The best international food in Madrid
What to order, where to go and the little things worth knowing.
- 01
Kitchen 154
The spice-obsessed Southeast Asian crew from Vallehermoso market, now with a proper room near the Palacio.
OrderYum Kai Dao, the fried-egg dish; Gai Tod Sweet Chili chicken and Gaeng Massaman Neua curry.
- 02
Mercado de San Fernando
Lavapiés' working market, where greengrocers share aisles with cheap bars, natural wine and world-food stalls.
OrderA glass of natural wine and artisan cheese at Bendito, then browse the other stalls.
- 03
Chuka Ramen Bar
Ramen, baos and dumplings on Echegaray, with rich broths and a counter worth squeezing into.
OrderTokyo shoyu or Hakata tonkotsu ramen, plus gyoza de vaca madurada y ají amarillo.
- 04
Mercado de Vallehermoso
A 1933 neighbourhood market that quietly became one of the best places to eat in Madrid.
OrderTripea's tasting menu, with its signature ceviche caliente de mejillones al wok.
- 05
StreetXO
Dabiz Muñoz's loud, theatrical street-food bar, with Asian flavours and a front-row view of the kitchen.
OrderSándwich club al vapor, dumpling pekinés with crispy pig's ear, and nigiri croqueta de la Pedroche.
- 06
Pui Thai Tapas
Pui's original Thai dining room makes a good case for ordering soup before you get distracted by the noodles.
OrderTom kha gai, pad thai de langostinos and ensalada de pato crujiente con pera a la brasa.
- 07
Patacón Pisao
A Colombian veteran near Atocha where the bandeja paisa makes ambitious dinner plans look rather optimistic.
OrderPatacón de carne mechada, bandeja paisa and jugo de lulo en agua.
- 08
Go Hyang Mat
A neighbourhood Korean for sizzling rice bowls and sweet-potato noodles, with little interest in ceremony.
OrderDolsot bibimbab, chap che de ternera and estofado de tofu, cerdo y kimchi.
- 09
Bardero
Latin American and Asian accents meet at this Palos dining room, where an eel taco can steal the evening.
OrderBuñuelos de queso Ossau-Iraty y espinacas, tartar de atún rojo and taco de anguila.
- 10
Piantao Legazpi
An Argentine grill opposite Matadero where empanadas and smoky croquetas set you up for a serious steak.
OrderEmpanadas criollas, bife de chorizo and croquetas de asado ahumado.
- 11
Buenas y Santas
An Argentine neighbourhood kitchen for oven-gratinated milanesas and a proper dulce de leche finish.
OrderMilanesa napolitana and panqueque argentino de dulce de leche.
- 12
Nacho Bravo Taquería
A casual taquería by Legazpi metro, mixing Mexican tacos with Venezuelan fillings and snacks since 2018.
OrderTostada de atún, taco de pollo al pastor and a michelada.
- 13
Habesha
An Ethiopian table near Atocha where the vegetable platter holds its own against the meat stews.
OrderSambusas de lentejas, Atikilt Beyeainetu to share, or key wot if you fancy beef.
- 14
El Torrezno Filipino
Filipino cooking by Palos de la Frontera, with lechon kawali giving the Spanish torrezno a porky cousin.
OrderLechon kawali, sisig and lumpiang Shanghai.
- 15
Restaurante Miso
A small Korean restaurant in Imperial for bulgogi, hot bibimbap and a proper kimchi tortilla.
OrderBulgogi, bibimbap caliente and tortilla de kimchi.
- 16
Los Andenes Vegan
Peruvian vegan cooking by Puerta de Toledo, with plant-based chicharrones and tres leches that mean business.
OrderCarapulcra con chicharrones, causa acevichada and torta tres leches; everything is vegan.
- 17
Vegania Veggie Bar Carabanchel
A vegan neighbourhood bar where homemade seitán and hefty burgers make a convincing dinner near Eugenia de Montijo.
