Mugardos is famous for its traditional cuisine of high quality products and a wide range of sea products. The octopus is the undisputed star of the menu.

The coastal town of Mugardos has been devoted to fishing this precious mollusc. In the inland fairs of Galicia, the octopus most in demand is that of Mugardos, due to the high quality of the product and also to the unique way of cooking it, different from the rest of Galicia. Octopus cooked in the mugarsesa style is world famous. It is cooked in sea water until tender, then cut into pieces and added to the frying pan. A sauce with olive oil, finely-chopped onion and sweet paprika is prepared. It is served with “cachelos” (potatoes boiled with the skin).

The Festa do Polbo de Mugardos, listed as National Tourist Interest in Galicia, takes place on the second Saturday of July.