What Spanish snack consists of fried potatoes served with a spicy tomato sauce?

Patatas bravas are fried potatoes served with a spicy tomato-based sauce.

The potatoes are usually cut into irregular cubes or chunks, fried until crisp outside, and served warm as a tapa. The bravas sauce varies considerably: many versions use paprika, chili, garlic, olive oil, and tomato, while some regional preparations use a mayonnaise-like sauce alongside the spicy sauce.

Patatas bravas are strongly associated with Madrid and are now found throughout Spain. Their name refers to the bold or fierce character of the sauce rather than to the potatoes themselves.

They are not the same as patatas a lo pobre, which are home-style potatoes cooked with ingredients such as onion and pepper. They are also different from tortilla española, the Spanish potato omelette. As a tapa, patatas bravas are commonly shared with drinks or ordered as part of a larger selection of small dishes.