The Paquito is back, the lamb sandwich that says goodbye to the Pepito of veal: where to try it in Barcelona

The Paquito Route offers for a month in several restaurants in Barcelona the Paquito, the sandwich made with lamb (and brother of the veal Pepito).

David León Himelfarb • June 11, 2025

The Paquito is back, the lamb sandwich that says goodbye to the Pepito of veal: where to try it in Barcelona — Editorial credit: La ruta del paquito | Paquito de Tapas 24

We love sandwiches: they’re good, they’re usually cheap and we can eat them anywhere, and if they’re accompanied by a good beer, they taste even better. And although there are some iconic ones – the lomoqueso, tuna with peppers… – there is one that, for some years now, has been fighting to become a new benchmark in Spanish sandwiches: the Paquito.

But what exactly is a Paquito? The answer is very simple: if the Pepito is the iconic veal sandwich, the Paquito is the lamb sandwich . And the best way to know it first hand is the Paquito Route, a route that, from June 6 to 30 is in force for a month in a more than 20 bars and restaurants in Barcelona that will offer their version of this new snack.

The Paquito Route is an initiative promoted by INTEROVIC, the Interprofessional Agrifood Industry of Sheep and Goat Meat, and will take place not only in Barcelona but also in Lleida, Madrid, Valencia, Valladolid, Zamora and Leon, with more than 100 establishments offering their particular Paquitos .

And in Barcelona?

Editorial credit: The Paquito route | Paquito de la Otra Taberna

The Catalan capital is not far behind. Up to 21 bars and restaurants have joined the route, each with their own version of the Paquito:
Contracorrent Fort Pienc, My Fucking Restaurant, Bar Eixample, Casa Xica, Catacroquet, Atipical, La Mafia Mexicana, Achaar Bar, Bodega Montferry, Culkin, Casa Pepi, B de Bocata, Chula Vista, Reversible, Sal Mar, Acero, Sagàs, Dos Pebrots, El Baretu, Warike and Tres Porquets.

You can find all the versions that are prepared near your home on the website of the Ruta del Paquito.

Maybe you are interested in: The best (and most mythical) sandwiches in Barcelona.