The soul of Madrid is in its food. Whether in tapas bars, markets, cafés or Michelin-starred restaurants, food is the centerpiece of Madrid life!

Here, like in most of Spain, recipes are ingredient driven: excellent products simply prepared with great love and care. Whether it's a perfectly grilled fish, a sizzling steak cooked rare and served with crunchy fried potatoes or even the humble tortilla, Spanish cuisine is all about letting excellent seasonal ingredients shine.

Sharing delicious dishes made from seasonal ingredients is what eating in Madrid is all about!

To choose just a handful of dishes that represent the best food in Madrid is a nearly impossible feat. But after more than a decade of delicious research, here are the 8 dishes that top our list of the best food in Madrid and the bars and restaurants that do them best!

Tortilla - Spanish Omelet

What is Tortilla Española?

While paella is often considered Spain’s national dish, we’d argue that the real national dish is Tortilla Española aka Spanish omelet! Tortilla is a perfect example of Spanish cuisine. Three everyday ingredients (potatoes, eggs and sometimes onions) are combined to become more than the sum of their parts. Tortilla definitely tops our list for the best food in Madrid!

This seemingly simple dish can be found in almost every bar in the city and each will make it a bit differently. There is much debate about the perfect Spanish omelet: should it be firm or runny? With onions or without? Often, the tortilla is out on display on top of the bar so you can see what style you’ll get before you order it!

So how do you make a Spanish tortilla? It’s a simple recipe: potatoes, eggs, salt and sometimes onions. First fry the potatoes (and onions if you're using them) in olive oil at a low temperature until they are soft and just cooked through, but not crunchy or golden. Once you can easily break the potato apart with a fork, remove them from the oil and mix them into salted, beaten eggs.

Finally, pour the potato and egg mix back into the skillet. This is when the magic happens! When the eggs are mostly set, it’s time for the flip. For most at-home chefs that means placing a large plate on top of the skillet and flipping the half-cooked tortilla out onto the plate. Then just slide the tortilla back into the frying pan to cook the other side. This delicate dance is difficult to master but key to a great tortilla!

Where to Eat Tortilla in Madrid

Casa Dani - €

Casa Dani is the crown jewel of Mercado de la Paz, a fantastic traditional fresh foods market in the neighborhood of Salamanca. In 2019, Casa Dani won the ‘National Tortilla Championship’, a fierce competition that is held throughout Spain to crown one restaurant with the coveted title of Best Tortilla in Spain.

Casa Dani’s original location is inside the market and is always packed. Be prepared to wait in line for a table or a spot at the bar. However, the tortilla is well worth the wait! They also have two locations outside of the market, one with outdoor seating just in front of the market entrance and the second more in the style of a tapas bar which is around the corner from the main market entrance. You can also pick up your tortilla to go!

Pez Tortilla - €

Pez Tortilla has become so popular since it first opened on Calle Pez in the Malasaña neighborhood, that they’ve opened two additional locations. All three are always packed for one simple reason: the tortilla!

They offer many different tortilla options: the traditional egg-and-potato-only option as well as tortilla with caramelized onions. Then they branch off into wildly unique and delicious flavors, like brie, trufa and jamón (brie, truffle and ham) or queso de cabra, tomato confitado and berros (goat cheese, confit tomatoes and watercress).

Bodegas el Maño - €€

Having first opened in 1927 the restaurant itself is stunning, with a beautiful tile floor and marble bar where you can sit and enjoy your drinks and tapas. Nearly 100 years ago, when Maño first opened, it was a neighborhood wine shop that sold wine in bulk. Like most of the great tapas bars in Madrid, it slowly evolved to serve small bites that people could nibble on while they tried the wine they were buying.

Nowadays, the menu features all of the Spanish classics, including tortilla. Their tortilla is made following the traditional recipe with just three ingredients: eggs, potatoes and salt. Here in Bodegas el Maño, though, they really make the ingredients sing. Step back in time to Bodegas el Maño, enjoy a cold tap beer and some tortilla in the fantastic atmosphere of a restaurant that’s been operating for almost a century!

Bodega de La Ardosa - €

Bodega de La Ardosa got its start all the way back in 1892. Today, it is a small bar, furnished with only a few barrels serving as tables. The wooden bar, tiled walls, and floor-to-ceiling shelves of vintage beer and spirit bottles transport you to a different era, creating an authentic place to enjoy a drink and a tapa. The tapa we’d recommend is, of course, their famous tortilla!

