El Quim de la Boqueria

"El Quim has the kind of privileged setting no amount of money in the world could ever buy. Situated in the middle of Barcelona’s emblematic La Boqueria, it doesn’t need to create its own ambience, surrounded as it is by the flavors, colors, and buzz of one of Europe’s most iconic food markets. All the produce is sourced from within La Boqueria itself, and if that isn’t a testament to its quality, what is? Kick things off with some fresh anchovies bathed in oil and vinegar, followed by the house special of fried eggs with baby squid." - Isabelle Kliger

"In 1987, Quim Márquez set up his tapas shop at La Boqueria, Barcelona's famed food market. His space was a three meter-long counter with five stools. El Quim's following grew exponentially in the next decade—and in 2000, it moved to a 16 meter-long counter with 18 stools. Absolutely stop here for an egg breakfast (with ham or foie gras, mushrooms, prawns, squid, etc.) before perusing La Boqueria. As super foodie Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, says, it's the kid of meal that will call you back to Barcelona."

"One to try in the Boqueria, El Quim is at the heart of it all, identifiable by its wrap-around yellow slates at the top of the stall and fried egg logo. Quim has all the classics and some specials like chipirones (small squid) with a fried egg or saffron milk cap mushrooms that bleed blue in season, quickly seared with jamón crumbs. When everything was shut down during Spain’s brutal first COVID-19 wave, Quim Márquez was one of the chefs who stepped up to cook for Barcelona residents who needed a meal — that’s reason enough to pull up a stool." - Suzy Taher