Foodie in Barcelona

Curious about food, culture and what people put in their mouth

  • Home
  • Favourites
  • Best Of
  • Map

Bar El Pollo, Spanish, El Raval

14th June 2022 Leave a Comment

From the outside, Bar El Pollo looks like a bar de la toda la vida. From the inside as well. The glass is plastered with stickers from different brands and businesses. Vintage Moritz paraphernalia dots the space. And a black and white photograph of a smoking Rita Hayworth, the namesake for the Gildas that are piled up in the display fridge, hangs on the wall. The entrance is flanked immediately on the right by two Gaming Machines. A long aluminium bar runs lengthways into a small restaurant at the back—simple brown tiles for flooring and paper tablecloths. The menus are simple printouts from the till fixed to the sides of the napkin dispensers. The font on the printouts is so small that I tilt the dispenser backwards and forwards to decipher it.

I am firmly in the “you can’t tell a book by its cover” camp, and I assume from what I have gleaned on the socials that Bar El Pollo will be good. I have noticed a recent trend to take over old bars and cafes and keep the dated design intact (Bar La Camila in Gracia is another example). I assume it partly has to do with cost and partly with preserving a part of the city’s rapidly eroded history.

The owner is Basque, and the oozing egg tortillas and the blackened wobbly cheesecake on the bar announce this to the trained eye. We order the tortilla with canned tuna. The top has been sliced off and filled with a whipped tuna mayonnaise filling. It appears more liquid than solid to me, “as it should be”, our thick bearded server assures us. We have a tomato salad (8€) composed of peeled, deeply red tomatoes, served in broken morsels that make me wonder if the tomatoes were thrown against a wall instead of sliced. Larger shards of tuna are interspersed in between, along with capers, black olives and some sweet white onion, sparse enough that I find myself fishing for them. The whole thing has the look of an unmade bed. I love this dish.

We follow with calamari (24€). Served whole on an aluminium oval plate and sliced thickly, then dressed in green stripes of herby dressing. It makes me think of that M.C. Escher painting of the unravelling face.

It feels like the right place to have the Secreto Iberico (19€) with spinach. It’s grilled, perhaps a little too long, as it has started to turn up at the sides.

A popular place, even at lunchtime, Bar del Pollo starts to feel too hot, so we leave without trying the prominently displayed Basque cheesecake at the entrance. A mistake, no doubt. On the other hand, I have another excuse to return shortly.

Bar El Pollo
Carrer del Tigre, 31.
08001. El Raval
instagram.com/barelpollo/

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • More
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: El Raval

« Best Brunch Places in Barcelona 2022
Best New Restaurants Barcelona, Summer 2022 »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What Are You Looking For?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 770 other subscribers.

Foodie In Barcelona on Instagram

📍Batea Barcelona — Gran Via, 605 Michelin 202 📍Batea Barcelona — Gran Via, 605
Michelin 2025 recommended and absolutely deserved.

Between the Betanzos tortilla drowning in prawn head jus and the delicately plated ceviche, Batea balances tradition with a polished, confident creativity. It’s seafood-forward but far from predictable.

Highlights:
🦐 Tortilla with prawns
🥒 Flawless ceviche
🥖 Bread + algae butter = don’t skip it
🌿 Falafel of algae & bluefin tuna (!)

Their design nods to the nostalgic brasseries of old, but this is very much Barcelona now. Grab a table. Order generously.

#foodieinbarcelona #batea #barcelonafood #michelinbarcelona #barcelonaeats #bcnfoodie #tortillabetanzos #barcelonarestaurants #seafoodlover #plateselector
@unikobarcelona is one I have on rotation. If I am @unikobarcelona is one I have on rotation. If I am not here, I’m at one of the @101_dim_sum locations.

#chinesefoodlover #foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants
Contracorrent Bistró has a new (ish) spot in Grà Contracorrent Bistró has a new (ish) spot in Gràcia. A melding of Catalan and Italian flavours and a focus on ingredients. As highlighted by the row of vines from the family estate that are suspended from the ceiling. 
The choice is between two tasting menus. Of course my friend and I selected the largest one!
A flurry of small plates and bowls ensued. Just the way I like it, lots of variety but I didn’t have to waddle out of there. 
The warm and knowledgeable service was the cherry on top.
@contracorrentbar 
📍 Carrer de Sant Domènec, 14
08012 Barcelona

#foodieinbarcelona #foodinbcn #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcndelicatessen #bcnfoodieguide #gracia #gràcia
I smell summer. A gritty cup of cold horchata with I smell summer. A gritty cup of cold horchata with retro fittings is it these days. Bonus points for the sugar free option. 

