Comments on: La Barraca, Madrid

By: Weena

Weena — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:00:34 +0000

I love paella! Though I think its best eaten in Valencia…. Casa Salvador and Eliana Albiach in Culleres (small town about 50 kms south of Valencia city), or my all time favorite La Dehesa de Joaquin Castello in Playa de Saler. There’s something about eating rice in the beach that just makes the meal extra special. If you ever do find yourself there, please try the Arroz Abanda (rice with seafood “himay”) and Arroz Negro and to start with, Coquinas which are small clams cooked in garlic and olive oil. They are addicting!

If you need to eat rice in Madrid, my husband and I like La Buganvilla in Calle Almagro, 12. Aside from arroz abanda, valenciana or arroz negra, try the arroz caldoso (soupy rice) with scarlet shrimp (carabineros), monkfish (rape) and cuttlefish (sepia). They also make a mean vegetable paella and to start with, the brandade de bacalao and the warm squid salad with fried leeks. Albufera in La Moraleja is also pretty good, but maybe too out of the way.

Hope this makes up for your rather disappointing rice experience in Madrid. There’s nothing worse than being served poorly made rice.

By: Pepa

Pepa — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:31:12 +0000

I live in Madrid. The best paella place is Restaurante St James in Calle Juan Bravo 26. Yummy!

By: Janette

Janette — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:54:34 +0000

I’ve eaten the best paella in Can Pilis (located in the coastal town of Calafell).

By: Lilibeth

Lilibeth — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:38:00 +0000

@quiapo: Yes, I think Arenque is a type of herring fish but it’s a lot saltier than our tuyo so I won’t even have it with sinangag :D

By: corrine

corrine — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:26:27 +0000

What an interesting post and comments too. Very timely since I’m going to Spain in two months. Now I know why our Italian and Aussie friends don’t like Spanish food. And it seems Filipinos got their salty tongue from the Spaniards!

By: Robert Rodrigues

Robert Rodrigues — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:37:44 +0000

I lived in Spain for 14 years and frequented restaurants throughout the country. One thing for sure, Madrid makes the worse paella. In Zaragoza, restuarante Berges on Calle Avenida Navarra makes a great paella. In Valencia down in the port area, there are several restaurants that make great paella and arroz abunda. In the town of San Lorenzo Escorial, we went to a restaurante and had a paella, arroz abanda, and arroz tinto con pulpo that was just terrific. The price of 130 euro is outrageous. You should have signed their complaint book (every restaurant had one). To get a good meal, always ask what is on “El menu del dia.” Here you will have a choice of a first plate (several dishes and may include a simple paella which is always delicious) and a choice of a second dish. It also includes a bottle of wine, bread and dessert. Coffee is extra. The going rate is about 10 Euros.

By: Amee

Amee — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:47:50 +0000

And here I was craving for paella. Was already planning to hunt one down tomorrow. Hmmm. Makes me think twice about blowing money to satisfy my craving.

By: san

san — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:37:57 +0000

MM, although it had been years since we visited Madrid…that was exactly our experience as well…super salty paella that left a bad taste in our mouths. My sister visited last year and likewise said the same about paella being salty in Madrid. What a pity!

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:43:52 +0000

ihid, subconscious slip, it has been edited. Thanks. :) the Artist Chef, next time I am in Ho Chi Minh! :)

By: The Artist Chef

The Artist Chef — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:20:35 +0000

Sounds disappointing, though I do understand that sometimes the consistency of the food can change depends on the mood of the person cooking it. hehe! Paella is my specialty so I really appreciate this post because I am going to Spain around October but maybe in Barcelona and Cataluna to taste an authentic Paella.

Hope you can also taste my special Paella when you visit Ho Chi Minh :)