Believe all the 5-stars! Worth the 40min wait. We arrived early and they opened 15min late, all worthwhile. Staff, both front & back, were exceptional. No bad attitudes displayed considering the sheer volume of people & chaos. The four cooks churned out food like soldiers...major kudos to the young team. My only suggestion would be to redirect the line to the second door that leads to the outdoor dining. People didn't know to move forward b/c all the people waiting blocked the flow. I'd also get rid of the round tables outside and build a long skinny standing table. Favorite was the hake. I usually avoid seafood due to sensitivities but what the hey, a bite here & there on holiday won't kill, plus, if you're gonna risk it, this region is as good as it'll get for clean seafood. The scallop was my 2nd favorite. We didn't get the beef cheeks b/c we were going to have steaks later...wished we had, looked divine. If there's just 2of you, opt for the smallest so you can chomp on different pintxos. read more

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I feel so bad writing this review because the place is crowded and there's usually a wait. But it was the best food we had in San Sebastián, better than the Michelin places. I will be dreaming about their lamb for the rest of my life. Service is cramped and chaotic, but friendly. Limited drinks list. But none of that mattered read more

As a warning, you should get here before they open and wait in line because if not, it's a mad house. You can get in where you fit in. And just like all the pixtos bars here, seats are for larger portions or set menus and not pixtos. They are known for their suckling pig. Their skin is so crispy and their meat is nice and juicy. Beef cheek is also a must try! We also got the foie gras which was really good. Razor clams was also delicious. Octopus was also a hit, crispy with soft interior. Kids loved the entrecôte. Risotto was good, but wasn't my favorite. Octopus was nice and tender. We ended up going twice here, food is delicious! Service was excellent too, Alejandro always asked if we needed anything and super friendly with our kids too. read more

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Super busy tapas joint so expect to be jostled and squeezed as you wait and eat. The servers do a good job moving people through. All hot (temperature) and freshly cooked (tapas caliente). You won't see tapas on display here. We had the grilled Galician octopus - I believe it's actually the best I've eaten anywhere and for a great price. Wine pour was small (and the other half didn't review the bill so we were over-charged for one) but the experience was worth it. Casual and packed. Your luck is really good if you're able to score an outside table! read more

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We loved everything that we ordered. Service was excellent and efficient. Very well organized despite how small this place was. Very reasonable prices. My only regret was in my hurry I forgot to order the razor clams. Oh well a reason to comeback! I love how they have small/medium/large serving options. The lechon was exactly how we have it in the Philippines including the tiny sliver of sauce. El cochinillo read more

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If you're looking for delicious octopus in San Sebastián you have to come here. Yes they do have some other tasty options, which I'll get to, but the octopus here was quite possibly the best octopus I've ever had. This was one of the few pintxo bars we made a point to go to twice while here. The first time we came in for lunch time pintxos and got the beef cheeks and octopus (recommended by the bartender as some of their best). The second time we came in was on our farewell pintxo tour. This was the final stop so we were pretty full and didn't get what we had ordered before, but rather tried the razor clams. The beef was unbelievably tender, it fell apart as soon as a fork touched it. It came on a small bed of mashed potatoes and was served with a side bread as most pintxos are. And that octopus, wow! So full of flavor, so tender, the absolute perfect texture, how all octopus should be cooked. This was our first time trying razor clams, so we weren't quite sure what to expect. They weren't our favorite, but we're in no means bad, we just preferred some of the other things we had eaten that day. Like most pintxo spots, food and drinks came up quick and we were out of there and onto the next spot within 20ish minutes. read more

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We had a perfect experience at this restaurant, especially with our waiter, David. Now we know that we should come back to this restaurant in San Sebastián, and the food was AMAZING! read more

