More on restaurants in Girona, Girona Bars and Clubs in Girona.
Chinese food.
The Restaurant Yang Fu Buffet, next to the Mercadona supermarket on C/ Del Riu Guell is a large, bright, spacious place popular among locals especially at the weekend and offers a good buffet selction of hot dishes for one price, so eat as much as you want for 8.50 € per person during the week, 9.95€ at the weekends, including Friday nights and Festival days. Kids under 8 pay half-price. Also does take-away, verdict: Not bad, it’s not quite the same as a UK ‘chinky’ meal, or that spicy as thats how the locals like it.
Xines Jardin, Offers a range of set menu’s, a lunch menu from 6.95€ and take away service. C/ Migdia, 77, Girona.
Hao Li, C/Dr. Ferran 20, Salt (take-away available).
Japanese food.
Osaka, Migdia 93, Girona 872 081 745. Just opposite the O2 Wellness fitness centre. Large modern interior with a conveyor-belt on which the food dishes go round, just help yourself. Lunchtimes, 8.25€, evenings and weekends 12.75€ for all you can eat, drinks extra. We tried it one Saturday afternoon and got in there at 1.30 which was good timing, as it soon filled up and a line of people was forming inside, waiting for a free table. We sat right by the conveyor and just took what we fancied. All the dishes are on small plates and just enough for an individual portion. We had some very good prawn toasts, dim-sums and spare-ribs. Very tasty and all swallowed down with some nice Sapporo Japanese beers. Price for 2 set price lunches and 4 beers was 37€. Highly recommended.
Wok Fuji San Another eat-all-you-can place near to Lidl in C/Barcelona, 48.Does sushi, tempura, seafood and loads more. Weekdays lunchtime is 8.50€ adults, 5.50 € for kids under 9.This goes up to 12.95 € and 6.95€ at weekends. It’s quite common to pay more at the weekends at most of these buffet type places.
There’s also a more upmarket sushi restaurant in Placa Independencia calle Cafe La Riba (see my review of this place below).
Mexican / Tex-Mex
Taco Taco, C/Nord 22 (Jaume1) nr. the main Girona Post Office (Correos) building. Having been past it a number of times and wondering what it was like, we were invited here by some Catalan friends and ordered a variety of dishes which included Nachos, Fajitas and a salad. The portions were somewhat meagre and whilst being generally OK it’s not one I would rush back to on my own account.
Update late 2009. no longer serving Mexican and the name has changed to Nord 22.
Taco Bravo C/Figuerola 41, Tel.972 416 692 We ate here once on a Saturday night and were pleased with what we had. A welcoming margarita is served, albeit in a shots-type glass, and the menu has a fair selection of typical mexican dishes. Long and narrow, I felt the table we had could have been a bit bigger, expect to pay about 50 euros for 2 with drinks. Also offers a lunchtime menu for 9.5 euros, Monday to Friday.
Escondido. Down from the pati blau restaurant. Will be reviewed in the future!
Steak Houses
El Rancho, C/ Figuerola.
Tapas. Tapas seem to be available all over Spain these days and they’re not really a Catalan tradition, but if you feel inclined to try them then these following places are good.
Txalaka, Bonastruc de Porta 4, (Eixample Nord) Girona Tel: 972 225 975
Next to The City Arms Pub, and below a residential apartment block, and a firm favourite of ours. Basque cuisine at its best with a good selection of tapas on the counter that you just pick from as you please and take back to your table, just pay for however many ‘sticks’ are on your plate. Nice interior, busy most times and also has outdoor tables which we prefer in the summer. I’ve always been very satisfied with the food, try the strawberries dipped in chocolate, and I prefer this one to Zanpanzar, but expect to pay a bit more here. You can still eat here late-ish, about 11pm and it also offers a set-lunch menu. Meal for 2 with drinks will average around 20€ ea.
Zanpanzar (Girona old town)-Basque cuisine, Cort Reial 10-12, Girona 17004 Tel: 972 212 843
Just walk in, order a drink, pick up a small plate and choose from the tapas selection on the bar. You can also ask the waiter for other, hot tapas dishes like patatas bravas (diced potatoes in spicy sauce). Stand at the bar, sit down inside or at a table in the side-alley, I particularly liked the sweet morcilla (black sausage). Busy at the weekends, open till late.
Restaurants in Placa Independencia.
If you want a wide variety of restaurants with different cuisine at all price levels, including tapas, pizza, sea food and even sushi all in one small area then head for the Placa de Independència which has plenty to choose from, many with outdoor seating (which some places put away during the winter months). It’s a popular place even with Girona people at the weekends especially on a Sunday, and a good bet if you want to eat late, say at 10pm. I’ve mentioned some below:
Taverna Catalana
Traditional Catalan fare at reasonable prices, with plentiful outdoor and indoor seating. We’ve eaten here and I found the menu quite interesting with a variety of local meats, hams, cured sausages and tapas, eg. scrambled eggs with asparagus, shrimps and garlic. Also offers a daily set menu of 2 dishes at only 6.95 €, 3 dishes at 9.95€ or from the usual menu. Good service and good food.
Boira
Catalan for fog. We sat outside and enjoyed a meal of well cooked veal. The interior looked comfortable and maybe next time we’ll try the tapas which I’ve heard are good here. However, I have to add that recent visits here by my good wife to sample the daily menu have not impressed her.
Cafe de la Riba, Placa Independència 12, Girona Tel:872 081 490. We tried this sushi-bar on one, cold, April, Monday night and were surprised to find it quite busy. I must say I found the seating a bit hard but we had a good meal washed down with a bottle of Petit Cals, a local Penedes white wine. Go for the paper menu that has a small box next to each dish and just tick the one’s you fancy, with a free pencil. Meal for 2, three courses and coffee came to 65€, and very clean toilets.
Cafe Royal. A corner bar best for a quick drink before dining or for a coffee & cake stop. Rustic interior with uncomfortable benches inside, but also has outdoor seating. Friendly staff and they make a rather good G & T!
Konigs. A smaller version, inside looks small but I’d recommend sitting outside as there are many tables. We sat outside in December. A good place for a quick, cheap snack even with the kids, with prompt service and a decent but basic menu ranging from salads, sandwiches to burgers.
La Dolce Vita
The entrance belies its large interior which is pleasant and welcoming. We had good Pizza’s here, strangely much of the pizza menu is only available at lunchtimes which limits the choice for evening diners. Also Pasta and Salads. Outdoor seating available.
Volta i Volta
We sat outside and had pizza, other offerings include roast chicken, and salads. Not bad, pizzas were around 7.50 €.
Can Tapas
This place offers a variety of tapas, some of the set price options may be worth trying if you can’t decide on what to have. We’ve eaten here and considered it about average and a touch pricey, seeing as it probably catches some tourist trade.
