YES, YES, YES!!! Bocadillo De Calamares aka Calamari Sandwiches are must tries when in Madrid. It is simply fried calamari stuffed in a baguette. TBH, I was a bit skeptical to try it because it sounded dry on paper, but am so glad my group and I tried these amazing sandwiches our last day in Madrid. It costs 3 euros a sandwich and La Campana does it right! The baguette is soft, the calamari is fried to perfection with minimal oil, and the thing is HUGE and stuffed! They have bottles of red sauce and a white aioli for the sandwiches and they complimented so well. I shared my sandwich with my BF because our group had dinner plans right after, and lemme tell ya - that was a mistake on my part. Should've never shared with the dude. read more

This review is for the calamari sandwich only . What more is there to say about this sandwich! Great value 3 Euros and great taste. The calamari is fried fresh , taste fresh and is big and meaty. I went multiple times during my trip to Madrid. Seems like both locals and tourist flock to This establishment. They serve the sandwich on a tasty French roll and that's it . However, I would recommend adding their sauce on it . The reddish sauce taste like a spicy, creamy Marinara sauce. The sauce might be behind the counter so ask for it or it may be at another table in the dinning area so look for it , it is worth it . The food is great , cheap and fast . It's the best. I wouldn't leave Madrid without eating a (or a couple )sandwiches from here. read more

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Originally, I had planned to go to La Ideal, but the line outside La Campana was huge so I thought I would follow the crowd. The wait was pretty quick as they were churning out bocadillos de calamares as fast as people could pay. The sandwiches smelled so good and they were warm but not freshly fried. It was way too salty and breaded very heavily. It seemed more about the salty fried breading than the actual squid. It wasn't so bad, but I could have gotten this anywhere else and would have tasted the same. It was nothing particularly special. read more

La Campana - Bocadillo de calamare - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

This was one of the highly recommended sandwich places in Madrid. Our tour guide told us about it. The actual sandwich itself is good - the calamari was absolutely delicious - crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!!!! However it was just served on regular bread with mayo so it was lacing some favor overall and without the inevitable glass of beer it would have been hard to eat. The line was also massive and there was no where to sit. We were extremely hungry and ate it anyway but I feel Something was lacking. I would still recommend it as the calamari is delicious! read more

La Campana - The outside of the restaurant. Was too crowded to try to take a picture of the actual sandwich. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Specifically we sat in the square with the umbrellas I "think" we associated with this place. We really wanted a Calamari sandwich, got it, was disappointed it was just calamari on a bun with not even so much as a sauce,.. and the attitude was bad to boot. The bun was very "non-European" to me. Also, though not fault of the place, tons of street vendors in here and wait staff does nothing to discourage it. I feel the way to do the Calamari sandwich is not to do the patio,. just go tot he cool strore front (if anything) around the corner. read more

Great place for Calamari in Madrid and other food, the best in the plaza mayor, clásico

I believe this place is a classic of the city when it comes to eat a Bocadillo de Calamares. It is definitely worth to try it although it is not the lightest and healthiest meal/snack ever. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

