involves cold soup!) this time made with ground almonds, garlic, bread, and olive oil.

A sprinkle of white Moscatel grapes or melon chunks add a hint of sweetness to balance the flavours and make it even more refreshing.

Interestingly, ajoblanco predates gazpacho – it was introduced to the region by the Moors (North African Muslim tribes) before the arrival of tomatoes in Spain!

For walking tours, bus tours, wine tasting, sunset boat trips and much more, check out Viator

Discover unforgettable experiences with Viator — from city tours and cultural excursions to wine tastings and scenic boat trips worldwide.

Visit Viator

5. Conchas Finas or Malaga Clams

It’s a variety of clams that can only be found on the Malaga coast. They are orange in colour and are usually grilled with a little salt, pepper, and lemon. They’re so delicious that you’ll eat them like nothing.

6. Oxtail à La Ronda ( Rabo de toro a la rondeña )

Another typical food from Malaga, especially in the Ronda area, where there’s a great bullfighting tradition. It’s an oxtail stew whose sauce is made with wine, leek, carrot, onions, and spices. It’s always accompanied by potatoes. There are also other variants that include peas, garlic, or celery.

Rabo de toro a la rondeña is a traditional Spanish dish particularly associated with the nearby town of Ronda (which is a beautiful place BTW).

It consists of slow-cooked bull’s tail which has been marinated in a red wine sauce to create a rich, hearty stew.

Rabo de toro a la rondeña is considered a real delicacy, showcasing the culinary traditions and local ingredients of the area.

From personal experience, I will say that bull’s tail is one of the tastiest and most succulent meats there is!

7. Roasted Suckling Goat

This dish is very typical in the Axarquía area. It’s prepared with 100% native Malaga breed goat exclusively fed on milk. This meat is obtained when the animal is only one month old. The meat is roasted and seasoned with rosemary, thyme, garlic, salt, and olive oil. It’s a very tasty and tender dish.

8. Eggplants / Berenjenas with Honey

A true delicacy that you won’t be able to resist. They are fried eggplants with cane honey, a simple recipe, but one that seduces any palate. You can find it in the bars of Malaga.

Berenjenas con miel de caña is a classic Malaga food made from aubergine (or eggplant, for my American readers). I really do like Berenjenas served this way.

The aubergine is seasoned and coated in flour before being crisped to perfection in hot olive oil. The fried eggplant slices are served fresh, piping hot, and drizzled with sweet molasses – I don’t usually love sweet and savoury flavours being mixed together, but in this case, I approve!

9. Campero Sandwich

There isn’t a Malaga native in the world who hasn’t eaten one of these sandwiches in their life. It’s a traditional food of the area and it’s made with a toasted mollete – a round bread. It contains chicken, ham, cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise. A sandwich for champions!

10. Plato De Los Montes

It’s a mixed plate that will surely leave you satisfied. Generally, it includes pork loin, chorizo, and migas (fried breadcrumbs), all accompanied by French fries, egg, and green peppers. Perfect for regaining strength after a good walk.

The name of this dish translates to ‘Plate of the Mountains of Malaga,’ which is as poetic as it is delicious!

The Plato De Los Montes De Malaga is a real Malaga specialty, with a wide array of ingredients on a single plate including crispy fried potatoes, fried egg, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), sautéed green peppers, and pork bathed in ‘manteca colorá‘ (lard infused with paprika and other spices).

This hearty and robust ensemble is perfect for warming up during the winter, especially up high in the Malaga mountains.

Final Thoughts

There’s something for everyone, if you like red meats, prefer fish or are a vegetarian, there are dishes a plenty.
If you really want to experience the best food in Malaga, then eat where the locals are eating.