Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Asian
Average price per person: 25€
Environment: 7.5/10
Food: 9/10
Service: 7.5/10
Other: Gluten-free options, Pet friendly
Website: https://kitchen154.com/
Kitchen 154 is a paradise for spice lovers. Here you will find cuisine inspired by various Asian countries and mostly their street food dishes. While there are mild options, more than half the menu includes spicy options that are pretty intense.
Kitchen 154 has a couple of locations in Madrid. We visited the one in Calle de Acuerdo for lunch on a Saturday.
Location/Environment
The restaurant gives you more of a bar vibe with most of the seating space being stands or the bar. There are no menus handed out and you can see everything on the boards behind the bar or on the walls.
There is some jovial music and the whole space gives you a street food spot feeling.
Kitchen 154 – Menu
The menu is relatively short with around 10-12 options. Out of those at least half were spicy (indicated by one or two peppers next to the dish on the menu).
There are also wine, beer, and spirits options. A cold beer is a good idea to compliment the spicy dishes.
Service
The service was, in my opinion, average. Some people on the staff were helpful and welcoming, while others were kind of just going through the motions.
Not everyone knew the menu allergens if dogs are allowed, and in general one of our servers did not appear interested in being there at all.
Kitchen 154 – Food
We kicked things off with momos, a type of steamed dumpling typical in Nepalese cuisine. They were topped with onion and peppers and served with a slightly spicy paste.
The fried cauliflower salad with the nam prik sauce was my favorite dish. Great texture and the sauce was a combination of salty, acidic, spicy, and umami flavors. It was served with white rice. Delicious!
The Boquerones Sri Lanka were fried anchovies coated in a spice blend. Those were crispy and because of all the spices they had a robust flavor. All in all, this was a great appetizer.
The Nam Tok de Bonito was the spiciest dish we tried. Not for the faint-hearted, this dish includes sliced bonito fish (similar to tuna or mackerel), a spicy marinade, and fish sauce. Also served with white rice. If you enjoy spicy dishes, this is for you.
Finally, we opted for the green curry with veal. Very rich and tender meat (served with a clean bone so you can see the way it was cooked) and flavourful sauce. Additionally, the dish included fried banana, peppers, and green onion as well as white rice on the side.
Conclusion
Kitchen 154 is what I would consider a value-for-money option. It serves dishes with rich, intense flavors that transport you all around Asia. As a bonus for spice lovers (like myself), this place is one of the few I have encountered in Madrid that actually packs a punch.
Visit: July 2024