He was the first MasterChef contestant to earn a Michelin star. Since being crowned the winner of the third season of this culinary talent show, Carlos Maldonado has committed to his hometown, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), where he opened his restaurant“Raíces.”
Now, the chef is making his mark in Madrid thanks to a collaboration with Sumo restaurants. This buffet chain specializes in Asian cuisine and is known for its affordable prices, with a buffet starting at €17.50 per person ( for lunch on weekdays).
Dark bao, salmon delice, and more
In total, Carlos Maldonado has designed eight dishes exclusively for the Asian chain, so that the general public can enjoy Michelin-quality tastings without having to pay a fortune for them.
Some of the creations you’ll find at Sumo include dark bao, salmon delice, tago gold, and beef bomb. This combination brings together the chef’s creativity with the very essence of Sumo, which typically focuses on the fusion of different culinary traditions.
“You didn’t see this one coming”
Sumo announced Carlos Maldonado’s dishes on its social media on March 19, via a video lasting just 6 seconds in which the chef’s silhouette could be seen holding two pairs of chopsticks.
With the tagline“you didn’t see this coming,”the restaurant sought to promote the news andgenerate excitement among its followers, who will now find dishes from a Michelin-starred chef on the menu.
For Carlos Maldonado, this is not his first collaboration with a chain; he previously worked with La Tagliatella in September 2025, designing four dishes for the chain that blended Italian tradition with flavors from around the world.
More than 10 restaurants to choose from
No matter where you are in Madrid, you can try these Sumo dishes, as the brand has more than 10 restaurants scattered throughout the city. You can dine at their location on Gran Vía or Juan Bravo ( in the Salamanca neighborhood), but also at the Kinépolis in Pozuelo, in Alcobendas, or in the Azca area.
Through their website, you can check the different locations and also book a table directly online. Additionally, you can view the menu and the buffet prices , which range from €17.50 for weekday lunches to €25.95 on weekend evenings.