#foodieinbarcelona #horchata #sirvent #sirventbarcelona #bcn #bcninspira
I feel like the one coffee shop per block thing ha I feel like the one coffee shop per block thing has been done ad nauseam - instead I would like to petition for one cheese shop per block. Found this darling one on the corner from one of my favourite restaurants.
What about you? Do you think we have reached peak coffee shop saturation in the city?
22:22 Cultura Dulce is all about pretty patisserie 22:22 Cultura Dulce is all about pretty patisserie and many layered savoury butter pastries. I think we may have tried a calçot riff when we were there. It’s a large place with corners occupied by big personality plants. 

#patisserie #barcelona #foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnlovers #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcninspira
The foie sauce pasta @maleducat should be illegal. The foie sauce pasta @maleducat should be illegal. It’s not a plate to share - even with someone you love. 🫣
Of course the tomato tartar with mackerel continues to make me happy.

#foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnfood #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcndelicatessen #bcnfoodie #eatbcn
We had such a great lunch @williswinebarparis ! Un We had such a great lunch @williswinebarparis ! Unexpected because it’s right behind the Louvre, it’s gorgeous, good value with charming servers. 

#foodieinbarcelona #paris #parisfoodguide #parisfoodguide #parislife #pariswine #pariswinebar
Out of curiosity I joined the queue @bouillonlinst Out of curiosity I joined the queue @bouillonlinsta - a warehouse of a restaurant with continuous service and small prices. I can see the appeal - the rice pudding with caramel sauce was ace. Three courses with cider 18€!

#bouillon #bouillonpigalle #paris #pariseats #république
David Hockney at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in P David Hockney at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris is an extraordinary exhibition. I had goose bumps 15 minutes in. 

#paris #davidhockney #davidhockneyexhibition #fondationlouisvuitton #paris #artparis
#southoffrance🇫🇷 #cannes #monaco #france #southoffrance🇫🇷 #cannes #monaco #france
Something for the weekend @tangana_restaurant beca Something for the weekend @tangana_restaurant because it’s chef led, with good chairs and just the right feeling. Gilda - yes. And the Mitake mushroom but with way more colour then this picture - I hadn’t realized that apricot panna cotta is what’s missing from my life - (not pictured because the best moments often aren’t captured.)

#foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcndelicatessen #bcnblogger #bcnexplorers
Follow on Instagram

Foodie In Barcelona on Substack

On Substack? Get Foodie In Barcelona on your favourite newsletter platform by scanning the QR code below.

Substack QR Code

Recent Posts

  • Jiribilla, Mexican, Sant Antoni
  • 3 Barcelona Wineries to Visit by Nika Shevela
  • Hiu Restaurant, South East Asian Fusion, Cambrils
  • Glug, European, Eixample
  • Guy’s Best Healthy Places in Barcelona

VoiceMap: A Culinary Tour of El Born

VoiceMap logoVoiceMap QR CodeFor the best experience, install the VoiceMap app for Android or iPhone. Then just scan the QR code to be taken to my tour. A 2-hour tour for only $6.99!

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • X
  • Email

Posts by Area

  • Barceloneta
  • Gòtic
  • Born
  • Eixample
  • Gràcia
  • Poble Sec
  • Poblenou
  • Raval
  • Sant Antoni

Popular Posts

  • Ten Best Tapas Restaurants in BCN by FoodJungle
  • Best Italian Restaurants in Barcelona
  • The Best Spots to Enjoy Catalan Cuisine
  • Best New Restaurants Barcelona, Summer 2022
  • Glug, European, Eixample
  • Best Pizza Barcelona
  • Barcelona's Best Mexican Restaurants
  • Denassus, Tapas & Wine, Poble Sec
  • Pastisseria Brunells, El Born

Posts by Category

  • Cafés & Delis
  • Days Out
  • Miscellaneous
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • Shops & Markets
  • Tours
  • Travel

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie in Barcelona · info@foodieinbarcelona.com

Site by Web Harmonics

%d