{"id":11949,"date":"2020-05-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madridfoodtour.com\/?p=11949"},"modified":"2025-07-30T10:16:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T10:16:17","slug":"best-croquetas-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/best-croquetas-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Spots Serving the Best Croquetas in Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"
Spanish croquettes are the perfect tapa for any occasion! But it helps to know how to separate the great from the merely good. At these places that make the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid, you’ll soon see that not all croquettes are created equal. You know a tapa is truly legendary when it has a whole day dedicated to it—January 16th is officially World Croquette Day. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this popular dish every day of the year! We’re going to dive into the secrets of Spanish croquetas<\/em>, and share some of our favorite spots to try them in Madrid.<\/p> You might be wondering: what exactly are croquettes? These little fried rolls are popular the world over, but Spain does them especially well (okay, we might be biased). That said, there are secrets to spotting the best of the bunch… ready to discover them for yourself?<\/p> <\/p> Many claim to have the best croquetas<\/em> in Madrid—but what does that actually mean? What makes a croquette not just good, but great? Let’s work from the outside in.<\/p> When the waiter drops off a ración de croquetas <\/em>at your table or on the aluminum bar top, the first thing you’ll see is the shape. Undoubtedly round and uniform? Buyer beware!<\/p> These are likely the industrial, frozen variety of croquettes. Still decent, but nothing too special.<\/p> When made by hand, croquetas<\/em> are very labor intensive. For a tell-tale sign that someone has put in the work, look for grooves left behind by the hands of the obrador <\/em>who made them. Alternatively, they may have been shaped by two spoons, a traditional method that gives croquettes a more elongated shape.<\/p> A good croqueta <\/em>should have a crispy shell that isn’t especially oily, making it easy to pick up with your hands. If they’re fresh and hot out of the fryer, a fork and knife is also okay. When in doubt, look around to see how the locals are eating, and follow suit!<\/p> Next up is the filling. At the center of the croqueta <\/em>is a soft, creamy, flour-based béchamel. It should be thick enough that you can pick the croqueta<\/em> up without it falling apart, but soft enough that it melts in your mouth.<\/p> In addition to the béchamel, Spanish croquettes are commonly filled with pieces of leftover jamón<\/em> (Iberian ham). Additionally, other common fillings include puchero<\/em> (shredded meat), bacalao<\/em> (salt cod) and boletus<\/em> (mushroom). But the options are endless, and you’re likely to find all kinds of creative flavor combinations!<\/p> Hungry already? If you’re up for the challenge, try making croquettes at home with our croquetas de jamón<\/em> recipe.<\/a><\/p> Ready to try some for yourself? Hit up any of the following places for croquetas<\/em> that’ll blow your mind. Warning: it’s almost impossible to eat just one. <\/p> Located in the Salamanca neighborhood, Santerra<\/a> is the perfect place to order a plate of highly acclaimed croquetas<\/em> while standing at the beautiful bar with the locals.<\/p> In 2018, these were named the best ham croquettes in the world<\/a>, based on a variety of criteria. The best part? The homemade breadcrumbs create an extra-crunchy exterior, making that first bite even more enjoyable.<\/p> Casa Manolo<\/a> is located in Vicálvaro, a former small town that Madrid’s urban expansion swallowed up in the 1950s. Open your cloth napkin and order the house croquetas<\/em> to start.<\/p> If you like them, don’t keep it to yourself! Manolo is usually walking around the restaurant and won’t shy away from a compliment. Because it’s outside the city center, there’s plenty of space nearby where you can walk off all that béchamel.<\/p>
<\/figure>How to Spot a Perfect Croqueta<\/h2>


Where to Find the Best Croquetas in Madrid<\/h2>
Santerra: Award-Winning Croquetas<\/em><\/h3>
Casa Manolo: Off the Beaten Path<\/h3>

B13 Bar: Vegetarian Croquetas<\/h3>