I've been to Madrid twice and I make this place a priority stop. Most of all I've come to very much…read moreenjoy the people here, who are very warm and friendly to English speaking travelers. The owner, Pepa, is a terrific host and charming enough to share a conversation. For a fairly new business I have to say so far so good! The food has been nothing but delicious. I've had the lunch specials, the wings, the carne grande, and the burger-- all of which I would recommend. They have a pretty stocked bar and I enjoy the personal stories as George, a character filled Bulgarian bartender, as he brings the bottle to my table and performs the mixology for me. They just need a little bourbon for this Kentucky native :) As you may be able to tell, I am very happy with this hidden gem. I want these people to do well so please make a stop if you are near. This cafe has a lot of heart. Salud!!

Aunque vimos unos platos de comida puertorriqueña que se veían deliciosos, no teníamos mucha…read morehambre. Así que pedimos pocas cosas. El mofongo es algo que no a todos les queda bien y ese estaba delicioso, también el pulpo a la plancha nos encantó. El servicio fue excelente tanto por parte del mesero como de la dueña del restaurante.

Was EXCELLENT! The staff was wonderful and kind. We were so well taken care of !…read more Mahalo

My favorite meal/experience during our visit to the wonderful city of Madrid. Many reviews highly…read morepraised the tapas so we decided to see if we could get in. As foreigners, we arrived earlier than the locals which worked out well. By the time we finished there was a crowd waiting outside. We loved the casual atmosphere and the elevated flavors of the tapas. The wine was perfect and we chose just the right amount of dishes that complimented one another. We felt like this was someplace special and were happy to have experience it.

Triana is one of those restaurants in Madrid's Ibiza neighborhood that focuses on doing things just…read moreright, good product, solid technique, and flavors that feel honest and well thought out, nested in an Andalucia decor. Not too cartoonish, just the proper decor to make you feel in the Spanish traditional mood. We started with the Steak Tartar de Bellota sobre tuétano asado a la brasa, a bold yet well-balanced dish. The beef was fresh, finely cut, and seasoned with precision, allowing the quality of the meat to shine. The roasted bone marrow added depth and richness without overwhelming the tartare, and the toasted bread on the side brought crunch to each bite. One of the highlights and favorites was the Arroz meloso de la huerta, cooked with coconut milk. Creamy and aromatic, the rice had a smooth, comforting texture with a subtle coconut note that added more flavor rather than sweetness. The vegetables brought freshness and balance, making it easy to see why this is a favorite of the head chef, especially when paired with a glass of ICENI, Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz, which sparks aromatic notes to this recipe. Another standout was the Puntillitas de Isla Cristina con Parmentier de Trufa y Huevo Frito. An Andalucian authentic dish. The puntillitas were crispy and perfectly cooked. The truffled parmentier added richness, while the fried egg blends everything. To accompany the meal, the marinated olives were a simple nice add-on. Service is well delivered. Overall, Triana delivers a confident and reliable dining experience. A traditional not too pretentious spot to bring friends coming from abroad with no unnecessary theatrics. Well-executed dishes, quality ingredients, and a traditional neighborhood atmosphere that you can go back to if you are in the area.

This small quaint restaurant has superb attentive service. The flavors of the food was great. We…read moretried multiple dishes. Avocado salad. Salmon soup. Grilled squid. Paella like meat and mushroom. All had excellent flavors and was fresh. The price was good for quality.

This is a spot that feels like a little bar but is actually more like a casa with some food items…read more Here, they are big on pig and there are Iberico hams located on and around the bar for easy access. If you are vegan, coming here will only piss you off. In fact, a vegan in Madrid in general is ill-advised. The setting feels historic and rustic with exposed brick and stone that appears to be centuries old. They seem to make everything (both food and drink) behind that cramped bar which explains why most of their menu items are cold, pre-made, or easy to assemble from short lists of raw ingredients. This does not mean that anything is bad. It just means it is like producing charcuterie in a dorm room bar. A large number of items involve Iberico Ham and one of the barmen is constantly shaving off thin pieces for service. In fact the freebie snack they send out from the kitchen had some Iberico ham and Manchego cheese on it which was a really nice warm up of what to expect. Over the noonish lunch hour, I was the only tourist in the place surrounded by many locals that clearly know about this spot. I liked those odds for assuring me of a genuine authentic experience. It was an accurate predictor. I'm not the most experienced when it comes to true Spanish tapas but this seemed to be a very genuine depiction of what the locals look for in a rustic Iberico ham experience. And frankly, even if it wasn't I can't find anything to really complain about. It was a cool historic setting, there was ice-cold vermouth from a tap, and I spent an hour shoving local Morcilla (blood sausage) and Iberico pig parts into my pie hole for the better part of an hour. It was a great experience any way you choose to look at it.

Everything here was perfect: prices, quality of food, service and the authentic touch of Spain!…read more Gracias Sara!!!

