Have you traveled to Málaga and want to taste one of its most famous dishes? Here we tell you where to eat the known “Plato de los Montes”.
What is the Plato de los Montes de Málaga?
The Plato de los Montes is a combined dish, typical of Malaga cuisine, commonly found in the ventas (traditional roadside inns) in Málaga, especially on the Carretera de Colmenar, known as the Carretera de los Montes de Málaga.
Depending on where you eat it, it may have different names. It’s also known as plato chorreño, plato serrano, plato campero, pelona de lomo, sartená de os castaños, or palto de Coscojal, among others.
The Plato de los Montes is a combined dish that consists of a piece of pork loin accompanied by a variety of fried foods: chorizo, potatoes, eggs, black pudding, and fried peppers. It is recommended to mix all the elements of the dish to taste all of them together in each bite. This dish can also be accompanied with migas (fried breadcrumbs).
What is the origin of the Plato de los Montes?
Its origin dates back to the 1930s in the province of Málaga. As it is a dish with high energy content, it was served to muleteers who crossed the mountains of Málaga on their way to the ventas that existed along the way.
Some restaurants where you can enjoy a good Plato de los Montes.
Although the origin of the Plato de los Montes is in the mountainous area of the Montes de Málaga, there are many restaurants throughout the province where we can taste this magnificent dish of Malaga cuisine.
1. Venta El Boticario (Los Montes de Málaga)
Venta El Boticario, located on the Carretera de Colmenar, also offers the typical Plato de los Montes, as well as other specialties such as rabo de toro or Plato a lo bestia.
How to get to Venta El Boticario?
2. Venta El Túnel (Málaga)
Venta El Túnel, located near the Pantano del Agujero, offers a version of the typical Plato de los Montes, known as palto campero, which includes fried eggplants in addition to the essential ingredients of the Plato de los Montes. It is especially known for its caldoso rice.
How to get to Venta El Túnel?
3. Venta San Isidro (Los Llanos de Antequera)
Located in Los Llanos, in the municipality of Antequera, offers a Plato de los Montes consisting of rib, a good piece of pork loin in manteca colorá (pork lard), chorizo, and black pudding, along with potatoes, peppers, and a fried egg. Here it is known as pelona completa de lomo.
It may appear on Google as Venta Los Llanos, although its name is Venta San Isidro.
How to get to Venta San Isidro?
4. Venta Pedro (Casabermeja)
On the road from Casabermeja to Villanueva de la Concepción, near the millennial olive tree of Arroyo Carnicero, we find one of the most recommended places to try the Plata de los Montes. The dish here is made up of lomo de orza, elaborated in the restaurant itself, with chorizo, potatoes, fried egg, and peppers.
How to get to Venta Pedro?
5. La Garganta (Álora)
A stone’s throw from Caminito del Rey, in the municipality of Álora, with privileged views of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, we find Venta La Garganta, where we can taste a version of the Plata de los Montes known as plato chorreño, which contains lomo, chorizo, potatoes, eggs, and peppers.
How to get to La Garganta Restaurant?
We suggest taking advantage of the day to visit this natural area.
Discover the unique experience of Caminito del Rey in Malaga
6. La Butibamba (Mijas Costa)
La Butibamba, located on the Costa del Sol, in the municipality of Mijas, offers its own version of the Plata de los Montes, with the typical ingredients of this dish, although here it is known as the plato de la casa. It is a place that shows special treatment to the lomo, for which it is known.
How to get to Venta La Butibamba?
7. Los Tres Cincos (Montes de Málaga)
Venta los Tres Cincos, located on the road of the Montes de Málaga, also offers the classic version of the Plata de los Montes.
How to get to Los Tres Cincos?
8. Casa Quino (Ronda)
In the historic center of Ronda, we find Restaurante Casa Quino, which offers its own version of the Plata de los Montes, known here as plato serrano. In addition to the ingredients of the classic Plata de los Montes (lomo, chorizo, potatoes, eggs, and fried peppers), it is accompanied by the famous morcilla de Ronda or serrano ham.
How to get to Restaurante Casa Quino?
9. El Torcal (Málaga)
El Torcal Restaurant is located in Puerto de la Torre, and here you can also enjoy the Plata de los Montes.
How to get to El Torcal Restaurant?
10. Puerto del León (Montes de Málaga)
On the road to Colmenar, the Montes de Málaga road, we also find Venta Puerto del León, in the farthest area of the city, which makes it have wonderful views. It also serves the typical Plata de los Montes.
