Chris Pearrow
Great Mexican food in the Anton Martin Market
Cutzamala is a recently-opened Mexican restaurant on the ground floor of the Mercado de Anton Martin, a traditional neighborhood market which has undergone a rebirth as a gourmet and foodie market in recent years (don’t worry, though, it’s still the best market in Madrid to do your weekly shopping). We first stumbled across Cutzamala for its happy hour special of buy one get one free on beers, margaritas, and micheladas (Mexican beer with spices and tomato) from 5:00 until 8:00 in the evening. Once we arrived, we found a passionate and extremely friendly owner who quickly explained the menu and really transmitted his passion for Mexican cuisine.
As we got festive on micheladas and margaritas, we ordered a round of tacos al pastor (a combination of slow-cooked spicy pork, pineapple, lime juice, and cilantro) and cochinita pibil (pork tacos with citrus, pickled onions, and cilantro) that were absolutely delicious! Spanish people (from Spain) aren’t into spicy so most Latin American, Indian, and Asian restaurants tone down the spiciness in accordance with local tastes. As a spice lover myself, I asked if they had any hot sauce available and the owner brought out an small bowl of homemade habanero sauce which cleared up my sinuses in seconds!
When we were there, we saw a sign for Mexican brunch which I have to admit sounded pretty appetizing. We asked about it and it’s basically, coffee, juice, pastries, and huevos rancheros or “chilakillers,” a take on the Mexican breakfast staple chilaquilas which is a base of shredded tortillas topped with sauces and anything from refried beans to fried eggs or avocado. If you’re looking for something original in the Madrid brunch scene, it might be something to check out! Otherwise, I’d recommend it for an afternoon of spicy micheladas and tasty tacos. Oh, and the price is more than reasonable.
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