This review is for a satellite location, El Sur de Moratin. El Sur was packed when we got there so the host walked us 5 minutes to the satellite location. Ambiance was very pleasant in the renovated basement, which was nice and cool relative to the heat outside. Food was exceptional. I recommend fried eggplant, goat cheese salad, grilled veggies, prawn risotto, calamari, Argentine empanadas. read more

This place is great. We chose it because we noticed the high reviews in Yelp and it did not disappoint. Spain is usually known for servers that are somewhat short, but not this place. Jhoan our waiter was excellent. He was courteous, funny and efficient. The food was absolutely delicious. We had the croquetas, ropa vieja, and pork cheeks with fritas. The meat was very tender, and the fritas were round pieces of potatoes, fried to perfection. We also had a sangria (most people tell you to order Tinto de Verano in Spain instead of sangria, this is a place to take a risk. It was amazing). The waiter even invited us to a cream liquor, AMAZING! My husband had a beer and it was quite tasty and cold. The atmosphere was busy and quaint, but they played English pop music the whole time. Our bill for the croquettes, Ropa, Vieja, pork cheeks, a beer and a sangria was $44.20. read more

Food and services were awesome, just a bit tight in regard to seating, so if you are in a rush might not be place to go

Good food & good service. But be ready to wait. Sometimes the line is long, though it was worth the wait. Would love to eat there when I visit Madrid again. read more

Amazing tapas. Would highly recommend. The staff were super friendly as well. Definitely try the scalp tapas

The total experience was worth the tough walk from my Airbnb. The ambiance is good. It's a small joint. No frills. Seating and tables. The food was exceptional. This is a must visit spot when visiting Madrid. read more

See all

Thank you Yelp for saving the day. The restaurant I took my cab to was closed. Yelp helped me find this incredible bar for dinner! I had a tall beer and three dishes beloved to the people of Spain. The bar fet like a local favorite and I am so glad I tried them here. The garlic shrimp wth crusty bread is certainly not to be missed. I was over the moon while eating it! read more

See all

Stopped here because of the 5 star Yelp rating which is deserved. It was busy, likely due to being the highest rarest place in Lavapies right now. They got us seated quickly, took our order quickly, and brought our food out quickly. We ordered the croquettes, the scallops and the ravioli. All were delicious. We also ordered a pitcher of sangria. I recommend to anyone in the Lavapies neighborhood of Madrid. read more

We ended up eating here after failing to get a seat in a paella restaurant. The garlic gambas was greasy and the paella disappointingly came in a plate instead of a skillet! It also just came with one huge prawn and it's supposed to be "good for 2 "(are we supposed to fight over that one prawn?") Disappointing meal overall and a tourist trap... read more

El Sur - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

See all

This place is definitely worth visiting. If you are not a local but are vacationing I suggest making a reservation. We had a part of 4 and had a reservation for 8:00 which is on the early side for dinner. The place was already full and stayed busy the whole time we were there. It's small and loud. The staff are phenomenal! Not sure if he was the owner or manager but the guy is amazing. Truly enjoys his job. He's singing and dancing while taking your order. He turns an ordinary dinner into an experience. The food was delicious. The Iberian ham platter is a must! Fried calamari, grilled squid, empanadas and paella were all great. read more

We did not stop ordering. The food was amazing and service was exceptional. The food arrived pretty quickly and we had great conversation with the staff. The sitting area is small, but had a quick turnaround. read more

See all

As always, El Sur does not disappoint any time you go there. Every time we are in Madrid we try have at least 2-3 meals here. The service and food are excellent despite the congested space. Avoid the lines during rush hour crowds (lunch in Spain is 11am - 3pm) and dinner is usually at 9pm. The shrimp dishes are fantastic and so is their chicken curry over rice. Salads and appetizers are all excellent. Highly recommended. read more

Estando de vacaciones en Madrid, buscamos en Yelp por un lugar típico y local y encontramos El Sur. Aunque la caminata fue un poco larga y a través de unas calles sediciosas, el lugar fue extremadamente agradable. Lo que nos pareció un típico bar madrileño, nos sorprendió con una muy buena cena. Cerveza bien fría, empanadas rellenas de carne, patatas bravas (muy ardientes), pulpo a la parrilla y una ternera suavecita y sabrosa. El servicio extremadamente agradable pero con la típica lentitud española. Ole!!! read more

