The traditional cuisine of Madrid is under the Spanish cuisine in general and in particular, Castilian cuisine which preserves some prepared dishes and cooking characteristics inherited from the days of the installation of the court of Philip II: the stew Madrid, Madrid-style tripe soup, garlic, tripe in general, and desserts such as stupid or bagels, bones of a saint or toast Madrid.

Often, the typical aroma permeates the kitchen Madrid frying properties of olive oil as is found in preparations popular bars, restaurants and other establishments in the city: the churros, tortilla chips, snacks of squid served in the bars around the Plaza Mayor, the patatas bravas, the chopitos or chicken-tripe.
After the fall of Franco and changing consumer habits have proliferated multinational fast food establishments and food "ethnic", as in the case of known Kebab.

The rise of immigration in the early twenty-first century, has contributed to the introduction of cuisines representing different cultural groups who have settled in the city. This will have developed some, like Chinese cuisine, Ecuador and Romania.