In a hurry and wondering where to eat in BCN? The girls from Things to do in Barcelona have you covered with these 7 terrific fast food Barcelona restaurants loved by locals and tourists alike!
Fast Food Barcelona
With tapas bars and paella restaurants on almost every street corner, Barcelona has some amazing Catalan cuisine to offer. Sometimes, though, you just want something quick. Rest assured, there’s also plenty of options for good – very good indeed – fast food in Barcelona.
Insider’s Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona, I highly recommend adding a food tour to your itinerary! I ate my way through El Born, Raval, and Gotico on a Savor Spain tour and loved every minute of it.
A Tu Bola
‘Bola’ means ‘ball’ in Spanish, so it’s no surprise all food at A Tu Bola is shaped round. You can choose between ‘balls’ filled with beef, chicken, shrimp, or vegan options like chickpeas or sweet potato – all made with local products. The food is freshly made in the open kitchen of the (small) restaurant and served as a platter, pita or tapa with salad, hummus or cheese.
Feel like something sweet afterward? Then you shouldn’t miss the bolas de chocolate. The homemade lemonade is also worth trying!
Where: C/Hospital 78, El Raval
Cost: Around €8 for a pita, drink, and dessert
El Pachuco
Looking for the best nachos in Barcelona? El Pachuco is the place to go. This tiny Mexican restaurant within neighborhood El Raval is always crowded. Reservations aren’t possible, but the wait is worth it for sure.
A plate of nachos includes beans, cheese, jalapeños, crème fraiche, tomato sauce and chicken (if wanted) and easily serves as a lunch or dinner for two. There are also other Mexican classics on the menu, like tacos, quesadillas, and antojitos. And they serve delicious ‘micheladas’, or Mexican beers.
A perfect place to end a day of crawling through the city center or to start your party night in Barcelona.
Where: Carrer de Sant Pau 110, El Raval
Cost: Nacho’s for €12, drinks for €3-5
Parking Pizza & Parking Pita
This former parking lot in Eixample is now a popular restaurant where both pizza and pita lovers will be very satisfied. When entering the restaurant you can take a place at the long table for a pita filled with falafel (the best!), chicken or beef – make sure to order the French fries as well. They are absolutely amazing. In the back of the restaurant, there’s a big space with separate tables for whoever prefers pizza.
It’s not possible to reserve your spot and, especially during weekends, you probably have to wait.
Where: Passeig de Sant Joan 56, Eixample
Cost: €14 for a pizza, €3 for drinks
Tucco Real Food
One of the best fast food restaurants in Barcelona to have fresh pasta. Choose the type of pasta, sauce, and ingredients at the counter, take your drink and wait at your table for the food to be served. Everything is made fresh in the small ‘pasta factory’ upstairs.
The vegetable lasagna, as well as the ravioli with ricotta, pine nuts, and spinach, are to die for. For dessert, don’t miss the dulce de leche. The owner, Juan, is from Argentina so he knows a thing or two about dulce de leche!
All those carbs, cheeses and creams may not be the best idea for your ‘operation bikini’, but for your instant happiness, they are.
Where: Carre Codols 27, El Gotico
Cost: €10 for a menu including pasta, bread, drink and dessert
Koku Kitchen
Ramen, dumplings, Vietnamese Phô, curry, and buns. Koku Kitchen – with two locations in Barcelona – serves all kinds of Asian favorites.
The restaurant in the gothic quarter is famous for its ramen (Japanese noodle soup) – with chicken, beef or veggies and available from clean to spicy. The one in El Born has more variation and also serves Thai curries, dumplings, and Chinese ribs.
Where: Carrer del Comerç 29, El Born & Carrer d’En Carrabassa, El Gotico
Cost: Count €15 for a starter, noodle soup, and a drink
(More things to do in the Born neighborhood)
Bacoa Burger
There’s a hamburger and there’s a hamburger. The Spanish fast food chain Bacoa has 5 locations in Barcelona and this may well be the best hamburguesería in town.
There’s a wide variety of burgers (beef, pork, chicken, vegetarian and vegan) and additional ingredients and salsas, like the home-made pickles, truffle mayonnaise, caramelized onions, and the famous sherry mustard. Ask for some patatas bravas as well and you will leave the place oh so satisfied.
Where: Carerr del Judici 15, La Barceloneta & Avenida del Marques de l’Argentera, El Born, Carrer de Ferran 10, El Gotico, Ronda Universitat 31, Eixample.
Cost: €10 for a burger and a drink.
Makamaka Beach Burger Cafe
What’s not to like at Makamaka?
This beach bar serves salads, hamburgers (both meat and veggie) and probably the best garlic & parmesan fries you will ever try. Apart from the food, there’s also great cocktails and ultra-healthy juices on the menu. And above all, the bar is located just a step away from the beach and has a big and colorful terrace.
On sunny days there’s always a line outside from people waiting for a table. In winter they organize fun activities like pub quizzes, where you can win everything you eat/ate for free.
Where: Passeig de Joan de Borbó 76, La Barceloneta
Cost: €15 for a burger, fries and a drink
One of the most enjoyable things I did in Barcelona was take a cooking class. Learning to make paella is an unforgettable hands-on culinary experience! Pre-book your paella cooking class in Barcelona now.
About the Authors
¡Hola! We are Annebeth, Carola, and Carlijn. We live and work in Barcelona as journalists and tour guides, and we want to share the best this wonderful city has to offer.
