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Food Trucks in Madrid

Food Trucks in Madrid

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As we all know, Madrid is one of, if not the best city in the world for eating and drinking until your heart’s content. If you think this is purely down to the plethora of tapas bars and typical Spanish restaurants, you are mistaken. The concept of food trucks and mobile food carts has hopped across the pond from the United States and is fast seeping into this magnificent city!

The History of Food Trucks

The concept of the food truck was born in the United States in the mid-19th Century. A food vendor decided to cut windows owwii_mobile_canteen-e1341243390391ut of a wagon, park it on the street outside a newspaper shop and sell sandwiches and coffee to journalists. They were also widely used during both World Wars to feed the soldiers. This concept has since spread across the globe and food trucks have become places from where respectable chefs can launch their careers. It is now even possible to track your favorite food trucks via social media! In the US, food truck rallies are also growing in popularity – they provide a great way of bringing cultures together and allow you to discover your favorite cuisine!
So, these food trucks provide a fast, easy and reasonably priced alternative to other casual restaurants. However, compared to other countries like England and Belgium, it has been hard for the concept of a food truck to break into Spain. Why, if there are so many restaurants and tapas bars selling affordable small eats, would you take the risk of going to a food truck where you have to eat on the street standing up?

Where can you find Food Trucks in Madrid?

It’s true that the idea hasn’t spread across Spain as quickly as other countries but in Madrid you won’t have any trouble finding a food truck! To whet your appetite, here are a few food trucks that you csigaelfoodtruck-eatstreet-madreat-foodtruck-madrid-salchichen-1an find in Madrid:

1. Salchichen – German street food that brings authentic sausages and burgers to the streets of Madrid. Here you are guaranteed good quality, traditional German food.

2. MadrEAT – this event aims to bring top quality street food to Madrid on a monthly basis. MadrEAT is a celebration of “exceptional gastronomy” and the variety of food trucks has to bjc6iqyq3e seen to be believed – you’ll find Japanese food, Peruvian food and Greek food just to name a few! Do not miss out! The upcoming dates are as follows: September – 23, 24 and 25. November – 4, 5 and 6. October – 14, 15 and 16 at Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Azca.

3. Peggy Sue’s – an American style food truck where you can enjoy typical hot dogs, burgers and fries.

And you’ll find many more food trucks in these popular places:
4. Matadero Madrid – this is a very trendy, modern place in Madrid and you’ll be sure to find food trucks from all over the world.
5. Stock! Feria Outstock-feria-outlet-madridlet Madrid – escape from the hustling, bustling centre of Madrid and enjoy a day out with your family. In and amongst all the shopping and live music, explore the wide variety of food trucks on offer. Make sure you’re there on 14, 15, 16 October.

3 great burgers in Madrid

3 great burgers in Madrid

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Let’s face it: sometimes you just want a cheeseburger. So what’s a guiri to do when McDonald’s just won’t cut it? Never fear—there are plenty of good burgers right here in Madrid. Here are three of my favorites, 3 great burgers in Madrid

Best gourmet burger

The burgers at Home Burger Bar aren’t cheap, but they’re definitely worth the splurge. You can taste the quality of the organic beef, and combinations like “goat cheese and red pepper jam” or “caramelized onions and brie” make my mouth water just thinking about them. There is also a range of classic burgers for traditionalists (I’m a bacon-cheeseburger girl myself), and even several veggie options for the non-carnivores. The contemporary diner décor further complements the style of the food.

Best retro burger

There was a time when I swore that if I saw another retro burger joint in Madrid I would go crazy. Now I just think of it as having more options. And there are plenty. Mel’s has generous portions and waiters on roller skates; Peggy Sue’s has wall-boxes that work (for 20 cents) and darn good milkshakes. But my money’s on TM Burger & Fries, where you can get a surprisingly delicious burger for €2.95. Of course you’ll have to deal with all the Malasaña hipsters, but I think it’s worth it for a burger that costs little more than Whopper but tastes way better.