The Best Way to Eat Tortilla in Madrid

Tortilla can be eaten at any time of the day. It is most popularly a dinner food. Yes, eggs are for dinner here in Spain! You’ll also occasionally see people eating tortilla with their coffee and a piece of bread in the morning for breakfast or as a midmorning snack around noon. Later in the evening, tortilla is a very common tapa to enjoy at a tapas bar. The best drink to pair with tortilla is a “caña” of Mahou, aka a small glass of the local lager beer, and a piece of bread.

2. Gambas al Ajillo - Garlic Shrimp

What are gambas al ajillo?

Gambas al Ajillo or garlic shrimp, is a classic example of taking high quality ingredients and letting them shine through a simple recipe. To make this dish, you heat olive oil with lots of garlic, parsley and chili in a small clay dish over a very hot flame. Then add the shrimp for just a few seconds before the whole sizzling concoction is brought to your table. The key to great garlic shrimp is the clay dish, it retains that heat so that the shrimp cook perfectly!

The recipe for this famous Spanish tapa goes all the way back to the Spanish Civil War. Just after the war, in the 1940s, there were constant food shortages in Madrid. One of the only things that was plentiful and affordable at the time was tiny shrimp. After some trial and error, this delicious recipe was created as an easy way to enjoy itsy bitsy shrimp! After its creation, gambas al ajillo quickly became a classic offering on any great tapas menu and what we would absolutely consider one of the best foods in Madrid! It is often no longer made with tiny salad shrimp but instead features Spain’s prized langostines, a much larger and plumper type of shirmp.

Sizzling garlic shrimp aka gambas al ajillo is one of the most delicious things you can eat in Madrid! Don’t forget to dip your bread in that glorious garlicky olive oil at the end.

Where to eat Gambas al Ajillo in Madrid

Rio Miño - €€

Rio Miño is a Galician-style restaurant in the Conde Duque neighborhood, just north of Plaza de España. This restaurant was founded in 1967 by two friends from northwestern Spain who wanted to bring the greatest ingredients from their home region to the capital. The result is classic Spanish mar y montaña - surf and turf - done right!

Galicia is famous for seafood harvested from the frigid Atlantic waters just off its coast as well as free range beef from the vaca rubia breed that grazes on the region’s green rolling hills. Those are the two specialties at Rio Miño! Their sizzling garlic shrimp are some of the best in town.

If you want to try this super authentic Spanish surf and turf restaurant, join us on our De Tapas in Malasaña experience!

Casa del Abuelo - €€

When talking about gambas al ajillo, it’s impossible to not mention Casa del Abuelo. This restaurant opened in 1906 and is easily the most famous spot in town to get this classic tapa. There are a couple of different locations throughout the city center, with four restaurants all clustered around the original standing-room-only bar on Calle Victoria.

The original bar maintains its historic charm with tiled walls, no chairs and an open kitchen where you can watch your shrimp being prepared to order. The shrimp are served in a clay bowl, which ensures they are perfectly cooked and also that they stay sizzling as you enjoy every bite. Be sure to get some bread to dip in the garlic oil once you’ve finished your shrimp!

Casa de Diego - €€

Casa de Diego is located close to the Prado Museum in the Literary Quarter. This cozy restaurant is named after one of the owner’s grandfather- Diego. The photos displayed on the walls here are old photos of the owners’ families! Each photo shows an important family event that was celebrated with food and wine – from weddings to baptisms to birthdays. At Casa de Diego, they want you to feel like family. This is like walking into your Spanish grandma’s house!

Whether it is a group of businessmen in suits closing a deal over a pot of seafood rice or a group of retired grandmas gossiping over their afternoon coffee, this space is woven into the fabric of the neighborhood. This restaurant is decorated in classic 1920s Spain style and holds onto traditional flavors, serving some of the best food in Madrid. They serve gambas al ajillo two ways: traditionally in their piping-hot clay dish but also folded into croquetas. The crisp outer shell of a croquette and all the fantastic flavors of the garlic shrimp on the inside make this one of the most unique and delicious ways to try gambas al ajillo in Madrid!

The Best Way to Eat Garlic Shrimp

One of the most important pairings with garlic shrimp is bread. A piece of bread – or five! – is an absolute must-have to sop up every last drop of the garlicky oil. Gambas al ajillo are always served as a ración – aka sharing plate – meaning they are meant to be shared family style!

3. Croquetas - Croquettes

What are Spanish croquetas?

