The Best Vegetarian Dishes in Valencia

Want to find the authentic vegetarian dishes in Valencia, Spain? Well, you’re in luck. Because it turns out you have a lot more options than just jamón and the classic chicken-and-rabbit paella. So if you’re looking for some vegetarian food in Valencia, these are the dishes to look for. 

Top Vegetarian Food in Valencia

Valencia is more than just paella and oranges (although, yes, it does those well). 

Thanks to its Mediterranean climate and agricultural roots, fresh veggies, olive oil, and legumes play a huge role in local cuisine. 

So while going fully vegan can be a bit more difficult sometimes, vegetarians have it easy. 

In this article, we’ll go over all the top vegetarian dishes in Valencia. I’ll also point out some common meat-free options that are common throughout almost all of Spain. 

If you want the restaurants right away, check out this article:

🔗 Top vegetarian restaurants in Valencia

Does Valencia Have Valencian Food?

Absolutely! Spain has a rich food culture, and Valencia has its own specialties—many of which are vegetarian-friendly or easily adapted. 

Traditional Valencian food vegetarian options tend to highlight what the land offers: artichokes, peppers, tomatoes, almonds, rice, and citrus.

And don’t worry—I’m not sending you out to eat salad and sadness. Let’s get to the good stuff.

Pro Tip: You might want some useful travel expressions. You can ask “Porta peix?” or “Porta carn?” to ask if something has fish/meat in it. 

Best Vegetarian Dishes in Valencia

🥘 Vegetable Paella

No trip to Valencia is complete without paella—but not all paellas are created equal. The traditional paella Valenciana includes rabbit and chicken. 

But the good news? 

You’ll find plenty of vegetable paella options made with seasonal veggies, artichokes, and sometimes even chickpeas or mushrooms.

✅ Look for: paella de verdures or
🚫 Avoid: anything called “Valenciana”

If you head to my article about where to find the best paella, most of these restaurants will offer veggie versions, too. 

Purists will say it’s not very “authentic”, but lots of families will make this veggie rice dish. 

PS – I highly recommend this vegetarian paella-making class. It’s in Russafa and is a super fun hands-on experience. 

🫑 Escalivada / Espencat

There are some arguments about the name (or if they’re different dishes altogether). But both escalivada and espencat are smoky, roasted vegetable dishes made with red peppers, aubergines, and onions—drizzled with olive oil. 

Esgarraet is another dish that is quite similar. 

This is one of my all-time favorite Valencian dishes. 

Just note that some people will add codfish. So always ask, “porta peix?” just in case. Sometimes they add the fish afterwards, and sometimes it’s already mixed in. 

It’s simple, flavorful, and feels like something your Mediterranean grandma would make (if you had one).

🍕 Coques

Any Valencian will tell you that the Italians just know how to market themselves better. Pizza? Flatbread? Focaccia? Those are all just different coques. 

These rustic Valencian flatbreads have a million variations.

Every town has their own version, salty and sweet. But practically every bakery will have a coca de verdures. And a lot of more modern restaurants will serve some kind of vegetarian coca. 

It should be your go-to option if you want a quick esmorzar – or if you want a lighter dinner. 

➡️ Either go to a bakery or Zalamero in Russafa for the best coques. 

🧄 Allioli

It’s Garlic (All) and (i) Oil (Oli). A simple, but delicious condiment that now has worldwide fame. 

Just about every restaurant will offer bread with tomato and allioli as a starter option. It’s delicious, simple, and you can’t go wrong! 

And if it’s a real, homemade version – then it’s vegan, too. Store-bought almost always has egg, but the classic recipe only has 2 ingredients. 

🥗 Ensalada Valenciana

This “Valencian salad” may sound basic, but it often features local tomatoes, olives, onions, and cucumbers. 

If you feel like you’re stuffing yourself too much while you’re here, this is a light and delicious dish to order. And you might think, “okay, it’s just a salad”. 

But when the veggies are local, and they use quality olive oil, it is impressively tasty. 

🥛 Orxata i Fartons

Orxata is a chilled, creamy drink made from tiger nuts (xufa). It’s naturally dairy-free and incredibly refreshing on a hot day. 

Pair it with fartons, a sugary pastry you dip into it, and you have the perfect summer treat. 

This is an undeniably Valencian treat, and the ideal summer berenar. 

🍬 You can find orxata all over Valencia, but I recommend going to Daniel’s. 

🍫 Torró

You may know it as nougat, but torró is a Valencian Christmas treat made from almonds and honey. 

There are several different kinds. And while it is relatively famous throughout all of Spain, many of them come from Alacant. 

If you come in the cooler months, make sure to take some home with you! 

Best Spanish Vegetarian Dishes

There are also a lot of Spanish vegetarian foods you can try. All of the ones above are from Valencia — but there are classics you can find everywhere. So here are some of your go-to options for basically anywhere you go in your travels:

🍟 Patatas Bravas

Crispy potatoes + spicy tomato sauce + allioli = happiness. 

