The best Indian restaurants in Madrid
ajit singh he first came to Spain in 2008 on vacation and finally in 2009 he came back to stay because of a Spanish woman. In India, his native country, he worked as a guide for foreign tourists; in Spain , once installed, he resumed his career but in this case to show Indian travelers the attractions of our country.
Despite having lived in Spain for eight years, Ajit continues to eat Indian food most of the time. To do this, in addition to cooking it himself, he usually goes to Indian restaurants, so he is a complete expert. In addition, due to his work and because Indian tourists, like him, are very forgetful of the flavors of home , he also has to be up to date to recommend quality places.
Ajit has selected five restaurants for Traveler, those that, without a doubt, you should not miss, because they will make you reliably taste the true Indian flavor.
TANDOORI STATION _(José Ortega y Gasset, 89 and 91) _
For our guide, this place located in the heart of the Salamanca district is, without a doubt, number one: “ the food is exquisite . The decoration of the premises imitating a station seems fantastic to me. I would highlight the service, since the waiters are very attentive and explain all the dishes to you. I think any non-Indian who comes to this site will be delighted ”.
The restaurant has a tasting menu whose cost is €27.50. His chef is Nadeem Siraj , born in Pakistan, but of Indian parents. Through his mother he got to know Indian cuisine and, later, on trips to India itself, Australia, South Africa and Latin America, always working in the hotel industry, he improved his performance as a chef. According to Nadeeem on the restaurant's website, his goal is "that my clients through the palate travel to india and pakistan enjoying a multitude of flavors and aromas, while teaching them the remarkable health benefits of the indian cuisine and its power to transform any elaboration into a superfood”.
Curry Tandoori
CURRY MASALA _(Silva, 16) _
“It is one of my favorite Indian food restaurants in Madrid. The dishes are delicious, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala ”, comments Ajit. Apart from the aforementioned Tikka Masala, without a doubt the star dish, the Tandoori Chicken in a room decorated with figures of Hindu gods.
On his website, the idiosyncrasy of the restaurant is explained: "We try to bring the most traditional flavors of India closer together as a way of publicizing our culture and philosophy of life . Due to the enormous geographical and population extension of India, the depth of its cuisine allows us to offer varied dishes with very different influences”.
Curry Masala belongs to an Indian hospitality group that owns other restaurants, an itinerant street food service, a catering service and, in addition, also teaches an Indian cooking course.
Curry Masala Samosa
SWAGAT _(Nunez de Balboa, 29) _
Our guide places this place at number three among Indians because "it is the typical Indian restaurant with a Magnificent combination of flavors and aromas . Also has a daily menu at 13 euros quite attractive”.
swagat means “welcome” in Indian and, according to its website, that is precisely the philosophy of the restaurant: “we offer you a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere where you can enjoy our gastronomic proposals”. It has an atmosphere presided over by striking colors and decorative pieces of great value.
The most famous and famous Indian
Its owner and manager is Shibani Saiga who loves to take photos with the celebrities who visit his restaurant. Among others, the footballers Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale, the presenter Pilar Rubio, the actress Penélope Cruz and even Francisco Nicolás himself have passed through there.
Swagat's Hall
** DIWALI ** _(Lope de Rueda, 19) _
It is located in the heart of the Salamanca district, a few meters from the Retiro Park. It offers the most typical Indian cuisine, its smells and flavors, so that the diner can enjoy India without having to travel to it.
Ajit usually goes to this restaurant, especially for one of his dishes: “ Palak Paneer (Spinach with Indian cheese) . They make it exquisite. As they say here, finger licking good”.
This restaurant belongs to the same hotel group as Curry Masala. It stands out for its good value for money and, although the place is a bit small and in summer the air conditioning is missing, the food is delicious.
** BOLLYWOOD TADKA ** _(Eucalyptus, 1) _
Bollywood Tadka is located near the M-30 and Avenida de la Paz. Ajit says: "although the decor is quite spartan and not as pretty as the others I've mentioned, the food is pretty good and it's a quiet space."
For those who do not like the stress of the center, this place is perfect . Here you must order the chicken tikka masala . Of course, it is a bit isolated if after dinner you want to go for a drink at a local bar.