I walked all around trying to find a place that would sit a table for one and WOW am i happy i was turned away by so many. it lead me to this spot and it did not disappoint - this food, the ambiance and the service was unbelievable. HIGHLY recommend this place!! read more

El Sur - paella and grilled octopus - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

See all

We decided to try this restaurant after reading reviews online. We were seated right away but took a while to get service. The chairs were uncomfortable, but the bench seats were fine. We ordered the empanadas, which were terrific. The calamari, which was really good. And the paella, which was very disappointing. There was a single shrimp, the salmon was overcooked/dry, and really couldn't tell what other meat was in the dish. read more

The food, service were very good. The place is quirky and cool. There are movie posters on the wall and there was a line out the door when we arrived. The sign of a popular restaurant. The neighborhood look's scary however we felt safe. My husband and myself went there at about 9pm and there were people around. In Spain everyone eats late. We would highly recommend this restaurant and will return when we visit Madrid again. read more

El Sur - Scallops-yummmm! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

See all

We came here twice during our four days in Madrid because it was so good. Fun and professional staff. The first time we sat at a table, the second time at the bar. We loved the grilled squid, the prawns, and the sangria. The whole restaurant, including the bathrooms were exceptionally clean. Highly recommend a visit or TWO if you're in Madrid. See you next time, El Sur. read more

See all

Ok, they are known for paella and that was not our favorite dish. But anyway, fun little busy bar Got the following: Hummus: 1 star, this was gross. Do not order Paella: 2.5 stars. This was AVERAGE with soggy rice. Nope Scallops: 5 stars!!! So good that we ordered it again!!! Would come back for the scallops and nothing else read more

El Sur - Scallops yum!!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

They solicit 5 star reviews for free drinks. The food wasn't even good and portions weren't generous. There's no redeeming quality to a very mediocre experience. read more

These people are killing it. Definitely best food I had in Spain. I went to Barcelona, Seville and Madrid and this is the spot! They know what they are doing. The ambiance is so cool and refreshing. The food taste like nothing you had before. Definitely try their suggestions.. you will never regret it. 1000000 times recommended! read more

See all

El Sur served the best meal of my trip to Spain. I chose it based on the Yelp recommendations and it didn't disappoint. Before I left my hotel, I looked up signature dishes in Madrid and decided on huevos rotas. Wow was that the right choice. I loved the ambience of the taberna and the staff were wonderful. In fact so much, that I returned the next day for my final meal in Spain. This time I tried the paella, which was also wonderful. read more

El Sur - Huevos rotas con jamon freshly baked bread, and a nice glass of Cava. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

outstanding! i lived in madrid years ago and this was a treat! superb service and fab sherry

Some of the best food I've had in Madrid, hands down! I didn't have El Sur on my list but in searching for dinner options in Madrid, I stumbled upon this marvelous find. Thank God I did because it was SO good! The little beef sirloins were so tender & juicy and were well complimented with the crispy fried slices of potatoes. The tartar sauce also added a nice contrast. The seafood paella was also delish - plump grains of rice with seafood in every bite. And lastly, the sangria was fruitful without being overly sweet. Plus, I liked the fact that they added seltzer to the mix to add some fizz! I would definitely recommend dining here at least once during your visit! Superb! read more

Small spot in Madrid, but my favorite spot of them all. The seating is tight and limited, but it doesn't matter when you start drinking their awesomely made Sangria and try their many classic tapas and entrees. During my trip to Madrid, stomach space is limited, since I want to try so many places but so little time. Yet I still managed to come here multiple times during my stay, this place is that good and probably the best value for what you get. Would order the seafood paella, sangria, and their meat pie. Service was perfect and on point. This place plays music of all languages and very friendly towards tourists and visitors. This is the perfect place for a party of 4 or less, but if you have a large group, either sit separably or split up and try their food. read more

See all

The sangria and freshly made chips and jalapeños... this is a local and tourist spot. Amazing. The bartender was great. We informed that we heard this restaurant in Madrid read more

See all

Manuel is the best!!!! He got you covered Very attentive and nice!!! 1000000/10. He went above and beyond.

