Experience a Three-Course Meal at a TRUCK STOP Diner in SPAIN!

Join me on a culinary adventure as I experience a delightful three-course meal at a unique truck stop diner in Spain! In this video, I explore what it’s like living in Spain as a local while indulging in the local cuisine, showcasing the famous "menu del dia" that is popular among both locals and travellers. Whether you’re an expat living in Spain or just considering moving to Spain, this dining experience will give you a taste of authentic Spanish culture.
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I film my videos on #lumix and GoPro cameras and lenses and sometimes on an iPhone.

[@richardhaughton4303]

Some 40 years ago my wife and two children stopped at a roadside truck restaurant just outside Madrid, we had enough money for a meal for the kids, however, a table close to us heard my wife order food for the kids only and told the waiter to give food to my wife and I, what a wonderful gesture, never forget that kindness 😊

[@frankreynolds4547]

We came back from France 40 years ago. I'd parked the car in a side road near Hammersmith station and needed to buy petrol to get home to Bristol. We had about £7 left and could just about afford the pizza and chips takeaway from a local Greek restaurant for me, the wife and daughter before we continued our journey home. The smartly dressed owner I presumed came to the door to welcome us inside, embarrassedly I explained we could only afford the takeaway and did not require a table. He said that was not a problem and insisted we sat at a table, we had food and drinks and the use of the toilet, the Bill came to £7 , the generosity was priceless! Never forgotten.

[@barnbersonol]

"To my wife and I" is like "should of" Really annoys me. Grrrrrr!

[@frankreynolds4547]

@@barnbersonol don't tell I, tell Eee! 🤷😉😂

[@barnbersonol]

@@frankreynolds4547and why take pity on someone who can fritter money driving Europe? Buy your own frkun lunch. Fek I need a lie down

[@frankreynolds4547]

@@barnbersonol bless, and this time get up on the right side 🍻

[@bernicegardner4019]

Hi Stu, when I moved to Murcia in 2004 Menu del Dia was 4.50 Euro including a bottle of wine and bread. The starter was always a lamb hock which just fell off the bone. I was just about done after that but it is only good maners to push through and show willing. The meals were always well cooked and fantastic value. We are back in the UK now, I miss those days greatly.

[@joeterra.t]

You're paying about £45-50 for that same meal with worse quality in the UK right now. It's insane.

[@blurayffan66]

...so what is 4.50 in 2004 adjusted for inflation?...and 20 years later in 2024...bet it's more than the 15 odd Stu paid.

[@Ilar-en7lg]

Lol, 4.50 euros for a Menú del día in 2004, what a lie. It costed at the very least 8-9 euros, please don't lie.

[@catherinemori4496]

What a great deal! We did a truck stop back in 2000 on our first visit to Spain and it was delicious! I remember some fantastic scrambled eggs. A couple of days before, going the other direction, we had stopped at a gas station and restaurant. We were stunned at the offerings: little dishes of cuttlefish etc. top quality, too.

[@TheDirkdams]

In my working life as a test driver and suspension engineer for Toyota and Subaru Europe we stopped always where truck drivers go to eat ! Cheap and good

[@Ii-sb3fw]

Truck stops for the win in Spain I agree🎉

[@jacquesblignaut7844]

When it comes to spare ribs and lamb chops, my go-to utensils are my fingers, whether it's a roadside diner or a Michelin restaurant.

[@RobertReid-kc9se]

Definitely

[@petek5523]

Agree!! 🎉

[@maskedavenger2578]

I enjoy looking at the snooty disapproving expressions on the pretentious snobs dials , when I stuff the bread rolls with chips and chunks of steak down my gob , in fancy restaurants . 😎

[@harriettt9857]

Pan de Calatrava is a dessert from Murcia ! It’s just like a flan ( Spanish flan) with pieces of Magdalenas or sponge cake . Very easy to make n delicious

[@juvenalsdad4175]

Looks very good, and reasonably priced. I used to drive a lot back and forth from southern Spain to the UK, and always found the Spanish road-side eateries much better quality than France or the UK.

