The Best Churros y Chocolate in Madrid
During the winter months, when even Madrid temperatures can be as cold as 30º F during the day, nothing is as warming as a plate of hot churros and chocolate. This Spanish sweet specialty is enjoyed at breakfast, snack time and early morning for those who enjoy Madrid's active nightlife. Churros are long strips of fried dough, which resemble Play Doh squeezed through a press with a star template creating beautiful ridges. Once deep-fried, one sprinkles sugar on the golden crispy exterior and then dips them into hot, thick, gelatinous chocolate, much different than drinkable hot chocolate.
In January and February, I set out in search of the best churros y chocolate in Madrid and discovered distinct differences between the most popular offerings. To help produce an objective evaluation, I created a rubric in which I rated the churros on form, color, outside and inside texture, greasiness, temperature and whether they "snapped" when broken in half. The chocolate was rated on consistency, sweetness, temperature, color and degree of chocolate flavor. I also took into consideration the experience, including wait time, decor and ambiance of each eatery. The list below starts with my least favorite churerria and ends with my top pick.
Maestro Churrero
Although founded in 1902, Maestrero Churrero reminded me of Dunkin' Doughnuts, with an extremely commercialized, modern twist on a Spanish classic. The bright orange and white modern decor was a bit harsh, and there was no table service, requiring customers to stand in line to order and receive their churros. The options were excessive, and I was overwhelmed with multiple flavors, colors and sizes, but I purchased the standard churros, which are packaged in a popcorn-type striped box with a paper cup of chocolate inside. This place is all glitz, no charm and produced mildly crunchy and lukewarm tear-shaped churros with a light brown colored chocolate that had little flavor. Although located on the charming Plaza Jacinto Benavente, the churros y chocolate were sub standard.
Chocolat Madrid
A relative newcomer to the churros scene in Spain that opened its doors in 2003, and has a good reputation, I found this small café disappointing. We were served D looped light yellow churros, lacking snap that were accompanied by a dark, thick chocolate. Although I liked the chocolate a great deal, I am in search of equally excellent churros, which I did not find here. Additionally, the small space with its one row of tables, lacked ambiance and was out of the way on a quiet side street.
Chocolateria San Ginés
All guide books direct tourists to this most famous chocolateria in Madrid located in the quaint pedestrian street, Pasadizo San Ginés near Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Founded in 1894 and now open 24 hours a day, this establishment has expanded to neighboring buildings. After waiting in line for 15 minutes and placing our order, we were seated by the hostess in an attractive room with long green banquettes and walls adorned with mirrors and photos of famous people who have eaten their churros. The ambiance was festive and our waitress was kind and helpful. However, we were disappointed in the churros themselves as these long, slightly curved sticks, were warm, not hot, had a crunchy exterior, but not much of an interior, and when eaten alone, had a distinct oily flavor. The chocolate was hot and dark, with a surprisingly mild chocolate flavor. Despite its shortcomings, San Ginés is a "must" for the experience alone.
La Antigua Churrería
With five locations throughout Madrid, this popular churrería was founded in 1913, and has a warm and inviting brick and dark red interior. The curved shaped churros were served hot and had a dark golden color with a crisp outside and a lovely soft interior. The burning hot chocolate was so thick that my churros could stand up in it. However, the flavor was weak and I had the impression that gelatin was used to make this pudding-like mixture. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and the tasty churros.
Valor Chocolateria
In Spain, the name Valor has been associated with quality chocolate since its origins in 1881. Fortunately, one of their four Madrid locations is close to home and has inviting decor and the ambiance of an elegant soda fountain shop. When our waitress placed the plate of churros on our table, we were surprised to find the dark golden curved pieces, large in diameter and lacking ridges. But when we snapped our hot churros, steam came out and soon we discovered a spongy, delicious interior. Although our fingers became greasy from the exterior, there was no oily flavor. The dark, thick hot chocolate was strong in flavor, as one would expect from a reputable chocolate maker. The combination of churros and chocolate was so incredibly tasty that we ordered a second serving. Although never expensive, the churros y chocolate were the most costly here, which supports my theory that little chocolate was used at the other shops, for cocoa is an expensive ingredient.
