Camino Food - The Complete Guide to Food options on the Camino de Santiago

[@robscamino]

If you have walked a Camino, do please share your own food tips and maybe nice places you found to eat!

[@markusoberndorfer4634]

I was on the Camino del Norte in 2018 and my companion and me liked to go to the fruterias to get cheap but very tasty fruits to eat them during the day. Basically we tried to have a daily "peach at the beach" event.

[@robscamino]

Sounds wonderful 🙂

[@rhunl]

The pimientos de padron (roasted green peppers) are absolutely sensational. It's one of the main reasons I come back to Spain time and again!!!

[@robscamino]

We love them too! Not easy to find in Sydney Australia though. We have tried growing them with some success. And can order them online when in season.

[@rometimed1382]

Oh man one thing you didn't touch on Rob is the SNACKS they give you in bars. There was a few bars we went to, we'd order a drink and they'd just start shoving these small snack plates in front of us. Some places it was comical. One day in Santiago there was 3 of us and we ended up with 9 different plates of snacks in front of us after ordering Gin and Tonics and they were FREE!!! On the English Camino one day I got a beer at lunch at a bar on the route and when I was leaving they gave me a to-go cup with some sort of incredible chili type soup, again no charge. Another one of my favourite memories was on my first day out of Santiago heading towards Muxia I ran into this woman on the way selling bags of plums out of the back of a minivan for 2 Euros each. Omfg they were incredible. I spent the whole day walking and eating plums from an enormous bag.

[@robscamino]

Indeed, the food of all types can be great.

[@joanbelmont5450]

Wow! Sounds like Spaniards are very generous people.

[@andya1976m]

Exactly! This is Spain!

[@justgivemethetruth]

17:52 - Now that is a beautiful salad ... makes me very hungry.

[@robscamino]

Yep! Best salad I've ever eaten! We make it at home now 🙂

[@Jofield421]

Looking forward to my first walk on the camino and will be grateful for any food 🍲

[@robscamino]

Buen Camino.

[@helenvwalker7919]

You forgot to mention the tostada con aceite y tomate for breakfast. Delicious!! And sometimes huge portions.

[@robscamino]

Yes indeed! So many yummy things along the way!

[@heidiberg338]

Great video! In Triacastela I had the BEST dessert : Queso de O'Cebreiro which is goat cheese from O'Cebreiro and honey. I've done the Camino Francés twice and eaten at that restaurant 4 times. The name of the place is: Complexo Xacobeo. They serve the Menú del día and it's excellent. Buen Camino!

[@robscamino]

Sounds great! If I go that way again I'll check it out!

[@AccumbensNucleus]

Probably your best, most comprehensive and relevant video. Good job.

[@robscamino]

LOL. A topic close to my heart 🙂

[@robscamino]

Another Food video coming tomorrow. 15 places where we had great food on the Camino Frances! (Well above the average food, as a lot of it is good of course)

[@helenchinnock8117]

I could watch food videos all day so dont worry, it is not too long.... as a matter of fact i would totally LOVE a video of all the menus on the camino :D

[@robscamino]

LOL. My wife suggest I do a video on our favorite places to eat along the Camino! I might do that one. 🙂

[@jimbojet8728]

Superb explanation of ‘on the move’ food for the Camino. I haven’t done one yet, so must get my skates on. I will be biking and carrying cooking and camping kit. (Lightweight). So my morning coffee and boil in the bag meals will do in the event of me getting caught out. Otherwise I’ll buy food as you did and stay in hotels as I move along. I enjoyed your vid, thank you.

[@robscamino]

I'm sure you'll work out a 'routine' that suits you. We all do 🙂

[@carpenterfamily6198]

When I read the book ‘ Pilgrim ‘ they said not to eat at restaurants on the main square and not to eat anywhere where they had pictures of the food. 😊

[@robscamino]

I haven't seen the book. But many places have pictures of the food to help communication with Pilgrims from all over the World. You might be thinking of those 'boards' advertising paella? I'm told that often those are a brand of frozen ones just warmed up....... Not sure if that's true. I've eaten a few and they were OK. Also I like to eat in the main square. That's where all the action is. Where Pilgrims and locals alike hang out.

[@gatesgoza9703]

Wonderful I will watch this ep many times

[@robscamino]

Now you've made me watch it again ! 🙂 You won't go hungry...........