Croquetas are the apex of leftover perfection. This simple dish transforms leftovers into crispy, savory bites that serve as the ultimate comfort food for many Madrileños. They are without a doubt one of the best foods in Madrid!

To make croquetas, you have to first make a bechamel sauce from flour, butter and milk. Then chop up your leftover meat, cured ham, cheese or veggies and stir them into the sauce. Finally, you roll the cooled bechamel into balls, cover them with breadcrumbs and deep fry them in olive oil. It’s crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside!

Classic croquetas have cured ham, slow-stewed beef and pork, maybe a bit of blue cheese or some mushrooms. Usually it’s just one or two ingredients. In Madrid, the three most popular versions are jamón (ham), boletus (mushroom) and bacalao (cod).

One of the most popular types of croquetas are made with cured Iberian ham! These beauties from Casa Macareno may just be the best croquetas in Madrid.

Where to eat croquetas in Madrid

Casa Julio - €

Casa Julio is a bustling bar that will draw you in with its bright red doors. It first opened in 1921 and maintains much of its original charm. The bar is small with only a few tables, so don’t be shy about squeezing straight up to the bar to enjoy your croquetas while standing. The walls are decorated with photos from the past, so you can see the journey this small bar has taken to get to where it is today and all the people who helped make it so.

Casa Julio’s claim to fame is croquetas. While they do serve other dishes, most people come just for the croquetas. They have many different types. The setas con puerros (mushroom and leek) option is simply delicious, but you can't go wrong with any of them. Take one bite of these crispy and creamy delights and you will struggle not to order another round!

Bodegas Rivas - €

Bodegas Rivas is a Malasaña standard; it’s been serving drinks and tapas to neighborhood folks and weekend revelers since the 1920s. To this day it is still a neighborhood hangout for dinner and drinks or a few beers before a show at one of the concert venues in the area.

Bodegas Rivas showcases traditional Spanish cuisine with some modern touches. The chef, Arturo, is originally from Mexico and he wanted to update the ultimate Spanish comfort food, croquetas, to include his comfort food: tacos. So he brought a bit of Mexican flare to his croquetas! The star croquetas at Bodegas Rivas are filled with cochinita pibil, slow stewed and shredded Mexican-style pork.

B13 - €

Spain is a meat-lovers paradise, but there are many places that offer vegetarian delights. B13 is just such a place! It is located on the border of the Chueca and Sol neighborhoods. They serve two types of croquetas: pumpkin and leek or mushroom with garlic. Both options are fabulous, so get a mix of the two! It is a very simple bar, with no fuss or frills. The staff are helpful and attentive. Even if you have to wait a bit for a table, your food will be served quickly and even non-vegans are sure to love every bite!

If you are looking for more vegan or vegetarian options be sure to check out our recommendations for the Best Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Madrid!

The Best Way to Eat Croquetas

Croquetas are hands down one of the best foods in Madrid. They are served in two ways: either as shared plates found under "raciones" on the menu or individually. Be sure to check the menu to see if you are getting just one or a whole plate to share.

An insider tip: the uglier the croqueta the better! If you see plates of perfectly shaped, identical croquetas, run away! Those perfect croquettes are likely industrially made. A plate of uniquely shaped croquetas is a sure sign that they are homemade.

4. Huevos Rotos - “Broken” Eggs with Potatoes

What are Huevos Rotos?

Huevos Rotos are a fantastic sharing plate that is typically made of crispy fried potatoes topped with fried eggs. Along with the eggs, you can get slices of cured Iberian ham, smokey chistorra or chorizo sausage or even green padrón peppers.

The key to huevos rotos is in breaking the egg yokes! The dish literally translates to “broken eggs”. As soon as the plate hits your table (or your corner of the bar!) be sure to break the egg yolks with a fork and knife, slice up the eggs and mix the whole fried pile of goodness together. The yolk acts as a kind of sauce that ties the whole dish together!

It is an honor to break the yolks on huevos rotos! This fried egg and potato dish is a staple of the Madrid tapas cannon.

Where to eat Huevos Rotos in Madrid

Taberna de los Huevos de Lucio - €€

Huevos de Lucio is located on Madrid’s famous tapas street, Cava Baja, in the neighborhood of La Latina. This restaurant serves “fast food from the 17th century”. With “huevos” aka eggs in the name of the restaurant it is obvious that the star on their menu is eggs! Here they call them “huevos estrellados” or “exploding eggs” and they offer four varieties: the classic option with just eggs and potatoes, chistorra (spicy pork sausage), beicon (bacon), and pisto (stewed vegetables).

