The cuisine of the Canary Islands combines traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin American influences. There are some mainland-imported meals, but the original is to be found in the Canary Islands specialities. Away from the standard Spanish food, and the many tourist-oriented "international" style restaurants in the hotels, there is a genuine local cuisine. It is much easier to find a real British pub or a fast-food restaurant than a 'Canarian tipico', usually distinguished by a short menu of soups, stews and grilled fish dishes. The basis of Canarian cuisine is a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, generally light meals, more digestible in a warm climate. Meat usually features as part of a stew and steaks, mostly imported from Spain or South America and are for tourists only. The traditional island food is gofio, a sort of flour made from toasted cereals, often a substitute for bread. Also, being one of the best-known dishes, try the Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes).

This last dish consists of potatoes boiled and salted with their skin. But, their real taste comes from the mojos (sauces), usually two olive oil-based sauces: the mojo picón (spicy sauce) and the mojo verde (green sauce). If you like fish, you will feel in paradise on those islands. Among the most typical regional recipes are Caldereta and Sancocho Canario, salted fish in a Mojo sauce. You will find a wide variety of international recipes of fish and seafood, too. Among vegetarian dishes Potaje de Berros, a hot pot of chickpeas, is perhaps best known. The most typical dessert is bienmesabe, a mixture of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum. Besides that, you have a wide choice of tropical fruits, like mangoes and paw paw. Platanos Fritos, fried bananas, are in great demand. Not to be missed at all, is the local goat cheese, which is invariably good. The Tapas concept is one of the most important Spanish contributions to the world of gastronomy. A Tapa is a light and small piece of food that Spaniards have either before lunch or dinner, always with a glass of wine or beer. The Tapas custom allows one to have several wines or beers before lunch or dinner, it hides the appetite (tapa el hambre). The Tapa can be presented in several ways: as a pincho (with a stick), as a mini-dish of a traditional recipe, as a canapé, etc....

