Octopus Galician style is probably the best typical dish from Galicia, and you should never leave Santiago without trying it. However, in recent years, it has become difficult to find good octopus at a reasonable price.
In this article, I’ll share what I consider the best places in Santiago to eat authentic octopus Galician style, and at a good price.
Table of contents
The Current Situation of Galician Octopus from the Ría
Eating genuine Galician octopus from the ría is almost impossible nowadays. It’s difficult even if you have good contacts, at least without paying a hefty sum.
The reason is that for an octopus to be edible, it needs to be of good age; ideally over 3 years, although they aren’t usually allowed to grow that long.
Since its capture is limited and there isn’t an abundance of octopuses in the ría, it’s hard to find them on the market.
Recently, there has been news about the potential “farming” of wild octopus in a controlled manner. If this is carried out, it would be fantastic for the future of our palates.
“Pulpo á Feira” or “Octopus Galician Style”
The genuine octopus Galician style is called “Pulpo á Feira,” which can be translated as “octopus fair style,” as this style of octopus is typical of all kinds of local festivities in Galician towns, or as we say here, feiras.
In Galician, it’s “Polbo á Feira,” with “polbo” being the Galician word for octopus.
What Pulpo á Feira Is Like
This traditional dish consists of octopus cooked to perfection, sliced into rounds, served on a wooden plate (which is now prohibited, so often it’s served on a regular plate) with plenty of olive oil, coarse salt, and spicy red paprika.
A simple dish, yet a delicious one.
Without further ado, here are my favorite restaurants to eat good octopus at a fair price in Santiago de Compostela:
1. El Finiquito
My favorite. Not because it’s the best octopus in the world, but because it’s where I usually eat it, and where you’ll find the advantages I’m about to explain.
What’s Great About El Finiquito:
For less than the price of a full portion at many places, you get a half portion of octopus as a starter in the menu, which costs only 14.90€
If you go during the week for lunch, you can always order pulpo á feira as a starter in the menu, which also includes a main course, drink, dessert, and coffee.
The menu price is affordable and cheap for how well you eat.
The octopus comes with “cachelos,” which are potatoes cooked in the octopus’s own water, and they are excellent with the oil.
The octopus is almost always perfectly cooked, neither chewy nor tough nor mushy, simply perfect, with the right amount of salt and paprika. They’ve mastered it.
If you go to this restaurant, let me recommend you try the carrilleras as a main course and rice pudding for dessert.
And if you go on a Thursday, you might see me eating at the table next to you.
Possible downsides are that it’s not in the city center; it’s towards the hospital area, away from typical tourist spots, and it doesn’t open for dinner, only for breakfast and lunch. But as you know, in Santiago everything seems far, about a half-hour walk.
Location
“A Taberna do Finiquito” is a few meters from the upper entrance of the University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, on Rúa Barcelona.
2. Pulpería O Bochinche
Located on Rúa San Pedro, a street known for its gastronomic offerings and as the northern entrance to the Camino de Santiago, Pulpería O Bochinche is a new restaurant in the city known for being a good place to eat high-quality traditional dishes.
For the quality it offers and its location, the price is very good, €16.50 for a portion.
They also prepare grilled octopus, which is delicious, and for €3 you can order the essential cachelos.
If you start with octopus, have churrasco as the main course, and cheese with quince for dessert, you’ll only need a pot of coffee and a shot to be truly local.
What’s great about O Bochinche is that the octopus is always good; if you find it chewy, let the waiters know because it’s not that all the octopus is like that, it’s just that one might have slipped through. Although, to be honest, I’ve never had that issue.
Location
Pulpería O Bochinche is at the start of San Pedro Street, just after Concheiros Street, heading towards the northern entrance of the Camino.
It’s still considered the old area, although “outside the wall” — what wall, you might ask? Well, the one that no longer exists.
3. Mesón Concheiros
A classic among classics, I don’t remember the first time I went; I must have been a baby.
The place is no longer what it used to be; they’ve moved a bit further down, and the old spot is now a pilgrims’ residence.
This place is the typical octopus mesón, with little variety but always the same exact taste.
Here’s a rough idea of the menu:
- Pulpo á feira, of course, perfect as if you were at the Feira do Pulpo de Carballiño.
- Roasted ham: unique to this place, it’s delicious.
- Ear: I don’t like it, but those who do generally love the one prepared here.
- Cachelos: traditional octopus potatoes.
- Pimientos de Padrón: sometimes they have other things.
- French fries: kids always ask for them.
- House white wine.
- House red wine.
- Cheese with quince.
And as far as I know, that’s it. Except for bread, beer, and coffee, of course.
Location
Mesón Concheiros, as its name suggests, is on Concheiros… well, not exactly, it’s very close to Concheiros Street, which is the street just before San Pedro Street on the Camino. It used to be clearly on that street, but now they’ve moved to Berlin Street, which is now considered Fontiñas.
We forgive them, as the old place felt like traveling back in time.
4. Mesón do Pulpo
A simple place located on Vista Alegre Street, on the outskirts of Santiago, where they serve typical Galician dishes and are known for having very good octopus.
It’s an old-style mesón, been around forever, and is as authentic a tavern as you can get.
In addition to Galician-style octopus, you’ll find typical dishes such as pimientos de Padrón, ear, and zorza, as well as excellent homemade desserts.
The price for a portion of octopus is 17€, which is high but worth it if you want to eat one of the best octopuses in Santiago.
Another well-known feature of this place is their “cuncas,” house wine cups for less than a euro each, 80 cents if I remember correctly.
Location
This mesón is on Vista Alegre, a street where pilgrims can joyfully spot the Cathedral from afar.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the cathedral, and the area is easy to park in; in fact, it’s one of the free parking areas in Santiago that we’ve explained.
5. Pulpería Raxería San Marcos
On the outskirts of the city and as the name suggests, Pulpería San Marcos is a favorite among Santiago residents for eating good traditional-style octopus.
To get to this pulpería, you need a car, but it’s worth it. The airport bus also arrives and stops right in front.
Just to clarify, yes, they specialize in octopus and raxo.
For just 15€, you get a full portion of Galician-style octopus, which is spectacular.
For the main course, you can only order raxo, which is pork loin with garlic and potatoes, another typical dish. Although other places might prepare it with pepper, here it’s just the meat, garlic, and potatoes.
In general, the menu has low prices, very typical dishes, and even Galician wines at almost supermarket prices.
Location
As mentioned before, it’s out of the way, in San Marcos, on the outskirts of the city. From the center by car, it might take about 10 or 15 minutes.
It’s located leaving the city on the road to the airport, towards Monte do Gozo past San Lázaro.
Conclusion
Eating the best Galician octopus in Santiago de Compostela is possible at these 5 places… but the price is high due to the scarcity of good octopus.
If you find any prices incorrect or have suggestions to improve this article’s information, let me know in the comments.
Thank you for reading; I hope you find it useful.
And if you want, visit some of the advertising recommendations, as that’s how this site is funded 🙂
Finally, I’ll share some suggestions if you want to have a drink after eating the octopus in Santiago de Compostela.