Best all-American burger

Ask any American expat where to get a good burger in Madrid and most will probably answer, “Alfredo’s.” Alfredo’s Barbacoa is the original hamburger restaurant in Madrid, opened by a real, actual American in 1981. Amazingly, I’ve only been there once, but the burger was possibly one of the best I’ve ever had—good meat with lots of char-grilled flavor. If you like your burgers smokey, juicy, and messy, you’ll love Alfredo’s; if you don’t, well…

There are plenty more burger joints in Madrid—do you have a favorite? If so, let us know in the comments!

Home Burger Bar dominates the 28004, with locations on C/ Espíritu Santo, C/ San Marcos, and C/ Silva. www.homeburgerbar.com has all the details.

You can find Mel’s all over the place—there’s even one in León! Apart from the shopping malls, Mel’s has locations in Madrid at C/ Hortaleza 34 and C/ Pedro Teixeira 8. Specifics are at www.tommymels.com.

Peggy Sue’s has majorly expanded, with locations all over the country, and plenty of options if you live in “las afueras.” There are no fewer than eight Peggy Sue’s here in Madrid’s center, which makes for too many contact details to put here, so go to www.peggysues.es to find the one nearest you.

TM Burger & Fries focuses all their energy on their C/ Espíritu Santo 7 location. https://www.facebook.com/tmburgerfries.

Alfredo’s Barbacoa fires up the grill at two locations: their original restaurant at C/ Lagasca 5 (Metro Retiro), and the offshoot at C/ Juan Hurtado de Mendoza 11 (Metro Cuzco). I love that they have a Texas-style oil drill as the main image of their home page—go to www.alfredos-barbacoa.es to check that out!

Gluten Free Guiri: Living with Dietary Restrictions in Madrid

Gluten Free Guiri: Living with Dietary Restrictions in Madrid

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When moving to Madrid, or any new place for that matter, everyone has a long list of to-do’s once they arrive and a variety of concerns about their new home city.  For those of us with specific dietary needs, it can be daunting not knowing what food will be available – especially when the traditional foods clash with our requirements.  Coming from New York City where absolutely everything seems available within walking distance at any time of day, I wondered how Madrid would stack up and if indeed its famous hospitality would extend to accommodating people with special diets.  Luckily, with very little exploration I found a variety of options with the city center.

I have been gluten free for a year now and packed my carryon with gluten-free crackers for my flight over, but I definitely didn’t have enough to last me long after my arrival.  My first trip to the supermercado at Cortes Ingles brought a wave of relief … a large “Sin Gluten” (without gluten) section sat right up front.  In fact, Cortes Ingles has a large variety of gluten-free, lactose-free, and health food products.  The selection varies based on which store you visit, but both the shops between Callao and Sol metro stops have good sized special foods sections.  The shop at Nuevos Ministerios is the largest and most diverse I have found so far.  Other supermarket options for celiacs and those with gluten sensitivities are OpenCor, who have a similar but smaller selection than Cortes Ingles, and Mercadona, who have shops all over Spain.

If you’re looking for a more intimate shopping experience, Nature and Clark is a gourmet market located just south of Calle de Fernando VI on Hortaleza (on the border between Malasaña and Chueca).  I wandered in recently and was surprised at the variety of dietary needs the small store covers.  While the selection of gluten free products is quite small, they also sell Kosher and macrobiotic supplies.

So those should keep you covered for dining at home, but what about eating out?  Spanish tapas are world-renowned and tapas restaurants are scattered all over Madrid.  Figuring out what tapas dishes you can or cannot eat takes a few questions and some trial and error.  If you’re gluten-free, stay away from croquettas (even the filling contains flour), empanadas and the tostas but feel free to dig into tortilla española or tortilla de patatas as it is called in some parts of the country (people have had to re-assure me over and over again that it’s just eggs and potatoes), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), gambas (shrimp), pimientos del padrón (peppers) and of course the jamon (ham)!  And if you’re craving a little taste of America, don’t fear … McDonalds has gluten free bread available for their hamburgers!

Having to skip the pan and empanadas is frustrating at times; however, I think our vegetarian friends have a tougher go of it in the land of jamon!  Some suggestions for vegetarians can be found in Alison’s post Viva la Vida – Vegetarian Style.

