Maria Canales

Updated Friday, February 2, 2024-02:15

Madrid is fashionable. Not only as a tourist destination (in 2023 it has positioned itself as

the third most attractive city in the world to visit

, behind Paris and Dubai), but also as a gastronomic

mecca

to which many renowned national and international chefs want to reach with their culinary offers. . The opening of new restaurants, which has happened almost daily in recent years, makes enjoying any type of cuisine, from any corner of the world, within everyone's reach: from a Peruvian ceviche, a Mexican birria or a fataya Senegalese to a Moroccan tagine, a Swiss fondue, a sushi bar, Chinese dumplings or an Ethiopian beyeanetu.

In two installments we take a gastronomic tour of the world without leaving Madrid, following the trail of modern, traditional, haute cuisine or

street food

international restaurants , for all types of budgets. We start with a first batch of places to

eat

America and Africa.

America

The Buffalo Chicken, from New York Burger.

USA

. When we talk about American cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is a good, juicy burger, accompanied by traditional coleslaw, fries and a huge vanilla milkshake. Although today there are numerous establishments specializing in this sandwich, which in many cases has become gourmet, the emblematic

Alfredo's Barbacoa

(Lagasca, 5) is the ideal place to enjoy a purely American atmosphere. Opened in 1981 by Texan Alfred Gradus, the restaurant was a pioneer in presenting its dishes loaded with ketchup and barbecue sauce in Madrid. In addition to 10 varieties of burgers (in two sizes), the menu includes chicken wings, onion rings, barbecue pork ribs, Caesar salad... (from 20 euros).

New York Burger

(Pº de la Castellana, 89) also guarantees a culinary trip to the city of skyscrapers with its 16 types of gourmet burgers in three sizes in its eight locations in Madrid (from 25 euros).

MEXICO

. Mexican cuisine is one of those that arouses the greatest interest in Spain, which has led to the opening of numerous restaurants in recent years, including haute cuisine, which are increasingly specialized in the different regions of the country. An example is

Barracuda MX

(Valenzuela, 7), where chef Roberto Ruiz, who made Madrid the city with the first Mexican in Europe with a Michelin star with his now defunct Punto MX, presents fresh and accessible dishes from the Pacific cookbook. Mexican, with fish and seafood as the protagonists. Tacos, quesadillas and tortilla chips share the menu with the sea bass, the Acapulco shrimp ceviche or the Sinaloa oyster, among others. Don't forget the desserts and cocktails (between 45 and 60 euros).

Sea bass with red guajillo chile and green poblano chile marinade from Barracuda MX.

In the elegant

Puntarena

(Alberto Aguilera, 20), in the Casa de México, fish rules in almost all preparations, from lemon fish tostada, imperial ceviche or crispy tuna to octopus in love or tuna with marrow or with guacamole (from 45 euros). Far from Tex-Mex clichés,

Tepic

(Ayala, 14) presents traditional dishes made with ingredients brought from the North American country, such as squash blossom, jicama, huitlacoche, epazote, tomato or nopales. There is also no shortage of chili peppers: chipotle, serrano, habanero... Don't miss their signature cocktails (from 30 euros). The cochinita pibil and the shrimp tacos al pastor are the bestsellers at

La Tomata

(Eguilaz, 1), a small family restaurant serving homemade food with a menu of only nine dishes. According to Juan Sardou, owner and former

maître

of Punto MX, his Mexican customers feel at home there (from 20 euros).

Mawey

(San Bernardo, 5), a reference in the capital for its authentic tacos at a good price, and

Mami Tacos Birriería

(San Andrés, 31), specialized in birria, a traditional stew that is eaten inside a tortilla, in a taco, and It dips in its own broth, are two others to keep in mind in the city.

Tepic quesadillas.

ARGENTINA

. Lovers of Argentine barbecues have their temple in

Piantao

(Pº de la Chopera, 69), where the meats are cooked on a large open grill. The rib stick from Hereford (Australia) and the beef eye of steers from the Argentine Pampa are some of its star dishes, prepared by Buenos Aires native Javier Brichetto (from 40 euros). Another Argentine grill to taste grilled meat, in addition to the typical empanadas, milanesas, provoletas, chorizo ​​criollo and other delicacies, is

La Torino

(Pl. Mayor de Barajas, 4, Barajas). It has a menu of the day and the executive menu during the week (19.50 euros). Specializing in authentic Argentine empanadas is

Graciana

(Novitiado, 9), with up to 38 sweet and savory varieties (from 2.85 euros per unit).

Argentine Piantao roast.

