Lunch options in Barcelona for under 20€
Disclaimer: None of these are tapas or paella restaurants
What is Menú Del Día ?
Menú del día, commonly shortened to just menú, is a fixed lunch menu that is offered at several restaurants in Barcelona. It’s a good way to have a big lunch at an affordable price as it usually includes: two plates, a drink, and sometimes even dessert or coffee. Normally you are given two or three options to choose from for each course. The average price for a menu del día is around 15 euros. It’s also a convenient way to try a restaurant that could be more expensive in the evening.
When is Menú Del Día ?
You can get menú del día from Monday – Friday. Most restaurants in Barcelona are open from 1- 4 for lunch and don’t reopen again until 7 or 8 in the evening. So, if you didn’t plan ahead and are hungry between 4-7 your options can be pretty slim.
If it’s a holiday in Spain you won’t be able to get this deal. It’s worth checking as there are MANY holidays or days off in Barcelona.
I’ll share some options for international cuisine in Barcelona that are off the beaten tapas track.
1. Suguru
Reservations: Recommended | Suguru
What to get: Spicy tuna roll, the uramakis (hot fried, salmon to avocado) yakisoba, miso soup
Includes: First course + second course + dessert + drink
Price: €12,80
2. Murivecchi
I first became interested in this restaurant when I saw a photo of their pasta in a parmesan bowl. Who doesn’t love that? Murivecchi makes the list because you really get a lot of bang for your buck. When you realize you can have pasta as a starter and pizza for the main course you start to think, maybe I won’t have dinner tonight. Seriously, it’s a lot of food and usually very crowded. There are other dishes on offer besides pasta and pizza too. I would recommend this for a day when your energy is running low.
Reservations: Recommended | Murivecchi
What to get: Pizza and pasta
Includes: First course + second course + drink + dessert
Price: €15,90
3. Teresa Carles
Teresa Carles is a well known vegetarian chef from Lleida who created Flax and Kale. She has a few restaurants in Barcelona. The one near Universitat with her name on it is the only one where you can get a plate of the day combination. You can pick and choose your formula. I usually go for the first and second course. There are two options for the first course and five options for the second course. The options change every week and the way she displays the menu online like a calendar is convenient and aesthetically pleasing. It’s also possible to get a takeaway menu formula on Glovo, a delivery app. This is not your average vegetarian restaurant as the second courses are usually a refreshing take on a classic. Teresa Carles’ creativity and passion for healthy food is inspiring.
Reservations: Recommended | Teresa Carles
What to get: All of the pastas are amazing, the rice dishes
Includes: First course + second course OR first course + second course + dessert OR first course + dessert
Price: €11,50 – €15
4. Costa Pacifico
As the name suggests, this is a Mexican seafood restaurant, similar to one you could find on the coast of Baja California. Located in the heart of Born there is seating outside and inside, the outside tables have a surcharge. You can expect: ceviche, fried fish tacos, tostadas and even non-seafood options if mariscos are not your thing. The fish is fresh and the menú is filling yet doesn’t leave you too full. The tostada selection is creative (the only time I’ve tried a “pulpo” tostada) and for menú del día they always have a tostada del día. It is much more worth it to come for lunch because if you were to order everything that’s included in the evening, it could set you back 40 euros per person.
Reservations: Recommended | Costa Pacifico
What to get: Tostada de Atun Costa Pacifico, Rosarito (fried shrimp) tacos, coconut ice cream, beer
Includes: First course + second course + dessert + drink
Price: €14
5. Can Kenji
Located near Verdaguer metro, Can Kenji actually feels like you stepped into Kyoto for an hour. The tiny restaurant has a great menú del día in which you have different combinations to choose from like a sushi menu or a menu where you select an entrée that comes with miso soup, rice, a drink and dessert. The interior design is charming and the waitstaff are pleasant.
Reservations: Recommended | Can Kenji
What to get: Salmon teriyaki & matcha ice cream
Price: €11,80 – €15,80
6. Baldomero
This restaurant has been featured in magazines and upon arrival it feels like you have teleported to a page of Architectural Digest. There is a quaint covered terrace area with hanging vines that leads to a large dining room with pink walls. You can sit at the shared table for lunch and read a magazine or people watch while you wait for a lunch that is packed with fresh vegetables. There are two choices for menú del día here. You can choose three entrées or two entrées and a main dish. The slow cooked lamb is almost always an option for the main course. Baldomero offers really delicious colorful vegetarian options presented beautifully on a plate. They have a weekend all-you-can-eat brunch but it’s a much better value for lunch during the week. The desserts are also to die for with daily cakes on offer.
Reservations: Required | Baldomero
What to get: slow cooked lamb, roasted carrots with feta and pomegranate, pistachio cake, chocolate cake, wild rice with crunchy onions, quiche of the day
Includes: Starters and main course
Price: about €16
7. Koku Kitchen Ramen
I’m going to be honest, this menú keeps me coming back for the dessert. Have you ever had banoffee? It’s toffee with dulce de leche, bananas, and whipped cream, and it’s heaven on earth. Koku Kitchen Ramen has two locations: one in the gothic quarter and one in El Born. The one in the Born has two outside tables. They offer several types of ramen that are light in texture and slightly salty. The hot sauce on the table is very spicy and adds a nice kick. Their gyozas are like the kind you could find in Tokyo. A very good deal for lunch if you’re craving ramen and that warm pleasant feeling in your stomach on a rainy day.
What to get: Vegetarian picante ramen, gyozas, banoffee
Includes: Entrée + ramen + dessert + drink
Price: About €16
