![\"Cured](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/jamon-and-red-wine-on-barrel-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSpain’s capital city is a melting pot of typical food from every region of the country. Andalusian bars boasting refreshing gazpacho and salmorejo<\/em><\/a> sit alongside Galician<\/a> restaurants advertising heaping plates of pulpo a feira\u00a0<\/em>(Galician-style octopus). It’s possible to eat your way around Spain without ever leaving Madrid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But Madrid’s own traditional delicacies are well worth your time, too. No trip to the Spanish capital would be complete without tasting these typical foods in Madrid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As the weather gets cold, the smell of this simmering pork stew begins to waft through the streets of Madrid. Cocido madrile\u00f1o<\/a><\/em> is the definition of Spanish wintertime comfort food<\/a>, but not for the faint of heart (or stomach).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The most common take on this traditional Spanish stew usually consists of a flavorful broth full of vegetables, chickpeas, chorizo sausage, and pork. The stew simmers for upwards of four hours, creating a blend of heavenly, robust flavors that make for the ideal cure to Madrid\u2019s wintry weather.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The typical way to eat cocido madrile\u00f1o<\/em> is in two or three courses. Once the chickpeas, meats, and vegetables are finished cooking, cooks separate the broth and use it to make soup with small vermicelli noodles. This steaming soup\u00a0becomes\u00a0the first course. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The rest of the flavorful ingredients make up the main dish, often in two rounds. The chickpeas and veggies come first, followed by the stewed-to-perfection meat. Some places serve both portions at once, which helps abbreviate the meal a bit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Insider’s tip:<\/strong> Taberna La Bola<\/a> is our favorite place for cocido<\/em> in Madrid. This family-run spot has been making cocido<\/em> in the center of Madrid since 1870!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you can’t make it to Madrid just yet, get our favorite cocido madrile\u00f1o <\/em>recipe in Spanish Feasts from the Devour Tours Kitchen<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Traditional Spanish cuisine is very meat-and-potatoes. Nowhere is this fact more deliciously evident than in a steaming plate of huevos rotos<\/a><\/em>, which literally translates to \u201cbroken eggs.\u201d <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This typical Madrid dish is a plate of potatoes which are freshly fried in Spanish olive oil and tossed with sea salt. The potatoes are topped with perfect over-easy eggs. Depending on where you go, you’ll either break the yolks\u00a0with the edge of a crusty piece of bread or your server will\u00a0break them, often at the table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can find some of the best huevos rotos<\/em> in the city at Taberna Los Huevos de Lucio<\/a>, one of many great places to eat\u00a0in the La Latina area<\/a>. Check out our full guide to where to eat huevos rotos<\/em> in Madrid<\/a>, or make them at home with the recipe in our first digital cookbook<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Insider’s tip:<\/strong> Many restaurants add bits of chorizo or cured ham\u00a0to the mix for a burst of color and flavor. However, you can simply specify that you’d like with no meat if you’re looking for a vegetarian<\/a> option.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n No trip to Madrid is complete without tasting the city\u2019s most famous sandwich: the bocadillo de calamares,<\/em> or fried squid sandwich. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The most basic (and most traditional) bocadillo de calamares<\/em> consists of fresh, crusty bread loaded with flour-coated, deep-fried rings of squid, and nothing else. Some Spaniards top the two-ingredient creation with tomato and paprika puree or homemade garlic mayonnaise. For the full experience, make sure to wash your bocadillo<\/em> down with a cold ca\u00f1a<\/em> of beer. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The many side streets around Madrid’s grand Plaza Mayor<\/a> are home to some of the city’s best calamari sandwich bars<\/a>. (Yes, you can<\/em> find great food near tourist attractions!) Our favorite is La Campana.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Callos <\/em>is another one of the most typical foods in Madrid during the winter. Normally served in a clay dish, it consists of strips of beef tripe (stomach), chunks of chorizo, and slices of morcilla<\/em> (blood sausage). Many versions add paprika for flavor, resulting in a reddish-brown color.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This smoky, savory stew has been a popular cold-weather dish in Spain\u2019s bars and taverns for hundreds of years. In fact, the\u00a0first known recipes\u00a0for callos<\/em> date back to the 16th century! Today, you can find it in most bars and restaurants throughout the capital city during the winter months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Churros<\/a> are a staple of Madrid\u2019s after-hours nightlife, and a definite must-have for partiers on their way home during the wee hours of the morning. For non-nocturnal madrile\u00f1os,<\/em> churros with a cup of steaming hot, thick chocolate are a common afternoon snack for the 6 p.m. merienda<\/em>, and are even occasionally eaten for breakfast!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The most famous place to get your hands on a plate-full of churros\u2014<\/em>or their thicker, richer cousin, porras\u2014<\/em>is San Gin\u00e9s<\/a>, where madrile\u00f1os <\/em>and visitors alike have been devouring the sweet fried treat for more than 100 years. We also love the homemade porras<\/em> and churros at Bar Chocolat<\/a>, one of our food tour partners in the Huertas neighborhood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Check out the video below to see how they fry up their famous churros at San Gin\u00e9s!