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Madrid Oriental
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Although Spaniards are not famed for their love of spicy food there is a wide selection of Madrid oriental restaurants for those who do enjoy this cooking!
Over the last ten years Madrid has become a multi cultural city and now includes fantastic examples of genuine Asiatic cuisine in almost all areas. A recent phenomenon has been the creation of Asiatic restaurants which offer a menu combining the best of Chinese, Indian, Thai and Japanaese cooking. In these restaurants you can combine a spring roll with a curry after having enjoyed a sushi starter!
Typical variations
As the Madrileño is not typically in love with spicy food Madrid oriental restaurants vary many typically Asiatic dishes to suit the more delicate palate of the Spanish consumer. Below we have outlined the most common variations:
- Crispy Fried Duck
In Madrids Chinese restaurants this plate tends to be served by the waitresses instead of you creating the rolls yourself. If you prefer more or less sauce it is best to tell the waitress before she starts serving.
- Spring roll or Vietnamese roll
Known simply as "Rollo de primavera" this can either be a large spring roll or 3 or 4 small Vietnamese rolls depending on the restaurant. Vietnamese rolls frequently contain shrimps and if you have seafood alergies it is best to avoid this dish! - Chicken dishes
In 90% of Madrid oriental restaurants Chicken dishes use boiled chicken which is later fried for a short time or even simply added to the dish without frying. This applies to such favourites as Chicken Chow Mein (Pollo con Tallaerines) or Chicken fried rice (Arroz frito con Pollo). Preparing the food in this way the taste is very different!
Recomended restaurants
These are some of our personal favourites where Oriental cooking tastes as it should! Feel free to suggest your own favourites!
Thai Gardens
Address: Paseo de la Havana, 3
Telephone: 91 577 88 84.
Opening Times: 14:00 to 16:00 and again from 21:00 to 24:00. Friday and Saturday evenings open until 0130.
Specialities: Probably the best Thai restaurant in Madrid the Thai gardens have recently moved to a slightly more business area of the city( Metro:
Nuevos Ministerios) thankfully the charm of the original restaurant has been transferred as well. The Thai green curry here reminds you of the shores of the Andaman! Prices are not cheap but certainly reasonable at around 35€ per person.
Indian Aroma
Address: Calle Ventura de la Vega, 6.
Telephone: 91 369 23 33.
Opening Times: 13:00 to 16:00 and again from 20:00 to Midnight. Friday and Saturday evenings open until 0030.
Specialities: Great choice of genuine Indian food in the center of the city( Metro:
Sevilla). Decorated top to toe in Indian furnishings with Indian music to accompany your meal. Best thing is that they don´t pressure you to eat quickly unlike some other Madrid restaurants! Prices are cheap for its city center location at around 20€ per person.
Donzoko
Address: Calle Echegaray, 3.
Telephone: 91 429 57 20.
Opening Times: 13:30 to 15:30 and again from 20:30 to 23:30. Closed on Sundays.
Specialities: Madrids original Japanese restaurant in the heart of Huertas( Metro:
Sevilla). Always full and offering a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, sukiyaki and yakitori! Prices are reasonable for its city center location at around 25€ per person.
Janatomo
Address: Calle La Reina, 31.
Telephone: 91 521 55 66.
Opening Times: 13:30 to 16:00 and again from 20:30 to 24:00. Closed on Sunday evenings.
Specialities: A combination of booth Chinese and Japanese food in this centrally located Madrid restaurant( Metro:
Banco de España, Gran Vía). A great restaurant for groups where the menu is cheap at around 20€ per person.
