Introduced in 1817, folklore says that tortilla de patata was created by general Tomás de Zumalacárregui in order to feed his hungry army, as food supplies were scarce at the time. The key ingredients used in the dish are thinly sliced potatoes and eggs, so it is basically a very thick potato omelette that resembles a frittata when finished.
There are some regional variations that include chorizo sausage, zucchini, green bell peppers, or mushrooms, but regardless of the variations, it is often served in tapas bars, sliced or cut into small cubes and wedges, when it's called pincho de tortilla.