Be honest, do you really want to spend all of your travel budget on overpriced, average food? I’m sure the answer is no, and that’s why you’re searching out the best cheap eats in Barcelona! This city has amazing food options, and you can find some incredibly cheap prices.
This list of cheap eats in Barcelona has a mixture of traditional Spanish food, small chain restaurants, and some global cuisine options because you can’t eat tapas every day of your trip!
For each restaurant, I’ve included all the vital information you need to know, in-depth and up to date prices and the food I recommend. Make sure you read to the end to discover a great travel hack to get cheap food from more expensive restaurants that would otherwise be outside of your budget.
Read more about Barcelona:
- The Barcelona Ultimate Travel Guide
- 26 Completely Free Things to Do in Barcelona
- How to Visit Barcelona on a Budget
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Best Spanish Cheap Eats in Barcelona
Croq & Roll
We’re starting off strong because Croq & Roll is my favourite restaurant in Barcelona, whether you’re looking for cheap eats in Barcelona or not. This Gràcia based restaurant is dedicated to one Spanish speciality- the humble croqueta.
Traditionally, you’d find croquetas filled with ham and cheese but at Croq & Roll, you’ll find a countless number of delicious fillings, with meat, fish and vegetarian options. The croquetas cost around €1,30 each and they’re really filling – a few croquetas each and some bravas to share will see you filled up for lunch for around €6.
Although the main attraction is the awesome croquetas, Croq & Roll also have some of the best patatas bravas in the city. They’re made with chilli and honey, so they aren’t too spicy and the potatoes are beautifully crispy.
Address: Travessera de Gràcia, 233, 08012 Barcelona
Closest Metro Stop: Joanic
Opening Hours: Daily 12 pm – 12 am (8 pm opening on Mon)
Website Facebook Page Menu (English)
Veggie Friendly: Yes
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: Chistorra and Camembert Croqueta, Chicken Curry Croqueta, Patatas Bravas
Top tip! After your meal at Croq & Roll, take a short walk to visit the famous Sagrada Familia, one of the best things to do in Barcelona. Make sure you book your Sagrada Familia tickets in advance!
Mercat de la Boqueria
Local markets are a great way to find cheap food in different cities. Mercat de la Boqueria (often referred to just as La Boqueria) is easily the most famous market in Barcelona and you’ll find it just off La Rambla. Many guided food tours visit La Boqueria, and this can be a great way to discover more about Catalonian and Spanish cuisine!
You can try loads of different Spanish and Catalan specialities at the stalls and bars around the market, like pintxos (similar to tapas) and Spanish eggs. As you can expect from one of the best markets in the world, La Boqueria gets very busy and you might have to be quite savvy to get a seat at one of the bars.
Whatever you choose to try at La Boqueria market, I recommend washing it down with a €1 fruit cup. They’re filled with delicious, fresh fruits that are perfect to refresh you on a hot day.
Address: La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 8 am-8:30 pm
Veggie Friendly: Yes
Discover the best things to do in Barcelona
Best Chain Cheap Eats in Barcelona
The Good Burger
The Good Burger is a Spanish chain and there are seven locations in Barcelona. They specialise in cheap and cheerful burgers and fries, but some of their creations are amazing.
The burgers are around €4 each, and you can add fries and a drink for a few more euros, so they’re fantastic value. They also have a 2 for 1 offer on burgers every Thursday, which makes it even cheaper.
Opening Hours: 12 pm-12 am (may vary slightly across locations)
Veggie friendly: Yes (vegan options too!)
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: Bacon Jam Burger, Blue Mountain Burger, Topped Fries
100 Montaditos
If you’re in Barcelona on a Wednesday or a Sunday and looking for the cheapest cheap eats in Barcelona, 100 Montaditos (pronounced Cien Montaditos) is the place you want to be. This is a Spanish institution, with over 350 outlets in Spain. There are around 7 in the city of Barcelona.
100 Montaditos specialise in small sandwiches (called montaditos) and have 100 different filling combinations for you to choose from, hence the name! They also have various sides such as fries, nachos and cheesy bites. The food on offer is cheap as it is, but on Wednesdays and Sundays, they sell almost everything in the restaurant for just €1. You can sample all the different sandwiches that catch your eye and you’ll still probably spend less than €10.