Props to David, the server who was running the front, for holding down the fort in SO many ways. This guy was THE BEST. The Story: Sit-down tables were in hot demand given there were only about five available. Three groups of Germans and Americans had been waiting in line for over an hour for one of these hot tables. At some point, an old lady in a new group at the end of the line decided to ask one of the tables for their spare chair and at first, she used it to sit near the steps of the nearby cathedral (literally steps away from the restaurant). Over time, we noticed she was slowly maneuvering that chair closer to the tables... Suspicious, no...? When one finally opened up... she whipped her chair right over and claimed it as hers! Oh, someone hand me my popcorn!! We had all been waiting in line for over an hour in the hot weather and this table was 100% supposed to go to the German group standing in front of the line. Guys, it seriously looked like a brawl was about to ensue. This old lady had some straight up sass. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the action since the table in dispute was around the corner at the front of the restaurant while the line we were in was located on the side of the restaurant but my husband did run back and forth to relay back what was happening lol ("She's not giving it up!" "Do you want to check it out? No? Well, I do! (runs back)") . At some point, David (the server) went to the front and addressed the old lady and the Germans got their table!! Wooohoo!! Go David!!! He was such a champ. Ok, end of /drama. The food was all absolutely delicious! That suckling pig was sooo good. That crisp! Ooh la la. Was I influenced by the fact that this was my first sit-down meal in 3 days? Possibly. And that I had waited an hour+ for it and that my feet were super tired? Could be. But those razor clams, suckling pig, octopus and all other dishes we got were all so tasty. Highly recommend coming here. Was definitely one of my favorite meals in San Sebastian :) Free entertainment to boot. read more

Great place for Pintxos that are on the heavier side. Foie gras in caramelo Sidra glaze. Suckling pig. Half portion will feed 2. Galilean razor clams. Get the full portion. trust. If you like pig ears, here is the place to get Iberico crispy pig ears. (Written by husband) read more

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After trying Torrijas ("french toast") in several bars/restaurants, La Cuchara without a doubt has the best. Moist and fluffy with just enough crunch on first bite, served warm and not too sweet without compromising on the caramely flavor too. We also really enjoyed the Scallop with Seaweed and Coffee Vinegrette and the Mushroom Tarts. read more

I didn't love it. It's busy. You have to fight to order. Their food is legit "out there" but every time I try it (I've been three times now), I get a stomach ache afterward. It's maybe because they make liberal use of salt.... like, a lot ! It's my least favorite of the pintchos places I tried in SB. read more

I got in line outside the door on a Tuesday at 6:50 and was about 15th in line. I got my food about five minutes after ordering. I've been staying in San Sebastián for a month and this was one of the best meals I've had here. The veal cheek was perfectly soft and flavored, the suckling pig was too delicious for words and has a perfect skin, the razor clams were fresh. The only downside was that the octopus was pretty tough - might have just been an off day though. read more

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Great pintxos place but gets crowded very fast so show up early! Everything I tried was delicious (pig suckling, veal, octopus, risotto, and Pig ear). They have three sizes, and I got each dish in the medium size and that was a good amount for three people. read more

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Maybe my favorite place because they offered items that were not the common pinxtos that all other restaurants offered so it's kinda not fair but nevertheless delicious ! The bartenders were patient and cool. I can only imagine how they perform Saturday night when it was packed, so we ended up going on a Sunday. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Galician clams with garlic , my wife's favorite ! Hard to find in Donostia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

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Pintxos in San Sebastián? Come here! This is the best spot for Pintxos in San Sebastián. We were in San Sebastián for four nights, and each night we came here. Of course we went to other places for Pintxos, but they didn't come close to the quality and execution of dishes that La Cuchara prepared. Still, to this day, I dream of their goat cheese cheesecake.... Omg, it might be the best thing I've ever eaten. Don't get me wrong, everything on their menu is delicious, but that dish.. wow... I'll get on a flight just to eat it again. read more

We had heard about this place from a person that lives in San Sebastian. It gets busy in here since there are only a few tables and they are kind of communal. We put our name in with the waiter and he said it should be like 15-20 min but we actually sat in 5 minutes. The thing is we were sitting at a communal table with other couples. The tables are kind of big so if you are sitting across from your friend it is kind of far away. Anyway, we sat and moved like 2 timess to accomdate other guests. Not typical but no big deal... As for the food, we started with the suckling pig and ribeye. Both solid dishes. The ribeye was a little chewy but flavor was right. The octopus was no good so I would definitely skip it. Fyi, you can get all dishes in half or full portions. We asked the waiter for a wine suggestion and he brought a solid affordable option. Service definitely added a star to the review. As for the dessert it was the best thing we had all night. It was a goat cheese dish with maple syrup. It kind of looked like creme brulee minus the crunchy top. It was delicious. I highly suggest. Overall, the tapas items didnt wow me but they were good. The service and dessert was awesome and I would come back specifically for that. 4 star place because of the service. read more

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Some amazing food here. They can get super busy and fill up, so go early. We had the best Octopus our trip here, and the cochinillo was so good - super light crispy skin, with a juicy piece of pork. Flavors were great, prices are great. Go here. We also had the foie gras, but even the half portion was too large for 2 - incredibly rich, we used bread to help with this dish. Very good but I would get the pintxo size. read more