This was an experience that is for sure. Not sure I am the biggest fan of the texture of calamari in general but worth a stop if you want a classic Spanish bar food. We ordered one sandwich to share and two beer. The sandwich had really good bread and the calamari was crisp and lightly fried. We were not given lemon like the people around us and there was not really anywhere to stand or sit inside so we had to chill in the alley which was awkward. But if you are looking to just try this classic this place maybe worth the stop. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Simple, fresh and done right-delicious! Get the fried calamari sandwich and dip it into the garlicky aioli sauce they have. It could be their version of a tartar sauce but its so good with the sandwich! The calamari was perfectly fried, crispy, not greasy and tender. They season it perfectly too because it was not bland that you needed to dip it in a sauce but it was not overly salty either. If anything, that garlicky sauce complimented it. Wash it down with a nice cold small glass of beer and this is the perfect little snack for two or meal for one. Also, the olives they give you to snack on while waiting for your food or to enjoy with your beer are the best olives i've tasted in Madrid...or even ever. A must try place. My local friend has said that its a touristy spot but is still frequented by locals. That means it is good good good! read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Watching Andrew Zimmern come here we figured this place was going to be amazing. We happened to get there before there was a huge line outside but let me just say this place is hectic trying to even place an order. People are eating in every inch of this restaurant and you have to squeeze by just to try and get to counter to place your order. Once you battle the crowds it's finally time to see what all the commotion was about and for me it was just ok. Don't get me wrong the calamari inside the sandwich is good but it's not the best I've ever had. It's very basic. Just calamari and bread. Make sure you ask for lemons and aoli sauce if you want to spruce up your sandwich a bit. For all the hype of this place I don't think I would come back. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Really nice calamari sandwiches at a cheap price. I'm sitting here back home stateside, rueing the fact that I can't get something this good at this killer price other than maybe an In-N-Out burger. We ate at much more expensive places during our trip, and while this sandwich was not really "better" per se, it was just as memorable and enjoyable. We took the sandwiches to go (there is a takeaway line that spills out to the window on the right side) and ate around the corner in plaza mayor. cerveza (e.g. Mahou) is another 2eur. read more

A trip to Madrid is not complete without bocadillo de calamares. I came here twice after chilling at Mercado de San Miguel since its super close to each other. There are two lines to order - one for take out and one for sit down. I realized this later when I ordered at the take out line and ended up sitting at one of the tables. My first time I went, I ordered the calamari sandwich. The bread is cold and dry - but the calamari on the other hand is a winner! Once you order, they dump the flour coated calamaris in the fryer and trust me they aren't just the fried flour battered ones you get in New York City. These are crunchy, warm and chewy. The second time I learned better and ordered a ración de calamares (which is just fried squid without the bread) and never forget to have it with a glass of caña. Must make a quick visit here! read more

La Campana - Bocadillo de Calamares - straight from the fryer when you order - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Highly recommended by our guide yesterday we decided to hit this place for lunch. We shared the must have calamari sandwich, but it's just okay. Picture, fried calamari in a big dry bun. I just picked the calamari out and ate it with the green olives and a beer. It's great that way. The green olives are the bomb! I watched many locals down the sandwich dry and it didn't seem to faze them perhaps it's because I'm just a stupid American? Anyway. I'll save my calories for suckling pig and pulpo please. read more

Come here for Madrid's well known Bocaillos de Calamares! The line here is always long, but if you order the calamari sandwich, it shouldn't take long. One sandwich is only €3, and it's very filling. It tasted exactly how I thought it would- fried food inside bread. The calamari is pretty good, but the bread is nothing special. Good place to try the famous Madrid specialty though as it seems really popular, and it's pretty cheap! read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Meh. We went here because Andrew Zimmern hyped it up on TV saying they have really good calamari sandwich. Unlike Anthony Bourdain, whose recommendations haven't disappointed us so far, please by all means skip this place if you're curious about trying the calamari sandwich. The next door shop had several more locals eating their calamari sandwich, so you'll probably have a better experience there. read more

Omg I love calamari so much, but lately, the calamaris I've had stateside have all been really chewy and way too much breading. To be honest, the photos looked just okay. It looked a bit dry and nothing special, but man, when you first bite into the sandwich, you can tell how fresh the calamaris are. You can also tell they are cooked to perfection. Not rubbery at all. I've never had a calamari so good before. The bread goes well with it. It's also cash only. Don't be afraid of the crowds. It'll take maybe 10-15 minutes to fight your way through, but you will eventually get there. Get it to go. read more

First piece of advice is to skip the bread. Just order the calamari. It is very good. When you order the sandwich you get an okay roll that will have you saying at the end - why did I eat all that bread. I piece of advice for them, not that they need it, is to offer a variety of sauces to put on the sandwich. They could also be a little more friendly at the order counter. Maybe even have a menu that people can look at that's not on the wall. There are MANY calamari shops near by. Next time I will try one of the other ones. Not to say that this one is no good but there must be better out there. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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Great value for what you get! A large calamari sandwich with no bells and whistles; we ate it standing at the bar. They are a well-oiled machine. It was fresh and delicious. read more

