We asked our readers what they think of Spanish crisp or chip flavours and how they compare to flavours back in their home countries. When it comes to the crunch, are you more jamón serrano (cured ham) flavour or fried egg?
Spaniards love snacking, or picoteo as they call it, something to nibble along with a enjoying a drink.
In fact, you’ll rarely seem them having a drink without any food at all.
Many bars around the country will give you complementary snacks with your drinks such as a small bowl of peanuts, olives or indeed crisps (chips for Americans).
This is different from the free plates of tapas you’ll receive with your drinks in some cities in the country like Granada though.
Crisps, known as patatas fritas here, are one of the snacks of choice in Spain.
According to consultancy firm Circana using data collected by the Snacks Association, crisp consumption in Spain exceeds 78,000 tons annually and sales reach €731 million.
And their popularity just keeps on rising. Between June 2025 and May 2026, Spaniards consumed 78,463 tonnes, representing a 2.4 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
The question is, however, how do the flavours compare with those you get in your home countries such as the UK, Canada or the US? To find out the answer we asked some of our readers what they thought.
The most classic type of crisp you’ll find here, and the ones you’ll be served for free in the bars, are just salted.
A homemade style crunchy crisp fried in olive oil is the gold standard here. Many of the churrerías (places that make and sell churros) also make their own homemade crisps, and these are some of the best places to get them from. Supermarkets often sell ‘homemade’ style versions as well.
This is in keeping with Spanish cuisine in general – simple food that focuses on the quality ingredients and natural flavour of the products.
The homemade ones fried in olive oil are the best according to many. Photo: Natan Machado Fotografia Gastronômica / Pexels
Spaniards don’t go in for too many weird or outlandish kinds. For the really bizarre flavours you’ll need to head to the Asian supermarkets which sell flavours such as melon, grapefruit and fish and chips.
While the crisp/chip isles in Spanish supermarkets are often a lot smaller than in places like the US, they do offer some variety.
The most typical are those that use traditional Spanish flavourings like paprika, jamón serrano or olive. “Jamón is the best”, one reader wrote on our Facebook page and we’re sure many Spaniards would agree.
One flavour that’s a particular favourite that you’ll find everywhere is campesina or ‘countryside’ crisps which is essentially a mix of onion, tomato, garlic and parsley, although every supermarket or brand has a slightly different recipe.
Then there are the fancier brands that offer Mediterranean combinations like goat’s cheese and caramelised onion, Manchego cheese, cured cheese with truffles – yes there’s a lot of cheesy crisps going on here. A few of our readers mention truffle as being one of their favourite crisp flavours here.
The most mentions out of any crisps here, however, went to Mercadona’s offering.
Several of you mentioned their chili and lime, the lemon and black pepper or ketchup flavours. The supermarket also offers one of the most adventurous flavours we’ve seen in Spain – fried egg, which seems to divide our readers.
“Paprika is great, but if you can get your hands on fried egg ones, you will be in heaven”, one wrote, while another said: “I do like most of the above, except the fried egg ones!”.
It seems, however, that like the Spaniards, most of readers prefer the classic homemade-style olive oil crisps.
“I love the churrería style crisps. No fake flavours. Just good traditional crisps” one wrote, while another said “Gorgeous olive oil ones, big, salty and crunchy mmm”.
Several of you also like the Mercadona own brand plain crisps – either the “extra crunchy in the black bag” or the “plain crisps in see-through bags”.
When it comes to flavours though, the majority of our British readers think that the UK still wins out in that department.
“You cannot beat Worcestershire sauce, pickled onion, prawn cocktail, scampi, and salt & vinegar – most Spanish crisps are safe and rather boring – sorry I’m a real vinegar fan!” wrote one.
“Campesina and jamón” are good, “but still not a patch on British crisps” another posted.
“British crisps 100x better in flavour and variety. Spanish food is so overrated,” another said rather controversially, while a fourth agreed “I miss all the flavours that you can get in the UK”.
