If you’re heading to Madrid, Spain, and are trying to figure out what to eat in Madrid on any given day, you’re in luck because I have tried several restaurants, snacks, and places everyone should put on their list.

One thing that’s certain is that Madrid’s food is amazing! The flavors, spices, combination of ingredients, and freshness make for one fantastic mouthful after another. Even their most simple dishes are amazing.

What to Eat in Madrid, Spain? Here Are Several Things to Put on Your Food List

Knowing what to eat in Madrid is not as difficult as you might think. However, walking into any restaurant doesn’t always guarantee a tasty meal. So here are a few recommendations for your trip.

1) Churros and Chocolate

There are several Churros and Chocolate places in Madrid. But the most famous and most authentic is the one located near Plaza Mayor. It’s called Chocolateria San Gines. It’s also the most touristy, which makes it very busy.

As a Mexican American born and raised in Los Angeles, I grew up eating churros. The main difference here is that they serve their churros with a thick cup of old-fashioned hot chocolate.

The chocolate is so thick it’s basically syrup.

Make sure to dip your churro into the chocolate before every bite to experience the maximum amount of yumminess.

2) Calamari Sandwich (Bocadillo de Calamares)

A bocadillo is what the Madrileños call a sandwich made with a long baguette. So, in other words, a Bocadillo de Calamares is a calamari sandwich.

It might sound a little weird, but it’s a very simple sandwich with tons of flavor. It’s also one of the most well-known and authentic dishes you can find in Madrid. So, if you’re looking for what to eat in Madrid, this is the epitome of what you should try in this amazing city.

All it is is bread, deep-fried calamari, and that’s it. You get some tartar sauce if you’d prefer something to add to it, but just by itself is perfect. I don’t know how they’ve discovered such a simple recipe with so much flavor. If you are a seafood fan, definitely try this.

3) Wok 4 You

As I continued to explore the city, I came across a perfectly delightful Asian place called Wok 4 You III. It’s located two doors down from Room007 Chueca Hostel. They make the best noodle dishes and stir fry. I ate here about three times during this trip. I recommend getting the Korean-style stir fry. It’s tasty.

While this is not traditional Spanish food, it has become one of my favorite go-to places. It’s quick, easy, inexpensive, and tasty.

I should probably mention I feel like their hours are all over the place.

4) Cafe con Leche at Delisko

I found a restaurant with great coffee and dessert options. I’ve been here a couple of times, but it’s not my go-to coffee house.

The place is Delisko, located in a square in the main shopping district. If you want to go, it’s at Calle de Fuencarral, 43, 28004 Madrid, Spain. They have plenty of outdoor seating, which people love.

Since I often avoid people when eating out, I opted to eat indoors, which was empty compared to their outdoor seating. No one wants to be inside on a beautiful sunny day.

When coffee is something you drink two to four times a day, inevitably, you’ll end up finding some tasty cups of joe.

Now, there’s one reason I love this restaurant. I was looking for a bocadillo de calamari, which I didn’t see on the menu. But when I asked the waitress about it, she informed me that it’s not something they serve. However, the chef made it specifically for me. I felt so special. And the sandwich was FANTASTIC!

So, give them a try. They deserve it.

5) Pum Pum Cafe

Speaking of coffee. Try Pum Pum Cafe. It’s a cute, artsy coffee house with fun decorations, great coffee, and good food.

They also sell these really fun tote bags with “rude” sayings on them. But that makes it all the more fun.

6) What to Eat in Madrid Can Include Great Turkish Food

The cuisine in Madrid comes from all over the world. I ate a lot of Turkish food while here. It’s not a tradition of mine but I feel like it should be. Bosforos is a Turkish restaurant serving great donor kababs and skewer dishes into the night.

Another great thing about Bosforors is its location. It’s in the heart of Chueca and very close to Gran Via.

7) Gelato and/or Ice Cream Realness

Walking back to my hostel, I passed by a lady giving samples of ice cream. It was so good I had to buy some. Be careful, gypsies do the same thing. One tried to scam me. I thought it was another free sample of something.

Anyway, if you get the time, check out Mistura. It’s as delightful as it is cute. I had their pistachio ice cream on two different occasions. 

Mistura Ice Cream Shop is located at Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 5, 28004 Madrid, Spain.

It’s a little place, but their employees are delightful, and it gets full. Also, this place gets super busy on a hot day.

8) Cava

If you’re into liquid diets, make sure to have some Cava. Cava is Spain’s sparkling wine, or champagne, as I like to call it. Although I rarely drink these days, if there’s Cava around, I usually have a glass. And you can’t go wrong in Spain. Most of their Cava is delicious and, may I say, dirt cheap. This also goes for their wine selection. At one recent point, their wine was cheaper than buying bottled water.

9) Tortilla de Patatas

Tortilla de Patatas is not what you might think.

When I hear tortilla, I think of tacos. But this is basically an omelet made of potatoes, spices, and maybe butter? I’m not sure what the ingredients are, but it’s a traditional Spanish dish that doesn’t really look like anything special. But that’s beside the point because it’s honestly so tasty, every time I walk into a place where they have this on the menu, I have to get some.

10) Croquetas

Croquetas are traditional Spanish food as well. They are small, deep-fried, and yummy. The croquettes de jamon y queso (jam and cheese) are good, but if you get a chance, try different kinds. Most are incredible. I tried some onion and cheese croquettes that melted in your mouth. They were my favorite of all the ones I tried.

11) Glassed Toast (Pan de Cristal)

A very Spanish recipe is the Pan de Cristal (or bread of glass). This dish primarily comes from the Catalan region of Spain, but you can find it in Madrid as well.

You eat it with sourdough bread. Add butter to your toast, and rub a garlic clove on it. Then, squeeze a tomato while you rub it on your toast. What you get is toast with the essence of garlic and tomatoes. Sometimes, restaurants will pour chopped tomatoes on it, though. Either way, it’s pretty tasty.

12) Toy Panda

This Asian-inspired food joint is more of a fast-food place specializing in Bao Buns. Their meals include two baos and a drink for about 11-13 Euros. It’s so good and inexpensive.

13) Venezuelan Street Food

There are a lot of Venezuelan restaurants in town that serve incredible street food. They are worth a try. So, if you find a Venezuelan restaurant, give it a try.

One of my favorite restaurants is called QW Food Truck. They’ve decorated the interior of a restaurant to look like you’re outdoors ordering from a food truck.

The venue is very cool, covered in graffiti with tables made of taxi car parts. It’s an experience. Not to mention the food is fantastic.

14) Taberna Mas Al Sur

Taberna Mas Al Sur is a typical Spanish-style restaurant serving your favorite Spanish dishes. This place was such a good experience that I feel like I need to write one blog post about all the good things I tried while eating there.

15) A Food Hall

If you’re looking for what to eat in Madrid, don’t forget to head to a Mercado. Mercado’s are basically food halls that sell food from around the world. They may also double as markets that sell fresh meats, cheeses, bread, fruits, veggies, etc., as a traditional market would. But the food stalls are amazing and worth it. Check out this extensive blog post about Madrid food halls for more.

Let Me Break It Down For You:

What to eat in Madrid? Now, you have a list to help you know where to start. Try it all. There are so many good places in Madrid, and prices are decent for the amount of flavor in each bite.

I’d love to hear what hidden gems you recommend in the comments.

To share is to care, said the prolific writer once upon a time ago!

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