The Galician restaurants in Madrid are more than a review of the hits to a gastronomy that has given so much – the country could be divided in the dichotomy that debates between the Betanzos omelette or the one that is more curdled – but in addition to perpetuating the classics, they add innovation.
What is certain is that, in addition, there is no culinary stick that they do not control. The meat in the Zone is exquisite seafood is an ambassador for the region and turnip greens could replace kale as the vegetable of choice.
1. O’pazo
The restaurant O’pazo was inaugurated in 1969 and since 1981 belongs to the Pescaderías Coruñesas group, one of the strongest hotel and catering groups in the capital. Besides being a safe place to go to eat good seafood, O’pazo is one of the most renowned Galician restaurants in Madrid and internationally recognized. In 2022, it was included in Opinionated About Dining’s list of the best casual restaurants in Europe.
average price: around 70€.
📍 Calle Reina Mercedes, 20 (Cuatro Caminos)
2. Lúa
Lúa is the only one of the Galician restaurants in Madrid that has a michelin star. Headed by chef Manuel Domínguez, the dishes that make up Lúa’s menu combine tradition and modernity. Proof of this are the oxtail tacos with carabinero, braised veal cheek with red curry and parmentier, lamb shoulder with honey or cod on cauliflower and spinach foam.
💶 Lúa tasting menu: 98€ and tasting menu Lúa chea: 135€
📍 Paseo Eduardo Dato, 5 (Chamberí)
3. La Lorenza
La Lorenza is a Galician tavern of Lavapiés that looks to the gastronomic tradition from which it draws its menu with respect to introduce small twists of modernity. A clear example is the gyozas of octopus caldeirada and smoked potato foam or the old cow marrow with steak tartar that achieve that balance between classics of different culinary knowledge.
💶 Average price: 35€ per person.
📍 Calle del Dr. Piga, 3 (Lavapiés)
4. Since 1911
Desde 1911, from the Pescaderías Coruñesas Group (owned by the García Azpiroz family), is a tribute to the Maragato muleteers who gave rise to the family legacy that continues to reap success. This Galician restaurant was ranked first in Opinionated About Dining’s list of the 30 best new European restaurants in 2022 and has been awarded with one sun from the Repsol Guide in 2023. A menu that changes daily to serve only the best seafood and fish possible and an impeccable Nordic decoration make Desde 1911 a place to be.
tasting menu: between 140€ and 170€.
📍 Calle del Vivero, 3 (Tetuán)
5. Alabaster
Between Retiro, Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá is this Galician restaurant that overflows with good products at a price adjusted to the quality and technique of what they serve. In Alabaster monkfish, hake or ray coexist in its menu as in the sea, without detracting from other dishes as succulent as roast pigeon, foie brioche and pickled beets.
💶 Average price: 70 per person.
📍 Calle de Montalbán, 9 (downtown)
6. Ocafu Group
Ocafú is a group with five Galician restaurants spread throughout the city and the more casual, tavern version of its first restaurant. La Penela, the flagship company, started in La Coruña, and has one of the best tortillas from Betanzos of Spain, in the 2000’s they brought the product and know-how to Madrid. The tuna empanada, the octopus casserole and the taquitos de croca are other must-try dishes on the menu.
💶 Average price: 30 per person.
📍 Various locations.
7. The Cannibal
At La Caníbal they define themselves as nomadic brewers because, although they make their own beer they do not have their own factory. And to accompany the drink, they have been perfecting their tapas, so much that have won the award for the best in Madrid in 2023 awarded by the Salón del Gourmet de Madrid. Josemi Santamaria is at the helm of the kitchen with a Galician accent. He handles octopus and beef as you would expect from a Galician tavern, as well as making the pickled cockles in beer sauce worthy of trophies.
💶 Average price: 20 per person.
📍 Calle Argumosa, 28 (Lavapiés)
8. Garelos Tavern
Antonio Couceiro has brought the best of the cuisine of his homeland, Betanzos, to Madrid. He opened Taberna Garelos in 2020, after working in Galician restaurants such as La Panela and Ocafú, so the curriculum and know-how of his gastronomy precede him. It’s obvious that the omelette with no onions and so mellow you could almost eat it with a spoon was going to be a hit, although their scallop empanada and roast veal with potatoes are close behind.
average price: between 20 and 30 €.
📍 Calle Blanca de Navarra, 6 (Argumosa); Calle de Alcalá, 12 (Galería Canalejas) and Calle de El Españoleto, 11 (Chamberí).
9. Arallo
Arallo is a Galician neo-tavern with a traveling spirit: hence its touch of fusion with other cuisines such as Mexican, Japanese, Peruvian or Indian. In addition to the perennial dishes that define its cuisine, there are other market dishes that vary according to the season. One of the stars of their menu is their original croquette-nigiri in which has substituted the rice for a Verde sauce croquette topped with hake sashimi.
💶 Average price: 30 per person.
📍 Calle de la Reina, 31 (Chueca)
10. Orzán Restaurant
Orzán stands out for the simplicity of its proposal: to do well the most recognized dishes of Galician cuisine is in itself an achievement. The essential dishes on the menu are not to be missed, the grilled octopus with scrambled potatoes and the stone grilled beef steak for 2 people terrace which has its own restaurant a few meters from Príncipe Pío.
average price: between 30€ and 40€.
paseo de la Florida, 18 (Príncipe Pío) and Gran Vía, 33 (Majadahonda).