COLOMBIA

. Our culinary trip to the South American country stops at

Quimbaya by Edwin Rodríguez

(Zurbano, 63), a sophisticated restaurant specializing in signature Colombian cuisine (the first in Spain) with a Michelin star and a Repsol sun. In his small dining room with eight tables overlooking the kitchen, the chef, who worked at Pepe Rodríguez's Bohío, proposes a tour of different gastronomic areas of his country, the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Andes, the Orinoquía and the Amazon. , with a tasting menu of 10 courses (125 euros).

PERU.

Peruvian gastronomy has been gaining devotees in the capital for some time, a boom that is reflected in the number of new dining rooms that have opened in recent years, ranging from the refined and creative to the traditional. A classic is

Inti de Oro

(Edgar Neville, 17), a veteran who has been presenting traditional Andean cuisine dishes in Madrid for 30 years, where there is no shortage of red tuna tiraditos, rocoto ceviches, ají de gallina... In the extensive cocktail menu, pisco sour and chilcanos (from 30 euros). To pay tribute (culinary and good views), the exuberant

Oroya

(Plaza de Celenque, 2), on the roof of the luxurious The Madrid Edition hotel. The exotic proposals of Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz mark lunches, dinners and even

Saturday

brunch

. Pucusana-style fried squid, sea bass ceviche and octopus a la chalaca or beef heart anticuchos, yellow potatoes and Peruvian chili chalaca are some recommendations (from 55 euros).

Classic ceviche from the Peruvian Quispe.

Traditional dishes from the Amazon and the Andes with modern and creative touches is what

Tampu

(Prim, 13) offers by Peruvian chef Miguel Valdiviezo. His recipes can be enjoyed on the menu or in his Fusion tasting menu, with eight courses (65 euros). Considered "the cathedral of ceviche",

Piscomar

(Carrera de San Francisco, 15), with the renowned chef Jhosef Arias at the helm, pays tribute to the country's traditional cuisine and especially to seafood dishes: ceviches, tiraditos, Lima causes... They can be enjoyed à la carte or in a tasting menu (42 euros).

Quispe

(Conde de Aranda, 4) presents authentic Peruvian cuisine with classic recipes updated and with nods to Spanish, Chinese, Creole and even Japanese cuisine. It has a pisco bar (from 45 euros).

VENEZUELA

. To try delicious arepas and other typical Venezuelan dishes,

Apartaco

(Luchana, 7) is a modern space with industrial decoration where you can enjoy this popular dish with different fillings. Also tequeños, empanadas, cachapas, tostones and their sancocho and chupe soups (20 euros). Another place specialized in arepas and tostones is

La Arepera

(Gran Vía, 73).

Venezuelan arepa from Apartaco.

Africa

ETHIOPIA.

The colorful

Nuria

restaurant (Manuela Malasaña, 6) smells of spices and coffee, and is decorated with Ethiopian crafts and accompanied by cheerful music from the country. Lamb, beef, chicken, vegetables and other natural products imported from Ethiopia make up the menu, always accompanied by injera, a very thin bread cake as a base. Food is placed on it and pieces are torn by hand (cutlery is not used). To drink, tej, artisanal honey wine. Don't miss the coffee ceremony. It has a tasting menu (43 euros/two people). Another Ethiopian restaurant is

Gonder

(Grafal, 8), with traditional homemade food, seasoned with exotic spices, to eat with your hands and share. On the menu, dishes such as sambusa (fried dumpling), beyeanetu, awaze tibs... It has a tasting menu (19 euros) and a la carte.

Dish with Gonder injera.

MOROCCO

.

Almounia

(Recoletos,5), the oldest Moroccan restaurant in Madrid, more than 50 years old, boasts of serving the country's authentic cuisine with traditional recipes that fill its extensive menu. Among its specialties are couscous, pastella

(

puff pastry that combines sweet and salty), tagine, with a chicken and lamb base, and mechoui, whole lamb roasted on the grill (from 35 euros).

Aladino

(Duque de Liria, 2) is a rustic and casual place, with belly dancing included, that offers simple Moroccan and Syrian cuisine: hummus, tabbouleh, falafels, Moorish skewers, tagines, couscous... and the famous dessert Baklawa can be tasted on their special menu (31 euros).

Lamb tagine from Moroccan Almounia

SENEGAL

. At

Mandela 100

(Mesón de Paredes, 52) you can find homemade dishes from different African countries throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner, but Senegalese cuisine predominates. The menu is simple and cheap and its dishes include fataya (Senegalese dumpling), thiebou Gan (rice, chicken and vegetable dressing), maffe (white rice, beef and peanut sauce), firri (fried sea bream) and the dibi (lamb), both with rice and vegetables. To drink, Senegalese juices, such as Bissap (hibiscus flower) or Dakhar, with tamarind (from 7 euros for combined dishes).

Combination plate of the Senegalese Mandela 100.