Help! in Spain and Don't Know What to Eat.

A few people have recommended Paella, and it is an excellent dish, but in Spain it is traditionally made with not only rice and chicken, but also several types of seafood. The tortilla's are also great, but meatless. The Spanish word for chicken is Pollo, ham is Jamon. Wish I could remember more than that. Also, many people do speak English, but it has been my experience that unless you ask them in THEIR language if they do, they won't tell you.The locals consider it disrespectful when Americans assume that everyone speaks English. Do you speak English in Spanish is "Se Hablo Englais?" If they say they do, remember to thank them, again in Spanish. Just like we want people to speak English when they are in America, they prefer for people to at least learn a few basics in Spanish. I found that by doing this that the people were willing to go out of their way to help us.

tortilla espanola is like an egg potato quiche! yummy! Paella is like saffron rice
idk if my kids would eat it. You can get a cheese sandwich- thats what i ate when i was there as a teenager..
Pollo is chicken
Chorizo is sausage
When i was in spain (madrid) everyone wanted to practice their english with me.. can you make some friends? and ask their advice?
But tortilla espanola- YUMMY!!!

I'm sure a dozen people have already told you that the Spanish word for chicken is pollo (poy yo). Most it's Spain, not Mexico... Most food not spicy. Whatever you do, do not order a taco or people will look at you strangely for ordering a "bad word".

JustPoint at kids and say "simple... Por niños" or even say simple food for the children. Maybe even start by asking "English?" You'll be surprised at how many who do or will happily drag over someone who can translate.

AndFrequently use gracias, por favor, lo siento, no intiendo, etc... the universal *magic words*. Excuse por favor no intiendo (point at menu). Inglais? Excuse me please I don't understand the menu. Do you speak english? Lo siento = I'm sorry. Be polite, slightly apologetic, and thankful, you'll get what you need and make friends in the process.

Exactly what you'd tell your kids, right?

Have a great trip.

Get the tortilla for the plain eaters. It's egg and potato and delish.

Why not just order various tapas and try things? Don't tell the kids what they are - they might just suprise you with what they wind up liking!

Basic guide:
Pollo = chicken
Pork = el cerdo
beef = carne

pescado is fish - so skip that if you guys aren't fans.

In Spain, many are multi-lingual.
Just ask them, what is on the menu. They will translate for you.

Just order stuff.
If your kids are plain eaters, well so be it.
Just have them try stuff.
They won't starve.

Part of the fun of international travel, is being "local" and eating the local cuisine.

I second the tapas suggestion, especially the tortilla suggestion (my mouth is watering). Croquetas are also an excellent option for the kids (breaded potatoe often filled with ham)
A few more pointers for when you are speaking to your waiter:No nos gustan las comidas picantes, ni los mariscos = we do not like spicy food or seafood.
In my experience, paella always has seafood in it, so please ask your waiter "la paella tiene mariscos?"
Oh, stay away from papas alioli (a tapa of potato with a garlic sauce) as it tends to be spicy. Man, I wish I was there! This post is making me very hungry! Happy eating!

I recommend tapas. Lots of small dishes with variety. You can get a few different things and reorder 2nds of what everyone likes. Enjoy.

In response to Jo G.--it is spelled paella! Hope that helps!!

Maybe ask at your hotel for some help--if someone speaks English!!
Have fun!!
L.

Hi, you might like going for tapas (small plates) instead of full dinner as Spaniards eat late. Try "tortilla:" a potato and egg omlette or "patats bravas" (basically potato crisps). Chicken is "pollo" - say like poy-oh. Good luck!!

You can try asking for the English version of a menu when you go to a restaurant.

Lots of great suggestions here - I agree with the tapas idea as well as picking up a few Spanish phrases so you can ask if something is "picoso" or "spicy" or if they speak English "Habla ingles?" and all the niceties like please and thank you, etc. that go such a long way to people being helpful. Pollo (pronounced like yo-yo but with a "p" at the beginning" for chicken and "arroz" (pronounced "a" as in above and "ros") as well as the potato ideas below should help with lunch and dinner with the kiddos. Best of luck!

Arroz con pollo is chicken & rice. That's about all from my high school Spanish classes I remember.

Oh definately try the tortilla espanola! I spent 6 weeks in Spain, and it was my favorite.

