Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Churros con Chocolate -

When one goes to Madrid, you must try Churros con Chocolate, which are deep-fried sticks of doughy goodness. These are thought to originate from China, with the Portuguese bringing them to Europe through their travels and trade with the Ming Dynasty.

Churros from Madrid vary from the (arguably) more well known Mexican variant, which is often dusted with cinnamon and sugar, instead, it is dipped in hot chocolate. However, this hot chocolate is probably not what you expect as it is so thick and decadent that it better resembles a chocolate fondue!

Another difference is that instead of being eaten as a dessert or a snack, Churros con Chocolate are a breakfast staple in Madrid with Churrerías packed to the brim in the morning with half-asleep Madrileños. The main reasons for it's popularity as a breakfast item historically stems from its low price (as well as how tasty it is!).

In my opinion, Churros con Chocolate are best shared (and best in winter as the thick hot chocolate really helps to stave off the winter blues). My first experience was one of underestimation, we each ordered a serving, thinking we would probably need to order more but in reality, the richness of the chocolate and the heartiness of the Churros filled us up swiftly and dealt us a decisive blow 3/4 of the way through. Thus, we had to admit defeat with the promise of returning, albeit with a more realistic outlook on how much to order!

The best place to eat this chocolatey treat would be Chocolatería San Ginés, which has been dutifully serving Churros con Chocolate since 1894 (and hopefully for many years to come) located just a few minutes walk from the central Puerta del Sol. One serving of 6 Churros with hot chocolate will set you back € 3.70 and if you're going there in the morning, Churros with Café con Leche (coffee with milk) will not go amiss. While you're there, feel free to try Porras, the thicker cousins of Churros.

Decisions Decisions.....Churros or Porras?

Another place to try it would be in Mercado de San Miguel (which has a whole post in itself) and is located minutes away from the Plaza Major.

Overall, I think Churros will appeal more so to people with a sweet tooth (and is definitely a glorious experience if you're as sweet inclined as me!) and having these in the summer (especially if you're not from Madrid) can be a tad sickly and are better suited for the cooler seasons in the year. Nonetheless, these are a definite staple of Madrid and are well worth a try.