It is difficult to summarize the flavors of countries like Senegal, Ghana, Ethiopia or Morocco in a selection of African restaurants in Madrid is difficult, but the neighboring continent has worthy representatives in the capital.
Grits, cassava and lamb are common factors in almost all African gastronomy, but the elaborations and specialties vary, as is logical in such a large and diverse territory.
At Lavapiés more than 30% of its inhabitants are foreigners, and the African community is one of the largest, especially Moroccans and Senegalese, so here there is a large concentration of restaurants that cultivate their cuisine.
1. La Teranga
La Teranga is one of the busiest Senegalese restaurants in Lavapiés. Thiébu djen is the star of the menu and the national dish of Senegal, although it is also eaten in neighboring countries. It is essentially fried fish with vegetables and rice, which is then cooked and served together. There is also a very similar and equally popular version with meat which is thiébu yapp. If you want to drink something other than water, but carbonated drinks are not your thing, they make good juices here.
📍 Calle de Caravaca, 12 (Lavapiés)
Average price: 20€
2. Colors Bar
Bar Colores is another well-known Senegalese restaurant in Lavapiés, where some of the city’s most interesting and inexpensive gastronomic treasures are hidden. Here the dishes have a fixed price of 6 or 7€ and are so hearty that you can share them. Their maafe, meat stew with peanuts -a type of peanut-, is a classic.
📍 Calle Mesón de Paredes, 56 (Lavapiés).
Average price: 15€
3. Tribe Africa
Guinea, Senegal or Morocco are united in the menu of Tribu Africa, which also includes typical dishes from the streets of the continent such as Aka Suya – spicy lamb skewers.
This is the ideal African restaurant for when you don’t know much about this gastronomy and want to try the most typical dishes of such varied and different countries. Its Tribu tasting, consisting of three sauces with garnish, is, in fact, designed for the undecided or those who want to get started with new flavors and textures.
📍 Calle Martín de los Heros, 19 (Argüelles)
Average price: between 30€ and 40€ per person.
4. Nômada
Nômada is a restaurant inspired by North Africa, located in a tent in the inner courtyard of the block next to El Corte Inglés on Serrano Street, in the heart of the city salamanca neighborhood. Between the tahini, the variety of hummus and baklavas, there is African music and live DJs, as well as Arabic dancing.
They have a large terrace perfect to take advantage of the long days, and from 12:30 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday it is renamed Club, adding shows to its offer.
Calle de Serrano, 41 (Salamanca neighborhood)
Average price: 30 € per person.
5. Nuria
In this Ethiopian restaurant in Malasaña is eaten with the hand, as is typical of many African dishes. Almost everything is served on injera, a kind of fermented and very spongy flatbread that is both the base of the dish and food.
They have a tasting menu that includes the house special that combines the most typical of the country: stews and seasoned vegetables. To drink they serve the typical Ethiopian drink which is wine with honey, in addition to the traditional ceremony of freshly roasted coffee.
📍 Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 6 (Malasaña).
Average price: 20€
6. Al Mouina
This African restaurant took months to complete because of the handcrafted decorative elements brought in from Morocco. It was the first Moroccan haute cuisine restaurant in Madrid, opened in 1966 and is still going strong.
Eating a whole roasted lamb that is placed on the table for each diner to help themselves is a culinary experience. The kefta with eggs and vegetable or chicken cous cous are also the main dishes on the menu.
📍 Calle Recoletos, 5 (Salamanca district).
Average price: 50 €.
7. Gibraltar Restaurant
A sure hit when you want to drink something more than the typical cover of the Sundays of Flea market. The closest thing to dining in Marrakech’s Yamaa el Fna square is the Gibraltar Restaurant. It is cheap, it is authentic, it has a terrace, its lamb tajine with plums and almonds is spectacular and the bakklavas even those who dislike sweets will fall in love with it.
📍 Calle del Casino, 16 (Lavapiés)
Average price: 15€