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When in Spain, eat as the Spaniards eat! And in this case, that includes pig ear. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A popular dish among locals, oreja<\/em> is typically only for the boldest of foreign travelers. Oreja a la plancha<\/em>, literally \u201cpan-seared ear,\u201d is typically served as a raci\u00f3n<\/em>, or large portion, and eaten with toothpicks. It is often sprinkled with salt or paprika and occasionally fresh-squeezed lemon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Unlike other parts of Spain where oreja<\/em> is almost always served by itself, in Madrid you can often find chunks of bacon or mushrooms mixed in with the dish.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tortilla de patatas<\/a><\/em>, or potato omelet, is a staple of Spanish cuisine and one of the most typical foods in Madrid. Here in the capital, the huge diversity of this simple dish is on prominent display. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There’s a tortilla de patatas<\/em> for everyone, no matter what your tastes may be. Some are runny piles of egg and potato that you have to scoop up with bread. Others are firm slices featuring everything from caramelized onions to mushrooms to sausage to peppers. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Most bars in Madrid will serve a small square of tortilla with a toothpick as a tapa. But to fully enjoy this dish, a pincho<\/em> (slightly larger slice) of tortilla<\/em> is a must! Be sure to check out our guide to the best tortillas <\/em>in Madrid<\/a> for the most delicious experience possible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n No list of the most typical foods in Madrid would be complete without croquetas<\/em>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, Spanish croquettes can be filled with just about any savory option you can imagine. We’re partial to croquetas de jam\u00f3n<\/em> (and even featured the recipe in our cookbook<\/a>), other delicious options include mushroom, chicken, salt cod, and even pea and mint!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The next time you find yourself in the Spanish capital, be sure to eat your way through our complete guide to the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid<\/a>. (You can thank us later.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It might surprise many first-time visitors to Madrid to learn that fresh seafood is plentiful here. Isn’t Madrid about as landlocked as a city can get?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Indeed it is, but as the seat of Spanish royalty, the capital has long benefitted from special roads and train lines built for the specific purpose of bringing fresh seafood in from the coast. And gambas al ajillo<\/em>\u2014fresh shrimp saut\u00e9d in a sizzling garlic sauce\u2014might just be one of our favorite ways to eat it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Invented after the Spanish Civil War at the classic tapas bar La Casa del Abuelo<\/a>, gambas al ajillo<\/em> have since become popular all over Spain. But there’s no better place to try them than the bar where it all began, preferably with a glass of their famous house wine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It’s no secret that Spain is a meat-loving country. With so many menu options revolving around different styles of pork or seafood, it would be easy to assume that vegetables are somewhat lacking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But there are some great plant-based typical foods in Madrid<\/a>\u2014you just need to know how to look for them. And one of our all-time favorites is pisto manchego<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Consisting of slow-cooked vegetables simmered for hours, pisto<\/em> is often considered to be a Spanish answer to ratatouille. It’s the perfect warming dish on a chilly day, and even carnivores will be able to appreciate the depth of flavor it offers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you follow a vegan diet, note that pisto <\/em>is occasionally served with a fried egg on top. Be sure to specify that you’d like yours “sin huevo, por favor<\/em>.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Lots of people have had deviled eggs. But have you had Spanish-style deviled eggs?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Huevos rellenos<\/em> are a staple around the holiday season in Spain, and you’ll also find them as an option in many Madrid tapas bars. The traditional filling is tuna and red pepper mixed into the egg yolk, but this is one of those dishes where it’s super easy to incorporate your own twist.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Can’t wait until you make it back to Madrid? Find our favorite huevos rellenos<\/em> recipe in our holiday-themed digital cookbook<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another excellent addition to Madrid’s surprisingly strong seafood scene, the salt cod fritters at local institution Casa Labra are so iconic that they regularly earn lines out the door of the bar. These little bites are quite simple, but when done right, they make for an unforgettable culinary experience. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Fun fact<\/strong>: You’ll sometimes hear locals refer to these as soldaditos de Pav\u00eda<\/em>, or “Pav\u00eda’s soldiers.” The nickname comes from the fact that the fritters are traditionally served with a roasted red pepper draped over the top. Legend says that because of this, they’re reminiscent of uniforms worn by the troops of a 19th century Spanish general named Pav\u00eda: a red jacket under a pale outer coat. