Moroccan food: AlHambra Restaurant
Exotic foods outside their land of origin, are often expensive -- so finding a good one where you won't have to pay a bomb is not easy.
I love Arabic food, and having lived in Dubai for 10 years, I'm pretty picky about the Arabic food I eat, finding most places below average. Infact, in the two years I've lived in Spain, the only Arabic restaurant that gets my approval is AlHambra Restaurant, on Calle de Tribulete 37, in the immigrant barrio of Lavapies.
It's actually a pure Moroccan place, something you can feel as soon as you enter. The decor is simple, yet you'll find that dash of Arabic opulence if you look around a bit. The menu is vast with everything from Arabic and Andalucian salads, hummous, vine leaves and tabouli, to all sorts of cous cous, Arabic style lamb and lentils.
The main portions are large and are priced between €7-50-€9 and it's delicious; it's obvious that it's freshly prepared by someone who really knows what Arabic food is about.
AND, surprisingly, the restaurant is dry -- probably the only restaurant I know in Madrid that doesn't serve alcohol -- but it's still always full and other than Arabs, many of the guests are Spanish.
A must visit if you want reasonably price, delicious, Moroccan meal!
Closest metro: Lavapies (yellow line)