Casquería in general and the ear in particular, it is known, is not made for all palates. It is gelatinous, in some places spicy… but if you like it as much as we do, today we bring you a small route in case you haven’t tried any of these places yet.
Here you have the ten best places in Madrid where you can eat ear, where you can find from more traditional elaborations to others with a twist that could -perhaps- convince even the most skeptical with this dish.
Las Bravas
In this classic of Madrid’s gastronomy, where tourists and locals get confused, the ear is served well watered with its spectacular brava sauce. A spicy dressing that they began to elaborate in the 50’s to add to the potatoes and of which they are pioneers.
This is what they say on their website: “A few days before the beginning of the 60’s and anticipating the overwhelming success that the sauce would achieve, we registered Las Bravas®, the brand that gives its name to a delicious recipe born in the most traditional Madrid and which is imitated all over Spain“.
Location: Various locations
La Casa de los Minutejos
Impossible to dodge the joke: if 60 minutillos equals an hour, 60 minutejos, undoubtedly, equals an ear. Here the ear is served in sandwiches of sliced bread. The ear, as its gelatin melts, forms a block that is then used to make these sandwiches, which are also accompanied by hot sauce.
Location: Calle Antonio de Leyva, 19 (Carabanchel)
Docamar
You can smear the ration of ear with the jars of sauce that are scattered around the place, the same that they use for their patatas bravas. And we recommend that, while you are there, in addition to asking for the ear, do not leave without trying the bravas: going to Docamar and not asking for them, is typified in the Penal Code.
Location: calle de Alcalá, 337 (Ciudad Lineal)
Los Gallegos: La Casa del Pulpo (The Octopus House)
Although the fame of this bar in Usera is preceded by the perfect handling of the dish that gives its name to the place, on your visit you can not miss their ración de oreja (ear of octopus). Here they serve it toasted and grilled with lemon or with their secret spicy sauce. And you can order the whole or half portion to leave room to try other dishes.
Location: calle de Almendrales, 17 (Usera)
Bar Gonmar
At Bar Gonmar in Carabanchel they know what they are doing, and they make a grilled ear that you would ask to marry. In addition, if you want, you have the option of adding the accompanying salsa brava (one of those full of mystery and whose secret they won’t reveal).
In fact, at the time of writing this article, the latest review on TripAdvisor says the following about this dish:“Oreja magnífica. The best ear in Madrid. Spectacular brava sauce (of the quality of the much-missed Yagüe)”.
Location: paseo de Muñoz Grandes, 47 (Carabanchel)
Casa Pepe (Pepe ‘El Guarro’)
In the neighborhood of Pilar and very well known for its wings -whose remains everyone throws on the floor, hence the pseudonym-, is Casa Pepe. With the slogan “Wing by wing, beer by beer… we’ll all get out of this”, its wings are, as we say, a must-try. But they have nothing to envy to its ear.
Location: Calle de Celanova, 19 (Fuencarral-El Pardo)
Mesón El Águila
In this family restaurant in Vicálvaro, founded in 1965, the final touch to the ear is given with chives and is among the dishes that are a specialty of the house. Remember that you are in an inn and don’t forget to take a look at their meat and fish dishes.
Location: calle del Lago Como, 2 (Vicálvaro)
Casa Braulio
They make them to the point that the customer asks for, which is not usually the norm. It is served with a majado of garlic and parsley on the side so that the customer can season his ration to taste. The Repsol Guide, which has given it a Solete, says of Casa Braulio that it is a “typical neighborhood bar in La Guindalera with good service, authentic and decorated like the bars of a lifetime” and also recommends trying its famous boquerones en vinagre (anchovies in vinegar).
Location: avenida de los Toreros, 43 (Salamanca)
Jaime’s ear
The owners are Galician and the place is a nationally variegated tasca where there is a mix of seafaring elements, bullfighting, scarves and jerseys of different teams and even kitchen utensils. Its ear gives its name to the place for a reason and they serve it under the name of “special ear of the house”: it is accompanied by salsa brava (although you can ask for it without it), potatoes and paprika.
Location: Calle de la Cruz, 15 (Downtown)