Our first dinner stop in Madrid was El Sur. We were looking for traditional Spanish food, and of course a great seafood paella. Everything we had was delicious, and our table of 4 cleared the tapas plates. Favorite dish was the Ropas Viejas! El Sur was excellent all around, it was just a little crammed, and I was looking for more flavor in the Paella. read more

See all

We liked it I don't know how my wife came up with this place but I'm glad she did. We are tourists visiting Madrid for a few days. It sounds like we were fortunate to be able to walk in last night and be seated right away. We sat in the back, I liked the colors and the beautiful mural of a couple on the wall. Michael Jackson music played in the background. Our server took very good care of us throughout our visit, and things moved along at a good pace. For dinner I had their Caeser Salad and Ropa Vieja. The salad was non-traditional with ham, chicken, tomatoes, drizzles on top, very non-traditional vs what I often have in the US. That said, I really liked it. Being hungry helped as I dove into this heavier in protein than I expected dish. My Ropa Vieja was very flavorful. The portion side was the half order, a good size after my salad and sampling my wife's food. The shredded beef came with homemade chips, kind of a fail in that they were oily, not crunchy, and needed salt. My wife began with Ham Croquettes, nice with a creamy cheesy filling. Larger and many more on the plate than we expected. She finished off with a seafood paella we both thought was too soupy, I suppose it is whatever you are used to eating. All in all we liked our dinner and our visit to Madrid. read more

El Sur - Ropa Vieja - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

See all

I highly recommend this restaurant. It was a small but had a very nice vibe. I forgot to take pictures but we ordered clams which were great that we ordered a second round, paella, charcuterie board, grilled shrimp and pork loin. All of these meals were very good. We (4 of us) ate at least 3 loaves of bread. The recommended red wine was very good. Our servers were very attentive making the service great. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Loved the steak and potatoes. Their wine was good and affordable. The shrimp and mediterranian salad hit the spot too. The dressing on the salad was just the right about of sweet. Terrific service as well. The only think I would change would it would be nice to have a char with a back. read more

El Sur - Steak and potatoes - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

What a great spot in the hustle and bustle of the heart of Madrid! We arrived around 8:30pm and had a 10 minute wait. It is a small old restaurant with fairly tight seating. We ordered several dishes to share. The paella marisco (seafood) had good flavor but the portion was more tapas size than your usual paella which was fine by us since we had several other dishes. We also ordered the tortilla patata and another potato dish with a spicy sauce for appetizer. The tortilla patata was delish especially with their garlicky white sauce. I highly recommend their pork cheek dish. The pork was so tender and flavorful. Their sangria is a must drink! €14 for a large carafe. Make sure to eat the fruits in it. The grapes were so fragrant and tasted like a mouthful of flowers and fruits. The shrimps and garlic were also good. We got so much food and we're stuffed. We asked for the check and they gifted us a cheesecake and 3 shots of alcohol! What a wonderful way to end the perfect evening. Gracias, El Sur! #1 In madrid! Must eat! Reasonable prices. Delicious food! Amazing drinks! Great service! read more

See all

After 24 hours of not eating... (Don't ask, it was a long flight lol) I made El Sur my first meal in Madrid. And I'm so happy I did... It was soooo good! Started off w/ sangria. (Yes, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is always a good idea.) It was light and refreshing it. Not the best I've ever had like some reviewer's mentioned but quite good and garnished with a lot of fruit, including gooseberry. Next stop... garlic shrimp, which was served in a cast iron pan with a garlicky sauce w/ a kick from the chilis. Needed a little salt and pepper... (a girl likes seasoning) so I dashed that in. Finished off w/ spinach ravioli and a delightful cream sauce topped with Parmesan cheese. This was the winner winner chicken dinner. I could tell the pasta was fresh. It was very light yet completely filling. I wanted to eat more but gluttony is a sin. So I stopped at two dishes, which the waitress also suggested. She said that two is usually filling for one person (I'm a solo traveler) and that I could always order more if I desired. I decided not to be hardheaded and listen but did order a cappuccino, for a lil' pick me up. I was also given a dessert shot (Baileys??) to finish off my meal. I recommend going early in the evening if you desire easy seating. I went around 6/6:30 PM and there were only a few people in there. By 8:30PM, the place was packed. I liked the time that I went because it gave me a chance to casually eat my meal and enjoy the ambience. Service was great. Spanglish and English speaking... (Lmao I wrote Spanglish... that's what I was speaking. They understand that too.) read more

