Valladolid wins both tapas titles as Jiale Pan and Alejandro San José take top prizes

Valladolid claims both titles

The X World Tapas Championship 'Ciudad de Valladolid' and the XXII National Pinchos and Tapas Contest closed on Wednesday, 11 November, at the Cúpula del Milenio in Valladolid, Spain. The two events ran for three days from 9 November, and mayor Jesús Julio Carnero presided over the closing ceremony. Both top prizes went to restaurants in the city. The events also recognized the Alimentos de Valladolid brand on its tenth anniversary, and the organizers paid tribute to the winemaker Iván Sanz.

National contest winner

Jiale Pan of the restaurant Jiapan won the national title with 'Doce/29', a bao filled with a meat reduction and finished with pesto made from Pedrajas de San Esteban pine nuts, leeks and shiitake ash. The same dish had already taken the Pincho de Oro at the provincial contest in Valladolid. Pan receives 10,000 euros and will represent Spain at the 2027 World Tapas Championship. Teo Rodríguez of Trasto placed second with 'Bola del Mundo', a monkfish stew flavored with citrus and coconut, and won 5,000 euros. Juan García Domínguez of Dólar Coreses in Vitoria-Gasteiz took third with 'Volcán del Norte', a stewed pork cheek cooked with tomato and red wine. The jury, chaired by Janaína Torres, also awarded three commendations, including one to Alberto Montes Pereira of Atrio in Cáceres.

World title for Habanero Taquería

Alejandro San José of Habanero Taquería won the world championship with 'Milpa Meseta', a crisp corn ring holding a stew of suckling lamb in green tomatillo sauce, served with a cod chintextle, tepache-pickled pineapple and candied pine nuts. The dish earned the first prize of 10,000 euros, a diploma and a trophy, and the award is sponsored by Aceites de Oliva de España. It takes the title from Australia, which won the previous edition with Andrea Vignali. San José had won the 2025 national contest and represented Spain in the world event. Mario Sandoval, who chaired the world jury, told the opening session:

“The tapa has become a universal language that transcends borders.”

Other placings and what comes next

Alonso Luna Zarate of Ojo Bangkok, representing Thailand, placed second with 'The Last Chance Croquette' and won 5,000 euros. Kenny Wei Kiat Gan of Hachi by Kenny's in Malaysia took third with 'Pansuh under the Borneo Canopy' and 2,500 euros. Commendations went to Alessandro Bonfigli of Pipis Kiosk in Australia, Sasha Leigh Small of House of Grace in South Africa, and María del Carmen Olvera Segura of Viñedo San Miguel in Mexico. The organizers honored Iván Sanz, winemaker at Dehesa de los Canónigos, who died in a traffic accident in the summer of 2026 along with his wife and two of their children.

First place (world)10,000

Second place (world)5,000

Third place (world)2,500

First place (world)

10000 euros

Second place (world)

5000 euros

Third place (world)

2500 euros

Data from the article text

All competing tapas can be tasted until Sunday, 15 November, at the Festival Internacional de la Tapa, where they are served in twinned restaurants at 3.50 euros each.