Where to eat in Usera: restaurants in Madrid's Chinatown

Usera is the best neighborhood in Madrid to eat authentic Chinese food. Not “Chinese restaurant food for Spaniards”: regional cuisine designed for the Chinese community that lives here. This is our guide to guide you.

How the area works

The gastronomic axis is Nicolás Usera street and the streets that cross it. The density of Chinese restaurants is the highest in Spain, and the clientele is mostly from the neighborhood — a good sign: the prices are neighborhood prices and the kitchens cannot afford to fail.

What to order according to what you are looking for

Sichuan Spicy: the most visible specialty of the neighborhood. Hotpot (spicy fondue shared in the center of the table), mapo tofu, chicken with dried chilies. If you’ve never tried real Sichuan cuisine, this is the place.
Cantonese: lacquered duck, roast pork (char siu), dim sum on weekend mornings, and Cantonese bakeries that open early with steamed buns and egg tarts.
Skewers and skewers: chuanr (lamb skewers with cumin and chili) are the neighborhood’s informal nightlife plan.
Bubble tea: several bubble tea shops for the return walk.

The traditional traditional neighborhood

Usera is not just Chinatown: it coexists with Madrid’s traditional tapas bars. Squid sandwiches, tripe, vermouth on tap, honest menus of the day. Eating in the neighborhood is alternating both worlds, and that is exactly what makes it interesting.

Practical tips

Chinese time: many restaurants in the neighborhood close on a weekday; check it before you go.
Cash: less and less necessary, but some small establishments appreciate it.
Groups: hotpot and Cantonese cuisine are best enjoyed at a large table — ideal if you are staying with family or friends in our two-bedroom apartment.