OrderKebab de seitán, hamburguesa de avena, tofu y tomate seco, and brownie con helado.
- 18
El Sexto Sol
An informal Oporto stop for tacos, generously filled quesadillas and a terrace drink when dinner can take its time.
OrderTacos de cochinita, quesadilla de res and a margarita.
- 19
La Toquilla
Ecuadorian comfort food on Valvanera, with fish encebollado and plantain corviches worth bringing a proper appetite for.
OrderEncebollado and corviche de pescado.
- 20
Nem Nem - Mercado de Prosperidad
Vietnamese rolls and warming phở make this Prosperidad market stall a useful change from another croqueta.
OrderRollitos de primavera de cerdo, rollitos frescos de tofu and phở de ternera.
- 21
Fass
German comfort food beside Concha Espina, with enough sausage choices to make choosing the hard part.
OrderCodillo con chucrut and parrillada de salchichas.
- 22
Huacatay
A straightforward Peruvian neighbourhood restaurant where ceviche and lomo saltado do the talking.
OrderCeviche de pescado, lomo saltado and chicha morada.
- 23
Alduccio
An Italian veteran opposite the Bernabéu, with handmade pasta and enough history for several long lunches.
OrderEspaguetis a la carbonara and volcán de chocolate con helado de vainilla.
- 24
Knight n' Squire
Fleming's wonderfully cluttered American veteran still makes room for giant hot dogs and a noisy night out.
OrderPerrito Nait especial and croquetas Nait de bacon y cheddar.
- 25
Trikki Nueva Orleans Traditional Cuisine
New Orleans cooking on Santa Engracia, with gumbo, po'boys and a good excuse to get icing sugar everywhere.
OrderNew Orleans gumbo, po'boy Forrest Gump and beignets.
- 26
Chifa
A small dining room with a large appetite for mixing Latin American sharpness and Asian spice.
OrderCebiche de corvina, pulpo y vieira; dumplings chinolatinos; curry rojo de carrillada de vaca.
- 27
Pizzería Fratelli Figurato
The Figurato brothers' little original pizzeria, where Naples makes room for chorizo from León.
OrderPizza Diavola de León and tiramisú della mamma.
- 28
Lana
An Argentine parrilla where aged beef gets its own display and you choose a handmade steak knife.
OrderEmpanada de carne cortada a cuchillo, chinchulines de lechal and ojo de bife Angus.
- 29
Quimbaya
Edwin Rodríguez's Colombian tasting menus, with arepas and empanadas given Michelin-starred attention.
OrderOn Clásicos Q: arepa de huevo con vieira, empanada bogotana and sobrebarriga con papa nativa y hogao.
- 30
Bacira
Gyozas filled with cocido and lubina served as tiradito: a playful meeting of Mediterranean and Asian cooking.
OrderGyoza de pringá del cocido con salsa brava, tiradito de lubina a la bilbaína and pisco sour.
- 31
Nakeima Dumpling Bar
An intimate Asian tasting counter where nigiri gets a Madrid accent and the menu keeps changing.
OrderThe menú degustación; look for nigiri de gamba al ajillo and carbonara de enoki on the changing menu.
- 32
Tripea
Eight punchy Peruvian-Asian courses at a stall in Mercado de Vallehermoso, with wok-fired mussels as the anchor.
OrderThe menú degustación: ceviche caliente de mejillones al wok, siumai de panceta y papada and bao de lomo saltado.
- 33
Baco y Beto
A little Pelayo taberna where Cuban ropa vieja fits beautifully into a night of Spanish wine and shared plates.
OrderRopa vieja a la habanera and setas rebozadas con salsa de trufa.
- 34
Hot Now
Pistachio pesto and spicy honey make this communal-table pizzeria a good excuse to abandon your usual order.
OrderPizza Pistacho, pizza Pepperoni and a caña.
- 35
Mune
A Lebanese table on Pelayo where ordering lots of little plates is the most sensible decision you'll make.
