These are the seven most famous Madrid dishes and small bites; the food you simply have to try when you travel to Spain.
You can find all restaurants mentioned in this post in my Madrid city trip map.
1) Callos a la Madrileña
A visit to Madrid is not complete without trying one of their famous tripe or organ dishes (if you like those). You can try this dish at the tavern La TÃa Cebolla (and many other taverns in that area).
Callos a la Madrileña is a Madrid-style tripe stew. Delicious, but with a very strong taste. I would have loved to share this dish with someone.
2) Tapas of Jamón Ibérico and Manchego
Enjoy tapas of Jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese and olive oil at Mercado Jamón Ibérico. You can also buy some packages to take home. It is a small family-run establishment. The owners speak English very well. The quality of the products is really good. For me, this was the best tapas on my trip to Madrid; the other establishments I tried didn’t even come close.
3) Hot chocolate with churros
Many cafes in Madrid sell Hot Chocolate with Churros or Porras (‘bigger’ churros). The two most well-known shops are probably San Ginés and Los Artesanos. They’re pretty much in the same street, so you can visit the one with the shortest queue.
I chose to visit Los Artesanos because they offer a dark chocolate variant. The chocolate milk was delicious and made for a heavy morning meal that lasted me well into the afternoon.
Don’t try to visit after dinner, as the queue will be huge. 8:30 in the morning is a perfect time though: I was led to a seat immediately.
4) Rabo de Toro
Rabo de Toro is a traditional Spanish oxtail stew often served with potatoes or fries and some vegetables. Many restaurants and taverns in Madrid have successfully mastered the art of making this dish so you can take your pick in the city center. I got drawn in by the beautiful shopfront of Vulcano Brasas and chose to eat my Rabo de Toro there.
5) Tapas Basque style
On the Gran VÃa, you’ll find Txapela, a restaurant that serves Basque-style tapas. While Basque food is not necessarily something you would think of when visiting Madrid, it’s also something you can’t order anywhere in the world. Just walk in and take a seat at a table or at the bar and order the dishes that look best on the menu. Since I was traveling alone, I felt very comfortable at the bar, with a front row view of the cold tapas assortment.
6) Sandwich with Jamón Ibérico
A sandwich with Jamón Ibérico (Spanish ham) is one of those meal choices that you can smell as you stroll leisurely through the streets of Madrid. Everywhere in the tourist center of Madrid you will see shops and cafes selling this sandwich in many varieties. For example, you can buy it cold or heated, with cheese and tomatoes or without.
I originally planned to start my trip in Madrid with churros and hot chocolate, but when I saw the tiny store Bocadillos Oink (open 24/7) on Gran VÃa from the cab window, I was sold.
7) Shrimp croquettes and sangria
Every small dish sold in a tavern could have been on this 7th spot of the Madrid food list. The idea is to have a walking dinner in Madrid, eating and drinking in many different taverns such as Casa Toni, La Casa del Abuela or one of the many other taverns in Calle de la Cruz. The taverns can get crowded, so it is best to avoid meal times. Also note that many taverns close their doors in the middle of the day.
Sangria is a Spanish wine that consists of red wine, chopped fruit and some other ingredients and spirits.
