Food and Wines From Spain Announces Restaurants From Spain Certification Program

There’s a sure-fire way for those living in the United States to get a taste of Spain without ever having to take out their passport. 

The Restaurants from Spain Certification Program led by Food and Wines From Spain is dedicated to recognizing restaurants around the world for their focus on authentic Spanish cuisine, so diners everywhere can feel like they’re eating on the Iberian peninsula. And in the U.S. there are 91 delicious restaurants to explore. 

The initiative aims to provide consumers with standards and criteria for finding quality, authentic Spanish ingredients and dishes. Restaurants on the list will also serve as examples of what it means to represent Spain on a plate, hopefully inspiring more businesses to follow suit.

The restaurants include Ser, a “family-owned, award-winning neighborhood restaurant” in Ballston, Virginia, that serves “authentic comfort foods from Spain in a casual and friendly environment,” the website explains. Those dishes include a traditional and hearty tortilla de patatas, filled with tender potatoes, poached onions, and fluffy eggs.

Then there’s Mesón Sabika in Naperville, Illinois, which opened its doors in 1990 and has offered “a unique dining experience that blends old-world charm with modern culinary excellence” ever since. Housed in a historic mansion, the paella section of the menu is a must-try, with options ranging from a vegetarian paella with cauliflower and brussels sprouts to the more traditional Valenciana style, featuring chicken, shrimp, mussels, and clams.

Bar Vinazo in Brooklyn, New York, highlights Spanish tapas like gildas and boquerones — perfect for sharing with friends over a drink — along with an excellent selection of Spanish wine. You can sample some Basque country favorites at Zeru in Miami, Florida, which brings together Mediterranean and Cantabrian flavors with a selection of grilled seafood cooked in a josper, a charcoal-fired oven that hails from Spain.

And naturally Jaleo by José Andrés in Las Vegas, Nevada is on the list, thanks to its wide-ranging showcase of typical Spanish foods, including an excellent array of cured meats and cheeses (manchego, anyone?)

These appetizing establishments are just the beginning. Foods and Wines From Spain created a map to highlight all of its partner restaurants across the United States, making it easy to find one near you — or one worthy of traveling to on your next domestic vacation. Even though you can enjoy them at home, we’ll give you a fair warning; All of these restaurants will inspire you to fly off to Spain for a second helping.