Mexican Food in Madrid

  

Walking home from work the other night, we were in the mood for Mexican food.  After some pre-dinner tapas, we stopped at La Leyenda del Agave in the Salamanca district.  First up were some Negra Modelo beers, a good change of pace from the ubiquitous Mahou that we've been drinking for the last six months.

 

Drinks in hand, we surveyed the scene and the extensive menu (see video above). We settled on guacamole and chips as a starter (about 6 euro).  Then, we moved on to a mixed plate of meats with cochinita pibil and carnitas (about 14 euro).  

We were slightly disappointed by the tortillas, but we admit that we have high standards here.  Having grown up in Texas and having lived in Northern Mexico, we dream of fresh, warm corn tortillas.  La Leyenda's tortillas are made of flour, and they're not half bad, but nothing special either. (We might just have fond memories of the corn tortillas we ate at La Neta in Stockholm, Sweden.)

Judging from the restaurant's very intricate website, La Leyenda del Agave aims to be the real Mexican deal in Madrid.  On some nights, they even have live mariachi music.

La Leyenda del Agave
Calle Nunez de Balboa, 37
28001 Madrid, Spain
+34 914311606

Casa Mingo

Over the Easter holidays, we had relatives in town who were looking for a Madrid experience that was a bit off-the-beaten-path.  Spanish friends recommended a trip to Casa Mingo for roast chicken and cider followed by a visit to the nearby Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, a small chapel with Goya's tomb and beautiful Goya frescos.  It was a perfect afternoon in Madrid, and, best of all, it was cheap! 

Here's our recommendation.  Put your walking shoes on and take the metro to the Principe Pío stop.  From there, you'll need to take about a 15 minute walk to Paseo de la Florida 34, where you'll find Casa Mingo. Opened in 1888, it is known for its home-brewed apple cider served with Asturian food.

Chicken roasting on a spit at Casa Mingo

Blue cheese and cider appetizer

Our meal for four adults was under 35 euro, including a bottle of the house cider, a roast chicken, a plate of blue cheese and a sausage appetizer.  We loved the ambiance with dark wood tables and cider barrels lining the walls.  Sure, it might be a little touristy, and it did get crowded around the 2pm the lunch rush, but we had a great time.  Next time, we'll try the more expensive cider, the one that has a higher alcohol content and that you pour at an arm's length into your drinking cup.  And also of note, they don't serve coffee, so head over to Goya's tomb and then look for a cafe to discuss what you've seen!  If you're still feeling frisky, you might  add in a visit to Templo de Debod, the authentic Egyptian temple, in a nearby park.

Casa Mingo
Paseo de La Florida, 34
+34915477918
11:00 – 00:00 daily