See all

This place is great!! The food and the service were amazing and the prices were equally as great. We had the grilled scallops and Prawn risotto. Jhoan was our server and he was great. Please do yourself a favor and stop when in Madrid. read more

El Sur - Grilled Scallops & Prawn Risotto and house wine - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Seemed as though we walked forever, let me tell you good place is popping. Ambience is chic and casual. We skipped breakfast as a result of staying up late. Never the less, this place is worth the wait and walk. The Mediterranean Salad, medio / half portions were a nice size. Loaded with all kinds of greens, olives, tomatoes, oranges, hint of mint & perfect balsamic dressing. Ay. I lost my tongue on such a healthy plate. Next the seafood paella was perfect, not the full size you may have in mind, but the portions although single serving were plenty and loaded with al kinds of seafood from mussels, fish, prawns & perfected rice. I couldn't finish my food. The plates come straight from the kitchen piping steamy hot. We also had eggs, jamon over papas. I mean the papas not your regular papas these were sliced and fried like huge potato chips. On top of the papas was the eggs, cooked perfectly then covered with plenty of jamon. How do these Spaniards stay in shape with these large portions? Ya, if in Madrid, definitely returning here. read more

See all

La experiencia fue increíble y la atención mejor. Y la comida aun mejor. Recomendado..!!! No te lo puedes perder si estás por estos lares. read more

El Sur - Todo increíble - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Decided to give El Sur a try based on the reviews and they didn't disappoint as I visited twice to try more of the Tapas. First visit, ordered a small El Sur salad to start and the combination of balsamic vinaigrette, walnuts and goat cheese made it excellent! The Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish omelette) came as a slice and was an egg/potato mixture-very good and I've seen this dish in other spots also. The special for the evening was grilled Pulpo (Octopus). Unfortunately it was chewy (& maybe this is the way it is meant to be). So possibly not cooked or brined enough. That said, the sauce made it manageable. I was offered a complimentary Cheesecake at the end of dinner which was a nice touch. Second evening, I started with the Calamari salad (Calamares a la Romana). Just the right amount of crust and the Calamari was cooked to perfection. Next was the Gambones. A garlic lover's delight. Shrimp cooked in garlic oil so their warm bread was perfect for dipping and scooping out the Shrimp. I got a complimentary shot of Samba at the end of my meal. Amazing restaurant and bar! A laid back atmosphere where locals and tourists come together. Service was excellent. Quite popular and not very big so would recommend arriving early. read more

See all

A fun, corner tavern with good food and great service. They have a great selection of wine and tasty tapas. Food comes out quick and servers are super friendly. There's an old film theme vibe with all the Spanish movie posters and the staff all sings along to whatever song comes on inside. It's a great tavern experience. Our server Jhoan was great and gave us some complimentary shots at the end of our meal. read more

See all

Such a polarizing experience where it's hard to actually rate this place. It's always steadily busy and popular with both locals and tourists. Came in two separate occasions, both for lunch and dinner. Food: Loved their shrimp risotto special, could eat that forever. Wish I tried their steak special too. The gambas al ajillo is a great tapas to share. The seafood paella was good, but I'm personally not into the taste of seawater from fresh seafood in my dishes. The patatas bravas are cheap and passable, nothing special. Had tons of croquetas in Spain, but the ones here are just average. They gave bread and charged 0.80€ at lunch, same at dinner minus the charge. They offered complimentary gummy candies at the end of lunch, and liqueur shots after dinner. Service: Not sure if culture differences come into play, but service was very delayed for simple requests. Like the staff would not do work, goof around, and then get to your request. The lunch crew were very patient and appreciated my Spanish while communicating with them. Dinner crew was younger and relatively more immature, but our waiter spoke English at least. Tipping isn't as common in Spain according to research. Odd for two bills to be contradictory, where one had a message of tip "not included" and the other bill had the tip message crossed out. Overall prices are cheap, portions are decent, some foods are hit or miss, but there's so much inconsistency with how things are done here. read more

See all

Extremely delicious! We had the paella, empanadas argentinas, steak potatoes and peppers and white wine. Great service and prices too!

Clearly a local favorite - small, packed bar with excellent tapas, seafood, risotto and sangria. Our favorites were the scallops (special), croquetas and the salmon brocheta. Service was fast and very friendly! read more