{"id":11949,"date":"2020-05-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madridfoodtour.com\/?p=11949"},"modified":"2023-01-05T17:42:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T17:42:05","slug":"best-croquetas-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

This post was originally published on May 11, 2020 and was updated on January 5, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Spanish croquettes are the perfect tapa for any occasion! But it helps to know how to separate the great from the merely good. At these places that make the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid, you’ll soon see that not all croquettes are created equal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Six<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You know a tapa is truly legendary when it has a whole day dedicated to it\u2014January 16th is officially World Croquette Day. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t enjoy this popular dish every day of the year! We\u2019re going to dive into the secrets of Spanish croquetas<\/em>, and share some of our favorite spots to try them in Madrid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You might be wondering: what exactly are croquettes? These little fried rolls are popular the world over, but Spain does them especially well (okay, we might be biased). That said, there are secrets to spotting the best of the bunch\u2026 ready to discover them for yourself?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Spot a Perfect Croqueta<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many claim to have the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid\u2014but what does that actually mean? What makes a croquette not just good, but great? Let\u2019s work from the outside in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When the waiter drops off a raci\u00f3n de croquetas <\/em>at your table or on the aluminum bar top, the first thing you\u2019ll see is the shape. Undoubtedly round and uniform? Buyer beware!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

These are likely the industrial, frozen variety of croquettes. Still decent, but nothing too special.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When made by hand, croquetas<\/em> are very labor intensive. For a tell-tale sign that someone has put in the work, look for grooves left behind by the hands of the obrador <\/em>who made them. Alternatively, they may have been shaped by two spoons, a traditional method that gives croquettes a more elongated shape.<\/p>\r\n

\"Several
When it comes to croquetas<\/em>, the more imperfect they look, the better they’ll taste!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
Once you\u2019ve confirmed that the shape is authentic, it\u2019s time to take a bite. The first thing you\u2019ll feel is the crunchy exterior, thanks to a coating of breadcrumbs added before deep frying.<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A good croqueta <\/em>should have a crispy shell that isn\u2019t especially oily, making it easy to pick up with your hands. If they\u2019re fresh and hot out of the fryer, a fork and knife is also okay. When in doubt, look around to see how the locals are eating, and follow suit!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Next up is the filling. At the center of the croqueta <\/em>is a soft, creamy, flour-based b\u00e9chamel. It should be thick enough that you can pick the croqueta<\/em> up without it falling apart, but soft enough that it melts in your mouth.<\/p>\r\n

\"A
Getting to the good stuff!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to the b\u00e9chamel, Spanish croquettes are commonly filled with pieces of leftover jam\u00f3n<\/em> (Iberian ham). Additionally, other common fillings include puchero<\/em> (shredded meat), bacalao<\/em> (salt cod) and boletus<\/em> (mushroom). But the options are endless, and you\u2019re likely to find all kinds of creative flavor combinations!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hungry already? If you’re up for the challenge, try making croquettes at home with our croquetas de jam\u00f3n<\/em> recipe.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Where to Find the Best Croquetas in Madrid<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ready to try some for yourself? Hit up any of the following places for croquetas<\/em> that\u2019ll blow your mind. Warning: it\u2019s almost impossible to eat just one.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Santerra: Award-Winning Croquetas<\/em><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Located in the Salamanca neighborhood, Santerra<\/a> is the perfect place to order a plate of highly acclaimed croquetas<\/em> while standing at the beautiful bar with the locals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2018, these were named the best ham croquettes in the world<\/a>, based on a variety of criteria. The best part? The homemade breadcrumbs create an extra-crunchy exterior, making that first bite even more enjoyable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Casa Manolo: Off the Beaten Path<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Casa Manolo<\/a> is located in Vic\u00e1lvaro, a former small town that Madrid’s urban expansion swallowed up in the 1950s. Open your cloth napkin and order the house croquetas<\/em> to start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you like them, don\u2019t keep it to yourself! Manolo is usually walking around the restaurant and won\u2019t shy away from a compliment. Because it\u2019s outside the city center, there\u2019s plenty of space nearby where you can walk off all that b\u00e9chamel.<\/p>\r\n

\"A
Croquetas<\/em> are the perfect addition to any tapas feast\u2014and don’t forget the wine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

B13 Bar: Vegetarian Croquetas<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Highly regarded as a go-to option among Madrid\u2019s vegetarian community<\/a>, B13 has created vegetarian versions of classic local dishes. They even have a veggie-friendly calamari sandwich!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Located in Malasa\u00f1a just a few minutes from Gran V\u00eda on Calle de la Ballesta, 13, this restaurant offers two different types of croquetas<\/em>: pumpkin and leek or mushrooms and garlic. Either one will set you back under 10 Euros for an appetizer-sized portion. Yum!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rocablanca: Totally Traditional<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you\u2019re culturally curious and unafraid to push your way up to the bar, this place is for you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You won\u2019t find any bells or whistles in this classic Madrid institution. But Rocablanca (Calle de Fuencarral, 71<\/em>)\u00a0serves up famous (and gigantic!) croquetas<\/em> in a variety of flavors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It\u2019s to your advantage to sit at\u2014or at least get close to\u2014the bar so you can see what kinds of croquetas<\/em> are waiting to be devoured. Don\u2019t miss the ham, and if you\u2019re still hungry try the bacalao<\/em> (salt cod), cabrales<\/em> (Asturian blue cheese) or fried egg with chorizo. Drooling yet? We are.<\/p>\r\n

