Going to an open buffet in Madrid has always been a bit like Russian roulette. There were several clear, immovable factors, but in spite of everything you decided to take a gamble and give yourself a whim, assuming the risk. Going to a buffet was exactly that: you knew there would be quantity, you knew you’d have to fast a week and a half beforehand to amortize, and you knew the food would be crappy and oily. Going to a buffet used to mean that, but now the choices have multiplied and the quality has gone up with competition.
1. Genko
Genko, formerly Ginza, is an all-you-can-eat buffet that has two of the things we love most in life: sublime quality and good value. This Asian haute cuisine restaurant has been designed by Víctor Camargo (who has already worked in the kitchen and mixology of Salmón Gurú, Viva Madrid or Baan). Now, Camargo is back in the limelight with this “umami Iberian” concept that mixes the best of traditional products with Asian dishes in original dishes such as pork ear Siu Mai, grilled mussels with red kimchi and edamame or pork needle and bacon ramen.
You can opt for its menu or its free gastronomic tasting menu for 33,5€. Choosing this last option, you will be able to choose the dishes that catch your attention among the more than 40 that make up its menu (of course, repeating those that have left you wanting more).
📍 Calle Velázquez, 47 (Salamanca district)
2. Sumo
The quality of Sumo is top notch and probably the best place in Madrid to eat sushi when enough or enough doesn’t mean all you want. One of the virtues of this free sushibuffet of Madrid is that you can choose from 85 options and you can repeat as many times as you want. Nigiris, makis, temakis, soups, rice dishes and a long list of starters that will make it very difficult to choose.
💸 Buffet for one person from 16,95€
📍 Various locations.
3. Buffet and show at Gula Gula Drag Show
Gula Gula is one of the best restaurants with shows in Madrid and celebrates its magical evenings on Fridays and Saturdays with an open buffet with wide variety of meats fish, pasta or rice dishes. It also includes an open bar (wine, soft drinks, beer and sangria) until the show starts: a drag show with the best artists, monologues and musical passages.
💸 Buffet dinner with open bar and show: 49 €
📍 Calle de Preciados, 46 (Downtown)
4. A Ri Rang
This free buffet korean a la carte has (attention!) a grill in the center of the table. You may have seen a gas stove in the center of the table at a Chinese restaurant before, usually to heat up a giant bowl of soup, but this is an ode to the joy of eating without having to get up to go to the kitchen.
The buffet option is limited to specific dishes, which are mostly meat and fish to be grilled accompanied by rice and kimchi (spicy coleslaw). You can only order three or three dishes or ingredients per person, although there is no limit to the number of rounds. You can also order a la carte (many dishes are left out of the buffet) or menu of the day at lunchtime.
💸 Buffet without drinks included: 24 €
📍 Calle de la Bola, 12 (Center).
5. The Knife
For meat lovers there is this buffet argentinean grilled meat buffet. Its strong point is the quality of its Argentine style meat cuts, grilled to the diner’s taste on its charcoal grills. To accompany the meat, which you can enjoy in unlimited quantities, they offer fresh salads and, to finish, a variety of homemade desserts.
💸 Monday to Friday: 21,90 €, weekend: 32,90 €
📍 126 Arturo Soria Street (Arturo Soria Plaza Shopping Mall)
6. The Kaiten Lab Wonderland
If you like fantasy and sushi, this restaurant combines both concepts in the same space. The Kaiten Lab Wonderland is a running sushi buffet in an environment inspired by Alice in Wonderland. From its decoration to the presentation of the dishes, everything evokes the dreamlike world of Lewis Carroll.
💸 Buffet menu during lunch hours: 24,95 €
📍 Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 5 (Malasaña)
7.Running Sushi
This list could not miss some of the most fun and celebrated kaitenzushi restaurants in the capital. This type of restaurant, in which the dishes slide along a rotating belt, first opened in Osaka in the late 1950s. And in aesthetics and gastronomic offer, Running Sushi is a tribute to them.
Among neon signs, details of Japan’s urban landscape and reproductions of video games and arcade machines from the 1990s , more than 300 individual dishes are divided into two ribbons: one for cold dishes and desserts and the other for hot dishes, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
They now have three locations: Running Sushi in Market, a place set in the streets of Tokyo and the Tsujiki market; Running Sushi in Akihabara, decorated imitating this Tokyo shopping area dedicated to technology; and the original Running Sushi in Osaka.
💸 Midday and weekday menu: 14,95 €. Nights and weekends: 18,95 €. Drinks not included.
📍 Calle Hermosilla, 103 (Goya), avenida Monforte de Lemos, 36 (La Vaguada shopping center) and calle Princesa, 3-5, plaza Emilio Jiménez Millas (Centro).
8. Shi-Shang
One of the vegan and vegetarian Asian buffets par excellence in Madrid. From 12,50 € (drink not included) you can taste their dishes, which substitute meat for other options such as tofu or seitan. Spring rolls, dumplings, rice dishes or vegan lemon chicken are just some of the options you can sink your teeth into.
💸 Buffet from 11,50 € (drinks not included)
📍 Concepción Arenal Street, 3 (Center)
9. Guanabara by el Rodizio
A restaurant recommended by Dining with Pablo one of Madrid’s most popular food critics, can’t be a bad thing. Guanabara by el Rodizio is not just a buffet. And here that meaning “is much more than” fits like a glove on a hand of your size. Premium rib, faldinha or filé mignon are some of the cuts you can try in this rodizio. It also has vegan options and a long wine list.
💸 Monday to Friday at noon: 28 €. Nights and weekends: 33€
📍 Calle de Medea, 4 (Suanzes)
10. The Federal
La Federala is one of those free buffet restaurants that are far from what is generally associated with them, both in terms of the type of food and the format. Unlimited tacos are available only from Monday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding dinners, holidays and their eves.
But this mexican restaurant not only includes tacos at the buffet, but also unlimited nachos, starters and sides. One dessert per person is also included.
💸 Monday to Friday: 13450€ (drinks included).
polvoranca Street, 108 (Alcorcón) and Río Segura Street, 22 (Móstoles).
11. Hemu Sushi Buffet Libre
Hemu Sushi is the free buffet that triumphs in social networks and is located in the vicinity of Gran Vía. Its neat decoration, of traditional Japanese inspiration and the good presentation of its dishes makes it a bit different from the aesthetics of the running sushi places -which also have their charm. The price of the buffet, which is one of the most economical, also includes dessert, but not drinks, as usual.
💸 Food: 14,95 €, dinner: 17,95€
📍 Calle de los Jardines, 3 (centro)