OrderMuhamara, kibbe and esmalliyeh.
- 36
La Hummusería
Warm hummus, hot pita and proper vegetable dishes make this an easy Chueca lunch long after other kitchens shut.
OrderHummus con champiñones, berenjena de Sofía and limonada natural.
- 37
Kuoco
Rafa Bergamo's Barquillo kitchen makes Latin American and Asian flavours meet in remarkably precise little bites.
OrderCroqueta tom yam, gamba ajillo-thai and steak tartar koreano.
- 38
Mercado de Barceló
Groceries downstairs and Korean fried chicken upstairs: a working market with reasons to stay for lunch.
OrderBibimbap de ternera, pollo frito KFFC Yangnyeom and mandu Steamy Seoul at Mama Uma, on planta 2.
- 39
Sr. Ito
Japanese cooking gets a Madrid accent here: rabo de toro in gyozas, scallops in baos and art on the walls.
OrderGyozas de rabo de toro, bao socarrao con vieiras and a mojito de sake.
- 40
Krachai
A quiet Thai dining room in Salesas for proper curries, chicken satay and a separate vegetarian selection.
OrderPad thai kung con langostinos, brochetas de pollo kai satay and arroz con leche de coco y mango.
- 41
Yakitoro
Charcoal grills and ice wells in the tables set the scene for Japanese skewers with Spanish sauces.
OrderPollo frito crujiente con salsa agridulce cañí and berenjena china en tempura con salsa satay y lima.
- 42
Callao 24
Jhosef Arias's Peruvian cooking on Agastia puts creamy ají de gallina and a good pisco sour within reach.
OrderAjí de gallina, lomo saltado and pisco sour.
- 43
Sapore di Sicilia
Carmelo's little Sicilian café makes the weekday lunch break an excuse for arancini and tiramisú.
OrderArancini de espinacas, rigatoni con emperador and tiramisú.
- 44
Baden Baden
Pueblo Nuevo's beer education since 1985, with ten changing taps and codillo to keep you grounded.
OrderCodillo, salchichas bávaras and cerveza artesana de grifo.
- 45
Con 2 Fogones
A colourful neighbourhood dining room that puts rabo de toro in dim sum and keeps weekday lunch affordable.
OrderCausa Mad-Limeña, quesadillas de pulpo a la gallega and dimsum de rabo de toro.
- 46
La Taquería de Birra
Madrid's early taco pioneer still makes a good excuse for cochinita and a margarita on Comendadoras.
OrderTacos de cochinita pibil, quesadillas de huitlacoche and a margarita.
- 47
Mercado de los Mostenses
A working market behind Gran Vía, with Peruvian lunches and Asian counters among the fishmongers.
OrderCeviche clásico, papa a la huancaína and chicha at La Popular.
- 48
Nacha
An Argentine bistro in an old corner café, with good empanadas and a bright room for a long lunch.
OrderEmpanada de carne cortada a cuchillo, labneh ahumado con focaccia and flan de dulce de leche.
- 49
Al-Mounia
A long-running Moroccan dining room where carved wood and a crisp pastela make dinner feel ceremonial.
OrderPastella farci, cuscús Fassi de cordero and té moruno a la menta.
- 50
Alfredo's Barbacoa
Madrid burger history with barbecue sauce on its chin, still going strong in its original Lagasca home.
OrderHamburguesa Alfredo's Classic, chile con carne and ensalada de col.
- 51
99 Sushi Bar
Polished Japanese cooking on Hermosilla, where the tiger-prawn tempura earns its place before the sushi.
OrderTempura de langostino tigre, gyozas de jabalí and gunkan 99 Sushi Bar.
- 52
Cilindro
Peruvian cooking with an Asturian accent, smoky pork and an excellent excuse for a pisco sour.
OrderCeviche a la crema de rocoto y aguacate, chancho al cilindro and pisco sour.
- 53
La Bistroteca
Charcoal burgers treated like a proper dinner, with La Palma bringing the mojo picón.
