Some restaurants come and go. Bodegón El Piojo in La Matanza de Acentejo has been serving traditional Canarian food since 1957.
That’s more than six decades of feeding hungry people, and the restaurant has become a well-known stop for anyone looking for traditional Tenerife cooking.
The restaurant is also housed in a property dating back around 200 years, which adds a bit of history before you’ve even sat down at the table.
Come for the rabbit
According to food creators @guachinchesmodernos, one dish in particular keeps people coming back.
The fried rabbit is the signature order at Bodegón El Piojo, served with chips.
And apparently, once isn’t always enough.
The foodie couple who visited ordered a second portion after trying it, with Joana describing it as spectacular.
As they put it, “Everyone who comes here comes for the rabbit.”
That’s quite a reputation for one dish.
Traditional Canarian flavours
There’s more on the menu than rabbit, of course.
During their visit, they also tried seasoned tomatoes with goat’s cheese, onions and olives, served with mustard sauce.
They also sampled peas topped with fried potatoes and ropa vieja, another familiar dish from traditional Canarian cooking.
The food is straightforward, hearty and very much rooted in the local style rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.
Sometimes there’s no need to.
Where to find Bodegón El Piojo
📍 Calle Real, 113, La Matanza de Acentejo, Tenerife
The restaurant currently has a 4.2-star rating on Google.
With more than 60 years behind it, Bodegón El Piojo is one of those Tenerife restaurants where the history is part of the experience.
And if you’re going to order the rabbit, it sounds like you’d better arrive hungry.