Where to Eat the Best Huevos Rotos in Madrid

Enjoying huevos rotos in Madrid is a culinary rite of passage for international foodies. It’s an iconic dish that loosely translates to “broken eggs,” yet it’s much more than just some fried runny yolks on a plate.

It’s such an iconic dish, that no Madrid food tour would be complete without sampling it at a few different places.

What Are Huevos Rotos?

Huevos rotos is a perfect example of the Spanish culinary philosophy of elevating simple ingredients into something magical. The perfectly fried eggs are typically served over a bed of golden, crispy fried potatoes. Then garnished with additions like Iberian jamon, chorizo, onions, or aromatic herbs.

The terms “huevos rotos” and “huevos estrellados” are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on where you are in Spain. In Madrid, huevos rotos is the common term, highlighting the act of breaking the yolks over crispy potatoes to create a yolky sauce.

However, in southern Spain, you’ll find huevos estrellados, which loosely translates to “smashed eggs” which look a little more like they’re smashed on top. Sometimes the yolks are more set than you find in Madrid’s huevos rotos, but both are essentially the same dish.

Best Places to Eat Huevos Rotos in Madrid

The following are some of the best restaurants and tapas bars in Madrid serving huevos rotos.

Casa Lucio

Casa Lucio in Madrid’s historic La Latina district, is celebrated by locals for its traditional Spanish cuisine. Today the people of Madrid see it as a culinary landmark, attracting celebrities, presidents, and Hollywood actors.

Huevos rotos is one of the signature dishes served at Casa Lucio. They prepare it the way it was made ages ago, using only the highest quality ingredients to create perfectly fried eggs without crispy edges, served over freshly fried potatoes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside.

The menu at Casa Lucio offers a variety of traditional Spanish dishes. This includes Madrileño classics like sopa castellana, alcachofas con jamón, solomillo sirloin steak, and authentic Spanish desserts like arroz con leche rice pudding.

While the pricing at Casa Lucio is reasonable, the restaurant’s popularity, among tourists and locals alike makes it wise to get a reservation.

Casa Lucio (€15-20) – C. de la Cava Baja, 35, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain.

Taberna Pedraza

Photo credit: Taberna Pedraza

You’ll find Taberna Pedraza in Madrid’s upscale Salamanca district, where they offer a rustic-chic take on authentic Spanish dining. The ambiance is warm and inviting, like a classical Madrid taberna, yet modernized to fit the air of the surrounding neighborhood.

Taberna Pedraza’s signature dish is tortilla de betanzos, which puts a slightly different take on huevos rotos. The consistency is more like that of a runny omelet and has a bit more of a fine-dining feel to it. In late summer and fall, they sometimes offer it with truffles shaved over top of it.

Other menu delights at Taberna Pedraza include croquetas cremosas de jamón, alcachofas suaves en flor, and grilled artisan chistorra sausages served with padrón peppers.

The prices are reasonable, but it’s still advisable to make reservations.

Taberna Pedraza (€15-20) – C. de Recoletos, 4, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid, Spain.

Casa Dani

Photo credit: Casa Dani

Casa Dani in Madrid’s Mercado de la Paz is a culinary gem celebrated for offering authentic Spanish fare at reasonable prices. The ambiance reflects a traditional tapas bar with efficient service and a vibrant atmosphere.

Casa Dani’s classic huevos rotos is pure simplicity done right. I recommend adding jamón for extra flavor, which elevates the dish. Their tortilla de patatas “Spanish Omelet” has also been recognized as one of the best in Spain, winning the ‘II Campeonato Nacional de Tortillas’ in 2019.

The prices at Casa Dani are very reasonable. However, they don’t take reservations, and the modest dining area can be crowded at times. So, it’s best to show up at off-peak times.

Casa Dani (€6-15) – Cl. de Ayala, 28, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid, Spain.

Txirimiri

Photo credit: Txirimiri

Txirimiri is a renowned Basque-inspired tavern in Madrid that offers a beautiful blend of traditional and contemporary Spanish cuisine. With multiple locations across the city, including La Latina, Salamanca, and Retiro, it’s easy to include one in a tour.

The huevos rotos at Txirimiri stands out due to the use of high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques. You get perfectly fried eggs over a bed of crispy potatoes. Then I love that they offer add-ons like Iberian ham or chistorra Basque sausage, to give it a unique twist.

Some of the other sumptuous offerings on Txirimiri’s menu include truffle tortilla, which offers a rich and aromatic flavor profile. They also have grilled vegetable dishes for vegetarian preferences as well as various meat and fish dishes to suit any taste.

Txirimiri’s menu prices range from €10 to €25. If you want to get a table during peak times, it’s best to make reservations.

Txirimiri (€10 to €25) – C. de Ferraz, 38, Moncloa – Aravaca, 28008 Madrid, Spain.

Variations of Huevos Rotos

There are tons of creative takes on huevos rotos scattered through tapas bars and restaurants in Madrid.

Huevos rotos con jamón is the classic version with the addition of nutty, cured Iberian ham.

Huevos rotos con chorizo adds a spicy twist using Spanish chorizo. Sometimes it’s sliced and pan-fried, and sometimes it comes as chistorra Basque sausage that’s lightly grilled.

Huevos rotos con mariscos is a coastal variation with shrimp, octopus or other types of seafood served along with the broken eggs.

You might also find other creative adaptations using black truffle, foie gras, or vegetarian options.

How to Eat Huevos Rotos Like a Local

In Madrid, huevos rotos are typically enjoyed as a tapa, or as a hearty lunch. Some tabernas will also offer them as a satisfying late-night meal. They are typically paired with a cold Spanish beer, a refreshing glass of sangria, or a bold red wine.

Many local Madrileños share huevos rotos with friends. Yet it’s also available in popular food markets like Mercado de San Miguel or Mercado de San Antón, where it’s sold as an individual street food.

Tips for Ordering Huevos Rotos in Madrid

If you’re ordering huevos rotos at a local restaurant or taberna, it’s easiest to order in Spanish by saying “Una ración de huevos rotos, por favor.” This is the ideal way to order if you’re touring a less-touristy part of Madrid.

A few restaurants and tapas bars also offer a vegetarian or potato-only version of huevos rotos. In a case like this you’ll want to ask, “Quisiera unos huevos rotos solo con patatas, sin carne ni pescado, por favor.” This means “I would like huevos rotos with only potatoes, without meat or fish, please.”