It seems little question that frugal breakfasts are not the stuff of the typical Madrid breakfast. The churros with chocolate or the pincho de tortilla attest to this. But the capital’s gastronomy also welcomes flavors from around the world, and if there is one that has been the talk of the town lately, it is Peru’s champion breakfast.
The streamer Ibai Llanos revolutionized the networks with his “Breakfast World Cup”, and the absolute winner was the Peruvian bread with chicharrón. And our job has been to delve into this competition and find which place in Madrid prepares a Peruvian breakfast to rise to the occasion.
Así Se Asa: the temple of chicharrón in Madrid
The place in question is called Así Se Asa and, although the name may sound like roast chicken (which they also have), its real gem is Peruvian cuisine. It is located at11 Federico Gutiérrez street, near the Pueblo Nuevo subway stop. It is a neighborhood place, authentic, one of those that keep an open secret.
The protagonist is, of course, the bread with chicharrón. It is not just any sandwich; it is a flavor bomb “as simple as it is effective”. The preparation is tricky: first, they take the chicharrón (juicy pork belly, for those who don’t know) and cook it slowly for about 45 minutes. Once it is tender, they fry it in oil until it is perfectly browned and crispy on the outside.
But the secret of a good sandwich is in the balance. The bread is homemade, tender but resistant. On the base, they place generous slices of fried sweet potato, which give it that sweet touch that contrasts wonderfully. On top, the freshly made chicharrón. And to top it off, a “salsa criolla”, which is not a sauce as such, but a pickled red onion with aromatic herbs, spices and a touch of lemon.
If you are going to have breakfast, get ready, because the ration is one of those that make history. As our reporter Pedro Pineda says, if you have breakfast there, “at least you save lunch“. The best, of course, is the complete pack: for only 10 €, you get the sandwich, a natural fruit juice and a “cafelazo” that is almost half a liter.