Until going to Valor, my desire to eat churros y chocolate began to diminish, and I did not want to return in the near future to any of the previously mentioned churrerías. This all changed when I ate at Valor, and now I look forward to returning and sharing the best churros y chocolate in Madrid with my parents when they visit for spring break.
In January and February, I set out in search of the best churros y chocolate in Madrid and discovered distinct differences between the most popular offerings. To help produce an objective evaluation, I created a rubric in which I rated the churros on form, color, outside and inside texture, greasiness, temperature and whether they "snapped" when broken in half. The chocolate was rated on consistency, sweetness, temperature, color and degree of chocolate flavor. I also took into consideration the experience, including wait time, decor and ambiance of each eatery. The list below starts with my least favorite churerria and ends with my top pick.
Maestro Churrero
Although founded in 1902, Maestrero Churrero reminded me of Dunkin' Doughnuts, with an extremely commercialized, modern twist on a Spanish classic. The bright orange and white modern decor was a bit harsh, and there was no table service, requiring customers to stand in line to order and receive their churros. The options were excessive, and I was overwhelmed with multiple flavors, colors and sizes, but I purchased the standard churros, which are packaged in a popcorn-type striped box with a paper cup of chocolate inside. This place is all glitz, no charm and produced mildly crunchy and lukewarm tear-shaped churros with a light brown colored chocolate that had little flavor. Although located on the charming Plaza Jacinto Benavente, the churros y chocolate were sub standard.
Chocolat Madrid
A relative newcomer to the churros scene in Spain that opened its doors in 2003, and has a good reputation, I found this small café disappointing. We were served D looped light yellow churros, lacking snap that were accompanied by a dark, thick chocolate. Although I liked the chocolate a great deal, I am in search of equally excellent churros, which I did not find here. Additionally, the small space with its one row of tables, lacked ambiance and was out of the way on a quiet side street.
Chocolateria San Ginés
All guide books direct tourists to this most famous chocolateria in Madrid located in the quaint pedestrian street, Pasadizo San Ginés near Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Founded in 1894 and now open 24 hours a day, this establishment has expanded to neighboring buildings. After waiting in line for 15 minutes and placing our order, we were seated by the hostess in an attractive room with long green banquettes and walls adorned with mirrors and photos of famous people who have eaten their churros. The ambiance was festive and our waitress was kind and helpful. However, we were disappointed in the churros themselves as these long, slightly curved sticks, were warm, not hot, had a crunchy exterior, but not much of an interior, and when eaten alone, had a distinct oily flavor. The chocolate was hot and dark, with a surprisingly mild chocolate flavor. Despite its shortcomings, San Ginés is a "must" for the experience alone.
La Antigua Churrería
With five locations throughout Madrid, this popular churrería was founded in 1913, and has a warm and inviting brick and dark red interior. The curved shaped churros were served hot and had a dark golden color with a crisp outside and a lovely soft interior. The burning hot chocolate was so thick that my churros could stand up in it. However, the flavor was weak and I had the impression that gelatin was used to make this pudding-like mixture. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and the tasty churros.
Valor Chocolateria
In Spain, the name Valor has been associated with quality chocolate since its origins in 1881. Fortunately, one of their four Madrid locations is close to home and has inviting decor and the ambiance of an elegant soda fountain shop. When our waitress placed the plate of churros on our table, we were surprised to find the dark golden curved pieces, large in diameter and lacking ridges. But when we snapped our hot churros, steam came out and soon we discovered a spongy, delicious interior. Although our fingers became greasy from the exterior, there was no oily flavor. The dark, thick hot chocolate was strong in flavor, as one would expect from a reputable chocolate maker. The combination of churros and chocolate was so incredibly tasty that we ordered a second serving. Although never expensive, the churros y chocolate were the most costly here, which supports my theory that little chocolate was used at the other shops, for cocoa is an expensive ingredient.
Until going to Valor, my desire to eat churros y chocolate began to diminish, and I did not want to return in the near future to any of the previously mentioned churrerías. This all changed when I ate at Valor, and now I look forward to returning and sharing the best churros y chocolate in Madrid with my parents when they visit for spring break.
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