[@6248cjl]

I am planning my first Camino (French Way) and I am a 65-yr old Diabetic with IBS triggered by many common foods with debilitating consequences. My endocrinologist was born and raised in Spain and gave me advice about the food. I cannot eat anything that has any onion or garlic in it which includes most everything. He told me if I could order the breakfast tortilla without onion that would work. My plans for the rest of my food is to go to markets and get cold ham, fresh fruits, and bread and if I can find butter in a leakproof container, then butter for fats.

[@robscamino]

Sounds like a good plan....

[@Kitiwake]

So you're nutritionist advised you to eat wheat based tortilla or corn based? If wheat based or not specific, fire them.

[@alvarorg5958]

@@Kitiwake tortilla in Spain is basically potatoes and eggs

[@rhondalyn100]

What a wonderful video! You covered so much food territory of which I give thanks. I look forward to any other menu/food videos you might have as I am new to your channel. Well done!

[@robscamino]

I will see what I can find.

[@JenniferAlkaPhotography]

Thanks for all the insights of the food on the camino. It was very helpful ☺️

[@robscamino]

I don't know how people lose weight walking the Camino Frances 🙂

[@JenniferAlkaPhotography]

@@robscamino next year i want to start in germany and go all the way through germany and france to spain. and i think i will need to recharge my weight in spain, because especially in france there will be areas with less shops and restaurants...

[@robscamino]

Sounds like it will be an amazing journey 🙂

[@JR-yo1fu]

Very good! Onion is a key ingredient for tortilla. Welcome to the Onionist party!

[@robscamino]

It really is!

[@patshozo9158]

Thank you for the excellent food on the Camino! Going to first camino this fall (100kM) due to time constraints, and will be ordering a "proper" breakfast as a continental style is not sufficient. Also having been in Spain many times, love the lamb. I normally do not eat lamb in the states, but in Spain, they make it right!

[@robscamino]

I try to cook lamb Spanish style at home now. Slow cooked for 7 hours. Yummy. 🙂

[@elainemeirelles]

Thank you ,I'll take note and try everything😊

[@robscamino]

You'll end up putting on weight like I do!

[@julianlord5366]

Had some amazing roast mutton with mint sauce in Ribaforada on the Ebro Way couple days ago.

[@robscamino]

Oh, I can smell it from here. Very jealous... 🙂

[@chipm2544]

Excellent video. Thank you! Sounds like an awesome life experience.

[@robscamino]

It is!

[@79other]

One thing you didn’t mention that I really enjoyed is the bean and lentil dishes, particularly green beans and ham.

[@robscamino]

Good call! There is so much great food.......

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Did you carry that large pistol with you on camino?! lol Great video. I really want to go!

[@robscamino]

LOL. No, not many highwaymen or wolves around these days 🙂 Want to go? Pick a date and start planning for it. Whatever you need to do 🙂 I reckon everyone needs to walk at least one Camino in their life!

[@Lautaro_Guindulain]

The tuna pie is called Empanada Gallega. In Galicia they call tuna: bonito. Bonito = Tuna = Atún. The Empanada Gallega has also meat or chicken inside. Greetings!

[@robscamino]

Ah. Good to know!

[@tcormio1359]

Rob your in for a treat - IMO the food on the VDLP is much better than on the French way as they are catering more to please the locals not pilgrims who visits once- so I found the food more varied and tastier menu del dia was approx 12euro in 2019 3 courses with desert coffee and wine - 🤭 if you dine alone you are generally given a bottle to yourself just like on the Frances. New pilgrims FYI restaurants in Spain generally close at about 2.30pm and reopen late approximately 7-8pm. You need to time your meals around Spain time. Also on the VDLP in most places if you ordered a wine or beer you would get a free tapas - I used google translate often to make sure I was not getting tongue or brain for lunch - most restaurants have free wi-fi I also found it handy to check out what others were eating on the way through to my table. Worst meal on the Francis was Aros (I think that's what it was called - black rice and squid - apparently it local to an area on the Francis) Favourite cafe word to know - Zumo Which is fresh OJ - yum yum yum on the Francis many cafes offered very good value set breakfasts for a few euros.

