When in Madrid: Try the Torrezno at Toma Jamon

Cava Baja in Central Madrid is a street that´s pretty famous for its tapa bars.

Unlike the Sol or Gran Via area, where prices of food are a bit too touristy (i.e. expensive),  Cava Baja´s tapa bars are cheap.  It is a favorite chillout place of the locals.  The place to go to wind down from work. 

A favorite tapa bar in Cava Baja is Toma Jamon. 

Though it´s name (Toma Jamon) denotes  "eat ham" and they do offer ham and other Spanish tapas such as tortillas and calamares,  Toma Jamon´s  specialty is actually Torrezno de Avila, a type of roasted bacon.

It´s really delicious!  Strips of roasted pork with crispy skin and soft, fat streaked meat.  It reminded me a bit of a local specialty in my hometown called bagnet.  There is no sauce that goes with the torrezno, only a sprinkling of salt, and that´s enough, showcasing the clean pork flavor.  It is served with roasted peppers, a side of green olives  and a plate of white bread. 

A plate of torrezno with the accompanying olives and bread plus two glasses of wine only costs about 14€.  Really value for money, not to mention, porky-licious! 

TOMA JAMON

Calle Cava Baja 10, Madrid

Nearby Metro Station: La Latina