Restaurante Kokoxaxa

Spain is a place of many wonders. The culinary aspect of it is very diverse and delicious but not as publicised as Italian and French food within Europe. However, different types of cuisines around the world have made their home in Spain and have grown in popularity. Asian food in particular has become highly sought after in Spain due to its taste and affordability. The most popular cuisines come down to Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and South Korean. Today I will be talking about one of the most widespread styles of restaurants that have spread around Spain, and especially Madrid, over the last several years. Wok buffets.

Getting there

I often visit my family during the holidays. One of our favorite places to share a meal is one of the many Woks located around Madrid. I could speak about the many different types of Woks we’ve shared a buffet in although that would take quite some time and several pages. Instead, I shall focus on the most recent new Wok I have been to while in the city of Madrid.

I had been meeting a mate from Australia, who was passing by ,to check out the ‘Museo nacional de Prado’. We decided to grab a meal before parting ways. Needless to say, there were quite a few woks strewn around the city which makes a buffet easy to access in most places you travel around Madrid. 

It took quite a bit of convincing as he was keen to simply go to a regular restaurant to eat. However, he had not discovered the wok-style restaurant found all over Madrid. It's something that is not very common in Australia. For the buffets we had they were also quite expensive and not as extensive in their food choice. By the end of it all I had him admitting that I had made the right choice in bringing him here. So, if your mate is visiting a new country that you are familiar with then please put in the effort to push them for the most enjoyable (and delicious) things you know about. It would be surprising how much you have contributed to their trip. In this case, I had contributed well to his palate as we were able to find a place where he had an unlimited amount of vegetarian options to choose from.

However, this specific one is located a scenic twenty minute walk away. You’ll find many beautiful structures that maintain their historic appearances. You may also find some other sushi style buffet restaurants. Ignore those and keep making your way until you finally find  this all you can eat.

At the very end you would have to turn a corner and you’ll be on the street of the restaurant. After walking deeper you’ll find a sign that says: Restaurante Kokoxaxa. While the street might look slightly full and rundown, this is the opposite in the inside of the restaurant. My mate and I step in the large doors and are faced by a beautifully designed interior. It felt like entering a luxury hotel with a small chandelier, golden walls and very clean and crisp looking tables.

(Source: https://islazul.com/tienda/kokoxaxa/)

Diving in

At the entrance we were greeted by a friendly spanish speaking receptionist. He asked us in a heavy chinese accented spanish whether we wanted a table for two. He then asked us to pay at the till. The thing about all-you-can-eat woks in Spain is that varying times incur various entry fees. For example, most Woks I have been to tend to charge roughly twelve euros on weekdays and sixteen on weekends. I reckon it was a similar situation here except for the fact that they charged more in the evening and simply charged us 11.5 euros (as it was lunch time)

We gladly paid the relatively cheap fee and then were escorted to our seats. From there we were left free reign of all the food. We grabbed our plates and struck out. This place is also vegetarian friendly and sufficiently satisfying.(my mate was Vegetarian).

The area was divided into four sections. The first section has all the entrees and snacks. You could grab peanuts, sliced vegetables including tomatoes, capiscum, cucumbers etc, and all sorts of finger foods. You then have your many different salads to pick from ranging from chicken, Greek and Chinese style salads.

The second part is the main area. Here you will have two sub parts. The first subpart are a large range of different pizzas including Hawaiian, meat lovers delight, vegetarian and more. Next to it they also had a variety of sushi and sashimi.

(Source:https://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant_Review-g562660-d7799006-Reviews-Wok_Parrilla_Buffet_Kokoxaxa_Plaza_Norte_2-San_Sebastian_de_los_Reyes.html)

The second part is my favourite bit. Here you can grab spring rolls, Wontons, chicken nuggets, croquettes, fried capsicum in batter, dumplings, meat buns etc. On the counter you could also find different types of sauces such as Wasabi, chili flake sauce, ketchup barbecue and more.

(Source: http://2pos.es/480/9584/restaurante-kokoxaxa)

Right next to this area you also have your many different types of rice and noodles. They offered two different types of egg fried rice and another two types of noodles that were very delicious (I enjoyed seconds). They also have fried chicken stripes, sweet and sour chicken and stir-fried broccoli with mushrooms (a personal favourite).

If you’re looking for something a bit more easier on the diet, this Wok, like many, provide a wide selection of different vegetables and raw meats such as fish (mussels and other types of sea-life), beef and chicken which you could scoop onto a plate and take it to the nearby stir-fryer. He will immediately start frying up your choices and it will take roughly about five to ten minutes (depending on what you pick).

On the counter there is a list of different types of meats that are not in display but kept in a relatively cool box to maintain freshness. You could pick from the list and they will fry these meats on the massive hot counter.

Finally, the desserts. They offer many different puddings and custards to choose from. They also offer biscuits, small cakes, flan and a tap that squeezes out ice-cream. You can use many of the different chocolate or fruity sauces kept on the counter. They also have some Spanish pastries. To top it all off, they, like most Wok buffets, have a chocolate fountain. They provide many different types of fruits such as bananas and kiwis including some sweets and biscuits for your dipping pleasure.

(Source:https://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant_Review-g562660-d7799006-Reviews-Wok_Parrilla_Buffet_Kokoxaxa_Plaza_Norte_2-San_Sebastian_de_los_Reyes.html)

You are also provided with an unlimited amount of coke, sprite and different carbonated juices from one of the many dispensers. You also have access to a water and ice dispenser. Many Wok buffets I have been to also provided unlimited wine and beer to go with your drink. However, they aren’t particularly good from my experience. This buffet in particular had neither although they sold bottles of wine for under three euros.

Overall, if you ever find yourself in Spain and looking for a feast, look no further. I highly recommend that you try out one of the many highly rated (not just any) Wok buffets located around Madrid. The relatively cheap price not only makes it a great bang for your buck option but also a great way for budget travelers and students to afford a luxury they may not have back home (due to the expense). It is important to note in detail what is provided as most Woks are similar in nature. When it comes to selection, I would rate this place a 3/5 while the best Wok I’ve been to, which had even provided ribs, calamari and much more, received a 4.8/5. 

The best part is that there is a countless amount of different types of wok buffets to discover. You never know when you will find your next favourite place due to how well they prepare one of your favourite types of food. I picked up my enthusiasm for ribs in this last place. Ever since then I have been craving to eat at that place again. Unfortunately, that is not exactly possible as I had to return to Australia after my semester exchange overseas was over. So, make sure to eat well the things you enjoy and worry about the calories when you get back home. Or work out sometime after (unlikely, but the effort is commendable). Just make sure to explore as much as you can in a foreign country. If you discover a new type of cuisine or even new things to cook when you get back then you are the definition of a success story.

Bon appetite and happy travelling.