   Top Tips

• A BRILLIANT RESTUARANT CALLED DON QUIXOTES- VERY VARIED MENU, FANTASTIC FOOD, WONDERFUL STAFF. IF I HAD OF FOUND THIS ON MY FIRST NIGHT COULD HAVE EASILY ATE HERE EVERYDAY. DO TRY THE CREPES- YUM!  This is on our complex!!  Fantastic, but very cheap special afternoon menu
  from Sara in Sutton Stayed at Castle Harbour, February 2006
• If you enjoy a good chinese there is a resturant call Tabanaki - this is an excellent resturant, where you do have to book in advance. We ate here on a couple of occasions.
  from Tracey  in Bury Stayed at Sol Princesa Dacil Hotel, February 2006
• Clarets restaurant and La Estancia restaurant in Chayofa 5 mins in a cab - rank outside hotel -were absolutely fantastic.
  from Leanne in Leeds Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, May 2006
• fortuna restaraunt in the church square - fantastic visit 2 or 3 times every holiday!!!!!!!!!!!
  from Ann in Middleton Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, July 2006
• This is our favourite restaurant, but youll have to diet before and after!!
• South of hotel bus drop off at beach (on same road) is a delightful tapas bar - La Costa - with great views over the sea.
  from Peter in Andover Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, February 2007
• Olivers restaurant - 5 minutes walk from the hotel. Small family run establishment. Excellent food. Well worth visiting
  from Malcolm  in Solihull Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, June 2006
• Restaurant approx 10 min. taxi ride from hotel - El Cerro de La Luna - excellent menu with reasonable prices in lovely surroundings.
  from Hazel in Perth Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, October 2006
• King of India, Indian restaurant very good, only 10 min walk. Make sue you take a walk to the port, great fun watching the ferrys dock and people missing the ARMAS!
  from Jay in Wigan Stayed at H10 Oasis Moreque Hotel, October 2006
• Fish Restaurant - La Barca through the tunnel and walk along to Vista Sur. The Bistro is excellent food in the centre of Los Christianos. Turn up right hand side from Burger King and it is the third street on the right.
  from Alan in Preston Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, October 2006
• Found a good restaurant - Don Quixote, was a great place to eat, great food freshly prepared and the staff were excellent.
  from Amanda in kidlington Stayed at Chipeque Apartments, October 2006
• Ate out at different restaurants every night, very reasonable and good quality food especially the fish. Beach at Cala Vista very good. Take a bus to Costa Adeje, and walk back along the sea front.
  from j in worcester park Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, February 2007
• Aberdeen Steak house, excellent food and even better prices. It's on your way to Netto and Bus Station
  from c in tyne and wear Stayed at Castle Harbour Apartments, February 2007
• There are loads of really good resturants in Los christianos so you will never go hungry! We particularly enjoyed a place called Little italy, where a family of 4 can eat for about 70-80 euros including drinks.
  from joseph in barnsley Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, February 2007
• We enjoyed Rosie's Mexican Diner-Great Maugarettas and there was good live entertainment in Bar 39  Stays open quite late too!
  from ANDREW in BRISTOL Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, October 2006
• new eating place on the way down to town, The Oyster Catcher Bar & Grill very good food, service etc.
  from john in liversedge Stayed at Castle Harbour Apartments, March 2007
• Don Quiote restaraunt was excellant and very child friendly. Just over road from Apartments
  from Valerie in Kimberworth Stayed at Castle Harbour Apartments, April 2007
• Chinese restaurant called Overwater. Excellent food and service.
  from Janice in Cumbria Stayed at HG Cristian Sur Apartments, May 2007
• Bianco Restaurant in the main hub bub of the town was gorgeous with plenty of nice waiters!!!
  from C in Windsor Stayed at Castle Harbour, November 2005
• Le Pietra restaurant..fab food, lovely wine, run by very pleasant people..La vista beach
  from Catherine in Manchester Stayed at Sol Princesa Dacil Hotel, November 2006
• all restaurants were equally as good. did not have a bad meal for the whole week.
  from L in HANGLETON HOVE Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, February 2007
• Good British bakery on front - all your favourites, pies, pasties etc.
  from June in Cardiff Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, April 2006
• best restaurant fortuna 3 min walk
  from David in Bristol Stayed at Reveron Plaza, January 2006
• plenty of restaurants nearby we found eating out far cheaper than mainland spain four english bars within 200yards of the hotel
  from Cyril  in manchester Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, January 2006
• We found a little shop which did great bagettes with great fillings, very reasonably priced. Owned by an English couple.
  from Gillian in Oldham Stayed at H10 Oasis Moreque, July 2005
• Clarets Restaurant, 5 minutes taxi ride away.
  from Lorna in Dunoon Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, October 2006
• All of Los Cristianos is full of excellent restaurants and wonderfull beaches.
  from J in Consett Stayed at H10 Oasis Moreque, July 2005
• Porkies was a good value meal for those with families,and a great night out was to be found at the Irish Times.
  from linda in merthyr tydfil Stayed at Aguamar Hotel, April 2007
• The Lakeland cafe , one street away from the harbour front, provided excellent tea coffee and snacks. It is owned and run by English people and gave a comfortable and relaxed service. Also highly recommended is the New English Bistro ,just round the corner from the hotel, it is very popular (justifiably), so it is best to book.
  from Robert in Nottingham Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, January 2007
• very good restaurants and cafes near by. although lots of english touting outside of them.
  from Helen in Falmouth Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, April 2007
• great food in the resort, you must try the fish restaraunt just by the tunnel excellent but a bit pricy.
  from sasha in barry Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, February 2007
• Pizzeria Rimini just down the round is a fantastic little resturant pizza's are out of this world
