Alicante sits at the heart of a rice-growing region, and the local cooking reflects this. The dish to order is arroz a banda — rice cooked in fish broth, served separately from the fish itself, with alioli on the side. It is not paella but something older and arguably better. You will also find caldero, a soupier rice dish with more fish stock. The waterfront barrio of El Barrio is the most reliable area for restaurants; the streets behind the Explanada have plenty of options at all price levels.