{"id":43,"date":"2026-09-29T19:07:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T18:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jamonjamonrestaurants.com\/blog\/gambas-al-ajillo-london\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T20:11:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T19:11:26","slug":"gambas-al-ajillo-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamonjamonrestaurants.com\/blog\/gambas-al-ajillo-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambas al Ajillo in London: Spanish Garlic Prawns Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gambas al Ajillo are one of the quickest ways to recognise a Spanish tapas table: prawns arriving hot, glossy with olive oil and full of garlic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are simple, aromatic and made for sharing. At Jamon Jamon, they sit naturally beside potatoes, croquetas, cured ham and a glass of Spanish wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are Gambas al Ajillo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gambas al Ajillo means garlic prawns. The classic idea is straightforward: prawns cooked with garlic and olive oil, served hot so the aroma reaches the table before the first bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good versions balance three things: sweet prawns, plenty of garlic and enough olive oil to carry all that flavour without making the dish heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why they work so well as tapas<\/h2>\n\n\n

Garlic prawns bring a completely different texture and flavour to a tapas spread. They are juicy and aromatic rather than crisp or creamy, which makes them a useful contrast to dishes such as Patatas Bravas or Croquetas de Jam\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What should you order with Gambas al Ajillo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A strong combination would be Gambas al Ajillo with Padr\u00f3n Peppers, Croquetas de Jam\u00f3n, Patatas Bravas and Chorizo al Vino. That gives you seafood, vegetables, something crisp and creamy, potatoes and a richer meat dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Padr\u00f3n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Padr\u00f3n Peppers are especially useful alongside the prawns because their blistered, lightly bitter flavour cuts through the garlic and olive oil. Read our Padr\u00f3n Peppers guide<\/a> if you want to know why one pepper is sometimes unexpectedly hot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where can you eat Gambas al Ajillo in London?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gambas al Ajillo are one of the Spanish favourites regularly featured at Jamon Jamon. You can build a full tapas meal around them at our Soho or Belsize Park restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambas al Ajillo in Soho<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jamon Jamon Soho is at 3 Caxton Walk, London WC2H 8PW<\/strong>, in the West End. The prawns work particularly well as part of a quick pre-theatre tapas meal or a longer evening that continues downstairs at one of our events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambas al Ajillo in Belsize Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jamon Jamon Belsize Park is at 177 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QS<\/strong>, close to Belsize Park station. It is a relaxed option for a longer lunch or dinner built around several shared plates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Try Gambas al Ajillo at Jamon Jamon<\/h2>\n\n\n

Order them hot, add a few contrasting tapas and keep some bread nearby for the garlicky oil left in the dish.<\/p>\n\n\n

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See the menu<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n
Book a table<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are Gambas al Ajillo, what makes Spanish garlic prawns so good, and where can you try them in London? A guide from Jamon Jamon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":73,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spanish-food-tapas"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t