OrderHamburguesa La Palma, guacamole preparado en mesa and tarta tres leches.
- 54
La Leyenda del Agave
A Mexican neighbourhood veteran where cuitlacoche and tamarind margaritas deserve the table space.
OrderCochinita pibil, quesadillas de cuitlacoche and margarita de tamarindo.
- 55
Tandoori Station
A long-established Indian favourite where the tandoor and carefully spiced curries share the bill.
OrderPollo tikka masala, naan de ajo and lassi de mango.
- 56
Taberna Búlgara
Peña Prieta's Bulgarian table means hot clay pans, grilled meat and a welcome detour through its wine list.
OrderSach de cerdo, sirene po shopski and mish-mash.
- 57
Portacos Bar
A tiny Mexican dining room on Numancia market's outer edge, with serious tacos and margaritas.
OrderTaco de panceta, tacos al pastor and a margarita.
- 58
PizzaKore
Sourdough pizzas at Numancia market, with pumpkin and torreznos on the Pumpky and pear on the BlanKilla.
OrderPizza Pumpky, pizza BlanKilla or pizza hortelana with queso vegano.
- 59
Farah
Heba Kharouf's Eastern Mediterranean cooking on Mancebos, with muhammara and a sea bass built for sharing.
OrderMuhammara, lubina con tahini para dos, and knafé de queso y pistachos.
- 60
Ebisu by Kobos
Kobos Cortés serves Edo-style sushi at a nine-seat counter, with a single €200 omakase and no à la carte.
OrderMenú omakase, with nigiri de anguila and moshimono de merluza among the seasonal passes.
- 61
Los Chuchis
British home cooking in a tiny Lavapiés dining room; the roast pork makes a persuasive case for staying.
OrderCerdo asado con manzanas, piel de patata con crema agria y salsa picante, and paté casero con pepinillos.
- 62
Tatema Madrid
Charred corn, clever vegetables and mezcal cocktails make this Argumosa dinner worth stretching out.
OrderMazorca tatemada, brócoli frito con sésamo y queso curado, and a Romero Mezcaloni.
- 63
África Fusión
Senegalese rice dishes and peanut sauce bring a very good reason to eat properly on terrace-lined Argumosa.
OrderMafe de ternera, thiebou djenne de pescado and bissap.
- 64
Mandela 100
Senegalese peanut stew and cold hibiscus juice make a generous lunch by Plaza de Nelson Mandela.
OrderMafe de ternera, fataya and bissap, the cold hibiscus drink.
- 65
Shapla
An unfussy curry stop on Calle Lavapiés, with a house biryani that does the work of a whole meal.
OrderBiryani especial Shapla, onion bazee and lassi de mango.
- 66
Yugo The Bunker
Julián Mármol's Japanese, starred by Michelin since 2019: an izakaya upstairs and a wartime-bunker room below.
OrderClásicos del Bunker: nigiri de toro con crujiente de plancton and gyoza de rabo de vaca.
- 67
Okashi Sanda
Japanese comfort food with pumpkin korokke, pork katsu kare and plenty of vegan alternatives.
OrderKorokke mixta, katsu kare and gyozas de kimchi; the curry also comes in a vegan version.
- 68
Pizzi & Dixie
Vegan pizza with a proper puffed rim, fresh pasta and a Ferrero Rocher finale that means business.
OrderPizza Dixie, gnocchi de maíz con pesto de pistacho and tarta Ferrero Rocher con helado de avellana.
- 69
Taberna Griega
Moussaka, shared dips and sirtaki: a Greek dinner that can get considerably louder than you planned.
OrderMusaka, tzatziki and souvlaki; a good spread for a table that likes passing plates around.
- 70
Kinza
Georgian dumplings full of broth, a cheese-filled bread boat and wine made for a long shared dinner.
OrderKhinkali de ternera, khachapuri adjaruli and a glass of Saperavi de barrica.