Paella. Rice with different kind of meats in it like beef, chicken, pork, seafood (not too much, you can take them out and put them aside). You can ask for
Meat based Paella.
Tapas.
Helpful hints:
Potatoes are called "Patatas"
Rice is Arroz
Fish is pescado
Chicken is Pollo
Meat is carne
Red Wine is Vino Tinto
Pork sausage is "Chorizo" kind of spicy but delicious!
Salads is ensaladas
Soups is sopas
Tea is Te
Coffee and Milk is Cafe con Leche. In Europe and Soutjamerica don't use or serve the large cups we use H. in the US, so the cups are going to be smaller.
You are more likely to find the better "tiendas" )restaurants) in establishments frequented by the Spanish people than in the ones for English-speaking tourists, believe me. They will do whatever possible to serve you the best.
If you don't know how to pronounce something, take a little notebook with you and write these dishes down and carry it with you in your purse or pocket.
You'll find also places to have a delicious cup of coffee and croissants..mmmmmlove it!!!
Have a wonderful trip!!!!!

Andra C had an excellent suggestion. You can learn spanish on the internet. They will be much more helpful if you struggle to talk spanish and can't than if you never try. My wife and I went to Kenya for two weeks on a safari (safari is swahali for trip/vacation). I studied swahali for a month before we arrived. The Kenyans were much more receptive to me than they were to the other Americans on the tour that only knew english.

Good luck to you and yours.

Too bad you don't like spicy food. Hopefully you are willing to try. I'd try the sea food too. You never know, they may fix it in a way you will like it or at least tolerate it.

I studied in Spain in college and agree that kids will probably like tortilla espanola, the egg and potato omelette. That usually comes with a basket of bread too. Paella does usually have seafood but it also often has chunks of chicken so maybe you could order it without the seafood. You could say, "Paella con pollo y carne" (with chicken and meat) or "Paella sans mariscos" (without seafood).

Another thing to consider is ham and cheese. Spain has the best ham and cheese. Not sure if you are going to be in Madrid or not but they have a chain or restaurants there called "Museo de Jamon" (Museum of Ham). It's a funny place popular with tourists and locals -- they have huge slabs of ham hanging from the ceiling so the kids might get a kick out of that.

You can get ham and cheese sandwiches "Bocadillo de jamon y queso" to go or often at a tapas place they will have an assortment of meats and cheeses on a plate that they serve with slices of bread.

"Bocadillo tortilla espanola" is a sandwich with the omelette in the middle. Sounds weird but it's delicious. We would pack these in our backpacks for lunch when I was a student there.

If you are in Madrid there are lots of little tapas places near the Plaza Mayor. The entrances are on the opposite side of the plaza and they look really small from the outside but they keep going like little caves. They are actually called "cavas" in Spanish. They have lots of short tables and chairs that kids would like to sit at too. It's fun to go and order a pitcher of Sangria and some tapas.

I also second the croissant idea -- especially the chocolate ones! They call them "pan (bread) chocolate." For breakfast you could just stop by a bakery and buy a few things to eat on the go.

If you get sick of eating out with the kids at lunch you could also just by a loaf of bread (pan) at the bakery or grocery store and some meat and cheese, yogurt, fruit and have a picnic. We did that a lot too. The hard part is the stores close during siesta so you have to plan ahead.

The kids would also probably love to go to a chocolateria. It's a place that serves mugs of thick thick hot chocolate. They also have fried dough called "churros" to dip in the chocolate. Spaniards like to go to the chocolateria after a night of partying so they usually open late but if you ask around you could probably find one open in the afternoon/evening.

PAELLA!!!! Yummmmmmm

Why dont you ask the front desk of the hotel your staying at for suggestions :-) I bet they're more than willing go give you some pointers etc. Or maybe even the waiters speak English?
GOOD LUCK !! ENJOY YOUR VACATION

Oh I know I am going to spell this wrong Piallia. It is pronounced pie yaa ya. Well sorta. It is a dish made over an open fire in a pan. Actually paella means pan, but whatever. It can be made with a lot of different meats including rabbit but def with chicken. It also has rice and vegetables.

Linda, thanks.

By the way my kids are picky eaters and they will eat it any time I make it.

I was reading some of the responses. Maybe I went to the wrong restaurants but no where could you find a description of the food even if the name was in English. :(