Opening Hours: Roughly 10 am-Midnight (slight variations depending on location)
Veggie Friendly: Yes
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: 21 (Spanish omelette and brava sauce), 46 (Chicken, caramelised onion and honey mustard sauce), 64 (Chistorra sausage, brie cheese and caramelised onion),
Best World Food Cheap Eats in Barcelona
Pai Mei
This noodle bar is hidden away in the corner of Glòries shopping centre in the northeast of the city. It has a build your own system, where you pick your rice/noodle base and sauce, and then add as many toppings as you like.
The noodle bases are cooked with egg and vegetables, so you don’t need to add too many extra toppings. This is what keeps these meals so cheap. The bases are €4,50, with extra toppings ranging between €0,50-1,50. The portion sizes at Pai Mei are really generous, I’ve actually never finished a full meal! Luckily you can take your leftovers home and enjoy them later.
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 208, 08018 Barcelona
Opening Hours: 12:30 pm-4:30 pm; 7 pm-11 pm. Open all-day Saturday; 7 pm-11 pm Sunday
Veggie/Vegan Friendly: Yes (bases and sauces are vegan if you ask for no egg “Sin Huevo”)
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: Pad Thai with Thailandia sauce, add broccoli and crispy onions
The Quick Greek
Another Gràcia favourite, The Quick Greek has just what its name suggests – greek takeaway food that’s easy to eat on the go. This is the perfect place if you’re out exploring Gràcia and need to grab a bite, either as you continue exploring or while you relax in one of the many Plaças. The restaurant itself is located at Plaça del Diamant.
You can get a filed pita, fries and a drink for less than €7. They have various fillings with meats, cheeses and falafel, and then they’re filled with salad and sauce. The pitas are so filling so The Quick Greek is a great option to fill you up for little money.
Address: Carrer d’Astúries, Plaça del Diamant, 67, 08012 Barcelona
Opening Hours: 11 am-11 pm
Veggie Friendly: Yes (vegan options too!)
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: Chicken pita with fries
La Fábrica del Taco
If you’re looking to spice up a picnic at Ciutadella Park, grab some food from La Fábrica del Taco and enjoy it at the park. The restaurant is just a couple of minutes walk from the north end of the park.
La Fábrica del Taco serves up great Mexican food, with tacos, quesadillas and burritos on offer. The tacos and quesadillas can be a little small so I’d recommend getting a few items, but luckily they’re only a few euros each, and the tacos are often sold for just €1!
The food here has a really good, fresh flavour so they’re great for enjoying outside on a sunny day.
Address: Carrer de Sardenya, 88, 08018 Barcelona
Opening Hours: Unknown
Veggie Friendly: Some Options
KirstieWillTravel Recommends: Chicken Tacos!
Cheap Eats in Barcelona Hack: How to Get Cheap Food at More Expensive Restaurants
Despite the seven great restaurants and takeaways that I’ve given in this guide, it can still be hard to find good cheap eats in Barcelona that fit your taste and needs. Luckily, there’s a great hack that you’ll find across Spain, that means you can eat at restaurants that are a bit more expensive.
Lunchtime deals, called Menu del Día, are really popular in Spain. They often involve a two or three-course meal at a set price, served during lunchtime hours. I’ve read that they actually used to be law in Spain, to ensure that workers could get an affordable lunch. It’s not obligatory anymore, so there are variations in what restaurants choose to offer, but they remain very popular. It’s worth asking around if a restaurant has a Menu del Día, but more often than not it will be advertised outside the restaurant.
Menu del Día at Alsur Café and Backdoor Bar
There are many traditional places you could go for a Menu del Día, but if you’re looking for something a little different try Alsur Café and Backdoor Bar, just next to Ciutadella Park. Their Menu del Día involves a €2 surcharge on any of their menu options, which will get you a drink, dessert and coffee.
There are really creative options at the Alsur Café and Backdoor Bar. They specialise in brunch dishes so you’ll find things like creative loaded pancakes, waffle sandwiches and baked eggs. Make sure you ask about the Menu del Día options, as I was surprised to find out the drink included alcohol and enjoyed a glass of wine with lunch.
Address: Carrer de la Ribera, 18, 08003 Barcelona
Opening Hours: Daily ~9 am-10 pm
Veggie Friendly: Yes (vegan options too!)
KirstieWillTravelRecommends: Anything with waffles, red velvet cake
That brings us to the end of this list of the best cheap eats in Barcelona for budget travellers! I’ve stuffed all of my favourite places into this post (pardon the food pun) and I hope you’ll be able to enjoy some of them on your trip.
It can be hard to find cheap eats in Barcelona, or in any city, as you’ll want to know that you’re getting the best value for money. This curated list is made up of places I know are great and cheap, and I’m sure you’ll find something great from it!
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