[@anthonyferris8912]

@juvenalsdad4175 We wouldn't expect anything less from you...🤣😂😆

[@anthonyferris8912]

@juvenalsdad4175 Unlike Stuart, who says finding a decent roadside eatery is not easy.

[@DuncYo]

Yes loving it Stuart!! Locals know the score hehe

[@nigeldawson5960]

I'vce had many good meals at truck stops in Spain. Must be lucky.

[@AlexMontgomery-i7s]

I’m with some others. Pick up the chops and gnaw them!

[@beefovbd2]

terrys truck stop sounds perfect for a full english

[@inigovisiers2270]

Years ago hitching a ride a lorry driver told me to stops where you see trucks and before order the meal pay a visit to the toilet. If the toilet is clean that’s a good place to eat too.

[@paulstandley600]

South of Alicante here inland a bit from Torrevieja & near Elche. 3 course Menú del día is really big around this area and average prices range between 11.90 and 13.50€. usually includes a soft drink, glass of wine or a cańa. sometimes get a dessert AND a coffee. Around here, a menú del día at the weekend goes up to between 18€ and 20€ typically.

[@welshtoro3256]

Yeah, that meal would have cost £10 - $11 euros in a similar place in Andalusia. I don't think there was anything special about it either.

[@susanthomas7567]

My Mum always said if the toilets are clean,so is the kitchen!

[@highflyer1965]

Absolute bargain mate! Those chops looked lovely. Thanks for sharing the experience 👍

[@pasiego6753]

I have never seen a menu without a drink, water and wine at least.

[@raula.3693]

Times are changing

[@pasiego6753]

@@raula.3693 yeah, and thats why menu prices are going up, but no drink is nonsense.

[@welshtoro3256]

That's right. I think Stuart should have gone somewhere else. I think $15.10 for that meal is a rip-off.

[@phil7710]

I’m always the person waiting for another to pick up the rib/lamb chop before i dig in myself.

[@amandaroberts5111]

Those places are great!

[@louaceveu1925]

Last April in Asturias, Spain. Arroz a la Cubana (Cuban rice with eggs) The sauce was delicious, fresh mussels in a red sauce with a side of French fries, dessert, coffee and a bottle of wine with Casera (Sweet sparkling water to mix with wine if you want), 12 Euros. In California, where I live, we will be talking about $60.

[@realcalgal1150]

Stu, that was a very nice meal. It was well priced. You can rarely find lamb on any menu in the US unless you are in a fine dining establishment. To find “ chuletitas ” at a truck stop here would be a miracle. It would be a “Breakfast all day menu” or burger and fries. Buen Provecho !!

[@andrewdavies8954]

looked good, my only comment ,am a bit surprised the one drink was not included in the menu price

[@Barcaboy65]

Am quite enjoying your food vlogs Stuart, industrial estates and truck stops good reasonably priced no nonsense food when traveling 👍

[@phil7710]

Would love to have you out in Loja. Great rest stop on your way to Granada.

[@petek5523]

You gotta use your hands when eating things with a bone in, I doubt anyone watching would cause a fuss 😅😊

[@Drewacct]

Looked wonderful!!

[@bobkennard8863]

Pan de la Calatraba is different in every restaurant. Usually the house speciality. My favourite.

[@123seanaway]

Great value meal. I have only one found a roadside cafe in Spain that I wouldn't eat in. The rest were great. Spotlessly clean, great food, great service, great value..

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

Menu del dia without a drink...never come across one in nine years of enjoying them country-wide.

[@andrescasado5975]

Strange

[@blurayffan66]

Had a menu on the seafront in Almeria City last March...7.99 and it was delicious. Lovely city and people too.

[@geoffhobster5814]

used to live in Mazarron about 10 miles away country restaurant lamb lunch menu del dia perfecto

[@bernicegardner4019]

Hi, I also lived in Mazarron from 2004 until 2021 I miss everything about Spain (except the bureaucracy) I would go back in a heartbeat if I could.

[@nicolad8822]

In France my brother in law looks for a congregation of EDF vans to decide where to lunch.

