El Buda Feliz
El Buda Feliz
El Buda Feliz opened in 1974 on Calle Tudescos, by Plaza de la Luna, and claims the title of Madrid's oldest Chinese restaurant still in business. Founders Román Wang and Mercedes Wu ran it for more than 30 years before handing over in 2017 to five partners from Zhejiang, who refitted it and updated the cooking with spicier, regional Chinese dishes. It's a large room with a terrace, good for groups.
Social
From elbudafeliz1974 on Instagram
🥢 EL CHINO MÁS ANTIGUO DE MADRID... Y UNO DE LOS MÁS EMBLEMÁTICOS Si alguna vez te preguntaste dónde comenzó la historia de la gastronomía china en Madrid, la respuesta está en El Buda Feliz 1974. Inaugurado en 1974, fue el primer restaurante chino de la capital y, más de cinco décadas después, sig
EL BUDA FELIZ. Un clásico de la cocina china en la capital con más de 50 años de historia al lado de la Gran Vía. ¿Te atreves a probar su excepcional menú? 📍C/ Tudescos, 5. Madrid. Tel: 915 31 95 24. Precio: 29,80€ Festival patrocinado por Tsingtao, la cerveza más popular de China, y MiBee, plataf
Este es el primer restaurante chino de Madrid @elbudafeliz1974 📍 C/ de Tudesco, 5, Centro, 28004 Madrid ✅ A 2 minuto del metro 🚇Gran Vía o Plaza de España Los principales platos de la comida china están aquí ¿Ya lo conocías?
🥢✨ Madrid tiene un secreto… y lleva conquistando paladares desde 1974. Si todavía no conoces El Buda Feliz 1974, @elbudafeliz1974 prepárate para descubrir el sabor que ha enamorado generaciones. 🥟🔥 Cada plato cuenta una historia. Cada bocado… te transporta. Aquí no vienes solo a comer. Vienes a vi
📍 El Buda feliz @elbudafeliz1974 (C/Tudescos 5, Madrid) 🔹 Chunquan: rollitos especiales de churros chinos, lomo de cerdo, cebollino y láminas de fideos (9’50€) 🔹 Gyozas rellenas de carne de pato, fideos y trufa (2 ud. - 6’80€) 🔹 Xian pei: Zamburiñas con ajo y fideos transparentes (3 ud. - 10’50€) 🔹
Hay sitios que nunca pasan de moda… y este es uno de ellos ✨ Un clásico de Madrid donde cada plato tiene ese sabor que hace que quieras volver. Desde su ambiente hasta cada detalle de la comida, todo se siente especial 🤍 Si vas, no te puedes ir sin probar su famoso pato y el pollo al limón 🤤 Perf
Background
About El Buda Feliz
The Story
Román Wang left China in 1956 to study economics in Madrid and later managed a winery in Haro, where his wife Mercedes Wu, who prefers to be called Señora Wang, cooked Chinese dishes for his business visitors. When the family moved to Madrid they opened El Buda Feliz on Calle Tudescos in 1974, importing their ingredients from Hong Kong; by Señora Wang's account, it set the template for Spain's Chinese restaurants, down to the sweet-and-sour sauce made with tomato. After more than 30 years the family passed it on in 2017 to five partners raised in their parents' restaurants, all born in Zhejiang province, advised by Julio Zhang of Soy Kitchen.
The Cuisine
Chinese, updated from the old Spanish-Chinese standards toward regional dishes and more heat. At the relaunch the carta included tripe with beef, mushrooms and peanuts, xiao long bao, aubergines with century egg, charcoal-grilled lemon chicken skewers, sea bass with mussels and Sichuan chillies, and tofu on a hot stone.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
El Buda Feliz Ratings & Reviews
Diner Ratings
4.7
10940
TripAdvisor
3.8
552 reviews
El Buda Feliz ranks #615 of 1001 rated restaurants in Madrid. Diners rate it 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor (552 reviews).
Reservations
How to Book El Buda Feliz
Reserve
Experience
El Buda Feliz Dining Experience
The 2017 refit was inspired by Shangri-La, but the partners kept the old door handle and the classic white sign with red lettering on a column of the terrace, so the old Buda Feliz shows from outside and the new one inside. A big, easygoing room that suits groups and families.
Navigate
El Buda Feliz Location & Neighbourhood
Address
Plaza Santa Maria Soledad Torres Acosta, 2, 28004, Madrid, Spain
Get directions→Getting There
On Plaza de Santa Maria Soledad Torres Acosta, in the Universidad area of Malasana, in Madrid's Centro district.
Nearby
Universidad is the student-facing edge of the centre, young and busy and cheap in places, ambitious in others. The eating shifts block by block, from taverns pouring vermut to kitchens doing genuinely contemporary cooking. It runs into Malasaña and Gran Vía, and the mood changes with it.
Nearby landmarks
Landmarks within walking distance of El Buda Feliz.
Nearby Restaurants
Where to stay nearby
Hotels we rank within walking distance of El Buda Feliz.
Details
El Buda Feliz Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 17:00–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–00:00 |
| Friday | 12:00–01:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–01:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–00:00 |
El Buda Feliz hours verified 2026-09-18. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Good to Know
Questions
El Buda Feliz FAQ
How old is El Buda Feliz?
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It opened in 1974, founded by Román Wang and Mercedes Wu, and claims to be the oldest Chinese restaurant still operating in Madrid. New owners relaunched it in 2017.
What kind of food does El Buda Feliz serve?
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Chinese, updated since 2017 toward regional dishes with more spice, such as xiao long bao, Sichuan-chilli sea bass and tofu on a hot stone.
Where is El Buda Feliz?
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On Plaza de Santa Maria Soledad Torres Acosta in the Universidad area of Malasana, central Madrid.
Is El Buda Feliz good for groups?
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Yes. It's a large restaurant set up for groups and families, and it has a terrace.
How much does it cost to eat at El Buda Feliz?
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Around €26–50 per person.
Does El Buda Feliz have a terrace?
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Yes, it has a terrace.
Is El Buda Feliz open on Mondays?
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Yes, for dinner only, 17:00 to midnight; the rest of the week it opens from midday.
Is El Buda Feliz family-friendly?
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Yes, it's good for families.
Who runs El Buda Feliz now?
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Since 2017, five partners born in Zhejiang province who grew up in their families' restaurants in Spain, advised at the relaunch by Julio Zhang of Soy Kitchen.