No one can replace a good homemade soup (even more so if it is made by your grandmother), but in Madrid they serve good spoon dishes, and in fact they are local treason. Tripe and cocido. There is no better, but also in the capital are making room for other flavors that are well received: ramen, miso and other stews from all over the world triumph among the young public.
Sr Pepe’s stews
The fact that the perception of a traditional spoon dish does not go beyond the combo of legumes and chorizo is a problem that José Carlos Fuentes (Carme Ruscalleda’s pupil) has come to change.
Sr Pepe is an exaltation of traditional Spanish food that, as a result of his knowledge of the kitchen and eclecticism, applies rarely seen changes to a menu that extols the spoon dish. Chickpeas of oxtail stuffed with foie gras. That’s nothing.
Location: Castelló street, 1
Yokaloka (ramen)
The letter of introduction is the following: the ramen that Isabel Coixet fell in love with. It is difficult to define if it is the best ramen in Madrid, but it is clear that it is one of our favorites. With an intense flavor broth, Yokaloka’s options are also vegan (like the one made with vinegar, soy sauce and tofu mixed with spicy miso paste), but our favorite is the Tonkotsu Kimchi Ramen.
Now, in addition to its classic location in the Mercado de Antón Martín, you can also try it just a few meters away.
Location: Matute Street, 7 (downtown) and Antón Martín Market (downtown).
YGF Malatang
YGF Malatang, located in that little Chinatown behind Plaza de España, offers a unique “individual hot pot” experience that has gained popularity in Madrid.
Inspired by the thousands of similar venues in China, this restaurant operates in a similar way to a self-service restaurant: diners choose their own ingredients from a large fridge, ranging from vegetables and seaweed to exotic meats such as frog legs, and then combine them with one of the available broths.
After weighing the ingredients, a personalized soup is cooked, with a final price between 10 and 15€, ideal for exploring new flavors.
Location:
Casa Botín’s garlic soup
Casa Botín is the oldest restaurant in the world. It is in a building built in the mid-16th century and has been in operation since 1725, when the nephew of French chef Jean Botin decided to open the inn.
Although all the dishes that come out of its very old kitchen are excellent, one of the most appetizing dishes it has to delight us during the cold months is the Garlic Soup with Egg and Ham, full of nutrients that help to warm us up.
Location: Cuchilleros, 17 (downtown)
Stew at La Rayúa
The Verdasco family has been offering the best of Castilian gastronomy to its diners for more than seven generations. It started in the world of hospitality with La Bola, a restaurant specializing in cocido madrileño that has been in the capital since the late 19th century. In 2014, the family opened a new location in Majadahonda under the name La Rayúa, a brand that has also reached a little street behind Gran Vía.
La Rayúa prepares a huge traditional stew for a very affordable price: 22,50€. We have the option of ordering only the soup or their delicious fried chickpeas on the side, although it is best to order the whole stew.
Location: Calle de la Luna, 3 (downtown)
Callos a la madrileña at Revoltosa
In Berlin Park we find a beautiful terrace away from traffic. It is Revoltosa, one of the cattiest restaurants in the capital. There they prepare excellent callos a la madrileña inspired by the oldest recipe of this potent spoon dish. The house recommends accompanying it with a glass of red wine.
Location: Príncipe de Vergara, 210 (Concha Espina)
Korean soup at Miso restaurant
This restaurant is run by a particularly friendly and affectionate Korean couple, who also serve a traditional bulgogi (a kind of Korean tacos, but the lettuce acts as an omelette), very complete. But in their menu of the day (12 €) they serve to start (and without choice) the traditional Korean soup, which has many similarities with the Japanese miso, it is a hearty broth with various vegetables and sometimes tofu. As the owner enthusiastically explains, this is taken daily at Korean meals, almost like an appetizer, which fits very well in the Madrid winters.
Location: Calle de Santa Casilda, 1 (Arganzuela)
Lhardy’s consommé
Lhardy besides being one of the first restaurants in Madrid (conceived as such, in the French way), is an institution of local gastronomy. Its cocido madrileño is one of the best in the city, but if you don’t want to sit in its Elizabethan halls to take the three vuelcos, during the colder months they sell consommé in their street-side pastry shop. A simple delicacy, with which no fast food can compete.
Location: Cra de S. Jerónimo, 8 (Center)
Grandma’s classic Laksa, from Asian Army.
That we consider it one of the best Asians in Madrid and that they distinguish this soup in their menu as a star dish are just two of the bright signs that indicate that your best ally in this canteen will be a spoon.
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup based on shrimp and coconut, popular in Southeast Asia, and here they prepare it with rice noodles, fish meatballs, puff tofu, bean sprouts, Asian herbs and prawns, following a recipe from Issy’s grandmother, the cook. Impossible not to leave with a happy stomach.
Location: Antón Martín Market (Calle de Santa Isabel, 5)
This article is written by Helena Menéndez, Alberto del Castillo, Isabel Nieto and Elena Francés.