Are Korean Buffets in Madrid Worth Trying?
Recently, I had a craving for Korean food and searched for several Korean buffet restaurants in Madrid. I always thought Asian restaurants in Spain tasted pretty much the same, but this experience proved surprisingly different. Today I’ll share my visits to two restaurants, hoping to help those interested in Korean dining.
Kimchi Princess - A Good Value Choice
This restaurant is located in the Chamberí district, not far from the metro station. Weekend lunch buffet costs €19.9, while dinner is more expensive at €24.9. The variety of dishes is quite rich, including common items like kimchi, bibimbap, tteokbokki, as well as stone pot bibimbap and some grilled meats. You need to operate the small grill on the table yourself for the meat, which was a bit hectic the first time, but staff will come over to help.
The environment is fairly simple, just a standard restaurant setup, but very clean. It wasn’t too crowded when I went, and the service was decent. The only issue is that some dishes aren’t refilled quickly enough - popular grilled meat slices often require waiting for fresh batches. Overall, if you’re not too picky, the price point is reasonable.
Seoul Garden - Better Atmosphere but Higher Price
The second one is Seoul Garden in the Salamanca district. The decor is much more refined than the previous one, with a proper Korean restaurant feel. Prices are higher too - lunch is €25 and dinner €28. There’s a wider variety of dishes, including basics plus Korean fried chicken in Madrid, seafood pancakes, budae jjigae, and cold noodles. Their kimchi is homemade and tastes noticeably better than average.
The grilled meat quality is clearly superior, with good thickness and freshness. The variety of side dishes is also richer, with about a dozen options. Most servers are Korean, so communication is smooth. If you have a sufficient budget and want a more comfortable dining experience, this is the better choice.
Comparison Between the Two Restaurants
Here’s a simple comparison table to help you choose based on your needs:
| Item | Kimchi Princess | Seoul Garden |
|---|
| Lunch Price | €19.9 | €25 |
| Dinner Price | €24.9 | €28 |
| Dish Variety | Moderate | Abundant |
| Decor | Simple | Refined |
| Recommendation | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Some Tips
If it’s your first time at a Korean buffet, I suggest avoiding weekend dinner hours when it gets particularly crowded. Also, don’t do what I did and take too much at first - Korean food portions look small but are quite filling. You can start with small amounts of kimchi and side dishes to taste, then take more of what you like.
Personally, I prefer the overall experience at Seoul Garden. While it’s pricier, the dining experience is more comfortable. However, if you just want to satisfy a craving or are on a budget, Kimchi Princess works perfectly fine. Have you been to other good Korean buffet restaurants? Feel free to share your recommendations!