These are honestly one of my favorite dishes in general. I mean, you can’t go wrong with potatoes. But I also really like the ones they make in Valencia. 

Generally, different places in Spain will have their own recipes. For example, outside of Valencia, they typically just use mayonnaise. But they’re so much better with allioli. 

So Valencian braves are some of my favorite vegetarian foods! 

🍅 Gazpacho

Cold tomato soup is a summer staple here in Spain. Made with tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, and garlic—it’s like drinking a garden. 

And I mean that in the best way possible. 

It’s cold, refreshing, and very light. I guarantee you, all the locals are drinking it in liters all summer long. 

Or they might be having salmorejo – which is a similar recipe with bread and vinegar, too. 

🧀 Croquetas

So croquetes can be made with practically anything on the inside. These stuffed and fried balls are fantastic. 

You almost always can find at least one vegetarian option, usually one with mushrooms. 

Basically, when all else fails, this is one of the few vegetarian tapes I can always rely on. 

🌶 Pimientos de Padrón

These little green peppers are pan-fried and sprinkled with sea salt. 

Most are mild… but every now and then, they say you’ll bite into a spicy one. 

It’s an edible gambling game. But in my 8 years here, I’ve yet to find a spicy one. 

Either way, they are simple and delicious. It’s another great evening tapa if you’re looking for a light dinner. 

🥔 Tortilla (Spanish Omelette)

In Valencian, they’re called truites. This is a classic option that basically every restaurant or bar will have. 

The most classic option is with potatoes (and sometimes onion). 

But in Valencia, it’s also really common to see them with fava beans, spinach, or artichokes. Especially if you’re looking for a good esmorzaret, you have a ton of veggie options. 

You can enjoy them as a tapa or in an entrepà (sandwich). 

🍆 Berenjena Frita

Fried eggplant, often served with honey. Sweet, salty, crispy—it’s one of my favorite comfort foods. 

This vegetarian dish comes from Andalusia, and isn’t super common in Valencia. But if you do find it — I recommend trying it! It’s one of my favorite meat-free dishes in Spain. 

Dishes That Are Sometimes Vegetarian

To be fair — Spain generally doesn’t understand the whole “vegetarian” concept too well. In cities, you’ll get luckier. But in smaller towns, or anywhere in the north of Spain — you run into some issues. 

There’s also the problem that some people think fish doesn’t count as meat. 

So the following dishes are things that are sometimes vegetarian. But sometimes they’ll also include tuna or codfish. So you should always ask to be sure!

🍅 Pisto & Titaina

Both are delicious tomato-based dishes. Stewed veggies with tomato, garlic, and olive oil.

Titaina (a Valencian specialty) often includes tuna. 

Pisto, which is more common throughout Spain can go either way.

If you can try them without tuna, I highly recommend it! A lot of times you can find them stuffed in pastissets (empanadilles). You can also get them on toasts sometimes. 

They’re one of my favorite Valencian vegetarian dishes, so definitely keep an eye out!

✔️ Tip: Ask, “porta peix o tonyina?” (Does it have any fish or tuna?)

🥗 Ensaladilla Rusa

The “Russian Potato Salad” that is super common all throughout Spain. 

It’s a summer classic dish that people eat as a tapa — or as a main meal sometimes. 

At home, families will often make up their own recipes, so it can vary a bit. 

But in restaurants, it often is made with tuna. So again: “Porta tonyina?”

Avoid “Bocadillo Vegetal”

One last pro tip. Despite the name, a bocadillo vegetal almost ALWAYS has fish in it. 

I’m not sure why. It’s a question I constantly have for people. 

But in this case, “vegetal” just means “there are some vegetables in it” … along with the fish. 

So be careful if you go to any bar/deli/restaurant! 

Final Thoughts: Eating Vegetarian in Valencia

I really think that Valencia is one of the best cities for vegetarian food in Spain. It’s really not that hard to find good options.  Fresh ingredients, creative tapes, and local specialities that celebrate veggies without hiding them under layers of pernill (ham).

Whether you’re a full-time veggie or just going meatless for the moment, these vegetarian dishes in Valencia prove you won’t go hungry here. In fact, your biggest challenge might be narrowing down what to try first.

Just remember that you’ll need the following phrases:

• Soc vegetarià (vegetariana for women) – I’m a vegetarian
• No menge ni carn ni peix — I don’t eat meat or fish
• Porta carn? — Does it have meat in it?
• Porta peix? — Does it have fish in it? 

Bon viatge i bon profit!

Other Travel Resources:

• The best hotels in the city center
• Tourist traps to avoid
• What Valencia is famous for
• The best restaurants in Valencia
• Useful travel expressions