The Spanish love their food. When they start talking about what makes their country special, its cuisine always ranks on top of the list.
Local specialities you should try on your visit to Madrid:
Albóndigas – meatballs
Boquerones fritos/en vinagre – deep fried/marinated anchovies
Café solo/cortado/con leche – espresso/espresso with a shot of milk/coffee with milk
Calamares – squid
Callos madrileños – tripe stew
Caña – a small glass of beer
Cava – Spanish sparkling wine
Chipirones – baby squid
Chorizo – paprika salami
Churros – deep fried pastry, particularly popular con chocolate i.e. dunked in hot chocolate
Cochinillo – suckling pig
Cocido madrileño – typical Madrid stew with chorizo, garbanzos (chickpeas) and vegetables
Cordero (asado) – (roast) lamb
Croquetas – fish, meat or ham croquettes
Ensaladilla – potato salad with greens (fresh or cooked) and mayonnaise (plenty of it)
Gambas al ajillo/a la plancha – prawns in garlic sauce/grilled on a hot metal plate
Horchata – refreshingly sweet drink made from ground tiger nuts
Jamón – air dried ham
Mejillones – mussels
Pulpo – octopus
Patatas bravas – fried potatoes served in a spicy tomato sauce
Queso – farmhouse cheese mostly
Tinto de verano – ‘summer wine’ a mix of half wine and half gaseosa with plenty of ice
Tortilla – Spanish potato omelette
Restaurants serving traditional Spanish cuisine:
CAFÉ DEL NUNCIO
A classic interior with a relaxed outdoor café on the steps of the Costanilla del Nuncio in the heart of La Latina. Daily 12.30pm–2.30am | Segovia 9 | Metro 5: La Latina
JULIÁN DE TOLOSA
This is one of the classics on the Cava Baja, Madrid’s restaurant mile. It is renowned for its lightly grilled Basque steaks but the seafood dishes are also excellent. Closed Sun evening | Cava Baja 18 | tel. 913 65 82 10 | en.juliandetolosa.com | Metro 5: La Latina | Expensive
MATRITUM
Not very spacious, usually packed and often noisy, yet this restaurant still manages to retain its elegance. A great selection of unusual tapas with no less than 250 wines to choose from! Closed Mon–Tue for lunch | Cava Alta 16 | tel. 913 65 82 37 | Metro 5: La Latina | Moderate
CASA MINGO
A classic that has been going strong since 1917 – their speciality is roast chicken and they are famous for their cider or sidra – on a fine day Madrid’s locals sit outside on rows of tables crammed on to the street. Daily | Paseo de la Florida 34 | no reservations | www.casamingo.es | Metro 6, 10: Príncipe Pío | Budget
LA FINCA DE SUSANA
There are always queues of people in front of this restaurant and it is no wonder because you will be hard pressed to find such value for money in an elegant setting elsewhere in Madrid. Expect everything to feel a bit rushed and chaotic – a small price to pay for a great meal. Daily | Calle Principe, 10 | no reservations | www.grupandilana.com | Metro 2: Sevilla | Budget
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