Bilbao bar ‘La Bodeguita del 12’ has won the 2025 Bizkaia traditional pintxo of the year award with its signature bite, ‘Delicia Tierra Roja’ (Red Earth Delicacy).
The establishment, located on Kalea Juan Ajuriaguerra, won a contest that included contenders from several famous bars and restaurants in Bizkaia, evenutally coming out top from a final four that included Amalur (in Durango), Amalur (in Leioa) and Sagarra (in Ermua and winner of the most creative pintxo award).
La Bodeguita’s award-winning pintxo is a bitesize portion of black pudding on top of a slice of cornbread and a slither of red pepper, topped with slices of idiazabal cheese and green apple.
The judges called the pintxo “a tribute to the flavours of our land”, saying that it combined “Basque products with identity, roots and balance”.
A total of 15 Bilbao pintxos were initially up for the award, such as Antxoa Taberna’s (Casco Viejo) ‘Tuna with Spring Onion’, El Globo’s (Diputación) ‘Squid Au Gratin’ and Ledesma 14’s (Calle Ledesma) ‘Crunchy Black Pudding Skewer’.
Check out the Bizkaia Pintxo Championship’s official website to see the other nominated pintxos.
Sagarra, based in the town of Ermua (30 minutes from Bilbao) was the 2025 Most Creative Pintxo Award with ‘Nigicreta’, “a faux nigiri in croquette form with all the ingredients of nigiri, made with rice flour, soy, lime and bluefin tuna”.
Where to find La Bodeguita del 12
Address: Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 12, Abando
Website: labodeguitadel12.com
Instagram: @labodeguitadel12
*Cover photo from Bizkaia Pintxo Championship website.
