This place was so good, we had to come back. The vibes, service, and food were all amazing. Really lively place. We had things in mind that we wanted to order, but also spoke with the staff to get their recommendations. Between our two visits, we ordered: Risotto De Gambones, Paella De Mariscos, Calamares a la Romana, Carrillada de Cerdo Con Patatas, Ropa Vieja, and Lomo Bajo de Ternera c/ Patatas Horneadas y Pimiento Padron. For it being my first time in Spain, I really enjoyed every single dish we ordered. The staff was fun to interact with, the drinks tasted good, and I wanted more of every dish we had. I tried to eat as much paella as I could while on this trip and the one here is pretty up there. I didn't know Spain was big on fried calamari, but they executed it really well here. All the seasonings and sauces they had in each dish exceeded expectations. My favorite dish here would be the strip loin with potatoes and shishito peppers. If you order anything on the menu, there's a high chance you'll probably like it. read more

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This was easily one of the best restaurants we visited in Madrid. The staff were lively and genuinely friendly, which made the whole meal feel relaxed and fun. The food was excellent, every dish came out fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. It struck that perfect balance of great service and great cooking, making it a spot we'd happily return to on our next trip. read more

My party of four stopped in here without a reservation at around 7:15pm, and while there wasn't a wait, the restaurant was almost full! The space itself is quite narrow but homey, with a rustic-looking bar and clusters of small tables with booths. It's not quite a hole-in-the-wall look, but the place is packed with locals, and the Spanish music/media posters add a nice touch! Having just come from el Mercado de San Miguel, where we had consumed a very rich cone of jamón ibérico, we were looking for some slightly lighter fare. Since it was our first real meal in Spain, we opted for some classic Spanish dishes: the Patatas Bravas (€5.90), the Paella de Mariscos (Seafood Paella, €14.95), the Gambónes al Ajillo (Shrimp in Sizzling Garlic Oil, €12.90), and the Carrillada de Cerdo con Patatas (Pork Cheek with Potatoes, €12.90). Having never tried the Patatas Bravas before, my family and I had no idea what we were in for. While it's a seemingly simple dish, the potatoes were cooked perfectly (crispy on the outside, lush and soft on the inside), in a mind-blowingly smoky sauce. For €5.90, this was a steal, with lots of potatoes for everyone! While Madrid isn't necessarily known for its paella, the rice was cooked to a perfect al dente, without being too wet or dry, and the seafood tasted fresh. It wasn't served in a paella pan/skillet like most other restaurants, but it was a solid dish with a good portion for the price! Gambónes al Ajillo is truly a classic Spanish dish, and while I think you could find better versions of this dish at other restaurants (perhaps with larger portions, though €12.90 was a fair price for around 10 pieces of shrimp), the shrimp was cooked to have a firm bite while retaining its juiciness, and the flavors of the garlic didn't overpower the shrimp - it was rich without being cloying, which we liked. Finally, the Carrillada de Cerdo con Patatas was a pleasant surprise: the pork cheeks were tender and moist, though not the best we've ever had, but the mashed potatoes? Oh my goodness, they were creamy, buttery, rich, and well-seasoned. We couldn't stop eating them! With a portion of three pork cheeks and a generous scoop of potatoes, this was an entree-sized dish for a great price! Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at El Sur - it felt like a local spot off the beaten path with quick, friendly service (they even bring out a small dish of candy at the end), great food, and even better prices - we'll definitely come back if we ever return to Madrid! read more

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The atmosphere is very good.Many people line up, so it's better to make a reservation before going. read more

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This place was recommended for its Gambas Al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp). It turned out to be very delicious! Simple and cozy ambience and good service! read more

El Sur - Gambas Al Ajillo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Best tortilla española I've ever had! Look at those perfect thin potato slices! Also the garlic sauce with it is strong and delicious. Could spread on bread for its own tapa. read more

El Sur - tortilla española - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

This place was all hype. First of all the staff was rude as hell. I was outside the front door 3 minutes before it opened. I casually walk in and ask if they are open only to get a very sharp NO! Then a stare following afterwards. Ok whatever I wait outside until another couple came in right after and they welcome us all in. So weird. But more importantly why this place deserves one star is the food. It just wasn't good. The seafood paella was super dry and bland. The croquettes were mid. The sangria was good I'll give them that. I think Madrid is a foodie destination so I wouldn't waste my time on this place at all read more

Food was alright, the price was a bit steep but we got what we expected. Great beer (Cana) and Tapas regardless!

