I found Madrid's best menu del dia in Tragabuches restaurant

Authentic flavours at an affordable price make this menu del dia from Michelin-starred chef Dani Garcia one of Madrid’s best.

Lunch reigns supreme in Spain. 

It’s the main meal of the day, and something the Spanish take very seriously. If you want to eat like a local in Madrid, you need to skip your afternoon adventures and instead settle in for lunch with a menú del día. This weekday lunchtime 'menu of the day' can be found at restaurants across the city and typically features 2-3 set courses for a fixed price. 

I moved to Madrid a couple of years ago and have since made it my own personal mission to find the city’s best menú del día.  If I’m honest, I never planned on finding a conclusive winner - after all it provided the perfect excuse to keep researching contenders (otherwise known as the opportunity to head out into the city for some midweek indulgence when I really should be working).  

This is easily my favourite "menu del dia" in Madrid

But since my visit to Tragabuches Madrid, I’ve had to concede that the game is over and a winner must be declared. 

With its selection of delicacies from the kitchen of three Michelin-starred chef extraordinaire Dani García, the three-course ‘Andalucía en la mesa’ has to be the best lunchtime menu in the city.

Tragabuches Madrid sees the renowned chef return to his roots, focusing on high-quality produce and sumptuous Andalusian flavours at affordable prices. For just 28€ ($49 AUD), the menu includes a choice of two tapas dishes and a main. I was so excited to try it that I took my husband along so we could each order something different and then share.  

This place is chic - but not stuffy

Despite its location in the swanky Salamanca district, the place has a relaxed yet stylish vibe. The clean-lined interior and beautiful stone surfaces provide the perfect backdrop for authentic Andalusian cuisine. 

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A friendly server showed us to our table by a long window, which gave us a panoramic view of the kitchen. We settled in with a drink and watched on as the kitchen staff busily prepared our meals on the other side of the glass. 

The tapas kicked off with a delicious salmorejo. This cold soup is similar to gazpacho but with a deeper, creamier flavour - topped with delicate shards of jamón and crumbled hard-boiled egg. 

Salmorejo is an iconic Andalusian starter

I immediately regretted agreeing to share. 

Next came puerro a la brasa, a smokey slice of heaven in the form of grilled leek. The tapas kept coming thick and fast, and had us arguing over a delicious ensaladilla rusa and a succulent tuna tartare, before mopping up the empty plates with a chunk of hearty bread.

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For mains, we went with simple but mouthwatering flavours a la parrilla - from the grill. We tucked into generous portions of grilled chicken thighs and juicy sirloin picaña steak, both served with hand-cut fries.

The tuna tartare was terrific

By the time the last crispy chip passed my lips, I was ready to concede defeat and bow down before the worthy recipient of the crown. 

If lunch reigns supreme, then Tragabuches Madrid is certainly the king of the menú del día. 

Though I might have to go back again - just to make sure. 

Originally published as I found Madrid's best menu del dia in Tragabuches restaurant