Taberna Carmencita - €€

Taberna Carmencita in the Chueca neighborhood is a stunning bar with tile-lined walls. The bar is more than 150 years old and the history is evident the second you step inside. Rumor has it that the great Spanish painter Goya used to wash dishes here!

What makes the huevos rotos here so special is that they are made with free range eggs and organic produce. At Taberna Carmencita they don’t refer to them as “huevos rotos” but instead as “huevos fritos” or fried eggs. There are four options for toppings: fried chorizo, black pudding aka blood sausage, jamón, or all three!

The Best Way to Eat Huevos Rotos

Huevos Rotos are a classic dinner dish here in Madrid. As with most dishes in a tapas bar, they are meant to be shared. Grab a fork, cut up the egg, mix it all together, and enjoy!

5. Bocadillo de Calamares - Calamari Sandwich

What is a bocadillo de calamares?

A calamari sandwich, or bocadillo de calamares, is Madrid’s most iconic sandwich! These delicious sandwiches are as straightforward as they come: rings of fried calamari stuffed into a baguette.

It may seem a bit odd that the most famous sandwich in Madrid is filled with seafood in a city that is at least 4 hours from the sea, but Madrid actually has the second largest seafood market in the world after Tokyo! Seafood is a huge part of the diet here and the highway system is even designed to get fresh seafood from Spain’s coast to the capital as quickly as possible. With a city of seafood lovers it is easy to see why the bocadillo de calamares is one of the best foods in Madrid!

The most classic way to enjoy a bocadillo de calamares is to take it into Plaza Mayor. This sandwich is one of the only foods you’ll ever see a Madrileño eating out on the streets! Here’s a pro-tip: while the sandwich is tasty in its traditional form (just calamari on bread), we recommend asking for a bit of bravas sauce (a slightly spicy red sauce) or a lemon to jazz things up a bit!

Where to eat a Bocadillo de Calamares in Madrid

La Campana - €

This bar is almost synonymous with calamari sandwiches in Madrid. Located just off Plaza Mayor, La Campana is a tiny bar that is busy from opening to closing with both locals and visitors alike lining up for their classic Madrid sandwich.

If you’re up for eating your sandwich out in the plaza, join the line that often snakes out the door and down the street. If you’d rather wait for a seat at one of the handful of tables, enter to the left of the bar, find a waiter and ask to be added to the waiting list for a table.

Bar Postas - €

On the other side of Plaza Mayor from La Campana is its rival bocadillo de calamares spot, Bar Postas. Squeeze right up to the bar, order your bocadillo (and perhaps a caña of beer to wash it down). If you can manage a spot close to the bar, you can watch the sandwiches being prepared behind the counter. The sheer speed and number of sandwiches they make is incredible to watch!

Cantina Singular - €€

For a modern take on this classic sandwich, head up to the Malasaña neighborhood. At Cantina Singular, owner Patri has given the old school bocadillo a trendy face lift. She serves her fried calamari in a bao bun topped with homemade lime mayo. While we are all for tradition, this fusion-style calamari bao is without a doubt one of the best sandwiches in Madrid!

The Best Way to Eat a Calamari Sandwich in Madrid

Like many Spanish snacks, the most popular way to enjoy this sandwich is with a cerveza. Don’t worry though, if beer is not your thing the calamari sandwich is just as great with any cold drink!

6. Cocido - Madrid’s Famous 3-Course Stew

What is Cocido?

Cocido is a Madrid classic. This hearty stew is thought to have its origins from a Jewish vegetable-and-lamb stew called “adafina”, which was eaten on Shabat in the Middle Ages. Nowadays, cocido features just about every meat except lamb!

Madrid’s cocido is served in three parts, or “vuelcos” as the Madrileños call them. First up is a bowl of rich, flavorful caldo (broth) with short noodles. Next comes the chickpeas along with vegetables like potatoes, carrots and cabbage. The third course is the meat. Expect large platters heaped with chorizo, blood sausage, beef shoulder, pork belly, chicken thighs and pork shoulder. Cocido is the perfect long lunch experience during the colder months in Madrid as it is sure to fight off the chill from the winter days.

The Cocido Madrileño is a true winter feast! With all of these dishes included in a cocido for 2 people, how could this not be one of the best foods in Madrid!?