- 71
Luna Rossa
A longstanding Neapolitan table where the wood oven and serious Italian wines deserve equal attention.
OrderPizza Margherita and manfredi al ragú napoletano; the slow-cooked pasta sauce is worth sharing alongside the pizza.
- 72
Botequim Brunch & Tapas
Brazil turns up at brunch with tapioca, fried yuca and a croissant that takes carbonara rather seriously.
OrderTapioca de setas trufadas, croissant carbonara and huevos Benedict con yuca frita.
- 73
Mercado de San Ildefonso
A three-floor food hall where tequeños and croquetas can settle a group argument about dinner.
OrderTequeños de queso at La Arepera and croquetas de cocido at the Croquetas stall.
- 74
La Musa
Sharing plates with a playful streak, from a meat-filled bomba de patata to a carabinero in brioche.
OrderBomba de patata rellena de carne, berenjenas japonesas a la brasa and Rock and Roll de carabinero.
- 75
Waraku
A Japanese neighbourhood restaurant where gluten-free diners can join in the gyoza-and-ramen ritual.
OrderGyozas a la plancha and ramen Waraku.
- 76
Zúccaru
A tiny Sicilian sweet shop that makes a palace walk considerably stickier.
OrderHelado de pistacho, cannolo de ricotta and brioche con helado.
- 77
La Esquina del Real
A small French dining room where garlic butter and duck sauces reward taking your time over dinner.
OrderCaracoles con mantequilla de ajo, magret de pato con ajos dulces and tarta fina de manzana con helado de canela.
- 78
Kuraya
Creamy chicken ramen beside Herradores, with a tempting vegan bowl too.
OrderRamen Kuraya Black with ajo negro, or tantan vegano with tofu and sesame.
- 79
Taquería Mi Ciudad
The original tiny Fuentes taquería makes a strong case for another round of tacos.
OrderTacos al pastor, taco de huitlacoche and a michelada.
- 80
Le Bistroman Atelier
A small French dining room where sauces, butter and a serious wine list justify dressing up.
OrderCaracoles con mantequilla de hierbas, ravioli de txangurro en bouillabesa and magret de pato.
- 81
La Negra Tomasa
Cuban cooking and live salsa turn a dinner just behind Sol into a considerably longer evening.
OrderRopa vieja tradicional, lechón asado and a mojito.
- 82
Artemisa - Gran Vía
A dependable vegetarian dining room near Carmen, with a daily menu and a fondness for stuffed aubergines.
OrderCroquetas veganas en tempura de garbanzos and berenjena Artemisa.
- 83
El Rincón del Venezolano
A Venezuelan neighbourhood stop where cachapas and tequeños make a very persuasive lunch.
OrderCachapa La Caraqueña, tequeños and cruzado on Sundays.
- 84
Mercado Maravillas
A working food market where the weekly shop can turn into a Venezuelan empanada lunch.
OrderEmpanada de pabellón and cachapa con queso at El Empanadazo.
- 85
La Piperna
Nello's Neapolitan cooking makes a long lunch of slow ragù, baked aubergine and excellent pasta.
OrderPaccheri al ragú napolitano, parmigiana de berenjena and milhojas de ricota y pera.
- 86
Masa Naomi
A small Japanese dining room where a bowl of udon and a seat at the sushi bar make a very complete evening.
OrderTanuki udon, tempura de langostinos y verduras and sushi de ikura.
- 87
Royal Cantonés
Cantonese roasts and dim sum in Usera since 2009, with a mixed platter that makes a fine starting point.
OrderCombinado de asados cantoneses, cazuela de berenjenas con cerdo and tartaletas de huevo.
- 88
Hong Kong 70
Cantonese roast meats under neon and old film posters, with set menus that work well when you are eating alone.
OrderMenú de tres asados and té con leche.
- 89
Lao Tou
Zhejiang cooking behind an old bullfighting mural, with a fish-head soup worth bringing company for.
OrderSopa de cabeza de merluza, empanadillas de pollo and tofu al estilo japonés.