[@janetlombardi2314]

It looks quite good, Stiart. Not badly priced, really. 😊

[@mogsya3367]

a few years ago we used to drive to and from England/Spain. Whilst in Spain we usually stopped off at a "truck stop" and haven't found a bad one yet.

[@RobertReid-kc9se]

What is fairly clean? It’s a truck stop cafe clearly serving very good food. It’s not a two star restaurant for goodness sake

[@MedVIPclub_Marco]

Loving the travel vlogs Stu. Nice, relaxed and how your working day should be, worth popping into Cuenca😉👊 Nice meal mate, best regards Marco 👊

[@Stebs_Paintings]

You can't beat a decent bread and butter pudding. I said 13, and the wife said 10 euros.

[@richt71]

Another great food vlog Stuart. That lamb looked really good! I lived on the menu of the day during the week when I lived in Lanzarote. There was 4 local restaurants I rotated around. You could get a filling lunch for 8-10 euros 13 years ago.

[@diegodejuan4825]

"Sopa castellana" is my favourite in winter. I love it!! I relate it more to Northern Castilla (Castilla León, north of Madrid and on a higher and colder plateau) than Southern Castilla (Castilla-La Mancha). It looks more reddish than that one.

[@baltarbb4969]

Esa relación puede ser su experiencia u opinión personal, pero en La Mancha es plato muy muy habitual.

[@diegodejuan4825]

@@baltarbb4969 No digo que no se pueda comer en La Mancha o en toda en toda España, pero el origen de la sopa castellana es Castilla La Vieja.

[@paulgooderham]

Thank you, Stu.

[@itsecman]

I always thought that Sopa Castellana was a garlic and egg based soup, but you didn't mention the garlic. Was this one different? Also, I heard someone say that lamb is expensive in Spain. Would you agree?

[@blurayffan66]

My limit for a menu is 11-12 euros but in this case Stu with those tasty looking lamb chops I think you got yourself a good deal.

[@allandonovan4620]

IMHO it’s perfectly in good taste to use your hands when bones are involved.

[@zanetaylor3540]

Going to pile on the weight doing these vids!😂😂😂 Notice the Spanish diet seems to be very high in Carbs, Frying and Bread. Keep an eye on ya Ticker mate! Love you work!!

[@johncornish7414]

Another great video. 😊

[@BillCameronWC]

Good video, as usual. Based on my experience of eating menu del días over the years, occasionally at parking/lorry areas on longer journeys, and allowing for inflation, I assumed it would be around €15 or a little more 😉👍. I’m in the UK but have driven all over Spain, France etc so I know what to expect. A similar meal in the UK would probably cost £25 to £30 pounds currently, although it probably wouldn’t be so nice 🤣.

[@Carol_in_Spain]

Was the soup hot. I always find soup on the menú del día to be just lukewarm. What was on the menu without paying extra for the lamb?

[@philOKC]

Did you leave a tip? (propina)

[@gaholliday]

Enjoy the food!

[@FraserBailey-jm5yz]

I guessed 17 euros, so pretty close.

[@patrickstarnes2355]

Good thumbnail 👍 Normally the food review channels put the gaping mouth image to show shock, they all do it 😂 But Stuart's gone for the ” What the hell is that?!! " Look 👍 I would have payed the extra 2 euros for the lamb also. What about mint sauce? I love a bit of mint sauce with my lamb.

[@RobertReid-kc9se]

Lamb chops are made to be eaten with your hands. Why do you not?

[@tessp.l1284]

In Spain, you start off with the knife and fork, and then in a casual setting, like a truck stop or at home, you pick them up with your hands, but never in a formal setting, where they even eat fruit, like a banana, with fork and knife. That bathroom looked very clean to me for a truck stop, but no drink included, well, very unusual!

[@phil7710]

The drink not included is unforgivable

[@bradcobb3418]

my guess was 15€, here on C del sol we pay between10 and 16€ for 2 courses plus drink Inc bread

[@Littlebella114]

If you didn't get the lamb chops what else was on the menú?

[@PIGGY789]

Another great video Stu everything in that menu looked very tasty i could just eat a bowl of that soup now and lamb chops are one of my favourites, i think your menu was great value.