Good food , good drinks! Cosmopolitan & sangria were good. The seafood patella was delicious

Esta tarde comimos en este restaurante y, debo decir, la comida estaba realmente buena. El pastel casero fue una grata sorpresa. Sin embargo, el sabor general me pareció un poco demasiado salado para mi gusto. A pesar de la calidad de la comida, el servicio fue increíblemente decepcionante. Los dos camareros, un hombre y una mujer, demostraron una calidad de servicio muy baja. Fue tan malo que resultó difícil de olvidar. No podía creer que, con un servicio así, todavía cobraran un diez por ciento de propina. En nuestra semana de viaje por Madrid, nos hemos encontrado con muchas personas amables, pero este restaurante fue, sin duda, el peor servicio que hemos experimentado. Me pregunto si los empleados discriminaban a los turistas asiáticos. Fue una experiencia verdaderamente inolvidable, pero no en el buen sentido. read more

El Sur - food - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

We had a large party (9) and were seated relatively quickly even on a busy Saturday night. Great vibe with fun music. Every menu item we tried (and there were a lot) was delicious. Garlic shrimp. Ropa Vieja. Ravioli. Patatas Bravas. Croquettes. Steaks. Tortilla (potato/egg). Our server Jhoan was so friendly and amazing. One in our party had a birthday and they brought out a delicious cake with an aperitif. Definitely the best meal we've had so far in Spain! read more

What is not to say...... so so so yummy. The staff was phenomenal, so friendly and really helped add to the warm environment inside. The food.... So so good. Best Croquetas I have had in Spain. If you are a seafood lover like myself the chipirones a la plancha STOLE the show. 10/10 recommend a stop in, soooooooo yummy read more

El Sur - Croquetas, Salmon (media), Chipirones a la plancha (media), y ravioli + tinto de verano - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

¡Maravilloso ambiente y rica comida! Nos encantó la comida de este lugar y el ambiente super fantastic. La comida nos impresiono muchisimo y quedamos super llenos. Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food! We loved the food at this place and the super fantastic atmosphere. The food impressed us a lot and we were super full. read more

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Listen, I had a huge Europe trip, I went to multiple countries and tried LOTS of paella especially in Spain and the Canary Islands. But this, THIS, was the best paella I've had out of all the places I've tried. It's so creamy and delicious I loved it very much. This place is such a gem because it also served me the best sangria and ravioli I've ever had! I was so tempted to finish the sangria before the food arrived to us because it was just so good. The ravioli just melts in your mouth, the flavor is amazing, my boyfriend knew I loved it so much so he let me finish the ravioli while he finished the paella lol. I almost can't believe it because one restaurant all on its own was able to serve me some of the best tasting dishes of paella, ravioli, and sangria that I've ever had. It is a GEM. If you are considering this place, I recommend it greatly! Also the service was great and the staff was very very friendly! Muchas gracias! read more

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I give 6 out of 5 stars to the taste and 4/5 to the service of this bistro. Grilled baby squid recommended. read more

El Sur - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Food was good. Mixed seafood paella, tortilla, tomato soup and shrimp risotto was wonderful on a cold rainy night. Portions were generous. Neighboring tables food looked yummy as well. Would definitely eat there again. read more

Lives up to the recommendations! Staff was so so friendly, fun, and kind to our English speaking group (and it was a large group). Outstanding food. Solid wine list. Tinto de Verana was great. We loved the empanadas, jamon, and cheese plate. The beef cheek main dish was killer. And the hueveos con rotos y jamon was pretty good too! read more

El Sur - Huevos Rotos Con Jamon - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Food and services were excellent. The cocktails were fun and yummy. The staff friendly and entertaining. We went a second time only to be pleased to find the same experience. read more