[@robscamino]

Great to hear about the Food on the VdlP ! Yes, Zumo Naranja is the Orange Juice. (Zumo = Juice, Naranja = Orange, j sounds like an h) Arroz is rice. So it must have been 'something' Arroz. Great point about meal times!! Long lunches are a good way to go, as dinner is often not available toll a Pilgrim's bedtime! Like 10 pm. Though on the Camino Frances there are loads of places open by 7 pm for dinners.

[@joanbelmont5450]

It’s Arroz in English Rice. The black ink squid rice happens to be one of my favorite! So good 😊

[@Patrick-qs5vm]

Hi,I'm walking the Camino in August I heard you say you stayed in private accommodation,I can't stay in albergues for personal reasons.will I find it hard to find b and b or hotels at the end of my day's walk I don't want to book ahead I'm 71 and just don't know how far I can go I'm fit for my age and can't wait to get started.id appreciate any help on this matter.thank you so much.

[@robscamino]

August is quite busy so it's hard to say. Maybe avoid the popular stops and see how you go.

[@helenvwalker7919]

You can usually ask for a French omelette or grilled vegetables, or vegetable paella, or egg and chips

[@robscamino]

Good tips! Wouldn't be hard to learn the Spanish for those, I'm sure.

[@karenandhowardmayes3704]

Is decaffeinated coffee readily available in Spain?

[@robscamino]

It seems to be. A guy I was walking with recently was always able to order it in bars. (he had heart issues) café descafeinado

[@parlanmcgaw7081]

Rob, thanks for all the information you provide. I want to say, though, that it’s “Camino Francés,” which is Spanish for the French Way. “Francés” is pronounced frahn-SACE.

[@robscamino]

Thank you for the correction 🙂

[@parlanmcgaw7081]

@@robscamino A surprising number of people make the same mistake - you''re not alone. But I know you care about pronunciation, because you say 'morcilla' correctly. Thanks again for your helpful insights.

[@robscamino]

@@parlanmcgaw7081 I make a great job of mis-pronouncing many other things LOL I try to get it right where I can. It helps to be understood.

[@helenvwalker7919]

There are vegans, glucose intolerant and lactose tolerant Spaniards and residents in Spain. Restaurants and supermarkets are increasingly catering for them. I have experienced Camino cooking. It was amazing! On the Camino Inglés with people from many different countries.

[@robscamino]

I look forward to the communal cooking thing at some stage too.

[@AccumbensNucleus]

Maybe so, but I was raised in Spain and I never met a Spaniard of any of the types you mention. Foreigners yes.

[@walkingthrulife2296]

Language is always interesting when it comes to Spanish. I've not heard of juice as zumo...but jugo. I looked at Google translate...and they're both juice (scratching what little hair I have left)! At this stage....I'm sticking with Hola...buanas dias....dos jugo de naranja por favor!! Fun video...thank you so much!!

[@robscamino]

I'm not that great at Spanish, but I think Jugo is South American Spanish? And I think Zumo is pronounced 'Thumo'. So the two are quite close.

[@walkingthrulife2296]

@@robscamino That does it…my Duolingo app is for the high jump!

[@robscamino]

@@walkingthrulife2296 I think I had the same problem! I asked if it was South American Spanish, but got no reply from them.

[@joanbelmont5450]

😁

[@tafareactions2823]

Hello, I am Spanish and here the juice is called "Zumo". In Latin America it is called "Jugo"

[@SandraCheverie]

I have celiacs and lactose intolerance...is there any hope for me to be able to eat on the Camino?

[@whodey2112]

I have Celiac as well and would love to hear this answer.

[@robscamino]

You should be OK. Get a translated note that you can show staff, stating what you have and what you cannot eat.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

How hard is it to eat vegetarian on the way ? 17:35 40:45

[@robscamino]

I'm not a Vegetarian, so hard to say. But others tell me it can be done.

[@helenvwalker7919]

Croquetas are not mashed potato, they are made with a bechamel sauce like you get in a lasagne, they also have chunks of other items, fish or ham or chicken, for example.

[@robscamino]

Yes you're right! I never even realised, and I've eaten lots of them. The french versions are Potato.

[@dltallan]

I don't think that the food on the Frances is necessarily better than on the other Spanish Caminos due to the better infrastructure but it will differ because regions are different. As you will notice on the Frances, food can be quite regional. You aren't going to find the good Galician pulpo in Navarra, for example. There are great regional cuisines in the other parts of Spain, too. If you start your Camino in Valencia, for example, you will find some of the best paella in Spain.

