Dish guides
What is tortilla española?
Tortilla española, or tortilla de patatas, is a thick, round omelette of eggs and slow-cooked potatoes, usually with onion, fried in olive oil and served in wedges. It has nothing to do with the Mexican flatbread. In Spain you'll find it as a pincho (a single slice) at the bar or as a ración on tapas menus.
- At a glance
- Tortilla española
- A thick omelette of eggs and olive-oil-cooked potatoes, often with onion.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like tor-TEE-yah es-pah-NYOH-lah · IPA /toɾˈtiʝa espaˈɲola/
- Also written as
- tortilla de patatas, tortilla de patata, tortilla de patata con cebolla, tortilla de papas, pincho de tortilla, Spanish omelette, truita de patates
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- eggs
- potatoes
- olive oil
- salt
Often added
- onion (con cebolla)
- green pepper
- chorizo
- spinach or other vegetables
- a slice of bread underneath (pincho)
- alioli or mayonnaise on the side
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Eggs | Typically contains |
| Gluten | Sometimes contains |
| Dairy | Rarely contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Tree nuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Usually |
| Vegan | No |
| Pescatarian | Usually |
| Halal | Usually — The classic recipe has no meat or alcohol, but some variants add chorizo (pork), so check the name on the menu. |
| Kosher | Depends — The classic recipe uses only permitted ingredients, but bars in Spain are rarely kosher-certified, and some variants add chorizo. |
| Gluten-free | Usually |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
How a Spanish tortilla is made
Thinly sliced potatoes, and usually onion, are cooked slowly in plenty of olive oil until soft, not crisp. They're drained and folded into beaten eggs, then the mixture goes back into a hot pan. When the bottom has set, the cook flips the whole tortilla onto a plate and slides it back to brown the other side. The result is a golden disc several centimetres thick.
Two debates divide Spain. The first is onion: con cebolla or sin cebolla. The second is how cooked the centre should be. A jugosa or poco cuajada tortilla is soft and slightly runny in the middle; a bien hecha or cuajada one is set all the way through.
Typical price
Median price 6 EUR
Typical range 5–12 EUR.
Median of 20 menus, 2025-04 – 2026-04. Basis: Spanish-language menus scanned with MenuGuide.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Un pincho de tortilla, por favor. | A slice of potato omelette, please. |
| ¿La tortilla lleva cebolla? | Does the tortilla have onion in it? |
| ¿Está muy jugosa? La prefiero bien hecha. | Is it very runny inside? I prefer it well cooked. |
Not to be confused with
- Tortilla francesa — A plain folded omelette of eggs only, with no potato.
- Mexican tortilla — A thin flatbread of corn or wheat, used for tacos; not an egg dish at all.
- Frittata — The Italian open omelette, often with cheese and vegetables, flipped in the pan or finished in the oven.
Frequently asked questions
Is tortilla española gluten free?
The tortilla itself is usually gluten free: it's made of eggs, potatoes, olive oil, salt and often onion. The gluten risk is the bread: a pincho is often served on or with a slice of bread, and bocadillos de tortilla come in a baguette. Ask for it without bread (sin pan) if you avoid gluten.
Is the egg in Spanish tortilla undercooked?
It can be. Many Spaniards like their tortilla jugosa, with a soft, slightly runny centre, so the egg in the middle may not be fully set. If you avoid undercooked eggs, ask for it bien hecha (well done) or cuajada (fully set); many bars make or keep both styles.
What's the difference between a Spanish tortilla and a Mexican tortilla?
They share only a name, which means "little cake" in Spanish. The Spanish tortilla is a thick omelette of eggs and potatoes. The Mexican tortilla is a thin flatbread of corn or wheat, used for tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas. On a menu in Spain, tortilla means the egg dish.
Is tortilla de patatas vegetarian?
Yes, the classic tortilla de patatas is vegetarian: eggs, potatoes, olive oil, salt and often onion. Some variants add chorizo or ham, which menus usually name, for example tortilla de chorizo. It isn't vegan, since eggs are the main ingredient.