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I dream of the razor clams here. Every dish was SO delicious. Get there early to snag one of the few tables outside or else it's standing room only. This place is a must try when in Old Town. read more

Great menu that is available in English and the bartender spoke good English. Each racion could be ordered has a half portion as you wish. The dishes were each a creative creation, such as the cauliflower purée on which my hake fish was served. It's only a tiny narrow space in the inside so quickly becomes crowded. read more

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This place is overhyped by the guide books. It's overcrowded to the point one can't even walk inside at any hour. If you're in this area there are many other choices that will satisfy, especially in Plaza Constituzion. All in all don't believe the hype, stay away from this place. read more

Tucked away slightly, but worth looking for! Little bit of a wait to get a table but worth it. Best Foie Gras we have come across in San Sebastián with a variety of portion options. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Fioe Gras - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

Home-style decadence. For food, I'd give this place 6 stars if I could. One of the most satiating and borderline overwhelming (in a good way) meals of my life. Our party of four arrived on a drizzly November Sunday evening, and at the behest of one friend who had eaten there previously, timed our arrival at 6:00pm, exactly when service started. Not much space inside, only a bit of standing room at the bar and along the wall, so grabbed a table outside and proceeded to order way too much food. For four people, we probably should have done half-size portions but instead did full-sized orders of all our dishes (full-size prices below). 1) Tomato Feo de Tudela asado (14€): probably the least favorite, but decently tasty. The beefsteak tomato's were very juicy. I wish we saved some of this for the other dishes since the acid from the vinaigrette and pickles would have helped cut the other dishes. 2) Navajas Gallegas y Esparragos Navarros templados (18€): one of the most fresh, tender (and largest) razor clam dishes I've ever eaten. That white asparagus and sauce provided a saucy complement to the salty buoyant texture of the razor clam. 3) Taco de Buey de Lomo Alto Salteado (25€): oven-baked, with chickpea ganache. Soooo tender. Beef cheeks seem to be a specialty of the region and their take was delicious. 4) Pulpo Gallego asada con Tximitxurri (24€): one of the more tender octopi I've eaten and they cooked it just slightly past prime tenderness, but the grilled flavor was good and I didn't hate them for it. Such a meaty take on octopus. 5) Foie de monfort salteado, compota de manzanas (20€): the large portion looks to be the size of an entire liver. Carmelized edges were perfection. We were getting ridiculously full at this point considering we ate our previous "meal" one hour prior, so we really tried our best to eat this but it's one of the heavier dishes considering it's liver. They did it so well and I loved the sauce. We couldn't finish it which made me so sad :( 6) Oreja de cerdo Prensada, Melissa y Crujiente (14€): pressed pigs ear...crispy, unctuous, meaty, all in one. A special treat, one of the house specialties. Def one of our favorites. Didn't try the suckling pig this visit but would love to try it next time. There were plenty of people waiting to grab our table when we left, around 7:30. Also should mention the staff asked us how much food we ordered while we were waiting for food while seated at our table (one of 4 tables outside), informing us that the tables were for parties ordering a significant amount. All was A-Ok when we told them we ordered 6 large items, but just a heads up for reference. read more

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This is probably the best morcilla that your tastebuds will enjoy in your lifetime !! The texture taste and the tomato sauce in the middle. Just awesome this place is a hidden gem in San Sebastián. The morcilla is so good that is called the lovers' morcilla because if you order one ración you will definitely order another one ( I end up having 3) as a morcilla expert I highly recommended this place Do not and let me emphasize on the do not miss this place. Is a one in a lifetime experience in San Sebastián. I want to personally thank Iñaki murua ( owner of the magnificent IKARO restaurant in Logroño for the recommendation) read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Morcilla - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

You cannot go wrong with anything at this spot. If you're part of a larger group, you've hit the jackpot - they can serve pretty much all dishes in larger portions. Most memorable dishes included crispy pigs ear (shatteringly crisp!), veal cheek, squid ink risotto (this was kind of life-changing), and foie with apple compote (for our group of 7, the size of this foie was a ridiculous 6 ounces). Roasted octopus is also a good order if you like octopus and have room for it. The key is to go early (before 7:30pm) and secure yourself a spot or table outside. You can definitely get by with English, but it can be helpful to know a bit of Spanish (my tall Spanish -speaking friend was serviced faster than I was). Don't leave San Sebastian without eating at this excellent restaurant. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Crispy pig ears - incredibly crunchy, meaty, unctuous all at once - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