El Sur was wonderful, lives up to the hype! This was a small, hole in the wall type place with delicious food and drinks - the cocktails and sangria were both delicious! The empanadas were very good (made with beef), but the patatas bravas were the real star of the show! The sauce was spicy and delicious and the potatoes were super tender - definitely didn't expect them to taste as good as they did! My only complaint is there was a wait to sit down (very small place) and the service was slower than we would have wanted (they were very busy) read more

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El Sur is a tiny establishment consisting of a bar and a small dining area. During peak times, expect to wait. On our visit, we waited about 20 minutes outside and about 15 minutes at the bar before seated at a table. There is a good assortment of very reasonably priced appetizers and entrees. We tried a few and all were nice. My fav was the paella. Keep in mind these are single serving portions, followed by the empanadas. The service was efficient and friendly. The ambiance was comfy but hectic. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. read more

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Holy smokes! We just have so much fun at El Sur. Every time my wife and I go to Madrid...we just have the best time at these restaurants. The staff is great. The dishes are delicious and the drinks are tasty and hit the spot after putting miles under your paws exploring the city. If we lived in Madrid, we would basically live here -- it's just that welcoming and fun. I wish I could say keep it a secret, but it's already too late and we should no longer do that in a world where it takes all of us to keep the great places going. So, in that case, spread the word! read more

Great food, great service, and great atmosphere! The sangria was fresh and tasty. I ordered the sizzling shrimp along with the Dora salad. My palate was so happy! read more

El Sur - Sangria - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Literally downloaded yelp just to leave a great review on this place. Everything from the food, the service, the ambience, was amazing!!

A very popular place, especially with tourists. One of the employees was very fluent in English and did a great job getting people inside the restaurant by making jokes and offering suggestions. We stopped in for an early lunch of patatas bravas and gambas al ajilo. I can't say either one was great, but got rid of the crazing I had for both of them. The patatas bravas sauce was very watery and didn't have as much flavor as I liked from the other places. The shrimp was okay, but again, not my favorite. Overall, the service was fantastic and it was a good place to stop and have a beer and some lunch. read more

El Sur - Gambones al ajillo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

I don't understand the hype. The restaurant is small and it felt like staff were intentionally ignoring us. Maybe it was because we were not fluent in Spanish but it didn't not give off welcoming vibes. Tables are very close together. You have the ability to offer full or half portions so we ordered several dishes to share. We enjoyed the cheese plate and the spicy mango margarita. It was a long walk from our hotel so we would pass if we returned to Madrid. read more

El Sur - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Had the bravas and the seafood paella- both came out within 5 minutes of ordering, so not sure how fresh they were. Noticed the place was full of Americans and likely they cater to them as the shrimp came out without a head. The food was good for being so quick and the desserts looked great, although I didn't get a chance to try them. read more

El Sur - Cheesecake - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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My gf and I had two dishes, the spinach and goat cheese raviolis and the prawn risotto. The ravioli was a big miss; first, it wasn't very hot when it came out and the tomato sauce was so sweet it tasted almost as if sugar was dumped into it. Where does the 5 stars come from? .... I have had plenty of risotto in my day and El Sur's risotto EASILY beats any that I've had in the US. The risotto rice was cooked to perfection, with the perfect amount of bite to it. It tasted like they partial used some seafood broth (perhaps from prawns) in the preparation to enhance the seafood flavor of the pieces of prawn in the dish. The amount of cheese and butter made the risotto impeccable creamy and complimented the prawn like a dynamic duo made heaven. If I ever come back to Madrid again I will have this risotto. read more

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Food service and ambiance was great. Nice and cozy. Had the Carrillada del carne, half plate of Iberian ham, and the seafood paella. The pork cheeks was excellent with different flavors served on a bed of mashed potatoes. Iberian ham was good as expected. Paella had the most tender squid. The flavors reminded me of Japanese furikake bonito seasoning. Plate was moist and easy to eat for two. Paired with rioja wines. read more

I came to this spot, back in 2019 and I was determined to return on my next Madrid trip. The food was excellent as I remembered it. Paella was on point, curry chicken was solid and the Spinach and Cheese Quiche was a greater starter. The food is reasonably priced and this small local restuarant packs a punch. read more

Amazing food and very affordable. The service was nice and friendly. Will definitely be back on my next trip.