\"Several
Perfectly fried croquetas<\/em> are one of the simplest pleasures of Spanish cuisine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Casa Julio: A Local Classic<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Last but not least: the spot that countless madrile\u00f1os<\/em> will name when asked where to find the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Located in an unassuming little locale in Malasa\u00f1a<\/a>, Casa Julio (Calle de la Madera, 37<\/em>) is regularly packed to the rafters with locals who know what’s up. Any one of the traditional Spanish dishes on the menu is worth your while, but most people come here in search of one thing alone: the famous (and huge!) croquettes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If variety is your thing, this is the place to go. Casa Julio’s croquette offerings are delicious and diverse, with several vegetarian options available at any given time, too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Best Croquetas in Madrid FAQs<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
What is a croquette in Spanish food?<\/strong>\r\n

A croquette is a small fried ball of b\u00e9chamel sauce with any number of fillings; ham, chicken, salt cod, and mushrooms are common croquette flavors in Spain. When done right, croquettes are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, imperfectly shaped, and not too oily.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Are croquettes tapas?<\/strong>\r\n

Croquettes are indeed a common menu fixture in many tapas bars in Spain! Depending on the establishment, you may also see them offered as a media raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a medium-sized shared plate) or a raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a large shared plate).<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post was originally published on May 11, 2020 and was updated on January 5, 2023. Spanish croquettes are the perfect tapa for any occasion! But it helps to know how to separate the great from the merely good. At these places that make the best croquetas in Madrid, you’ll soon see that not all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":11853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[75,53],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDevour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid (UPDATED)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Croquetas are one of Spain's most classic tapas. Learn how to spot the most authentic kind, and where to get the best croquetas in Madrid!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11949\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Devour Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DevourToursCo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-05-11T10:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-01-05T17:42:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/devour-tours-cookbook-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"801\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cait\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cait\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/\",\"name\":\"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid (UPDATED)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-11T10:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-01-05T17:42:05+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/448dfd0e558bebe3a29bd86ce3ca1713\"},\"description\":\"Croquetas are one of Spain's most classic tapas. Learn how to spot the most authentic kind, and where to get the best croquetas in Madrid!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/\",\"name\":\"Devour Tours\",\"description\":\"Food & Drink Tours In Europe & USA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/448dfd0e558bebe3a29bd86ce3ca1713\",\"name\":\"Cait\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Cait\"},\"url\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/author\/cait\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656\",\"name\":\"What is a croquette in Spanish food?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A croquette is a small fried ball of b\u00e9chamel sauce with any number of fillings; ham, chicken, salt cod, and mushrooms are common croquette flavors in Spain. When done right, croquettes are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, imperfectly shaped, and not too oily.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626\",\"name\":\"Are croquettes tapas?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Croquettes are indeed a common menu fixture in many tapas bars in Spain! Depending on the establishment, you may also see them offered as a <em>media raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a medium-sized shared plate) or a <em>raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a large shared plate).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Devour Tours","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid (UPDATED)","og_description":"Croquetas are one of Spain's most classic tapas. Learn how to spot the most authentic kind, and where to get the best croquetas in Madrid!","og_url":"dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11949","og_site_name":"Devour Tours","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DevourToursCo\/","article_published_time":"2020-05-11T10:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-01-05T17:42:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":801,"url":"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/devour-tours-cookbook-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Cait","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@devourtours","twitter_site":"@devourtours","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Cait","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/","name":"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid (UPDATED)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-05-11T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-01-05T17:42:05+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/448dfd0e558bebe3a29bd86ce3ca1713"},"description":"Croquetas are one of Spain's most classic tapas. Learn how to spot the most authentic kind, and where to get the best croquetas in Madrid!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656"},{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/","name":"Devour Tours","description":"Food & Drink Tours In Europe & USA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/448dfd0e558bebe3a29bd86ce3ca1713","name":"Cait","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Cait"},"url":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/author\/cait\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547030656","name":"What is a croquette in Spanish food?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A croquette is a small fried ball of b\u00e9chamel sauce with any number of fillings; ham, chicken, salt cod, and mushrooms are common croquette flavors in Spain. When done right, croquettes are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, imperfectly shaped, and not too oily.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/#faq-question-1622547093626","name":"Are croquettes tapas?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Croquettes are indeed a common menu fixture in many tapas bars in Spain! Depending on the establishment, you may also see them offered as a <em>media raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a medium-sized shared plate) or a <em>raci\u00f3n<\/em> (a large shared plate).","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11949"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11949"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28183,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11949\/revisions\/28183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}