Eating Out in Tenerife - do it in style or watch the pennies!
eating out in tenerife
Have you ever eaten at a great Tenerife restaurant? One that not many people might know about? Or had a really horrendous experience? Tell us about it! Click here.
Tenerife restaurants! There are so many of them! You pass one every few yards, especially in the tourist areas. In fact, a survey has found that there’s one bar or restaurant for every seven residents! The island’s eating out experience boasts a full range of international cuisine, from Chinese, to Indian, to Italian, to pure, honest-to-goodness traditional Canarian cooking. Tenerife restaurants cover the full range - superb five-star establishments to really simple, no-nonsense eateries.
Of course, the latter types offer the best value for money. In Tenerife, these basic dining places (called "restaurantes típicos") can be deceptive. Every traditional Tenerife restaurant/tapas bar can be relied on to deliver first class fare, at remarkably low prices. The reason's simple - you’re not paying for any frills.
eating out in tenerife
MY PERSONAL EATING OUT RECOMMENDATIONS
These are restaurants I have eaten at on more than one occasion and can heartily recommend. Some of them are not that well-known - especially by tourists!
Traditional Spanish/Canarian
El Paraiso, in the town of Valle San Lorenzo, about 15 minutes drive from Los Cristianos. It serves Canarian food, but also caters for British tastes.
Restaurante Excalibur, in the village of Cabo Blanco. One of those “hidden gem” places that not many people know about yet. Also about 15 minutes’ drive from Los Cristianos.
La Tasca De Mi Abuelo. Quite a mouthful, but I gather it means something like “granddad’s pub”! In the centre of Los Cristianos, this is typically Canarian, especially popular with the locals.
Casa Pedro, at Las Chafiras. This is really a hidden gem and is known only to a few ex-pats, certainly not many tourists. Just off the motorway, on the way to the airport.
Restaurante San Martin, at Cabo Blanco. Known locally to Brits as "The Pig Farm", this Canarian restaurant specialises in suckling pig and caters for large groups.
For a review, by Tenerife journalist John Riddle, of the restaurant El Cine in Los Cristianos, click here.
eating out in tenerife
Restaurantes Tipicos (very cheap, no frills)
Las Rosas, on the road into Las Galletas. Not a complete absence of frills, but getting there.
Staff are okay. After serving you, they generally leave you alone to get on with your meal. It also seems to be a meeting place for locals. There are often several animated converstions in progress!eating out
Food is good, prices reasonable. There is some complimentary bread with dips placed on your table before they bring your first course. They’re so keen to serve, you sometimes get your main course before you finish your starter!
There's not that much of a need to reserve a table, but if you want to phone them, the number is (+34) 922 731471.
La Bamba, Guargacho. On the main road of this small village not far from Las Galletas, this is yet another typical Canarian restaurant/bar.
This is a true restaurante típico, very basic, but with good food and, because it has no airs and graces, low, low prices.
There are many of these eating places around, all of an equally high standard, but cheap.
Telephone: (+34) 670 813475.
El Parador, again in Guargacho. Pretty much a carbon copy of La Bamba.
If you are prepared to experience the true Tenerife eating out experience, you literally are spoilt for choice.
Bar Apolo, Apolo Centre, Los Cristianos. Now you are getting down to the bare essentials.
The beauty of this tapas bar/eatery is that it opens late in the evening and stays open more or less all night! Ideal if it's about 3 in the morning and you've got a rumbling tum.
Many of the acts that provide Tenerife's live entertainment make their way to it when they finish.
Very, very basic, but try the pincho (kebab) with fried potatoes (not chips) coated in the hot, red mojo sauce, or one of the arepas (sort of pasty made of potato, with choice of filling).
Just the job as a convenient place if you're peckish, late on.
Extra Tip
Did you know that every main petrol station has a bar/restaurant attached to it and they can all be relied on to provide excellent food at low prices.
There is a profusion of Chinese restaurants in Tenerife, all pretty much the same standard. Except one. Although its name, translated into English is the rather uninspiring "Restaurant China", the food and service are far from it.
The Khong Tsha found on Parque Santiago 3, in Las Americas.
Another fine Chinese restaurant, with an excellent reputation.
A traditional fish-and-chip shop/restaurant - with quality!
For a review, by Tenerife journalist John Riddle, of the Irish restaurant Devon Arms Los Cristianos, click here.
eating out in tenerife
Of course, I can't have visited every restaurant on the island (or I'd be even fatter than I am now), so here follows a list of other eating establishments that have received glowing reports from customers.
ADEJE
El Molino Blanco Its name meaning "The White Windmill", this has got to be one of the best restaurants in Tenerife.
Harley's American Restaurant and Bar As its name suggests, an oasis of the US-of-A in the heart of Las Americas. A stylish, quality establishment serving international cuisine, as well as traditional American.
El Dorado A fine Mexican restaurant found in the Fañabe area.
San Marco A quality Italian restaurant situated in the El Duque Commercial Centre.
Miranda's International cuisine from a restaurant based in a traditional Canarian house, complete with wooden balcony
Maxims A Belgian restaurant offering food from its own country, plus France
CK's Bistro A charming little bistro serving first class, homemade British food in a convivial setting
La Mariposa An attractive Belgian-owned restaurant offering French bistro-style cuisine
Pasteleria Bamboo Though not strictly a restaurant, worth a mention here. A pastry and cake shop offering tasty homemade French pastries and cakes all day
Asador Neke A Spanish restaurant specialising in roast meats
La Hoya del Camello A Canarian/Spanish restaurant with influences from the area of Valencia
Chez Stephane A French restaurant run by a Belgian chef with an amazing pedigree
L'Amuse Bouche Five-star French cuisine, with a fusion of traditional and modern
eating out in tenerife
What's your best Tenerife restaurant experience?
Have you eaten at a really great Tenerife restaurant - one that not many people may know about? Share it with us! Have you had a really horrendous restaurant experience? We need to know about that, too!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Good Eats!
Not rated yet
We can highly recommend El Chamo in Escalona, on the main road up to El Tiede from Los Cristianos (Junction 72). You'll need to take a big appetite however,...
Carlos Restaurant
Not rated yet
This restaurant has a great sense of hospitality, great food for a great price and friendly and welcoming owners and staff.
I fully recommend it as ...
Sunset Harbour Torviscas
Not rated yet
Two great restaurants: "44 Regent Street" - always great food reasonably priced and the pool bar - very good Canarian menu.
Eating Out In Tenerife: Tapas Bar "La Costa"
Not rated yet
A small Tapas bar in Los Cristianos. They´re in the centre called San Telmo, with a beautiful seaview. Nice restaurant, not expensive. Also nice for families....
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