Food Chronicles

10 Best Things to Eat in Madrid

A local favorite that can be found at tapas bars around Madrid. These calamari sandwiches may seem like nothing extraordinary, they are actually packed with flavor and delectable textures from the frying and from the crusty bread. A must order, especially when you are hungry.

Quintessential Bites, Best Food in Madrid


Note on June 8, 2022:
Memories on a Monday. This article was originally published on July 22, 2018. Spain is one of the best food destinations in the world, and Madrid is the epicenter of it all. Everything morsel of this Top 10 list is still the Best Things to Eat in Madrid right now.

 

Madrid is a city overflowing with amazing food to eat. Here are 10 of the best food in Madrid right now:

 

1. Porras con Chocolate

Most travelers to Spain know to try churros con chocolate. Insiders know that porras con chocolate can be even more delicious! Discover it on your own or join a neighborhood food tour that starts with these amazingly hot, fluffy, chewy fried dough dipped in dark chocolate. Read more about the neighborhood food tour here.

 

2. Tortilla

Easily the best tortilla in Madrid. There are countless versions, and yet Casa Dani in the Mercado de la Paz stands out as the best because of how it perfects each detail in the tortilla. It’s no wonder there is always a massive crowd for lunch every day.

 

3. Champiñones

A tapas crawl essential. These piping hot mushrooms are packed with so much flavor. You can learn how to properly eat them on the Devour Tours evening tapas tour in which you learn about amazing places to have the best tapas. Read about the tapas, taverns, and history tour here.

 

4. Patatas Bravas

A classic Spanish dish cooked with Japanese inspired on a yakitori grill. Grilling the potatoes enhances the depth of flavor of the potato, making this such a satisfying and memorable plate of patatas bravas. Read more about this dish and more at Yakitoro here.

 

5. Bocadillo de Calamares

A local favorite that can be found at tapas bars around Madrid. These calamari sandwiches may seem like nothing extraordinary, they are actually packed with flavor and delectable textures from the frying and from the crusty bread. A must order, especially when you are hungry.

 

6. Regalitos de Torito

This is seriously one of the best bites you will have in Madrid. First, the textures from the crunchy pastry dough wrapped around the succulently roasted oxtail. Then, of course, there’s that deep roasted flavor from the oxtail complemented with the sweetness of the grilled pepper and balsamic reduction sauce. You can order the ration of 4 pieces or a tapas of 2 pieces. Read more about the regalitos here.

 

7. Pisto Manchego

Seemingly a simple dish that is just meant to fill your stomach with potatoes. Not at all. This dish has a complexity of flavors from the pisto, an umaminess from the fried egg, and the contrasting textures from the fried potatoes. So incredibly delicious and satisfying. This dish can also be tasted during the tapas tour – read about it here. 

 

8. Paella (made by you in a cooking class!)

Learn how to make an amazing pan of paella that tastes incredibly delicious on your first try. Cooking Point is a quality cooking school in Madrid for tourists that teaches you how easy it can be to make paella at home. Read more about Cooking Point’s paella class here.

 

9. Paella al Horno

The best paella in town. Rocacho specializes in grilled seafood and meat as well as amazing paella and arroz that is quite possibly the best in Madrid. Read more about the paella in Rocacho Madrid here.

 

10. Tinto Verano

The drink of summer. While tourists indulge in sangria, locals sip a lighter and more refreshing version called Tinto Verano simply made of red wine and gaseosa (a slightly sweetened soda water, but not as sweet as Sprite). It’s perfect on those hot Iberian summer days and while feasting during a tapas crawl.

 

Read more about Spanish Tortillas

Spanish Tortilla Recipe: Trials, Errors, and Getting It Right
Spanish Tortilla History: Tales of Spain’s National Dish
5 of the Best Food Markets and Food Halls in Madrid
Discovering and Tasting Logrono, Spain
 

Read more about Tapas:

Tapas History: A Timeline of All the Theories
Patatas Bravas: Food History of Today’s Famous Tapa
Spanish Tortilla History: Tales of Spain’s National Dish
Tinto Verano: Origins & How to Order It Today
5 of the Best Food Markets and Food Halls in Madrid
Mercado de San Miguel
Platea Madrid
Mercado San Antón
Discovering and Tasting Logroño, Spain
Tasting and Exploring San Sebastián, Spain
Eating the Best Tapas in Taverns and Learning About History in Madrid
Huertas Neighborhood & Food Market Tour
Devour Madrid Food Tours
Dining in Yakitoro – One of Madrid’s Most Vibrant Restaurants
Bodegas Tio Pepe, Jerez Spain
Mushroom Recipe: Spanish-Inspired Oven-Roasted Champiñones
Spanish Tortilla Recipe: Trials, Errors, and Getting It Right
Tinto Verano Recipe, aka How to Day Drink at Home
Learn How to Cook Paella in Madrid
 
 

 
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to hotel booking sites. With no additional cost to you, your bookings earn me a commission if you click on the links via my website – Thank you!

Sign up for my newsletter on the sidebar for blog updates and my travel insider tips! And, check out my vlogs on YouTube!

Angela

Share
Published by
Angela
Tags MadridSpain
3 years ago

Recent Posts

Puto History: Origins of the Name & More

All About the Filipino Rice Cake. Puto is a classic Filipino merienda food that can…

3 days ago

Luxury Hotel Review: InterContinental Koh Samui’s Beachfront Resort

Originally published September 2017 Complete luxury at the InterContinental Koh Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort…

5 days ago

Tinto Verano: Origins & How to Order It Today

Red Wine of Summer. Tinto de Verano, or also seen in Spanish menus as Tinto…

1 week ago

3 Reasons to Stay at InterContinental Osaka’s Residential Suites

Making the Most of Your Stay in Japan Japan is a destination for non-stop eating.…

2 weeks ago

Spring Rolls History: A Celebration of the Season

Originally posted April 19, 2021 Reposted March 21, 2023 How the Spring Roll Evolved in…

2 weeks ago

Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu in Hamamatsu, A Luxury Ryokan

Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu: A Luxury Retreat in Shizuoka Ryokans are a uniquely Japanese experience…

3 weeks ago