Madrid Must Try Dishes
A big part of a trip to Madrid is the food. Here is my list of the most famous dishes available in the city.
These are the MUST try dishes in Madrid
1. Fried Calamari Sandwich
Best places to try it:
La Campana
Bar Postas
Casa Rua
One of the most famous dishes associated with Madrid is the fried calamari sandwich, bocadillo de calamares in Spanish. Lots of battered squid rings packed into a baguette or bread roll with lemon juice or mayonnaise on top. You can get them in bars all over the city, the most well known ones being around Plaza Mayor, like La Campana and Bar Postas. Check out my list of the best places for calamari sandwiches in Madrid here.
2. Huevos Rotos
Best place to try it:
Los Huevos de Lucio
Fried potatoes or chips, with fried eggs and an additional topping like jamon iberico (ham). Other toppings include ratatouille (peppers & onions), chorizo (spicy pork sausage) or crispy bacon. The key is the runny yolks of the eggs, and to cut everything up and mix it all together. Delicious!
3. Cocido Madrileño
Best places to try it:
La Bola
Lhardy
Cocido madrileño is a hearty stew made using different meats, sausages, chickpeas and vegetables. It’s a big dish, usually eaten in winter. Two of the best restaurants serving it are La Bola, near the Royal Palace of Madrid and Lhardy, near Puerto del Sol.
4. Spanish Omelette
Best place to try it:
Casa Alberto
Tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) is a much loved dish all over Spain, and virtually all tapas bars in Madrid will serve it. It’s a thick type of omelette with, eggs, potatoes, sometimes onions, and with other fillings as well like chorizo sausage or peppers, or just left plain. The egg in the middle can be runny or more solid, depending on how its been cooked.
5. Patatas Bravas
Best places to try it:
Almost any tapas bar
Another dish famous across Spain and served all over Madrid is patatas bravas. Small fried potatoes with additional sauces aioli, a type of garlic sauce, and salsa brava. Spain don’t really do spicy food, but salsa brava is a slightly spicy sauce using tomatoes, chilli peppers and paprika.
6. Croquettes
Best places to try it:
Almost any tapas bar
This tapas dish is a type of dumpling, with a filling, breaded and fried. Not unique to Madrid, you’ll find them across Spain, but you’ll certainly find some of the best in the tapas bars and restaurants of Madrid. Fillings can be varied, from chicken, mushrooms to beef. But the most popular by far is ham.
7. Cured Meats
Best place to try it:
Alimentacion Quiroga
A selection of Spanish cold meats is the perfect way to start a meal, or enjoyed on it’s own with a glass of wine. There are a number of products available, mainly pork, like salchichón, lomo, jamon iberico de bellota and many more. These meats are created by smoking, drying or cooking them.
8. Churros with Chocolate
Best places to try it:
Chocolatería San Gines
Chocolatería 1902
A type of pastry similar to a doughnut using unsweetened dough, deep fried and then sprinkled with sugar. Accompanied with a cup of hot thick chocolate sauce, dark or milk, for dipping. Usually eaten at breakfast time, but served all through out the day. There are a number of chocolaterias in central Madrid that have been open for over 120 years. The most famous of those being Chocolatería San Ginés and Chocolatería 1902.
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See my full list of the other best restaurants in Madrid here.