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Sensational!!! My favourite pinxtos bar in San Seb Try the braised beef cheek - oh my goodness gracious!!! read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - braised beef cheek ftw - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

Went here for pintxos at lunch today. Started with a perfectly cooked scallop. Then we tried the pulpo (octopus) which was served with some sort of cole slaw made with shredded cucumber - a combo I would've never thought of but it paired very nicely. Service was great as the staff was very friendly. Definitely recommend. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Pulpo (octopus) at La Cuchara. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

I had the best scallops of my life at La Cuchara de San Telmo. I definitely need to figure out the recipe. Heaven in my mouth! In addition to heaven, we ordered the crispy pig's ear and razor clams. The crispy pig's ear did not disappoint as well. Advice to the rookie, indicate your order size when you place your order. We ended up getting the large portions on our orders and could not finish everything. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Crispy pig's ear - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

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This bar is the xiz (that's my basque version of shiz). Its tiny, so you will have to wiggle your way to some counter space. Pintxos here come hot and in 3 sizes, small, medium or large. Small feels 1-2 people. I was solo and enjoyed 2 glasses of wine and 2 pintxos and spent about 12 Euros. I had a glass of red, a glass of rose, the veal cheek and the duck ravioli. I still think about all 4. THis was by far my favorite Pinxto stop in all of Basque country. Don't be discouraged by the masses. They move quickly. This place is worth the trouble. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo - Ternera - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Donostia / San Sebastián, SS

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All of these tapa stores are not very big; therefore, be prepared to be pushed and you must wiggle your way to the counter. Like typical Spain, most tapa stores in this area don't open until 7:30pm or later for dinner. Around 8 to 9pm, that's when they are packed. If you have to order 2 things in here, I would highly recommend ordering the following: 1) Suckling Pig: 4/5 crispy and thin skin, tender meat, pretty good flavor with sweet and sour-esque sauce (Taste like Chinese crispy pork but much fattier!) 2) Foie gras: 5/5 I usually am not a HUGE fan of foie because of the gaminess and richness, but this one was seared outside and melted in your mouth after. The apple sauce (if I remember correctly) was such a delicious compliment to the fattiness! The price is VERY fair for the amount they give you! Will be back--hopefully, this time, not during a festival so it is not super crowded! read more

When we visited in 2019 we left astounded at our good fortune to have eaten here. All the dishes were amazing. 2022 was a different story. All our dishes oversalted, conflicting gloppy sauces, limited menu, none of the delicious Chuleta we had before. We both had to make a beer stop after our visit to rehydrate. I want it to be wonderful again. I imagine all of these little bars had a tough time during the Pandemic and a tougher time getting back to normal. Hopefully in the future it will return to its old wonderful self. read more

This was our favorite meal in San Sebastian! Must order: veal cheeks, suckling pig, foie gras, octopus. Go early to beat the rush and order a nice cider to sip on if you're late because this place gets super packed. It's also near the pathway entrance leading up to the Castle of Urgull. Perfect day hike up for an incredible view and back down just in time for restaurant opening. Worth the wait for sure. Incredible and friendly staff. read more

Judging from the mainly high ratings and recommendations on several food blogs and the hotel concierge we had high expectations for this place. To our surprise all 3 of the tapas we ordered proved to be such a disappointment. The grilled octopus stood out for being overcooked, chewy with a bitter taste from being burnt! See the photo for yourself, I am not exaggerating. The suckling pig and roasted scallop dishes were also poorly executed. Perhaps there was a new chef that night as this place is definitely overrated if the standard of cooking we tasted is a true representation of the dishes that are normally served. I wished we had not ordered more than 1 dish to preserve an appetite for more satisfying pintxos at the numerous other tapas bars in San Sebastián! La Cuchara de San Telmo was the worst tapas bar we tried out of the 10 we dined at :( read more

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Meh!! This was the much raved!! Much waited spot!! Everyone recommended it. Everyone wants it! Everyone raved about it!! Regardless, food fell flat!! Their octopus was probably my least favorite of every spot in town. And they are known for it!! It was tough, chewy, dry, super chewy!! Just not edible! And the beef cheeks: a ok! The heart were a ok too. Disappointing though since the place is bustling chaos! So busy, so tiny! So hard to Oder! Or get a seat! I managed to snatch a table outside but then again: it's still a bit chilly at night. And the smokes! Too much smokes. But the food though. Really wasn't the best! read more

