Prices in Salou for Food in Restaurants, Cafes and Supermarkets

On the azure coast of the Costa Dorada, in southern Catalonia, there is a small but very cosy city — Salou. Here you will find a warm sea, wide beaches, velvet sand, plenty of greenery and a European level of service.

Salou is ideal for family holidays. Admirers of beach solitude will find cosy bays and lovers of learning something new, making a rich excursion programme. Relatively close are Barcelona and Valencia, where there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family. But in the city itself, there are a lot of places to go and things to see. The world-famous amusement park "PortAventura" is worth a visit!

But in this article we would like to focus on an essential aspect of any holiday — food.

Catalan national cuisine is famous among gourmets all over the world. In this article, we will tell you what to try in Salou and what prices you will find in local catering establishments, shops and markets.

 Photo: pixabay.com

Salou's cafés and restaurants offer their guests the best traditional Catalan cuisine. The main ingredients of popular dishes are meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit. Sometimes the composition of these dishes is very unusual. For example, some recipes combine meat and seafood; meat dishes may include sweet and sour fruits.

• Top things to do in Salou with kids

What local foods you have to try in Salou? You'll want to start, of course, with the most famous dishes.

• Paella is the national food of Spain. It is rice with seafood, vegetables and Mediterranean spices.
• Fideua — pasta with seafood. It is prepared on the same principle as paella, but instead of rice, small pasta is used.
• Tapas — this is the name of all variants of snacks. Tapas can be meat, vegetable, fish or seafood.
• Pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomatoes) — a simple snack of bread, tomatoes and garlic.
• Escudella is a traditional Catalan thick soup made from different types of meat. It tastes like a stew.
• Arroz negro — paella with black cuttlefish. Due to the ink of the mollusc, the rice is coloured black during the cooking process.
• Suquet de Peix — a potato-based seafood stew made with any kind of fresh fish or seafood, potatoes, white wine, and fish stock, flavored with paprika and saffron.
• Zarzuela Catalana — a dish of several types of stewed fish and seafood. It is served in a clay pot.

Seafood in Salou is a separate topic that deserves attention. The Spanish coastline is home to exotic species of fish and shellfish, which are used to create incredible dishes. Be sure to try almejas (Clams), navajas (Razor Clams), devil's tail and other sea delicacies.

Compared to other European destinations, the prices in Salou are reasonable. The average bill depends on the popularity of the restaurant or cafe and their location concerning the seafront and city beaches. You can save a lot of money by choosing cafes and restaurants where locals eat.

Approximate prices for meals in a mid-range café:

• coffee with a croissant — 3-4 euros;
• cheese and tomato sandwich — 3.25 euros;
• pizza — from 7 euros;
• bacon sandwich — 3.5 euros;
• continental breakfast — 7-8 euros;
• business lunch (menu del dia) — 8-12 euros;
• lunch in a tourist cafe — from 15 euros;
• lunch in a restaurant — from 20 euros;
• dinner with a glass of wine — 20-30 euros;
• tapas (1 type) — 2-7 euros;
• wine with soda and ice (1 drink) — from 1.5 euros;
• sangria (1 l) — 8-9 euros;
• water (0.5 l) — from 1 euro;
• coffee — from 1.5 euros.

Prices in cafés and restaurants in Salou 2024

Prices in cafes and restaurants in Salou can vary considerably. If you compare how much it costs to dine in an inexpensive café and a tourist restaurant, the cost can be twice as much.

Here are approximate prices in cafes on the seafront:

• croissants — 1.5 euros;
• doughnuts — 2.5 euros;
• sandwich with jamon, sausage, chicken or cheese — 1.6-3.5 euros;
• scrambled eggs, potatoes and sausages — 7-9 euros;
• gazpacho — 14 euros;
• grilled squid — 13 euros;
• Jamón Serrano cured ham —15 euros;
• tapas (1 portion) — 2.6 euros;
• dessert "crema catalana" — 3.5 euros;
• salads — min. 7 euros;
• a plate of mussels — min. 12 euros;
• fideua — min. 11 euros;
• paella — min. 13 euros.

In this town, some cafes and restaurants offer a buffet system. For a fixed price, you can taste various dishes and delicacies: seafood, meat and fish dishes, pastries, fruit and vegetables.

 Photo: pixabay.com

For example, the Dong Fang restaurant offers relatively inexpensive Asian cuisine. A buffet menu at Dong Fang costs 15-20 euros, and 9 euros for children under 8 years old. Restaurants in Salou range from cosy family to Michelin-starred fashionable restaurants.

