When a restaurant has at least one Michelin star, it means it offers an authentic and unique gastronomic experience. The famous “Red Guide” carefully evaluates the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, and the mastery of culinary techniques, while also analysing how the chef expresses their individuality through the dishes.
Fine dining in Asturias without overpaying
That is why receiving recognition at this level is an achievement reserved for only a few. In Spain, fewer than 300 dining establishments hold this award, around ten of them in Asturias. Most of them, in addition to their exceptional cuisine, share a focus on tasting menus capable of delighting any guest. The chefs at these high-end establishments usually create menus made up of several small dishes served in a carefully considered order to give diners a complete idea of their cuisine.
These gastronomic journeys make it possible to discover different flavours, textures, and culinary techniques in a single sitting. Their price is usually high and in most cases exceeds €100 per person, not including wine.
Fortunately, especially for lovers of good food, there are Michelin-starred restaurants that offer tasting menus affordable for almost any budget. To make the choice easier, Excelencias Gourmet has compiled a selection of establishments where culinary excellence does not cost a fortune.
“Auga” in Gijón
One such example is “Auga”, the gastronomic project of Gonzalo Pañeda and Antonio Pérez. Located right in the heart of the marina in Gijón, this fine dining restaurant, which also boasts two Repsol Suns, offers a menu for under €85. The most affordable tasting menu at “Auga” costs €75 per person, making it the cheapest option among all Michelin-starred restaurants in Asturias.
It is worth noting that this establishment in Gijón also offers a gastronomic proposal priced at €125, considered the “best option” for getting to know the chef’s cuisine. After spending 11 years at the helm of a well-known restaurant on the outskirts of Gijón, in 2011 he moved his project to the city centre, to one of the most elegant locations with the best views. In addition, a €170 menu is served here in which seafood plays the leading role. However, none of these options includes wine pairing. As for the wine list, Antonio Pérez, sommelier and maître d’, is responsible for selecting the best wines to match the standard of the cuisine in this establishment.
“Regueiro” in Tox (Navia)
Another establishment bearing this prestigious hallmark and offering one of the most affordable tasting menus in Spain is “Regueiro” in Tox (Navia). For €75, guests can enjoy ten dishes that best represent the cuisine of chef Diego Fernández.
This restaurant also offers a menu for €85, bringing together a selection of recipes that pay tribute to its history and gastronomic evolution. Another option is the “Hedonista” menu priced at €125, the most complete gastronomic experience through which Asturias added another Michelin star to its collection.
The price of tasting menus at the other Michelin-starred restaurants in Asturias can be viewed via the following link. It is worth noting that some of these establishments also offer the possibility of ordering individual signature dishes by the chefs without spending a large amount of money.
For €26.25, you can try Asturian fabada at “Casa Gerardo”, while for €50 you can enjoy roasted and stewed young pigeon at “El Corral del Indianu”.
Affordable tasting menus in other regions of Spain
According to Excelencias Gourmet, tasting menus at Michelin-starred restaurants can also be affordable in other regions of Spain, as shown by the following examples:
- Chirón in Valdemoro (Madrid) – from €39.
- Silabario in Vigo (Galicia) – from €41.
- Casa Arcas in Benasque (Huesca) – from €46.
- Garena in Dima (Biscay) – from €48.
- Alquimia-Laboratorio in Valladolid – from €50.
- Ikaro in Logroño (La Rioja) – from €50.
- Prodigi in Barcelona – from €50.
- Kabo in Pamplona – from €60.
- Ochando in Los Rosales (Seville) – from €65.
- Marc Fosh in Palma – from €65.
- El Taller de Seve Díaz in Tenerife – from €68.
- Epílogo in Tomelloso (Castile-La Mancha) – from €70.
- El Serbal in Santander – from €82.