We thought Cuchara de San Telmo was so good, we went twice. Four star cuisine in a cramped, crowded bar, eating standing up, shoulder to shoulder with other foodies crazy enough to brave the crowd for some awesome food. Find a space, fight your way to the bar to order, give your name and wait to be called when your food is ready. This is what we tried over two visits in order of preference: 1. Cod cheeks - fresh, soft and gelatinous with a garlic parsley sauce. Delicious, never quite had anything like it, but not for everyone. 2. Veal cheeks - marvelously delicious. 3. Roast suckling pig - you must order this! 4. Duck ravioli - so delicious. Shredded duck in a cabbage wrapper. 5. Foie gras - what's not to like? 6. Blood sausage - interesting presentation with crackers and greens. Sausage itself was delicious, no gamey flavor at all. 7. Clams and burrata. I like clams, I like burrata but I'm not sure I like them together. Overall, this was one of our favorite restaurants in San Sebastian. Dinner including wine was $20-30 Euros each time. Incredible value for money and absolutely delicious food. read more

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This is a Must Stop on the search for fantastic Pinxtos in San Sebastian. I was lucky enough to dine here on a day they had suckling pig on the menu. Amazing!! As well as the veal cheeks, stewed pigs ears from the iberico pig(the fanciest pigs on earth) and the foie gros is highly recommended here. I got the insider information on where to eat after the cooking class I took and those were the items they said you have to order at La Cuchara. There are so many amazing pinxtos bars to try in this little neighborhood make sure u don't order everything on the menu(hard not to do) and save some room for yummy deliciousness elsewhere. It's the Spanish way they don't mind if you grab a bite and run. read more

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We came here on Saturday lunchtime and judging by the other reviews that might be a good bet to avoid large crowds. We order the foie which had been recommended by our hotel manager and it was one of my favourite 5 things I ate on our trip - absolutely sensational and decadent. The veal cheeks were also good and I think we also tried tuna which I remember being really tasty. Highly recommended. read more

Another AMazing Pinxtos bar. Awesome staff that is friendly and speaks all different languages. Two must try restaurants in San Sebastián. We ordered pigs ear, octopus with some slaw and stewed beef. Small bites with big punches of taste. Plus gotta get Txakoli. read more

La Cuchara de San Telmo is my favorite pintxos bar in San Sebastian. Tucked away on a side street, you'll find a cozy space with a little outdoor seating, and avant garde pintxos that are made fresh to order. I actually went here twice in 2 days it was that good. The first day, we ordered the grilled octopus, which was cooked perfectly, and came with some stewed peppers. The second day, I was blown away with a tender brick of duck confit, which was augmented with a slab of quince on top. This is why San Sebastian cuisine is so fantastic: the chef took the traditional concept of "duck with fruit", and twisted it to be local to the Spanish/Basque ingredient of quince. It can definitely get a little crowded here, but you should really make it a high priority on any pintxos tour of San Sebastian. read more

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Definitely full of tourists but really delicious pintxos and my favourite of all I tried. Here we had four dishes: veal cheek braised in red wine, a risotto cremoso, roasted pork belly and (by accident) some kind of pig ear and iberico ham concoction. Difficult to pick the best one, truly. The service is beyond fast. They take your name for your order and call out to you. It's a lively, bustling place so be sure to keep your ears open. There are a few seats outside but don't expect to get any. Inside is packed but turn over is high so you'll find a spot against the bar or wall soon enough. read more

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This restaurant has some of the most outstanding food we have eaten in the Basque country and Spain as a whole. We went for lunch today and ordered four half portions to share. We ordered two meat dishes and two seafood dishes. One of the meat dishes was a piece of steak expertly seared to rare-medium rare, served with an eggplant-based purée and the other was veal cheeks braised in red wine with hummus on the side. The seafood dishes were cod cheeks with a broccoli-based purée and the other was pulpo gallego(octopus) with a sweet onion confit. We drank delicious Basque cider with our meal, which went great with each dish. I could go on and on about how mind-blowingly delicious all of these dishes were, but suffice it to say, this was perhaps the best meal I have ever had in my life. I wish Yelp would let me give six stars, as it's hard to convey just how good this restaurant is. The value is tremendous too. It was €51 for the four fishes and a 750ml bottle of cider. I would suggest going here for lunch to avoid the shoulder to shoulder crowds that fill this place up at night. We may just have to go back here for pintxos before we leave San Sebastian. read more

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