Probably The Best Paella In Torrox

I've titled this blog post "Probably The Best Paella In Torrox" because I can't say for sure it's the best, as I've not tried them all, but it's certainly up there.

Although it was invented in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain, paella has become, to many, the national dish of Spain. Originally a farm worker's meal made with cheap local rice and whatever was found in the fields, it's now much more varied and has many different variations, with the more exotic versions becoming quite expensive.

I was first introduced to it on holidays to Benidorm in the 1980s, and it's been a favourite ever since. Whenever I'm in Spain (which is often!), I always make sure to try it out in various places. So far, the worst I ever had was in Mijas Pueblo, of all places. But the best? Well, I had that recently, in Torrox, of all places!

Everyone likes their paella served slightly differently. I like it well cooked with a little burnt base to give it a lovely bitter taste. I'm told this is the traditional way to serve it, but I've no idea if that's true.

When I was there in March 2024, that's exactly how it was served in Chiringuito Pepe Oro on Penoncillo Beach, Torrox.

This wasn't the first time there. We'd called in a few times when spending the day on Penoncillo Beach. It's an unpretentious chiringuito that serves large portions of extremely well-priced traditional Spanish dishes, along with all the usual European favourites. Best of all, as it should be with a proper chiringuito, it's right on the beach. Sit inside to avoid the heat in Summer (or cold winter), or sit right out the front, literally on the beach, with the sand between your toes.

They offer three basic versions of paella: meat, seafood or mixed (both meat and seafood). I've only had paella there once, so I can't say for sure, but I suspect the exact ingredients are whatever is available locally at the time. We went for mixed and had the usual mix of seafood with some lamb, chicken and pork. All were cooked to perfection, with the slightly burnt base I like.

As is customary with most places, there must be a minimum of two people sharing, and you need to order (and pay) at least 24 hours in advance. The cost for the mixed was €22 for both of us, or €11 per person. This is about the cheapest you'll find, and as I said, in my case, it was also about the best.

So, if you are ever in Torrox and want to eat some of the best paella you'll find, try Pepe Oro.