So how much does it cost to eat in a prestigious restaurant? Prices in Salou's restaurants are European, which means they are quite high:

• toast with tomatoes and garlic — 4.75 euros;
• onion rings in breading — 6.5 euros;
• salad with goat cheese — 11 euros;
• fried brie with cranberry sauce — 9 euros;
• steak — 25 euros;
• pork ribs — 13.95 euros;
• curry chicken — 12 euros;
• salmon teriyaki — 16.75 euros;
• spaghetti — 12 euros;
• chicken salad — 13 euros;
• paella — 18 euros;
• fish dish — min. 20 euros;
• a large plate of seafood — min. 25 euros.

The first associations that arise with the phrase "street food" are stalls or tents selling shawarma and hot dogs, and in seaside resorts, they are also stalls with corn and fruit. Spaniards prefer to sit on a terrace and leisurely savour their food. In the last decade, street food has gradually taken over Spain.

• What to Eat in Spain — 48 Spanish Foods You Must Try

So what do Salou residents eat when they don't want to waste time in cafes? It's simple: inexpensive tapas bars act as fast food outlets. Every year there are festivals dedicated to tapas and other national dishes.

In addition, some bars sell bocadillo, the local sandwich version, a baguette with jamon. If you don't intend to eat the baguette on the spot, you should tell the waiter: "Para evar", which means "to go", and they will bring you a packed bocadillo.

Here are the approximate prices for street food in Salou (prices may vary depending on the city district):

• hot dog — from 3 euros;
• a sandwich with coffee — 2.5-4 euros;
• bocadillo — 3.20 euros for a large one and 1.60 euros for a small one;
• cakes — 2.5 euros;
• pies — 3-6 euros.

Italian pizzerias are popular in the resort, as well as Turkish kebab houses. Approximate cost of dishes in such places:

• pizza — 5-6 euros;
• sandwich with chicken and salad — 3 euros;
• shawarma — 3-5 euros;
• kebab, side dish, salad and a drink — 8-10 euros.

Meals at a resort are among the most expensive items, especially if you are holidaying as a family. Many tourists reduce food costs by cooking meals in the apartments and buying products in supermarkets or markets. When going on holiday, travellers wonder what the prices for food in Salou are.

In general, prices in this resort are average European. However, as in the case of cafes and restaurants, spending depends on whether the shop is in or away from the tourist area.

Seasonality also plays a role (prices are usually higher during the peak tourist season).

 Photo: pixabay.com

The exceptions are large chain supermarkets, whose pricing policy does not depend on the time of year. These supermarkets run various promotions and offer discounts monthly.

Information on how much groceries cost in Salou can help you plan your travel budget.

Food prices in Salou 2024

Here are the approximate costs of the products:

Name	Q-ty	Price, EUR
Bottled water	1,5 l	0,2
Milk	1 l	1,05
Bread	1 pcs.	1-2
Eggs	12 pcs.	2,2
Chicken fillet	1 kg	9
Chicken legs	1 kg	5
Chicken sausages	250 g	2,25
Chicken thigh	1 kg	4,4
Chicken wings	1 kg	4
Beef	1 kg	13
Veal, fillet	1 kg	15
Veal, tenderloin	1 kg	13
Marble veal	600 g	8,37
Pork	1 kg	6,6
Pork, ribs	1 kg	6
Pork, steak	200 g	2,6
Rabbit	1 kg	7,65
Chicken nuggets	500 g	2,7
Tuna fish	1 kg	19
Fillet of salmon	400 g	9,5
Mussels	1 kg	4,95
Shrimps	1 kg	8
Navajas	1 kg	7,9
Squid	1 kg	7
Octopus	1 kg	28
Crabs	0,5 kg	8,3
Oysters	6 pcs.	14
Nectarines	1 kg	1,3
Fig peaches	1 kg	2,3
Peaches, plums	1 kg	1,69
Oranges	1 kg	1
Lemons	1 kg	2
Lime	1 pcs.	0,33
Bananas	1 kg	0,99
Avocado	1 kg	5,39
Pineapple	1 kg	1,19
Mango	1 kg	2,59
Blueberry	1 kg	12
Blackberry	125 g	2
Raspberry	125 g	1,68
Redcurrant	125 g	4,25
Cherry tomatoes	1 kg	3
Tomatoes	1 kg	1,25
Cucumbers	1 kg	1,59
Zucchini	1 kg	0,99
Aubergine	1 kg	1,69
Cauliflower	1 kg	1,2
Iceberg lettuce	1 pcs.	0,89
Jamon	150 g	от 2
Gouda cheese	1 kg	6,3
Emmental cheese	1 kg	7,1

Salou is the tourist centre of Costa Daurada, so shops, food stalls and supermarkets are found here at every turn. Here are the most popular ones:

Mercadona, Michelangelo — Spanish chain supermarkets with a large selection of goods at affordable prices.