[@robscamino]

Good point David. It's perhaps more accurate to say that there are more places to eat and more options along the Camino Frances. The greater volume of Pilgrims will to a degree influence that, at least in the smaller villages. Of course in the Towns and Cities the Pilgrims are just a very small % of the customers. I look forward to trying other Caminos to try the variations in cuisine!

[@Kitiwake]

I gained weight on the Camino in Spain. No lie. Ate chocolate, bread (fatal weight), patella (an expensive rice meal containing rice and one small piece of something), packets of crisps/chips.

[@robscamino]

I have certainly never 'lost' weight on Camino 🙂

[@robscamino]

That 'Tapas Street' in Logrono is called Calle del Laurel 🙂

[@klipitar2007]

I’ll make sure to stop in 2023!!!

[@imirim]

I am hoping I can find a lot of fruit and veg on the Camino Portugues. But I understand that may not be possible. In cholesterol management. I may be getting most of my food from markets along the way. I basically can't eat most of the things I enjoy.

[@robscamino]

I hope it all goes well for you. I'm lazy, I rely on meds for cholesterol management. Probably not ideal.... 😉

[@andya1976m]

Just try to eat what you want. Maybe you will find you are better then you think.

[@anacasanova7350]

Cafes limitados? eso es en el Norte de España, en el Sur como Andalucia, Málaga, hay como 15 tipos de servir el café 😂😂❤ Una cosa es la ruta de la Plata, y otra la ruta de la costa de Andalucia. Con todos los pueblos y ciudades de la Costa. Como Costa de la Luz o costa del Sol, con variados tipos de pescados, ensaladas, potajes y frutas y carnes y jamones, gazpachos o sopas frias vegetales.

[@robscamino]

I had some really nice seafood on my last Camino out at Fisterra and Muxia! ¡Comí unos mariscos realmente buenos en mi último Camino en Fisterra y Muxía!

[@marydimechdeguara111]

How about gluten free food

[@robscamino]

Not really on my radar, sorry, so hard to comment.

[@marydimechdeguara111]

@@robscamino thanks just the same - btw thank you so much for sharing your experience and expertise.

[@kenienieke1199]

Mossia? The nice food

[@robscamino]

Mossia?

[@hiscoregirl9784]

I think you mean "morcilla". Yummy!

[@donaldweaks6472]

My daily routine is a cafe con leche and baguette and/or tortilla very early, a traditional Spanish breakfast of huervos fritos and bacon around 11 and then the menu del dia around 14 to 15h after finding my bed and discovering the top restaurant. If I am still hungry before bed time I will have a small pizza or salad. I think the pilgrim menus are a total rip-off.

[@robscamino]

You're making me hungry Don! 😃

[@Kitiwake]

My impression, just back from my Camino, the pellegrino menus are expensive.. But then, there's no real escape, even Froiz, the supermarket chain, are not cheap.

[@LiLBitsDK]

A GOOD thing they don't include soda with all the meals... gotta ditch that stuff... the food is incredible though

[@robscamino]

I would say the food is 'variable'... from great to ok...

[@LiLBitsDK]

@@robscamino yeah gotta avoid the local "greasy spoons" places but that goes for all food really.

[@robscamino]

Good example of a Menu del Dia casasabina.roncesvalles.es/buen-menu/

[@artieash6671]

what oh what does a vegan do?

[@robscamino]

That's always a challenge. You may need to compromise a bit or be ready to prepare a lot of your own meals.

[@lindahopkins4389]

There are vegan restaurants in some of the cities and large towns but it is much more difficult between these. I have walked twice as a vegetarian and found everyone to be helpful and good-humoured about providing what I wanted and never made me feel like a nuisance for requesting meals without meat. It is important however to be specific about what you want - simply requesting meat-free meals will often result in receiving poultry, ham or fish instead. I enjoyed many delicious ‘ensalada mixta’ mixed salads, very commonly available, although tuna is often included ‘atun’ in these so again be specific. Fresh fruit is a common dessert offering and it is generally easy to visit small supermarkets or Tiendas to buy nuts, fruit, beans and lentils, vegetables, etc to carry for snacks or to cook for yourself. As a vegetarian it is relatively easy, but you may find it more difficult as a vegan.