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You are here: Home / Madrid Restaurants / YokaLoka: My Favorite Sushi in Madrid

YokaLoka: My Favorite Sushi in Madrid

May 17, 2013 Lauren Aloise 5 Comments

YokaLoka Best sushi in Madrid
A fresh California roll at YokaLoka in Mercado Antón Martín.

Mercado Antón Martín was one of the first markets I fell in love with when I moved to Madrid. It is a real market– one where the butchers run up and down the stairs with half of a pig on their backs, and where the line at the Casquería booth (the organ meat butcher) stretches along the aisle on a busy Saturday morning.

I started shopping at Mercado Antón Martín right before it started to reinvent itself. I still loved it when it was nice and quiet, but over the past year some very good stalls have opened, which allow people to not only shop at the historic market, but also to taste their way through it. But before all of these newbies came onto the scene, there was someone already offering food– her name is Yoka Kamada, known by many simply as Yoka Loka– the sushi lady in Antón Martín.

That’s right, sushi in Madrid, smack in the middle of one of the city’s most traditional Spanish markets. Yoka set up shop in 2007 on the top floor of the market. Her tiny booth sold Japanese products and sushi to go. This was right before the sushi craze hit Madrid, and many people still cringed at the thought of consuming raw fish. But, slowly, word of mouth made Yoka a bit of a Madrid celebrity, and as her Spanish improved, she realized that she needed more space.

So she moved downstairs in 2011, and started serving her Japanese delicacies nearly all day long. Only a few weeks ago she finished her second expansion, adding more seating behind her small booth.

Despite running Madrid food tours in the Antón Martín market for almost a year now (it is the heart and soul of Madrid Food Tour’s Market Tasting Tour) I had never eaten at Yoka’s booth. I tend to finish tours right around Spanish lunchtime, and YokaLoka is always packed with people. I’m usually too tired to eat standing up– and always promised myself I’d try it the next time…

Well, now I’ve tried YokaLoka and I’m afraid I’ve created a sushi monster! Wonderful, fresh sushi and other Japanese plates, friendly service, and supporting a local business– what more could I ask for? I am willing to bet I will eat there at least once a week throughout the busy summer.

YokaLoka favorite sushi in Madrid
Platter of the day, quail egg and duck, tuna, gilt head bream, salmon, and more!

I am by no means a sushi expert, but what comes through in Yoka’s preparations is the freshness of the fish. I asked her where she purchased, and was surprised to find out that she gets her products from the fishmonger on the top floor of the market. I am always looking for sushi grade fish at my local market (Las Ventas at the moment) and usually the fishmongers don’t really understand that we want to consume the fish 100% raw. “Vuelta y vuelta” they advise. I now know where I’ll go when making my next ceviche!

I’ve only been to YokaLoka twice so far, but look forward to trying just about everything on the menu in the near future. I’m especially curious about the typical Japanese breakfast she offers, as well as trying more of her desserts (the first was simply addicting). Yoka also offers cooking classes, which I plan to sign up for this summer.

YokaLoka Best sushi in Madrid
Another looks at Yoka’s delicious rolls.
YokaLoka Anton Martin Market Madrid
A bowl of rice topped with tuna, quail egg, and black truffle.
YokaLoka cheap sushi in Madrid
Dessert was a smoothie with some sesame ice cream.

Anyone who lives in Madrid knows how difficult it can be to find good sushi in Madrid at a decent price. But here it is, look no further! Trying YokaLoka is a must for sushi monsters all over town, and while you are there, check out my friends at the many other market stands.

Do you have any Madrid sushi suggestions?

YokaLoka

Mercado Antón Martín (Bottom floor)

Metro: Antón Martín

[mappress mapid=”15″]

 

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Lauren Aloise
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Lauren Aloise

Professional eater, writer, cook, food tour operator. Fascinated by food and its history. Loves: a gooey slice of tortilla, fish markets, homemade cocktails, train travel. Hates: Overhyped restaurants, wine snobs, long menus, mediocrity. Check out my food tours at www.devourtours.com.
Lauren Aloise
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Latest posts by Lauren Aloise (see all)

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Madrid Restaurants, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants Antón Martin market sushi, best sushi in Madrid, Cheap sushi in Madrid, Sushi in Madrid, Yokaloka, Yokaloka sushi Madrid

Comments

  1. Dan C says

    May 17, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    I want to go to there

    Reply
  2. Mona says

    May 21, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    I definitely will give this place a try. 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation.

    Reply
  3. Jenna says

    May 24, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    This looks great! Cool find in Madrid!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    February 20, 2014 at 12:00 am

    How am I just reading this post now?! I must try some Yoka Loka sushi!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 48 hours in Madrid like a local says:
    October 30, 2017 at 7:45 am

    […] in the foyer. Finally head to the nearby Mercado de Anton Martin for some sushi at the fabulous Yoka Loka or try one of the other small restaurants, nestled between the butchers, fishmongers and […]

    Reply

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