Lidl is a famous european supermarket chain known for its low prices.

DIA — small shops with necessities.

Carrefour — medium-priced supermarkets of the French retail chain. Sales and promotions are often held here.

Apart from supermarkets and shops, you can also buy food at markets.

Often they are open only on certain days, such as Monday Market, so find out in advance the schedule of a particular market.

The city market Mercado Bonavista is so popular among tourists that it is even included in the itineraries of excursions. It sells fruit, vegetables, spices, condiments, delicacies and souvenirs. Mercado Bonavista is located near the railway station.

 Photo: pixabay.com

Salou's tourist infrastructure is developing very rapidly. The resort offers vast accommodations for every taste and budget: luxury villas, private apartments, youth and family hotels, and hostels.

The cost of accommodation in an inexpensive guest house is 30 euros per day. In family hotels and apartments, the rates are more expensive. As a rule, the price includes breakfast. But you can choose the system of meals at the stage of planning your trip. For this purpose, consider how much time you intend to spend in the hotel.

Families with children often choose Salou; therefore, the most popular dining options are half board or full board. At the same time, all-inclusive hotels are pretty rare in Spanish resorts.

Parents often choose the first option when the voucher price includes breakfasts, lunches, or dinners. Some hotels give an option of changing lunch for dinner.

If you are sure that you will miss dinner, this moment should be negotiated with the administration the day before to reschedule the meal. You can also eat in hotel restaurants for an additional fee. At mid-range hotels, lunch or dinner will cost around 15 euros.

Drinks are generally not included in the price for half board and full board. You will have to pay extra for them. A bottle of mineral water costs 2-3 euros, 1 litre of sangria — min. 8 euros, and a bottle of wine — min. 10 euros.

According to the reviews, many travellers like the food in Salou hotels, but we still recommend visiting a local restaurant to get better acquainted with the local cuisine.

Note that in hotels, often as "kids menu", they are served fries, burgers, pizza, and sausages. Therefore, studying fresh reviews about food in the hotel where you're going to stay will be helpful.

Beach holidays, excursions and new experiences often make you forget about food. And if adults easily tolerate a change in meal times, kids loudly express their displeasure.

To avoid such situations when travelling with a child, follow the usual routine: no matter how exciting the new activities are, breakfast, lunch and dinner should be on schedule. It is advisable to always take water, cookies or fruit with you to the beach and walks.

 Photo: pixabay.com

You can buy infant formula and puree from well-known European producers for the youngest tourists in Salou supermarkets.

As an example, here are the prices for baby food:

    Hero Pedialac milk formula (800 g) — €18;
    Hipp Combiotik milk formula (800 g) — €29;
    Hero fish puree (235 g) — €1.60;
    Hero veal purée with vegetables (235 g) — €1.60;
    Nestle fruit puree (90 g) — €1.3;
    Hipp instant porridge (400 g) — €6.95;
    fruit juice (100 ml) — €1.1;
    yoghurt (100 ml) — €1.05.

Older children can always choose from a menu of cafés and restaurants. They enjoy eating paella, escudella, tapas and local pastries.

Mediterranean cuisine is generally light and healthy, but children are sometimes allergic to seafood and exotic fruits.

Here are some tips to help you avoid problems while on holiday:

• When going shopping, remember to take a siesta. Many shops and cafes are closed at lunchtime.
• Restaurant portions are large, so feel free to order one meal for two.
• Near the sights and seafront, Salou has the highest prices for tourists.
• Dairy products in Salou made in Spain contain sugar. If you are not in a hurry to introduce your little ones to sweets, then prefer trusted European brands when buying.
• It is advisable to take suitable medication in case of food allergies or poisoning.

La Gaviota Restaurant is a cosy family restaurant featuring traditional Catalan cuisine. There is a children's room for children.

The Roadhouse is a fast-food establishment. The menu offers a wide choice of delicious burgers and cocktails.

Pizzeria La Piazza is a cute Italian restaurant. It serves mouth-watering pizzas and salads.

La Tortillita is a calm and quiet place serving national specialities such as tortilla, paella and other Spanish delicacies.

Lara Salou is a cosy restaurant for the whole family, with a wide range of dishes and special offers for children.

We will be glad if our article helps you understand Catalan cuisine's intricacies and learn more about the prices for food in Salou. We wish you a pleasant holiday and new impressions!