Casa Ruth was cozy and personal, with home-style food. For 12 Euros per person (the going rate at…read morethe time this post was written), you get a first, a second, a drink, and a coffee or dessert. We had the gazpacho soup but with the added egg and jamon, which had a different name, so you should specify this one, but it was tasty and refreshing for a summer day. So was the tuna salad, over a bed of lettuce, red peppers, and tomatoes. The croquets were delicious, and my kids liked the albondigas meatballs. Both the croquets and albondigas came with pappas fritas (fries). Kids also slurped up the spaghetti bolognese. Roasted chicken was cooked well. All in all, a small and homey place. Ruth was kind, and Eli helped serve. Eli gave us great travel advice, and his English was good. We met the friendly regulars. And best of all, they are open before 8 pm! Great for the Americans like us, who prefer to eat earlier.

Went here with my husband because it was close by. We kept it simple and had a burger, fries and a…read morebeer. The server was very kind and charismatic. My Spanish isn't great but she helped when I struggled. The food was delicious and the atmosphere made us feel like we were eating dinner at home.

The shrimp at La Casa del Abuelo was melting in your mouth, really amazing, not like your usual…read moregarlic shrimp. It's served sizzling in a clay dish, a dish I actually first knew about from Mark Wiens, and it lives up to the hype. The sauce, perfect for dipping bread, was incredible, rich and full of flavor. This is clearly their famous signature dish, and it's easy to see why. A must-try in Madrid.

We went here for a late lunch, maybe 3 pm., after an exhausting day of walking and sightseeing…read moreMadrid. As we left Plaza Mayor, I spotted this popular restaurant. My wife and I sat in the back. It wasn't full, thankfully. It's a nice old restaurant that reeks with charm and history. The servers were real friendly. It had outdoor seating, but we stayed in the back to relax. We had 3 dishes., Gambas Al ajillo, Tortilla Español, a small one and Orejas (pig ears) à la plancha. They were all so good, perfectly seasoned and cooked well. The tortilla was creamy. The Gambas were garlicky...used my bread to sponge in the olive oil infused with garlic. The Orejas was tender and crispy at the same time. Food is sublime and service, first rate!

This is one of my favorite spots in Madrid!…read more I know they have multiple locations, but I only went to this one close to Retiro and it was so relaxing and quaint (it feels like you are in someone's modern farmhouse). The eggplant dish is to die for - seriously, I dream about it. The shrimp were also incredible and they have a some lovely desserts as well. Also unless you come here during off hours when the whole menu isn't available, I recommend making a reservation.

My friend and I came here while studying Spanish in Spain. They were very friendly and patient with…read moreus when we said we wanted to practice our Spanish (pro tip if you want to do this, try sitting down to eat a little earlier than the normal in Spain so your waitstaff has more time). They had some unusual spins on standard dishes/tapas including croquettes with nuts and fruit. The restaurant itself is adorable with a dog theme and it was easy to walk to from our Air BNB.

Don't fall for the hype; this place is a way over-priced Tourist Trap with really subpar food…read more Their "Arroz" plates are a total joke and a complete ripoff. So bad in fact we couldn't make our way through half of it and took it to go. From there we gave it to a homeless person who I discovered had thrown it away in a dumpster near his "street home" ; so that pretty much says it all ... Please avoid at all costs; so many other choices than to fall into this place!

First time in Madrid so I had to check out the city center and close out with some great Tapas…read more Zoko was a great find! The ham & cheese croquets were outstanding. Great Tuna tartar, shrimp tacos, and last but not least the meatballs. You won't be disappointed with Zoko!

Staff was superb! They are friendly efficient and informative. The bartenders steered us in the…read moreright direction for drinks and food! FOOD..outstanding!! Thanks f or making this first time visitor and soon to be a repeat customer. Small place but packed with many wonderful wines and tapas! For me, it's a YES!

Great fish (it also does meat). Main of tina (seared) was fabulous. So were artichoke flowers. We…read moreare at bar but service still very nice. A great place.

Julia and Juan started this cool bar/tapas restaurant in March 2017, and it was so friendly…read moreaccessible for us. They are both sweethearts. I suggest you sit at the bar and chat with Julia -- she can tell you all about the wines and grapes from all over Spain, and she'll ply you with cool samples to go with your wine: a bite of Russian salad, octopus carpaccio, and the most fabulous steak tartare (they serve it with a mustard ice cream that is incredible). We ate these taps with a Valencian red wine called Bobos. I attached pics of both Juan and Julia. Julia shared their story: they worked together at another restaurant for four years, and one night they came together with a bang, and fireworks went off. They had no choice but give birth to a baby restaurant of their own. Check them out -- you shouldn't be disappointed!

the food was very average. the ambiance was nice. small but nice. very clean washroom. we sat at…read morethe bar and had several tapas. it was not memorable. i wouldn't come back la comida estuvo muy mediocre. no lo recomendaría.