Chef José Andrés teaches you how to enjoy tapas like a Spaniard

The Michelin-starred chef helped bring tapas culture to the US, but there's nothing like enjoying them in Spain. Here are his tips for enjoying the beloved shared plates – the Spanish way.

Chef José Andrés has lived in and around Washington DC for 35 years, but he has never forgotten his native Spain – or its delicious culinary customs.

The Asturias-born restauranteur, whose Spanish eateries are often credited with introducing Spanish cuisine to the US, chatted with the BBC about tapas, the deeply social Spanish tradition of dining on shared, snack-sized plates.

"To me, tapas have always been a trojan horse to understand Spain," says Andrés. "When we first opened Jaleo – my Spanish restaurant in Washington – more than 30 years ago, no one was familiar with sharing plates… everyone wanted to have their own meal."

Since then, tapas have travelled the globe. "[These days], people are more willing to push their plates to the centre of the table and share," says Andrés. "Tapas are, at the same time, a simple way of eating and an entire way of life. They are a commitment to being together, sharing dishes, sharing an experience." 

José Andrés is a Michelin-starred chef, humanitarian and author. His new book, Spain My Way: Eat, Drink and Cook like a Spaniard, out 19 May 2026, is a deeply personal guide to Spain, through a culinary lens.

(Credit: Courtesy of José Andrés and Family in Spain)

But there's nothing like eating them in their country of origin. There are innumerable varieties found throughout Spain's 17 regions, traditionally enjoyed in lively bars called tabernas. But "you'll find tapas everywhere", says Andrés. "In small bars that make very basic tapas, a bowl of olives or chips, all the way to the fine dining places. I think they are an opportunity to do so much in a very small, restricted space, whether you are doing something simple like an anchovy on bread or something wild that no one has ever seen before."

That said, there are unspoken cultural norms to navigating one of Spain's most beloved dining traditions. Here are Andrés's tips for enjoying tapas – like a Spaniard. 

What role do tapas play in Spanish culture?

We Spaniards are very social, and tapas are the perfect food for people like us. To be around a table or a bar filled with little plates, it means everyone is putting your hands or forks or spoons in, pouring a bottle of wine, enjoying each other's company.

What is your favourite part of the classic Spanish tapas experience? 

I love [a] tapeo (to go on a tapas crawl). This is the way I think about a meal – not staying in one place too long, getting a drink and some bites here, then moving onto the next place and getting another glass of wine and another snack or two.

When is the best time to enjoy tapas?

Whenever........

© BBC