Tapas vs Pintxos: Can You Tell These Culinary Giants Apart?

Spanish cuisine is chalk full of vibrant and flavour-packed dishes, such as gazpacho, paella, patatas bravas, and the delightfully sinful and luscious tres leches cake. Owing to the country’s cultural as well as geographical diversity, each region has its own unique dishes, ingredients, and flavours.

However, one food tradition that is ubiquitous throughout Spain is that of tapas. What are tapas? Essentially, they are small or large plates of food that are served with drinks at bars and taverns throughout Spain.

Tapas can be served hot or cold, and they can be anything, ranging from meats to cheeses to seafood. Tapas have established quite a space for themselves in the global culinary community, with tapas bars present all over the world.

Interestingly, one Spanish food tradition that has largely remained restricted to the country is that of pintxos. A lesser known cousin of tapas, pintxos, too pack a punch in terms of flavour, and contribute to the richness and diversity of Spanish culture.

Like tapas, pintxos are served in Spanish bars and taverns. They are made from a host of regional ingredients, including meats, such as ham and chorizo as well as seafood, including anchovies and squid.

As many people in the global sphere are unfamiliar with pintxos, they often tend to confuse with them tapas; but this is not case. Here are a few key differences to help one distinguish between tapas and pintxos.