I had to try the Bocadillo de Calamares as it is one of he seven must have Foods of Madrid. You know the Bocadillo de Calamares is good when it is virtually all they serve. It doesn't automatically come with mayo so ask for it. My sandwich needed it...The sandwich is huge, enough for two hearty appetites. read more

La Campana - Calamares. Ask for mayo. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

This super small shop is hard to miss because it's always full and often times has a line out the door! This place is known for one of Madrid's best cheap eats - the bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwich). Someone who has eaten a lot of calamari as an appetizer thought the idea of it on bread was a bit... lackluster, but it was so amazing! The guys that work the counter are always super nice and crank out bocadillos in seconds. This place is cash only and offers take out! I think you can order the bocadillos with mayonnaise too. If you're in the area it's a great place to grab a beer and sandwich! read more

La Campana - calamari sandwich! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Mr. A's Famous 5 Point 5 Star Review Portion: 5 Stars (decent sized sandwhich, I'm 6'3'' 210lbs and I had two and was satisfied) Atmosphere: 2 Stars (BUTTTTTT!!!! You can get it to go eat it around the corner in Plaza Mayor which is beautiful) Service: 5 Stars (speedy!) Food: 4 Stars (calamari was delicious. Could be a little crisper. Bacon one was not that good. Too fatty/chewy) Value: 5 Stars (for 5.40 euro I had a nice lunch and left satisfied) Bacon sandwich was too fatty and I ended up throwing away half of my sandwich. Calamari was delicious and I wish I had ordered two. read more

La Campana - Bacon sandwich. Too fatty for my taste. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

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You have to try a bocadillo de calamares at least once if you're in Madrid. La Campana is a great choice! Delicious food, friendly staff, tucked in a secluded calle right next to Plaza Mayor... read more

La Campana - The bocadillo in all its glory. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Calamari bocadillos for the win!!!! At first i thought the calamari was going to be like what we get in the states - small with lots of dough on the outside - not here! The calamari is HUGE with a little batter on the outside so the natural flavor isn't clouded. And the restaurant is sooooooooo generous with their calamari. Seriously, your sandwich will be overflowing in jumbo shrimp. Make sure you ask for a lemon to squeeze over your sandwich - it makes it taste so much better. read more

This calamari sandwich is epic!!!! Much bigger than some of the other places. We were headed to a different restaurant, but when we saw it was full of foreigners and this place had a long line of locals, we knew we had to switch. So glad we did. read more

When I visited Madrid, everyone was telling me to get a calamari sandwich here. Don't get me wrong.. they're really good and all, but it's just fried calamari and bread. If you're looking for anything else (like sauce to moisten the bread or add additional flavor) you won't find it... i mean, still good if you eat it separately. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

Cheap eat, but the sandwich gets boring about 1/3 of the way through. Probably wouldn't be back. But the price of the sandwich was fairly inexpensive which I can see as a way of being good business. read more

Three euros for a fried calamari sandwich that you can't beat. It was delicious! If you go to Mercado de San Miguel they'd charge you 18 euro for the amount of seafood you get in this sandwich. I'm really glad I passed on that and came here instead. Great breading and flavor in the calamari. Bread was good as well. Only downside is that we couldn't find anywhere to sit and eat there. read more

There is nothing spectacular about the calamari sandwich here but it is a good value, tastes fresh, and an ambience you'd expect from a place that blends locals and tourists alike. We got the calamari sandwich, a beer, and it came with a bowl of olives for 5 euros. Tip: ask for salsa (just think sauce) and another your sandwich in its tomato, peppery goodness. read more

Cheap it is, and the calamari sandwich is good, but the chorizo was greasy and the place not the cleanest to be found. read more

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Go find this gem adjacent to plaza de mayor. They are known for the best calamari sandwiches in town. The sandwiches are only $3 each. Calamari sandwiches are a staple in Madrid. The food is scrumptious! You order at the counter and sit at a table when it becomes available. When you walk in, you are surrounded by locals so you know it's good. I would definitely come back! read more

Soooo good and so cheap. Bocadillos de Calamar is to die for. Must stop for lunch when in the area.