We had the bravas, pimientos de padron, croquetas, as well as the strip loin. Everything was made from scratch and extremely fresh. Great vibe inside the restaurant as well. Cozy and energetic. read more

Walked a bit to get to this place but it is a true gem! My friend and I sat at the bar and had sangria, the empanadas, and the tortilla de patatas. Great portions- we loved the food and the drinks were spectacular! I wish we had more of an appetite to try more! This place is a must for tapas and the BEST SANGRIA! Go! You won't regret it! read more

El Sur - The best Sangria! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

A place that as well loved by locals. Reminds me a lot of the local places in Madrid, where you will be able to sit at the bar and have a drink, and even some food before a table is ready. There are some casual two person tables that are near the bar, but still a suitable dining experience that might open up sooner The service is great, and they are very good at making sure you have everything you need. To my surprise, despite all the people there, that foods and drinks come out quickly. I feel like spain is a little bit full of salty food, to my surprise, these flavours were very well balanced. Not too salty. The prawns are delicious in a garlic oil sauce. The seafood paella. It's a little bit of a small portion, but was delicious. The salmon tempura was not my favorite, tasted like seven that was bread and then with a large piece of cheese on top. Otherwise a great place and atmosphere. Good value for money read more

El Sur - Seafood paella - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Great food and very welcoming staff! We enjoyed the empanadas, ham croquettes, calamari, and prawns. We were here twice and highly recommend it! All staff were warm and very welcoming to us as we speak very little Spanish. The Aguila Dorado beer was cold and delicious! The Albariño wine was tasty and the Sangria was awesome!! Good music too! read more

El Sur - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

El Sur was our first stop in Madrid. The staff was extremely friendly and knew we were visiting from Miami. We chatted up a storm since the server had been dying to visit Miami and and we had been craving Madrid. We ordered a bottle of Tempranillo, Crianza Sancho Garcés, exquisite. We started of with some Serrano Croquettas and Gambones al Ajillo. The gambones are delicious prawns marinated and made with garlic and oil, very flavorful and light. The croquettas are not like your traditional ones from the Caribbean your used if your Cuban or Puerto Rican. These are smaller but fatter, rounder and filled to the brim of tasty Serrano. We also ordered a tortilla de patatas. Which is a quiche of potatoes, egg based with light cheese and chives and a sour cream sauce on the side of sort, delicious. Flaky and firm the perfect consistency. Finally, paella!!! moist and tasty yellow rice, in wine sauce with calamari, fish and a giant prawn that was marinated in garlic, onion and olive oil. My pallet was in heaven. Make sure to sprinkle lemon over the rice to give it an added acidity. I definitely recommend ! read more

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This was the first and last restaurant I went to in Madrid because I couldn't leave without coming back for another meal! I got the seafood paella (paella de mariscos) and chipirones a la plancha the first time and the seafood paella and secreto de ternera the second time. Each entree was so flavorful and delicious, and the sangria was very refreshing. We came back specifically for the seafood paella but the secreto de ternera was absolutely phenomenal and blew us away. This was an amazing restaurant and would highly recommend paying a visit to! read more

El Sur - paella de mariscos and chipirones a la plancha - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Food was great. Atmosphere was quaint and cozy. Great customer service. Very traditional

Deliciosa comida. Muy buen servicio por parte de los trabajadores. Repetiría mil veces

Seriously the best in Madrid. Or maybe even Spain! Jhoan & Oswaldo are PERFECTO! We come here a few times per year and for sure each visit to Madrid. Always greeted with a friendly smile. Service is great. Love the small venue. And the food!!!!! Oh my. So yummy. We are a little 'stuck' on our same selections. We love the El Sur Salad, potata bravas and the shrimp risotto. We share these and all dishes are large servings. Also a full bar. You will love a small intimate consistent little tapa bar. Be sure to say hello to our friends and tell them I sent you. You will not be disappointed!! read more

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My fiancé and I were excited to try this restaurant after seeing how many good reviews they had but we were immediately disappointed. There was a cockroach on the ground as soon as we talked in and then two more after we sat - one crawling on the wall behind us and one on the seat we were sitting on. The food was average - we had no appetite after dealing with so many cockroaches. Service was good and the staff is very friendly but they need to fix the bug issue - it was disgusting. read more