"A cult no-reservations Madrid counter where you queue for an Asian-inspired run of dim sum, bao and nigiri — go early."
About Nakeima
Nakeima has been one of Madrid's hardest-to-get tables since it opened in 2013, founded by Gonzalo García and Luis Gómez-Bua. The format is the cult: about twenty counter seats, no reservations, a queue before the doors open and a daily-changing, omakase-style run of Asian-inspired small plates. You tell them your tastes and intolerances, and the kitchen feeds you from that day's list.
It sits among Madrid's most exciting kitchens. Compare the freewheeling cooking at StreetXO, the tasting menu at DSTAgE and the long-running Chinese at Café Saigon, or browse the wider Japanese picks.
The Kitchen
The cooking is transgressive, roguish Asian fusion that changes by the day — nigiri, temaki, Japanese omelette, bao and dim sum, plus whatever the kitchen feels like. The cult signatures are the dim sum de foie and the siu mai de papada (pork-jowl), the dishes regulars come back for. Because the list updates daily, no two visits are the same.
It is remarkable value for the quality: most dishes land around €8 to 9, and even a generous run with a few glasses of wine tends to come in between €60 and 100 a head — small-plate prices for cooking that punches far above them.
The Room
The room is tiny and unfussy: a cramped open counter of around twenty seats where you watch the kitchen work and the plates land one after another. There is no booking and no ceremony — you join the line before opening, take a stool and order by conversation. The energy is fast, loud and a little chaotic, and that informality is exactly the appeal.
Best for an off-menu, queue-up counter dinner
Nakeima suits an off-menu, queue-up counter dinner — the single counter makes it one of the best solo-dining seats in Madrid, a fun and low-stakes first-date spot, and a memorable casual birthday for two. For more of the city's tables, see StreetXO or browse the full Madrid dining guide.
Not for
Not for a group, a big celebration or anyone who needs a guaranteed table — there are no bookings, about twenty seats and a queue, so it is solo or a pair, on the night.
Frequently Asked
What is Nakeima known for?
Being one of Madrid's cult tables since 2013 — a tiny no-reservations counter serving a daily-changing, Asian-inspired run of dim sum, bao and nigiri, with a famous dim sum de foie and siu mai de papada.
Does Nakeima take reservations?
No. There are about twenty counter seats and no bookings, so you join the queue before the doors open and take a stool when one frees up.
What should I order at Nakeima?
Whatever is on the day's list, but the cult dishes are the dim sum de foie and the siu mai de papada; the menu changes daily, so each visit is different.
How much does Nakeima cost?
Excellent value: most dishes run around €8 to 9, and a full run with a few glasses of wine usually lands between €60 and 100 a head.
Where is Nakeima?
On Calle de Meléndez Valdés 54 in the Argüelles area of Madrid; arrive before opening, because the small counter has no reservations and a queue.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Nakeima
Nakeima does not take reservations; arrive well before opening and join the line for one of about twenty counter seats.
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Practical Information
AddressCalle de Meléndez Valdés 54, 28015 Madrid
NeighbourhoodOn Calle de Meléndez Valdés, in the Argüelles area of Chamberí
CuisineAsian / Japanese
PriceMost dishes €8–9; about €60–100 a head with wine
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingAbout 20 counter seats; no reservations, queue before opening
ReservationNo reservations — arrive before opening and join the queue