Where to eat cocido in Madrid

Taberna La Bola - €€

Located very close to Madrid’s Royal Palace, Taberna La Bola has been serving its famous cocido to everyone from construction workers to the royal family for more than a century. This restaurant opened in 1870 and four generations later the cocido recipe remains the same.

Here the cocido is cooked in individual ceramic pots over oak charcoal to add a smoky, rich flavor. They serve it with all the traditional toppings like pickled piparra peppers, spring onion and grated tomato.

Taberna La Bola is a museum of its past, decorated with photos and trinkets left by those who have loved its food for more than a century. One of the most famous fans of Taberna La Bola was Infanta Isabel, a Spanish princess at the end of the 20th century. However, the restaurant at the time was very small, with just one dining room, so she ordered the famous cocido be served to her in the palace. Reportedly you can find different things in the restaurant’s “museum” dedicated to her!

Malacatín - €€

Found in the neighborhood of La Latina, Malacatín is currently run by the fourth generation of the Díaz family. The current owner’s great grandfather, Julian, came to Madrid in the late 1800s from the northern Spanish village of Cuenca looking for work. He found a job as a store clerk in a shop that would, decades later, become one of the most famous cocido spots in Madrid. After the shop owner’s death, Julian inherited the space opened a small bar called “Vinos Díaz”.

Julian’s wife was an excellent cook and had a great recipe for cocido. They added her homemade cocido to the menu more than 100 years ago and it has been a hit ever since! The recipe has been handed down over the generations with only small changes, like the addition of chorizo and black pudding. The heart of the stew remains the same!

Posada de la Villa - €€

Posada de la Villa is one of the oldest restaurants in Madrid. It first opened as a traveler’s inn back in 1642 and has been serving classic stews and roasted meats ever since! Posada de la Villa is known for its cocido, which it slowly stews in beautiful clay pots over open fires. Make sure to make a reservation online before you go and request the cocido. The stew is a labor of love and they need advance notice so they have time to prepare it properly!

Throughout the course of its history, many famous and important people have visited this place. While you’re there, take a look at the back of your chair to see what name is written there. You might just see a name you recognize!

The Best Way to Eat Cocido

Cocido is fantastic to enjoy during the long Madrid lunch time during the colder months. To many Madrileños, the true mark of a great cocido is if you need a siesta afterwards! For the full cocido experience, spend a couple of hours with good company, some crispy bread, a bottle of wine and this comforting stew. If you don’t have 3 hours to spend on lunch, look for cocido on the daily lunch menu at many informal restaurants. During the colder months (November - February) cocido is often served on the lunch menu every Wednesday.

7. Churros

What are churros?

Churros in Madrid are a bit different than you may have tried in other countries. This simple fried dough is made from flour, water and salt so the churro itself is not sweet. All of the sweetness comes from the thick hot chocolate you dip it in!

Like many traditional Spanish dishes the origins of churros are unknown as they have been interwoven into the country's food scene for centuries. There are theories that Spanish churros are descendants from the Chinese breakfast “youtiao”, a fried dough stick that is typically dipped in soy milk or milk with sugar.

Another theory is that churros were invented by Spanish shepherds, who were unable to bake bread out in the fields but needed an easy and filling food to eat while they worked. They earned the name churros from the breed of sheep the shepherds were taking care of, churras, as the shape was emblematic of their horns.

Whatever their origins, churros and hot chocolate are absolutely one of the best foods in Madrid to try while you’re here!

Churros in Madrid are thin, crunchy and best dipped into a cup of thick hot chocolate!

Where to eat churros in Madrid

Churrería Madrid 1883 - €

Tucked away on Calle Espiritu Santo in the Malasaña neighborhood you can find Churrería Madrid 1883. Like its name says, this churrería, or churro café, was opened in 1883. It’s been run by only two families ever since! The current owners, Carlos and Teresa, brought the first modern touches to the churro-making process, like the free-standing funnels they use to squeeze the dough into the frier. Carlos’s father used to hold a funnel right over the oil by hand!

Be sure to try the crispy churros and also the local Madrid version called porras. Porras have a bit more water and a touch of baking soda added to the dough which makes them thicker and puffier (and better for soaking up more chocolate!).

San Ginés - €

It is impossible to talk about churros in Madrid without talking about San Gines. This is the most famous churrería in town. They’ve been serving churros and hot chocolate since 1894. The original San Gines is between the Sol and Opera plazas, right behind the Iglesia de San Gines which gives the café its name. This is a perfect snack stop when exploring the city center!