I would love to hear any other great restaurants or shops that you have found.  Feel free to share in the comments!

Caves, meat and El Molar

Caves, meat and El Molar

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I’ve had a guest or two come visit in Spain, and the last night before they leave, I always like to take them for dinner in the famous caves of El Molar. The non-touristy spot boasts a unique atmosphere and meat so stupidly good that even vegetarians might very well face an identity crisis.

Spaniards often flock to the pueblo about 40 minutes north of Madrid on the A1. The lower part of the town might not be anything to write home about, but up above, in the tunnel-filled mountainside, the charm overtakes you.

The caves, once used mostly as bodegas, now often inhabit restaurants. At El Bodegón de Olivares, my favorite for meat, you can cook a kilo of raw carne on a heated clay plate. The fact that you’re dining in your own personal mini-cave while noshing on fresh mouth-watering meat is just the icing on the caveman cake.

If meat isn’t your thing (which, honestly, it will be after a trip to El Bodegón de Olivares), then you should hit up La Taberna Marinera. Of its two locations (the other called El Matador – it’s connected by a cave!), this one, which specializes in fish, is an essential stop. The rustic restaurant is muy chulo, the food riquísima, and the service can’t be beat (the same Columbian waiter is always there – really nice fellow). And to top it all off, ask for a candle and they’ll let you take a little mosey through the cave. Just be sure to watch your head.

El Bodegón de Olivares: 918410000 / Calle La Cuesta 2
La Taberna Marinera: 918410393 / Calle La Torreta

Escaping the heat with a sweet treat

Escaping the heat with a sweet treat

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It’s July and it’s hot in Madrid.  Let’s face it, nothing sounds better during the summer months than a nice icy cold treat.  Since moving to Madrid, I’ve had one (or more!) almost every day.  Here are a few of my picks for beating the heat:

  • Acquolina:  Located in the Plaza del Dos de Mayo in Malasaña, this small shop serves ice cream, granizados (fruity iced beverages) and coffees.  Free wifi is an added bonus (just ask at the counter for the password) plus you can take your ice cream out and about for a stroll around the plaza.
  • — Plaza del Dos de Mayo (c/ Velarde, 15), Malasaña (tel: 91 523 3036) / Metro: Tribunal or San Bernardo
  • Labonata:  The super-creamy ice cream at this Chueca shop is perfect for a hot day in the Madrid sun.  Get it to go or sit down and watch the world go by from their tables within the plaza.  In addition to ice cream they have smoothies, batidos (similar to a smoothie, but with a milk base) and granizados.
  • — Plaza de Chueca 8, Chueca (tel: 91 523 7029) / Metro: Chueca
  • Horchateria Alboraya:  Horchateria Alboraya was recommended by my classmate’s host family.  Not only do they serve ice creams, batidos and granizados, but they specialize in horchatas which are creamy, nutty beverages made with chufas (tigernuts).
  • — Calle Alcalá, 125 (tel: 91 576 58 17) / Metro: Príncipe de Vergara
  • Capriccio Divino:  Just over two weeks old, this gelateria on Calle de Hortaleza serves traditional Italian gelato.  The staff are happy to offer you a sample or two of their flavours!  Located in between Chueca and Malasana, it’s a great stop when strolling through the nearby boutiques and zapaterias!
  • — Calle de Hortaleza / Metro: Chueca or Tribunal

Another option is the dessert station on the second floor of Mercado San Anton.  It’s a good option if you want a snack or drink before your dessert!  Check out more info on the Mercado from Jamie’s earlier post.

Whatever spot you choose, all these treats are a great way to cool off, relax and make the most of the sunny Madrid weather!

 

Acquolina: Plaza del Dos de Mayo (c/ Velarde, 15), Malasaña (tel: 91 523 3036) / Metro: Tribunal or San Bernardo

Labonata: Plaza de Chueca 8, Chueca (tel: 91 523 7029) / Metro: Chueca

Horchateria Alboraya: Calle Alcalá, 125 (tel: 91 576 58 17) / Metro: Príncipe de Vergara

Capriccio Divino: Calle Hortaleza / Metro: Chueca or Tribunal