PlanetEye

One of Madrid's best kept secrets: a tiny "Chino" (as they call Chinese restaurants here) in the underground parking lot of Plaza España.

When I say secret -- I mean from the tourists; in my 15-months in Madrid, I have been there a thousand times and other than me and my boyfriend, I have never found English-speakers in there.

It's small, the menu is limited, and the service is fast but not quite what you'd call friendly. But the food is great, it's served super-quick and it's very cheap. On weekends the line can be a 100-metres long!

Chinese dumplings, Chinese vegetables, beef with green pepper (not on the menu but they make it) and noodles, is our standard order and never goes wrong. They even have more authentic dishes like chicken feet (ugh) and Chinese noodle soup with urrrm...nobody quite knows what's in it.

The staff don't speak any English and hardly speak Spanish, so sign language is the only way to go. If you don't order enough, they will make sure you order more.

The name of the place is in Chinese, so nobody knows what it says. I asked them once and they said "it's a Chinese restuarant, what do you care what it's called!?" There is only one parking lot in the plaza -- don't be afraid to walk down -- that's where it is.

So, if you want some good, fast and cheap Chinese food -- and are not easily bothered by bad service -- you will love this place. And, it's kinda cool to be eating in a parking lot! 

Metro: Plaza España (yellow line)