Bar Chocolat - €

For chocolate lovers, Bar Chocolat is a must. It is located in the Literary Quarter, close to the beautiful Retiro Park. It opened as a churro-and-chocolate lovers’ paradise in 2003. Although this is a newer churro place, its chocolate is what sets it apart! It has less sugar but lots of cocoa, making it extra rich. They offer lactose free, gluten free and sugar free options as well!

The Best Way to Eat Churros in Madrid

Churros are a typical breakfast food in Madrid, especially on the weekends. However, people will also enjoy churros as an afternoon snack around 5:00 pm. Regardless of the time, the best thing to pair with churros (besides the obligatory hot chocolate) is a coffee. Whether you like a cafe con leche (latte), cortado (espresso with milk) or a cafe americano (black coffee), churros are almost as good dipped in coffee as they are in chocolate!

8. Best Food in Madrid - International Version

Our Favorite International Cuisine in Madrid

One of the greatest things about Madrid is that it truly is an international city with immigrants from all over the world calling this incredible city home. From Mexican to Korean to Venezuelan to Indian, Madrid has spectacular international cuisine. Here are a few of our favorite places to eat some of the best international food in Madrid.

Sichuan Kitchen - €

Sichuan Kitchen is tucked right behind Plaza de España. Sichuan is a province in Western China and the delicious recipes that come from this region feature the unique sichuan pepper. Besides being flavorful, these peppers also leave a subtle numbing sensation on your tongue!

Some of our favorite dishes at Sichuan Kitchen are the sauteed eggplant, the spiced cold cucumber salad and the spicy wonton soup. Finish off your meal with one of their desserts, like their tang yuan, a traditional Chinese dessert of rice shaped into small balls served in a sweet, syrupy sauce.

Sichuan Kitchen’s sauteed eggplant is one of the tastiest international foods in Madrid!

Maria Bonita Río Taco Bar - €

Maria Bonita Río Taco Bar is a Mexican restaurant located between the Toledo and Praga bridges along the Manzanares River in the southern part of Madrid. Known for their fantastic tacos and wide range of cocktails, this is a perfect place to grab a bite next to Madrid’s beautiful river park. On the weekends they often serve their specialty pozole, a hearty Mexican stew. Finish off your meal with one of their desserts like tres leches cake or their chocolate lava cake.

Dimibang - €€

Dimibang, located in the Chamberí neighborhood, is one of the best restaurants in Madrid for Korean barbecue. While they serve many classic dishes like kimchi and bibimbap, their specialty is their barbecue. You can choose between different meats which come with many different sides. You cook the thinly sliced meat over the tableside barbecue and assemble it into a lettuce wrap.

If this is your first attempt at Korean barbeque, the staff here are fantastic and will happily demonstrate the correct way to cook and create your wrap!

Mo de Movimiento - €€

Mo de Movimiento opened in 2020 in the Rias Rosas neighborhood and has quickly become the gold standard for sustainability in the Madrid restaurant scene. The open, modern restaurant space is built into an old theater, most of the furniture is made from recycled building materials and sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do.

Here the specialty is pizza, which they cook in a woodfire oven. Most of their ingredients are sourced locally and, when possible, are organic. It is a perfect blend of great food and a modern atmosphere!

Indian Accent - €€

For some of the best curry in Madrid, head to Indian Accent! This no frills restaurant is just a block off of Gran Via. At lunch they offer a menu of the day featuring starters like onion bhaji or samosas followed by a curry with rice and naan and a mango lassi for dessert. In the evenings they serve a wide variety of classic curries. Be sure to try the bhindi bhaji aka curried okra!

Ají Dulce la Taguara - €€

Ají Dulce la Taguara, located inside the Mercado de Maravillas, specializes in Venezuelan food and is always buzzing! Some of their specialties include hot and cheesy tequeños, sancocho (a hearty soup served with rice on the side) and cachapas, which are made from pureed corn kernels that are cooked in a way that is similar to a pancake!

If you’re looking for even more fantastic foods to try in Madrid, join us on one of our food tours! Our daytime De Mercados: Neighborhood Market and Tapas Experience takes you into a traditional market to learn the building blocks of Spanish cuisine while our evening De Tapas in Malasaña: Evening Wine and Tapas Tour takes you out for an authentic evening of tapas and wine! Check availability and reserve your spot here: Walk and Eat Booking Calendar

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Tortilla - Spanish Omelet