- 90
Bammbao
Xu brings China and Andalucía together in Usera, with pork belly ingots and cauliflower doing duty as bravas.
OrderLingote de oro, serpiente púrpura (aubergine) and bravas chinas (cauliflower).
- 91
Jin Yun Shao Bing
Crisp shaobing filled with pork and bowls of noodles at a small Usera shop that opened in 2015.
OrderTorta de cerdo (shaobing), tallarines con aceite de cebolleta and sopa huntun.
- 92
MuMu Hotpot BBQ
Individual hot pots and a rotating skewer grill on Olvido, with a sauce station for mixing your own dip.
OrderCaldo picante, surtido de setas and brochetas de beicon con enoki.
- 93
Helaotai
Homemade noodles, lamb broth and red lanterns at a small Usera soup shop with very little ceremony.
OrderRamen de cordero and gyozas caseras.
- 94
Igo Pasta
Chinese cooking, ramen and sushi on Dolores Barranco, with fideos fritos and a good-value lunch menu worth knowing.
OrderFideos fritos and pato de Beijing to share.
- 95
Hong Du
A Chinese takeaway counter near Usera metro for steamed baozi and youtiao, with photos to help you order.
OrderBaozi de cerdo and youtiao, the long churros chinos.
- 96
La Fonda
A Colombian dining room in Almendrales where bandeja paisa and sancocho come with generous portions and country decor.
OrderBandeja paisa, empanadas de carne and sancocho.
- 97
Emka
Tigrillo, humita and coffee roasted in-house bring an Ecuadorian breakfast to this little Tetuán café.
OrderTigrillo, humita and café de filtro.
- 98
Doku Toku
Onigiris, strawberry shortcake and homemade yuzu soda make a fine double bill with the nearby cinemas.
OrderOnigiri de katsuobushi, tarta de fresas (shortcake) and soda de yuzu.
- 99
Alabanda
Live blues and Brazilian cooking share this Lavapiés tavern, with the music room behind the bar.
OrderCoxinha de pollo, lasaña de bacalao con verduras and vermut Bendito de grifo.
- 100
Havana Blues
Ropa vieja, mojitos and a small Arganzuela dining room that makes a Cuban dinner feel like a family visit.
OrderRopa vieja a la cubana, buñuelos de yuca con queso and a mojito.
- 101
El Camoatí
An Argentine bistro where live bandoneón, milanesa and a Fernandito make a fine excuse to linger.
OrderEmpanada fugazzeta, milanesa napolitana and a Fernandito.
- 102
The Irish Corner
A sprawling Irish pub on Arturo Soria, with gigs, Guinness and a surprisingly Madrid-minded bocata.
OrderIrish Corner Burger, bocata Irish Madrid and a pinta de Guinness.
- 103
Mercado de Numancia
Vallecas does its shopping here, then gets distracted by Valletako's birria de rabo de toro.
OrderTaco de birria de rabo de toro and taco de cochinita pibil at Valletako.
- 104
BBCR
Crisp dosas and soft idli make this south Indian corner of San Enrique worth crossing town for.
OrderMysore masala dosa, idli and lassi de mango.
- 105
Casa Pachuco
A tiny Lavapiés lunch room where the daily board takes cheerful detours through Asia without inflating the bill.
OrderEscabeche filipino de berenjenas and curry panang de albóndigas de ternera, as the menu rotates.
- 106
Joy Bakery
A tiny Filipino bakery whose purple ube sponge gives the neighbourhood cake run a very good twist.
OrderBizcocho de ube and tarta de queso.
- 107
La Suegra
Colombian bakery comfort in Vista Alegre, with tres leches and a hot Milo for an unapologetically sweet break.
OrderTarta tres leches, brazo de reina and Milo caliente.
- 108
Bibì e Bibò
Italian ice cream gets tucked into warm brioche here, which is a very good reason to forget the cone.
OrderPanino de helado and tiramisú de mascarpone y café.