Food In Madrid: The Good, the Bad, the Cheap, and the Overpriced

One of the things that excites me the most about traveling and living in another country is trying new cuisine.

Before arriving to Spain, I envisioned all of Europe as a completely fabulous gourmet destination, gladly leaving behind the land of processed food. It is funny how we perceive things at times isn’t it? While there are decent places to eat in Madrid, they aren’t all amazing.

The Good and the Bad:After living in Madrid, Spain for almost six months we have tasted some wonderful Tapas and Paella. We have also had flavorless Paella and some very overcooked pasta that made Chef Boyardee seem like a five star dinner in comparison. There have been times when we have overpaid for terribly bland food with a slice of lard; literally, a slice of lard. Apparently this is something that is common in Spain, but I have not learned to love this “delicacy.” I was disheartened to learn that there are less than stellar dining establishments in Madrid.

I have fantasized about living in the heart of the city for as long as I can remember, just steps from the best restaurants and shops. Scarlett and I live in the La Latina district of Madrid and for the most part, it is fabulous! We literally get to leave work and school and come home to enjoy the views of a completely different area of the city. We can step onto the balcony at any time of day or night and smell the fantastic aromas of the many surrounding restaurants.

There is a restaurant directly across from our apartment and they have a tapas special priced at 25 Euros. That may seem like a lot of money, but it  includes tapas for two, drinks (wine, soda, etc.), dessert, and an after dinner drink. The tapas at this restaurant are some of the best that we have had in Madrid.

Lunchtime: The schools in Spain typically have a lunch break that lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. For the first couple of months when the weather wasn’t as cold, Scarlett and I would bring our lunch and sit on a park bench for the duration of our lunch period. However, as it got colder and sometimes even rainier, we really didn’t feel like sitting outside in the cold. Since we live about an hour from our schools, and she can’t sit in the teacher’s room with me, this was becoming a problem.

I Finally Found the Cheap Tapas: There is a very small shopping mall near the Metro that is about a ten minute walk from both of our schools. Luckily, we found two cafes directly across from one another inside the mall, and this is where we spend our lunches most days. There is a breakfast/lunch cafe that closes at 2 called Rechupete, and the other one has more food options and is named Rechutapas. They are owned by the same people, and we often see the staff go across the way between the two.

If we go to Rechupete, we can get bread, pate, an empanada, Nestea for Scarlett, and Cafe con Leche for me for less than 5 Euros. That is one thing I will miss about Spain; you can get pate, wine, and coffee for a fairly cheap price! We decided to try the place across the hall a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed! We get patatas mixtas (potatoes with a ranch like dressing as well as something that is very similar to tobasco), a hot dog, Nestea, and a glass of wine for only 5 Euros! Basically you can choose a drink and a food item for 2.50 Euros. I had read about the cheap tapas deals that include wine or beer, but I was beginning to assume that it was some great myth until we found this gem.

We Are Officially Regulars: When I was ordering today, the lady at the counter interrupted and said, “Nestea and vino blanca?” It made me smile that she remembers us, but I said, “No gracias. Cafe con leche por favor.” The staff is very friendly and they are patient with my broken Spanish. Yes, I have lived here for six months and I am still not fluent. Go figure!

Asian Cuisine: There are several Chinese restaurants in Madrid but it wasn’t until about three weeks ago that we decided to try one near our house. The Chinese food that we have tried has been really good. We have several Chinese restaurants within walking distance from our apartment, and it is amazing! We always get take out since we live so close. That way we can eat it like true Americans while watching Netflix. Have I mentioned how much we adore living in the city? If New York City weren’t so damn expensive, I almost have half a mind to move there when we return to the U.S.

A friend of mine who is also a language assistant, told me about this Japanese Ramen restaurant in Madrid. As it turns out, this is another restaurant that is very close to our apartment, so we decided to try it. We had to wait for about 35 to 40 minutes outside before a seat was available, but it was worth the wait. Scarlett and I both loved it and plan to go back. So far, the Asian cuisine has not let us down.

When we were out shopping one day, we saw a place called Chipstar. There was a line of people waiting for what looked to be chicken fingers and french fries. After we got our chicken fingers with fries and chose our dipping sauce, we found a spot to sit down outside. Since this is a stop and go place there isn’t available seating. Scarlett was thrilled that we finally found a place that serves good chicken fingers here in Madrid.

One of our all time favorite places to go for a quick snack is the rooftop at Corto Ingles in Callao. A friend of mine first introduced me to this place, and now it is a favorite for both me and Scarlett. The views are exquisite, and there is plenty of food to choose from.

I am thrilled that I we have found a few places that we can enjoy when we want to dine out. After attempting several restaurants that were complete disasters, I was beginning to get jaded about the food in Madrid. I even found myself saying that most of the food here sucks.

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with the negative, especially when you are in a different culture. The best advice I can give is to venture out and eventually you will find places that work for you and your taste buds.