Acholinos — Restaurant in Benalmádena

A Hidden Gem in Benalmádena

While strolling through the charming streets of Benalmádena near Málaga, we stumbled upon Acholinos, drawn in by the lively atmosphere and the clear sign of quality: the place was buzzing with locals. That’s always a good indication—and Acholinos lived up to every expectation.

Despite the restaurant being nearly full, the staff was incredibly accommodating. We were kindly asked to wait just a few minutes, and true to their word, a table was soon ready for us. It’s worth mentioning how well the team handled the rush, never losing their attentiveness. Our waiter, DiDi, was particularly excellent—quick, focused, and welcoming, managing to take our order without delay, even in the midst of a packed dining room.

You’d expect long waiting times with such a full house, but the kitchen clearly runs with precision. Within 15 minutes, our meals were served—fresh, hot, and beautifully presented.

We went for their house specialty: a generous platter featuring either a piece of steak or chicken, topped with a variety of flavorful combinations. I chose the chicken version, which came topped with fresh arugula, shaved Parmesan cheeses, and a delicate layer of Parma ham. On the side, a serving of fries—real fries, made from actual potatoes, crispy on the outside and tender inside. Not the frozen kind, but the kind that makes you close your eyes with the first bite.

The dish was nothing short of extraordinary. Rich in flavor, perfectly balanced, and surprisingly huge—almost too much for one adult to finish. Thankfully, they happily offered a doggy bag so none of it went to waste.

Acholinos isn’t just another restaurant—it’s the kind of place you remember and recommend to everyone who visits the area. The food, the vibe, the people—it all comes together in a way that feels both authentic and generous.

We’ll definitely be back. And next time, we’re...

I didn’t really enjoy my experience at this restaurant. We were served fairly quickly with drinks but ordering food was very slow. It seemed that only one waitress was taking the food orders whilst the other two or three just walked around. The waitress seemed tired and fed up when she did eventually come around to take our orders. When the food did come, my empanada was nice and for dinner my partner enjoyed his burger but the chips weren’t great! I had a Milanese chicken with four cheeses but the chicken was dry and it didn’t look very appealing to eat. A shame because the restaurant is pretty and the music was good but the service and friendliness needs...

My family and I ate here twice during a recent visit to the area and we couldn't have been more pleased. The food is excellent but come with an appetite as the portion sizes are quite large and the drinks selections is great too. Not the biggest variety when it comes to food but that's ok because they do what they do very well. I opted for a simple blue cheese burger on my first visit and have to say it's the best one I have ever had anywhere. Huge bonus, they have a kids room here where they children can play while waiting for their order to arrive and to play or relax in after dinner whilst the adults have chats and a...