Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Spanish
Average price per person: 25€
Environment: 8/10
Food: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Other: Pet-friendly
Website:https://chezpepito.es/
Chez Pepito is a casual tapas bar that has become quite popular. In April 2025, it just opened its third location in Madrid, which shows it probably does something right. But how is Chez Pepito different from all the other popular spots in Madrid?
In my opinion, the key differentiator is that it maintains a casual, unpretentious vibe through its atmosphere, while introducing certain unique elements to its classic Spanish dishes.
I visited on a weekday for a quick lunch and I enjoyed it so much that I did two visits on the same week.
Location/Environment
The Chamberi location that I went to has a really casual tapas bar ambiance. There are mostly high tables, a barra and tiled walls, really setting the tone for the experience here.
Chez Pepito – Menu
The menu is spilt into one section with tapas, a lot of which come in units (perfect for trying various things). The second section is more of what you would consider main dishes that includes several sandwiches which are not traditional tapas bar dishes.
In reality, most of the tapas were also not traditional dishes you would find in Spain, with plenty of Asian influences.
Service
Despite the place being full and me coming without a reservation (the first time, I didn’t want to take a chance the second time), the staff tried to accommodate me and suggest what to try as it was my first visit.
The service was fast, efficient, although informal, in line with Chez Pepito’s vibe. It left me with a positive note about my experience.
Chez Pepito – Food
First, the Shisho shrimp. The shrimp was not very crunchy but there was a nice kick from the spicy sauce. One of the few times that something was actually spicy in a tapas bar. This was balanced by the sweet and acidic mango salsa.
The deviled eggs are served with tuna and a mayo/tomato ketchup sauce. On the side, some mini breadsticks, which are common little nibbles in Spain. The filling was very saucy, which I like and also had a good amount of tuna. The interesting aspect of this dish was that it was served upside down. Not traditional, but definitely tasty and more filling than a usual deviled egg.
My favorite dish without a doubt was the patatas bravas. At Chez Pepito they make their own chili flakes which combined with the aioli sauce give the dish an rich and spicy flavor. A must try and one of the best patatas bravas I have ever tried.
The Pepi SSAM was very interesting. A type of spring roll with leek but with thicker breading wrapped with meat sliced carpaccio style and a salsa that the menu calls Pekin. A quite tasty little bite.
From the sandwiches, I tried the brioche de carrillera. Very good brioche bun, with a crispy char on the outside and tender beef cheek inside. It was topped with spicy mayo, pickled onions and mint. The mayo was spicy and acidic, so perfectly balancing the rich meat filling. I liked it a lot, but maybe a green vegetable would bring more balance.
In addition, I tried the Chez Pollito, which comes with thin, crispy fried chicken, lettuce and salsa Chez (a combination of mayo/ketchup kind of sauce). While the chicken was good, I found the bread too oily. Overall, I would say this was a “heavy” sandwich that I barely managed to finish on my own (and I can eat a lot!).
For dessert, the classic cheesecake that they make in-house was really balanced. Creamy without being too milky. One of the best I have tried in Madrid and in my opinion better than other, more popular options.
Conclusion
To sum up, Chez Pepito is a very good tapas option when you are looking for something with a twist. I would consider it a more casual and playful version of Casa Canito. On my top three tapas bars in Madrid, together with Hermanos Vinagre and Casa Canito.
Visit: July 2025
Address: Calle del Cardenal Cisneros 66, Chamberí, 28010, Madrid