Tapas, Typical dishes and Seafood and other Madrid, Spain Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: La Trucha

I can farely say that La Trucha was part of my growing up as it is my mother's favourite and she would always bring me here. The food is excellent and I love the atmosphere: the upper street level has a bar with arched ceiling, whitewashed walls and an Andalusian tavern-like ambience; my personal favourite, perfect for a delicious tapeo. But if you're in the mood for a more proper table-sitting dinner you can also head to the downstairs dining room.

La Trucha is very well-known and reservations are recommended. Also, if this branch turns out to be too crowded, there's another Trucha at Núñez de Arce 6, Metro Sol (ph: 91-532-08-82).

Favorite Dish: The tapas in the bar are my favourite but
there is a complete a la carte menu including typical Spanish dishes and all kinds of seafood.

Here are some recommendations:
trucha (trout)
verbenas de ahumados (a selection of smoked delicacies)
fabada (stew made with beans, Galician ham, black sausage, and smoked bacon) and for the more adventurous rabo de toro (home-style oxtail)!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91-429-58-33
Address: Manuel Fernández y González 38-33
Directions: Near Plaza De Las Cortés. Metro Sevilla

Restaurant Name: Rincon de Paco

Madrid is obvioulsy full of all kinds of restaurants. Many of them actually look like they are not worth entering, like this one for example. When you do, they consist of a rectangle with four tables, a long bar, and the only people inside are a few men standing at the bar drinking beers no matter the time of day. Well, believe it or not, these are the places to find the best tapas or breakfast at dirt cheap prices. So by all means, do venture in!

Favorite Dish: The tapas are displayed at the bar, so choose what appeals to you, or better yet ask the owner, who is usually the man behind the bar, what he recommends.

As for breakfast, try the churros or the toasted 'barra' bread with a nice 'cafe con leche'.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: c/ Cartagena corner with Ascona
Directions: Salamanca district

Restaurant Name: CON DOS FOGONES

In a very warm, inviting, and colourful atmosphere, this restaurant serves dishes perfect for sharing (tapas concept) made of a mix of cuisines. In one word, fusion. Each dish is approximately 7-8 Euros.

The service is very friendly. Reservations recommended during the weekend.

Favorite Dish: The Tuna balls, the camembert salad, the coconut and ginger chicken. The menu changes daily so just pick what most appeals to you on the board!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91 559 63 26
Address: San Bernardino 9
Directions: Metro Plaza de España

Restaurant Name: Taberna de los Cien Vinos

If you are a wine lover like me, you should not miss la Taberna de los Cien Vinos. You can order by the glass from a wide selection of wonderful Spanish wines.

The restaurant is small and charming, and has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. It does have few tables so come early, or have a drink and start your tapeo at the bar.

Favorite Dish: The menu changes daily and includes raciones (tapas) which can pretty much be considered gourmet. Try whatever appeals to you, you should not go wrong as everything is excellent!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91.365.4704
Address: Nuncio 17
Directions: Metro La Latina

Restaurant Name: Maldeamores

Maldeamores serves good international and imaginative cuisine in a design and very cool setting. The atmosphere is very nice and the background music loundgy and jazzy.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91.366.55.00
Address: Don Pedro, 6
Directions: Metro: La Latina

Restaurant Name: Wok Cafe

In the heart of the trendy gay district (Chueca), the Wok Cafe is a pretty good choice if you want to eat Asian in an inviting atmosphere. The menu includes a variety of japanese, vietnamese, and thai dishes, all pretty good even if not authentic. Also, you cannot go wrong with the red dimmed decor and the pretty decent prices whether your plan is romantic or simply friendly.

Open till 2am.

Favorite Dish: The vietnamese rolls, the 'empanaditas' (asian fried raviolis) and the white chocolate cake desert =)

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 915229069
Address: c/ Infantas 44
Directions: Chueca

Restaurant Name: La Isla del Tesoro

La Isla del Tesoro is a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, ideally located in the Malasaña district, and thus perfect to start an evening of Marcha Madrileña.

Very nicely decorated with a mix and match of different styles, it has a charming and warm ambiance. The food is absolutely delicious and affordably priced: approximately 8 euros per dish.

Favorite Dish: The Wan Tons and the curry noodles.

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Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91.593.1440
Address: calle de Manuela Malasaña 3
Directions: Malasaña

Restaurant Name: El Bosque Animado

El Bosque Animado (the animated woods) is a charming restaurant in the trendy neighborhood of Chueca. It's a great place to bring a date to dinner or just have a drink before partying around Chueca. On the concept of tapas, they serve a variety of Latin American and local dishes.

When you reserve, make sure to ask for a table in the first room (shown in the pic) which is much nicer than the backroom.

Favorite Dish: the chilean empanada, the lemon chicken, the tortillas, and the patatas bravas (VERY spicy!)

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: San Marcos 8
Directions: Chueca

Restaurant Name: A few options:

Bueno, bonito y barato means good, nice and cheap. And this is a new trend which is invading Madrid as far as restaurants go: good food in a nice atmosphere and for a very decent price (count approx. 15 euros per person) Pretty cool, don't you agree?

These are a few of them:

La Finca de Susana, Arlaban 4 (Metro Sevilla)

Bazaar, Libertad 21 (Metro Chueca)

La Gloria de Montera, Caballero de Gracia 10 (Metro Sevilla)

The only catch is that you cannot make a reservation and it tends to become 'sold out' for the evening quite frequently, especially on weekends. So my tip: arrive early 20h30-21h00.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Sheng

One of the cuisine's I have missed most since I am in Madrid is authentic Asian, as in chinese, thai and vietnamese. Thankfully I have just found a pretty decent authentic Asian! Aleluyah!

They serve all japanese, chinese, thai and vietnamese specialties and main dishes in a nice modern atmosphere. The only problem is that it is not centrally located as it is near the Arturo Soria neighborhood (North East part of Madrid.)

Favorite Dish: I had the nems, the thai salad and the pad thai (lunch menu for less than 10 euros) which were all excellent.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 91.393.2962
Address: General Aranaz 65
Directions: Arturo Soria neighborhood