  from Neil in Bradford Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, December 2006
• Great Arepas bar/restaurant five mins away.
  from Sally-ann in Brough Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, April 2007
• Great restaurant in Los Cristionos - Coeur de Fillet Friendly English Bar - The Trap Door - near the Oasis Morque Hotel
  from J in North Yorkshire Stayed at Sol Princesa Dacil Hotel, December 2006
• Best restaurants for us in Los Cristianos are the Original Bistro, the Bistro, the Ivy and the Rincon del Marienos. Beware of the hot buffet at the Chinese restaurant, two days lost to food poisoning were not fun!
  from Elizabeth in Godalming Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, November 2006
• Great Chinese down the hill to the left
  from Patricia in Warrington Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, May 2007
• fortuna restaurant los christianos town centre
  from ANN in MANCHESTER Stayed at Sol Princesa Dacil Hotel, November 2006
• There are 2 good restaurants near by, 1 just behind the swimming pool, a traditional italian and 1 about 5 mins walk (near the next restaurant) a small place run by a husband and wife team who go out of there way to cook to your liking and are very freindly.
  from Nicola  in Loughton Stayed at Castle Harbour Apartments, November 2006
• Overseas Chinese Restaurant -good food. Nauta Bar/Restaurant - good range of snacks.
  from Michael in Eastleigh Stayed at Arona Gran Hotel, May 2007
• Excellant breakfast baguettes from Christian sur across the road
  from stephen in blackpool Stayed at HG Tenerife Sur Apartments, January 2007
• Chouky's restaurant at Playa Las Vista
  from G in Wilmington Stayed at Sol Princesa Dacil Hotel, March 2007
• Take a walk down to Los Cristianos or a taxi to Playa de las Americas to stroll along the beach.
  from Suzanne in Solihull Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, March 2007
• The players Lounge at La Vistas Beach did a great breakfast and snacks and were very friendly there were some really good spanish restaurants in and around Los Cristianos. top tip is don't use the restaurants where there is a person trying to get people in I found those who let you read the menu and decide were really good restaurants and still very reasonable.
  from carl in huntingdon Stayed at Los Alisios Apartments, November 2006
• Worth taking he 10 or so min walk to the beach area to eat etc.
  from Patrick in Bromley Stayed at Los Alisios Apartments, October 2006
• Enjoyed all the meals we had never dined in the same restuarant all week
  from Linda Elizabeth in Iver Heath Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, October 2006
• the greedy pig lovely place to eat and excellent food
  from janet in gildersome Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, October 2006
• The food was great and we found a great pub,supermarket and chinese restaurant just at the back of the apartments so not far to walk.
  from Norman in Stirlingshire Stayed at Castle Harbour Apartments, September 2006
• Just up road from hotel - good chinese rest - slow boat and just further up another good rest - Don Quiote. Don't bother with Shakespears Bar, been taken over and not very good now. Try Bar 39.
  from elaine in kings lynn Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, September 2006
• The restaurant opposite the back entrance to the appartments 'Don Quixote' was excellent.
  from Margaret in Port Talbot Stayed at Castle Habour-Studios Hotel, February 2007
• porkies bar with good home made cooking
  from Audrey in Coylton Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, October 2006
• Los Chorros, 5 minute walk away towards the harbour, is friendly with good food. There is a mexican restaurant worth a visit in the other direction, up on the right past the Paradise Park, I think the road is Santa Rosa.
  from R J in Sale Stayed at Los Alisios Apartments, October 2006
• Porkys was excellent. Wonderful home cooked breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. Sunday roast fantastic and approx 5.45 euros per adult. Evening specials every day at a similar price.
  from Paula in Anlaby Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, August 2006
• A couple of restaurant we found were Italian (Little Italy) and a Mexican the food was excellent and plentiful (great value for money). The waiters were very nice, polite and not pushy.
  from B in Swadlingcote Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, October 2006
• There were two lovely restaurants that we found. A seafood restaurant right at the end of the promenade that overlooked the harbour and the Ivy restaurant which was very small but served great food and was very reasonable.
  from Sarah in St Albans Stayed at Arona Gran Hotel, October 2006
• Eat Italian - every restaurant we tried that was Italian was superb. Walk to the end of the docks and then go up the backstreets - great food a little expensive but worth it - good wine too
  from L in Telford Stayed at Sur y Sol Apartments, August 2006
• Fab chinese restuarant - slow boat - just across the road. Don't bother with Shakespears bar just across the road - been taken over - and now completely useless, try bar 39 just around the corner - very smart.
  from Elaine in Kings Lynn Stayed at Paradise Park Resort and Spa Hotel, July 2006
• Lots of good local eating places.
  from David in Newcastle upon Tyne Stayed at Comodoro Apartments, January 2007
• roses canteena has fantastic food and a local supermarket not nettos whichj is good for shopping over the round about oppisite nettos
  from Michael in Acton Stayed at Aguamar Apartments, July 2006
• good supermarket turn left outside hotel and left again netto sold english bread local shops sold cheap perfumes and ciggies. good restaurant 100 yards from hotel has own bbq outside.
  from Jean in Manchester Stayed at HG Tenerife Sur Apartments, November 2006
• Great places to eat all around hotel never had a bad meal
  from thomas in peterborough Stayed at Reveron Plaza Hotel, September 2006

 Quite honestly, the food is so good and such value, it's really not worth staying in - it would cost you as much to make it yourself!!

Our 4 must do restaurants:

1. The Fortuna near the church Square
2. Harish Tandoori, near the Spar/el Miradoor
3. a Brilliant Chinese Buffet, odd name, opposite Burger King, upstairs, overlooking the Harbour - all for 7 euros!!
4. Paraiso, up in the hills in Valle san lorenzo