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When the holiday season<\/a> rolls around, one dish you’ll find on nearly every table in Madrid is red cabbage salad with pine nuts and other winter goodies. It’s a true testament to how seriously we take seasonal eating here in Spain, and a deliciously festive way to kick off any holiday meal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Try it<\/strong>: We included an upgraded version of this festive classic in Spanish Feasts from the Devour Tours Kitchen<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We’re big on mushrooms here in Madrid. Whether grilled, stuffed, or fried, you’ll likely find them in one way or another on countless tapas bar menus throughout the city. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Two of our favorite options for champis<\/em> (as we call them\u2014short for the Spanish champi\u00f1ones<\/em>) are Casa Toni and Mes\u00f3n del Champi\u00f1\u00f3n<\/a>. Casa Toni does a fabulously simple grilled version, while Mes\u00f3n del Champi\u00f1\u00f3n stuffs theirs with chorizo, garlic, and parsley, with a squeeze of lemon juice for an extra kick. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Spain’s famous bull tail stew, rabo de toro<\/em>, has its roots in the southern city of Cordoba<\/a>. But here in Madrid, you’ll be able to find one of the most unique\u2014and delicious\u2014presentations of it in all of Spain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At El Anciano Rey de los Vinos<\/a>, owner Bel\u00e9n came up with a delicious modern twist on this Andalusian favorite. After cooking low and slow for several hours, the bull tail meat is packaged up into a neat savory pastry parcel and topped with a roasted red pepper. A drizzle of extra sauce on top makes the perfect final touch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Succulent roast lamb is a popular option for many Madrid families for Christmas Eve dinner, and a perfect warming winter meal all season long. Like most of the best typical foods in Madrid, cordero asado<\/em> is quite simple, and best enjoyed as part of an hours-long weekend lunch with family, friends, and plenty of wine. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whole baked fish, usually sea bream (besugo<\/em>) or another hearty white fish, is another testament to landlocked Madrid’s surprisingly strong seafood tradition. Whether you try it in the summertime while dreaming of the beach, or as part of a soul-warming winter meal, it’s a simple dish that’s always guaranteed to impress.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pepitoria<\/em> chicken has truly ancient roots: it uses classic Moorish ingredients such as saffron and almonds, and in fact everything on the ingredient list was available in Spain prior to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Older versions were traditionally made with hen, but today most Madrid cooks use chicken instead. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As one of the most typical foods in Madrid, you’ll often find pollo en pepitoria <\/em>as a lunch option on a men\u00fa del d\u00eda<\/a><\/em>, but it’s also such a great dish to make for a relaxing meal at home. Find the recipe in our holiday cookbook<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1. Cocido Madrile\u00f1o<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Plate](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cocido-madrilen\u0303o.jpg\")
2. Huevos Rotos<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Plate](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/huevos-rotos-FCC-1.jpeg\")
3. Bocadillo de Calamares<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Tray](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bocadillo-de-calamares-la-campana-madrid-1.jpg\")
4. Callos a la Madrile\u00f1a<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Bowl](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/callos-a-la-madrilen\u0303a.jpg\")
5. Churros con Chocolate<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6. Oreja a la Plancha<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
7. Tortilla de Patatas<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/two-slices-of-tortilla-1.jpeg\")
8. Croquetas<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Several](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/croquettes-croquetas-vermouth-1.jpeg\")
9. Gambas al Ajillo<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Garlic](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gambas-al-ajillo-garlic-shrimp-1.jpeg\")
10. Pisto<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Black](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pisto-manchego-FCC-1.jpeg\")
11. Huevos Rellenos<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Close](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/deviled-eggs-U-1.jpeg\")
12. Salt Cod Fritters<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Pieces](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bacalao-and-beer-casa-revuelta-madrid-1.jpeg\")
13. Ensalada Navide\u00f1a de Col Lombarda<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Salad](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/winter-salad-1.jpeg\")
14. Mushrooms<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Plate](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meso\u0301n-del-champin\u0303o\u0301n-mushrooms.jpeg\")
15. Regalitos de Rabo de Toro<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Savory](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/regalitos-rabo-de-toro-1.jpeg\")
16. Cordero Asado<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Roasted](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/roasted-lamb-U-1.jpeg\")
17. Baked Fish<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
18. Pollo en Pepitoria<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Chicken](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pollo-en-pepitoria-1.jpeg\")
19. Bu\u00f1uelos Rellenos<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Close](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/bun\u0303uelos-bunyols.jpeg\")
![\"Round](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flan-1.jpeg\")