Eating in Zamora

Eating in Zamora

The city of Zamora, capital of the province with the same name, was an important settlement during the Middle Ages. In its small historical center, there is much to see. If you want to know what to eat in Zamora, the quality of its meats seasoned with the typical ajilimójili will amaze you.

The Zamorana cuisine uses quality ingredients from its agriculture and livestock. If you want advice about what to eat in Zamora we suggest starting with a soup-either garlic soup or a soup called ‘sopa de boda’ with bits of ham and sausage. You may also like the habones a la sanabresa ordare to try the zamorana rice that traditionally included bits of pork, like the ear, nose and leg.

Among the famous legumes are the Lenteja Pardina de Tierra de Campos and the Garbanzo de Fuentesaúco, both with I.G.P.

For meat, you will find delicious roasts of goat, suckling calf and suckling pig. For extra flavor, it is common to use ajilimójili, a seasoning made with chamomile olive oil (from olives grown in the area), chili pepper oil, garlic, and vinegar. Pigeon is also very popular.

As for fish to eat in Zamora, the most popular are the cod with ajoarriero and the tranca with the grilled trout from the Esla.

Don’t forget about the famous Zamorano cheese with D.O.P.

During the Fiestas de San Pedro, they celebrate the Garlic Fair in the capital (in Las tres Cruces avenue). Garlic is present in many recipes in the province, the most common being the garlic soup that is traditionally consumed in the early morning on Resurrection Sunday during Holy Week.

Wash down this food with a variety of wines with D.O. Such as Arribes Wine, Tierra del Vino de Zamora Wine, Toro Wine, and Vino de los Valles de Benavente. The new trends in cuisine have reached Zamora and are not only used to update traditional dishes, but also tapas. If you visit the city in late Abril or early May your visit will coincide with the De tapas por Zamora and you will have the opportunity to taste a variety of both traditional and avant-garde tapas.

Finish your meal in Zamora at a local bakery. The most typical pastries are the cañas zamoranas (filled with custard), the rebojos (cakes soaked in alcohol, syrup, sugar and cinnamon), and the empiñonados or almendrados, sweets made by the nuns.

queso zamora
vino zamora
ajo zamora

Eating tapas in Zamora has always been part of the city’s traditions. Since the 1980’s, Los Herreros Street, a narrow street reminiscent of the channel of a dry river, has been an example of tapas art. Venture there and you will see the many options to sit and enjoy a beer. At the beginning of the street is Mesónlos Herreros, where they offer good-sized toasts. For dinner, we recommend Quintí, with delicious tapas to accompany a drink. Watch out for the stairs at the exit! If you continue down the street you will reach Bar Chori with their popular grilled sausage.

On the other hand, in the newer areas of Zamora you can also find bars, especially around the Plaza de La Farola next to the Marina Park. This area has become a vital part of the city. El Lobo is fantastic and specializes in Moorish tapas made on a charcoal grill. Bar Caballero is also great for enjoying tapas such as, callos, squid, and the most typical and popular, the mixed potatoes! Another recommendation is La Casita de los Pinchos, where, as its name indicates, you will find delicious tapas to snack on. Finally, on the other side of the park is La Pinta de Oro where they offer several modern tapas.

comer zamora lobo
El Lobo
comer zamora bar caballero
Bar Caballero

In the Rincón de Antonio, an old 19th century renovated house, Antonio, with the help of his brothers, creates a traditional cuisine with a modern twist. They also serve delicious tapas in their bar. Sancho 2 La Marina is a restaurant with character that you can find in a local park. It serves traditional cuisine with a modern touch. In the Caprichos de Meneses they offer elaborate cuisine both in the bar and the restaurant. The Restaurante de Los Condes in the Parador de Zamora makes a traditional sanabresa cuisine.


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