Perhaps you’re craving a pan of paella, sizzling at the edges with piles of seafood on the top. Maybe you’re craving something more meaty – plates of jamón, croquetas and other tapas shared between friends. Or the pop of a Spanish wine is all you crave, perchance, after a long hard day at work.
Either way, one thing’s clear: Spanish food travels remarkably well. And in Bangkok, there’s many opportunities to try it when that craving hits. But with Spanish cuisine becoming increasingly international, how can diners know when they’re getting the real thing?
That’s where ‘Restaurants from Spain’ comes in – an international certification programme recognising restaurants outside Spain that demonstrate a genuine commitment to Spanish gastronomy.
Photograph: El TapeoRestaurants from Spain
Authentic food has never been this easy to find
Simply guessing the quality or authenticity of Spanish food in Bangkok is now a thing of the past. Whether it’s an easy side of patatas bravas or more exciting plate of bacalao a la riojana (salt cod cooked with red peppers), distinctive seals make for an easy shortcut for diners: spot it at a restaurant and you know the establishment has been recognised for representing the food, produce and hospitality of Spain.
Brought to the city by the Spanish Trade Commission, this international certification programme developed by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment looks beyond single dishes. Rather, they recognise restaurants around the world that offer an authentic Spanish gastronomic experience, guaranteeing a commitment to authenticity, quality, professionalism and the use of genuine Spanish products.
Photograph: FuegoRestaurants from Spain
Where can I find the Restaurants from Spain seal?
Over the past few years Restaurants from Spain has grown into an international network of more than 500 certified restaurants across over 50 countries.
A visual ambassador for Spanish gastronomy around the world, the campaign introduces diners not only to famous dishes but also to Spanish produce, wine, culinary traditions and contemporary restaurant culture.
Thailand has become part of that global network, with certified Restaurants from Spain establishments around the country.
Here’s the full list, with more coming soon:
Bangkok
Albricias (Naradhiwas Rajanakarindra 24)
Arroz (Sukhumvit 53)
El Tapeo (Sukhumvit 61)
el Willy Spanish Kitchen (Ekkamai)
Fuego (Thonglor)
Latirra (Sukhumvit 23)
Luz Bangkok Tapas Bar (INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit)
Paella House, Tapas Wine & Bar by El Tapeo (Thonglor)
PaLeTa (Lumphini)
Pura Brasa (One Bangkok)
SOPA Restaurant (Sirindhorn Road)
Taberna Jamón Jamón (Sukhumvit 20)
Taburete (Sala Daeng)
Tinto Tapas N Wine (Sukhumvit 71)
UNO MÁS (Rama I)
VASO – Spanish Tapas Bar (Lang Suan Road)
Outside of Bangkok
Bodegas Wine and Restaurant (Nonthaburi)
Don Pepe (Chonburi)
La Cava Phuket (Cherngtalay, Phuket)
La Salada (Rawai, Phuket)
Little Spain (Hua Hin)
The Breeza (Melià Koh Samui)
They even have a few listed in neighbouring countries, including Casa Diego in Cambodia and Pimentón in Laos.
It’s a varied collection, encompassing different styles of Spanish dining and destinations across Thailand – another reminder that there is no single way to experience Spanish cuisine.
Photograph: Little SpainRestaurants from Spain
Getting into the details
As any foodie will know, Spanish cuisine is wonderfully diverse.
The food of Galicia is very different from that of Andalucía; Catalonia has its own culinary identity, as do the Basque Country, Valencia and Spain’s islands. Ingredients, cooking techniques and regional traditions can change enormously as you travel across the country.
Spanish cuisine is wonderfully diverse, with each region bringing its own ingredients, cooking techniques and culinary traditions. Restaurants from Spain embraces this diversity, recognising restaurants that stay true to the authenticity and heritage of the cuisine they serve – whether through traditional dishes or more contemporary interpretations.Spanish cuisine is wonderfully diverse, with each region bringing its own ingredients, cooking techniques and culinary traditions. Restaurants from Spain embrace this diversity, recognising restaurants that stay true to the authenticity and heritage of the cuisine they serve – whether through traditional dishes or more contemporary interpretations.
Photograph: Restaurants from SpainICEX Spain Trade and Investment
Certified establishments are assessed against objective criteria covering areas including the authenticity of their menus, use of genuine Spanish products, Spanish wines, service quality and the overall dining experience.
That means the seal can appear at very different kinds of restaurants.
One might specialise in traditional tapas and familiar Spanish comfort food; another might explore Spain through contemporary cooking and fine dining. What connects them is a commitment to representing Spanish gastronomy with authenticity and quality.
Photograph: VasoRestaurants from Spain
The Spanish table is much like the Thai one
And as well all know, food, of course, is about far more than what arrives on the plate.
Eating in Spain is inherently social. Meals are opportunities to gather, talk, share and, most importantly, eat. Tapas perhaps express that philosophy better than anything else: several dishes in the middle of the table, everybody reaching in, ordering another round and allowing dinner to unfold at its own pace.
It’s a philosophy that feels particularly familiar in Thailand.
Ingredients and flavours of Thai and Spanish cuisines may be different (although spice prevails in both), but both cultures understand the importance of eating together. Food is shared, meals are social and some of the best experiences happen when a table fills with dishes for everyone to try.
Restaurants from Spain therefore represent something broader than a checklist of Spanish recipes. The certification recognises establishments capable of bringing that wider gastronomic culture to diners – the ingredients, drinks, hospitality and conviviality that together make eating in Spain such a distinctive experience.
Photograph: ArrozRestaurants from Spain
Why does this certification matter?
Authenticity can be difficult to define, particularly when a cuisine travels thousands of kilometres from its country of origin.
Restaurants naturally adapt to different markets, ingredients and audiences, and international interpretations can be part of what makes eating out exciting. But for diners actively looking for an authentic Spanish experience, it helps to have something more reliable than a restaurant name, décor or a few familiar dishes.
That’s the purpose of the Restaurants from Spain seal.
For restaurants, certification is recognition of the work involved in representing Spanish gastronomy abroad: sourcing genuine products, maintaining culinary standards, building knowledgeable teams and creating an experience that remains connected to Spain.
For diners, things are much simpler. The seal means somebody has done the checking for you. It means what you eat is genuine, and well-made. And it doesn’t stop here either.
There are many other Spanish restaurants currently under assessment for the Restaurants from Spain seal, such as Cante, Beso Beso, Luma, Amalur, Malamar, Movida, La Feria, Tasca Sabio, Unit 102 – PaLeTa and Malifeta.
So, the next time you’re craving a taste of Spain in Thailand, take a closer look at the restaurant. Or just save this story and work your way through the list above; it’s bound to get longer very soon.
Dining and Cooking