[@coffermartin77]

Just wondering Stu, does it come naturally for you to say " Buen provecho" whenever you pass some diners in a restaurant? I noticed some diners that walked passed you that said it to you. Now, what would one do if you passed 50 diners? Would you have to say "Buen Provecho" to all of them?

[@andrescasado5975]

No

[@andrescasado5975]

Only a couple

[@andrescasado5975]

Que aproveche

[@philOKC]

Did you eat the bread? If so, was it fresh?

[@baltarbb4969]

En España no se come pan duro, puede ser de mejor o peor calidad, pero siempre del dia.

[@wicklawalker9495]

Love these types of videos 👏🏻

[@philOKC]

@@baltarbb4969 Yo vivo en Espana y sabe que tu dices. Pero, in the video it appeared Stu did not eat the bread. I was just wondering “porque?”

[@baltarbb4969]

@@philOKC perhaps alergic gluten

[@ellieramseyer]

Looks like a bread pudding.

[@ellieramseyer]

Why do Spaniards not serve salads or vegetables with their meal?

[@welshtoro3256]

Spaniards eat plenty of salad and vegetables at home but it's a bit different when you dine out. There was probably a choice of salad in the first course of this menu.

[@girldoes289]

Hola! Do you have a Spanish passport after years of living in Spain?

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

lacking mint sauce but still a great meal with the lamb chops.

[@tessp.l1284]

Mint sauce is for mutton chops,

[@phil7710]

Give me a heads up and i can make you a great New York cheese cake.

[@philOKC]

Did the sopa have fideos?

[@remediosruedaanaya4249]

La sopa castellana no lleva fideos.

[@almaknack9543]

Opening hours?

[@ellieramseyer]

Do you traditionally tip?

[@welshtoro3256]

it's not expected for a meal like this.

[@pablogonzalez8304]

No Salad?

[@243380]

las chuletas se comen con las manos apurando bien el hueso

[@seanflewin9803]

Bargain

[@Kamilla-x7h]

No sauce or dressing?

[@welshtoro3256]

Nope. I thought it was pretty bland.

[@welshtoro3256]

I've got to be honest. I think $15.10 euros is steep for what you got. Sopa Castellana is nothing really. A cheap and tasty peasant dish. They'll have a gigantic vat of the stuff and it costs next to nothing to make. I can't think of any reason why you should pay a $2 euro supplement for the chops which weren't presented in any special way. A typical menu pudding and you had to pay for the water which is most unusual. You would get that meal for $10 euros in a roadside stop in Andalusia. It's the sort of menu that's getting increasingly on my nerves and it's becoming more commonplace. It's completely plain and just tossed out without any passion or care. For $15 euros you should be getting a lot better than that and I have had a lot better than that in many roadside stops.

[@anaga0049]

@Spain Speaks Castilla y León= Castilla la Vieja. Castilla-La Mancha= Castilla la Nueva...Madrid belongs to Castilla la Nueva😉😊

[@carlosespinosa2188]

Madrid is an autonomous region so it does not belong to Castilla-La Mancha.

[@anaga0049]

@@carlosespinosa2188 Historically speaking, and way before the autonomous regions appeared, Castile was divided in two...Castilla la Vieja and Castilla la Nueva

[@realcalgal1150]

@@anaga0049Mi familia Serrano es de Ávila en Castilla la Vieja. Mi bisabuelo siempre decía. Me gusta más decirle de esa manera, no de manera moderna. 😂

[@anaga0049]

@@realcalgal1150 Así es!!!

[@YoussefZemzoumi]

15 € for lunch for spainiards budget/earnings is definitely on the " to much" side, add to that breafast plus dinner....

[@kevinsavage808]

I live in Spain and still can't get on with the grub; most of it is bland,

[@welshtoro3256]

I love Spanish food but I agree that this was pretty bland. Have a look at my comment.

[@MedVIPclub_Marco]

I think with what you shown you had a bargain mate 😉👊🧉

[@stewartgrant9832]

On and on about the egg running through it! You mean chopped up boiled egg or an egg cracked into it or what? Let's be clear when reviewing food Stu.