If you’ve been hanging out in Madrid, even for a short time, you’ve probably tried a myriad of tapas, the local food which began life as an appetizer, but which over the years has evolved into a sophisticated meal in itself. By far Madrid’s favourite tapa is a serving of patatas bravas.
For the uninitiated, patatas bravas, also known as patatas a la brava, or papas bravas, are fried potatoes which have been diced into irregular shapes of about 2 centimetres, and served with a spicy tomato sauce. Think of them as a high-class version of Brittain’s hot chips or the USA’s french fries.
The irregular shapes mean more surface area and corners for extra crispiness, and, being thicker than chips or french fries, you still get a soft, fluffy nugget of potato underneath that crunch. The bravas sauce is always tomato based, and depending on your bar or restaurant, comes in varying degrees of spiciness.
Different Spanish cities have local variations to their sauces, for example, in Burgos, there is a touch of red pepper, the Valencians prefer a dash of vinegar, but in Madrid, the taste is for the distinct but subtle warmth of garlic.
Traditions are proudly upheld, and competition for who serves the best patatas bravas in Madrid is fierce, as evidenced by the many patatas bravas competitions held throughout the year. Everyone has their favourite place to settle down with a cerveza and a plate of patatas bravas, and according to ShMadrid, the following are some which are considered to be the finest in Madrid.
Related article: The Best Horchatas in Madrid
Index
Where to have the best patatas bravas in Madrid
Las Bravas
Photo by adactio via Visualhunt
As the name suggests, this restaurant does one thing and does it really well: perfect patatas bravas.
At Las Bravas, the potatoes are only lightly fried, giving them a pale colour and light, fluffy texture.
A variety of sauces is on offer, from mild to spicy, including aioli or just plain tomato sauce. Cheap prices keep locals coming back for more, and they even have some funky takeaway boxes to get your bravas home safely to devour in front of the TV.
Docamar
Docamar tops our list of the best bravas in Madrid and has consistently impressed food critics and competition judges for over 40 years.
Despite all the acclaim, Documar is nothing fancy, a typical Madrid bar, slightly out of the centre of the city, but well worth the short metro ride for these mouth-watering morsels. Fluffy, light, crispy, and everything good bravas should be.
Related article: Where to Eat the Best Paella in Madrid
Restaurant AskuaBarra
Photo by wuestenigel via Visualhunt
Now, if you want only quality products on the menu, you should definitely try Restaurant AskuaBarra. This restaurant is run by two brothers, who know nothing best than to serve good quality food.
They are famous not only for their patatas bravas, but also for their steak tartare. And their philosophy says it all: it’s all about choosing the best suppliers.
It shows confidence and pride if you are open about where you get your quality products from. So they have a list of their meat, fish, cheese and Iberian ham suppliers. If you are not convinced yet, we don’t know what will…
La Chula Taberna
Here is where you’ll find the “posh” version of patatas bravas. At La Chula Taberna, a simple, humble bar food becomes a gourmet dining experience. Expect to pay a little more, but the visual wow factor created by the talented chefs will be worth every penny.
Your waiter will even ask you how well done you want your bravas, and will offer you a host of sauce choices to accompany your potatoes.
*Main photo by TomlinProduction via Visualhunt
What is your favourite place in Madrid for patatas bravas?