This is cheap and delicious. 3€ for the calamari sandwich. Ask for a lemon half to squeeze over top. Open 24 hours a day. Truly a gem! Can't say enough about it. 10/10 recommend read more

Seriously -- cheap eats at it's finest!! I was a little skeptical when I heard about bocadillo de calamares being a thing in Madrid but the husband was all about it. So of course, we had to find a place to try it out! La Campana did not disappoint. Who would've ever thought fried calamari in a hoagie would be so flavorful? I definitely did not. But it is y'all. I'm telling you -- it is! This was delicious and the fried calamari was so tender and well seasoned! And under 3 Euro! You can't beat that! Try it out -- you won't be sorry! read more

We decided to try this place after reading many yelp reviews. It was pretty good for the price. We got olives while we waited for our food which was very, very reasonably priced. It wasn't the best calamari sandwich we had while in Madrid but it was pretty tasty. Recommend if you're in the area looking for a good deal. read more

La Campana - Cheap and delicious! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

I visited La Campana twice on my brief trip to Spain, and it was great both times! I have always loved calamari and was really excited to find while researching Madrid that bocadillos de calamares were a Spanish specialty. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into when I walked through the front door of La Campana, but I was so surprised when I saw just how enormous the portions were. The sandwich was huge and overflowing with gigantic pieces of delicious, crispy calamari, and as much as I wanted to finish it, I couldn't. The bread itself was nothing to write home about, and the sandwich didn't come with any sauce, but the calamari was the star all on its own. We also split a plate of patatas bravas, which my friend really loved (I thought they were fine, but I'm not nuts about potatoes). The next time we ordered a "racion" of calamari instead of ordering separate sandwiches and a plate of patatas bravas to split, and we still walked out with plenty of food remaining on each plate, so bring your appetite and a couple of other calamari loving friends to share! read more

At first, I was embarrassed because there were only bread and squid, but the squid inside the bread was soft and nice. Tortila(?) was a little salty, but it was delicious with bread. read more

La Campana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Madrid, M

This was hole in the wall place for me with unexpectedly amazing food. We stop by this place because we saw that it was pretty busy for a little shack and saw that many people were eating the calamari sandwich, or bocadillo de calamares, the street food of Madrid. This street food was pretty common, there was hundreds of restaurants next to each other selling the same thing, but we decide to try this place since it look quaint and lively. The sandwich itself was pretty simple, it was a hot dog type sandwich filled with calamari and that is it, no condiments or sauce or anything else. It was a huge sandwich so and you only paid about $3 for it. My friend and I shared one because it was so big. At first bite, I felt like I was in heaven. The bread it self was slightly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was fresh and didn't feel like bread from a bag like hot dogs. The calamari was another story. Each piece of calamari was plump and the ratio between the breading and the squid was perfect that each bite you take, you can taste the squid with a hint of crunchiness. The food was so simple yet it was o e of the best sandwich I ate ever. After talking to a couple of locals around the area, we realize that this place literally had the best calamari sandwich in the plaza mayor and we can see why. I still dream about that sandwich right now read more

The calamari sandwich is very good me being American however I think it really needs some kind of sauce. Minus the sauce I still highly recommend this place. read more

I am still happy we went to this place because the atmosphere is nice, it feels very local with a lot of old madrilenos enjoying their bocadillos. However I thought the food wasn't amazing. It is good to try this Madrid specialty, but it's really just fried calamari in bread. I'm not sure the bread really adds much. Besides that the tortilla and blood sausage were nice, but not especially much better than other places. read more

I found the calamari fresh but super salty. You can't beat the prices here though. Our dinner plans fell through and this was a perfect fall back for a cheap staple near plaza mayor. Stinks that there's nowhere to really sit down even in the plaza though. read more