Some of the most memorable meals I have ever had have been in Northern Spain in general and on the Camino in particular. However, almost none of them have been the typical Pilgrim's Meal. There are many options..... go to local shops and ask "what cheese is local and good?" Order off the menu instead of the typical Pilgrims Meal. Take a few (hundred) steps off the path and look for a restaurant filled with
local people. Research specialties of each area; I did a post highlighting some of these here:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/good-restaurants.5733/#post-102864.
I had a great 7-course meal in Leon for 38 Euros. Amazing octopus in Galicia. Stunning milk-fed lamb in Burgos. Wonderful farmstead cheese in La Rioja. A farm-fresh meal in which almost everything was grown by the family at a Casa Rural. Amazing Pimientos de Padrón in Galicia. Pinxos (tapas) in Pamplona and Logroño were to die for (see
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/best-tapa-in-spain.6603/). The area near San Sabastian (on the Camino del Norte) has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other are in world. Good food is available everywhere in Spain.
One thing to remember.... In the U.S., we spend the lowest percentage of our income of any country in the world. We have
cheap food (and policies), rather than
good food. The typical Pilgrim's meal is filling and a decent value, but not the best of Spain. If you want good food, you have to pay for it. This is something that it seems many Peregrinos are unwilling to do.