Trying to find genuinely traditional food in Santa Cruz can be hit and miss. Plenty of places claim to be homemade. Fewer actually deliver.
Tasca Los Pulpitos is one of the ones that does.
Tucked away on Calle de la Rosa, this small family-run restaurant has built a loyal following around one ingredient above all others: octopus.
And judging by the recommendations it receives, they seem to be doing something right.
A Menu Built Around Octopus
The team behind the popular Instagram account @guachinchesmodernos recently visited and shared their experience.
“We’ve had loads of recommendations to try the octopus tortilla here. You can smell the octopus before you even walk in.”
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
Octopus appears throughout the menu, with dishes including:
- Octopus croquettes
- Battered octopus
- Galician-style octopus
- Octopus vinaigrette
- Wrinkled potatoes with mojo
- Sweet potato salad
- Fried Palmero cheese with three different mojos
Portions are available in both half and full sizes, making it easy to sample a few different dishes without rolling out of the restaurant afterwards.
According to Google reviews, most diners spend between €10 and €20 per person, which is becoming increasingly rare these days.
The Tortilla Everyone Talks About
The standout dish is undoubtedly the octopus tortilla.
There’s just one catch.
You need to order it in advance.
For lunchtime, orders should be placed before 10:00am. For dinner, it’s best to reserve during the day. The demand is such that they even take advance bookings for Christmas Eve.
The reviewers described it as:
“The sort of tortilla you’d enter into a competition and it would win.”
High praise indeed.
Apparently it’s juicy, packed with flavour and carries a gentle spicy kick that keeps people coming back.
No Rush Here
One of the details that sums up the place perfectly is a sign inside reminding customers to:
“Above all, stay calm.”
A sensible approach.
There is a small indoor dining room and an outdoor terrace, with a relaxed atmosphere that feels more like visiting family than eating in a restaurant.
And, naturally, the unmistakable smell of octopus seems to follow you wherever you sit.
Where To Find It
Tasca Los Pulpitos
📍 Calle de la Rosa, 53, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Opening Hours:
- Wednesday to Saturday: 12:30pm to 4:30pm and 7:30pm to 11:00pm
- Sunday: Lunch service only
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
With a Google rating of 4.6 stars, it’s become one of those local places that people recommend again and again.
If you enjoy traditional Tenerife cooking, homemade food and don’t mind planning ahead for your tortilla, this is probably one to add to the list.