Churros with hot chocolate at 40º? Why are there lines in San Ginés in the middle of summer

 

This hot sweet, fresh from the fryer, with its chocolate served at 80 degrees, is still in demand by the public - mostly foreigners - despite being in summer

Flour, salt and water by eye. Turns in circles with the shovel, dough in mold and sunflower oil at 190 degrees. Then, cut and serve at the moment along with the chocolate. With this apparently simple recipe, but which requires skill and technique, the most emblematic dessert in Madrid is made. The churros with chocolate of San Ginés are an attraction that goes beyond winter and Christmas, a period during which "up to 10,000 people pass daily on weekends and holidays," they assure El Confidencial from the chocolate shop.

And the fact is that summer does not seem to stop in the San Ginés passageway. While the rest of the city's streets seem deserted at certain times of the day, the long queues at the chocolate shop reach as far as Arenal. "On a weekend in July, up to 4,000 people can pass through here." Of course, the public varies greatly from one season to another. "In summer, 85% of our audience is foreign, especially European and American. The Madrid wine is residual and if we have it it is because they have friends to teach the tradition of chocolate with churros," he confirms.

On the contrary, during Christmas, it is national and local customers who represent the largest percentage. And it is that having some churros with chocolate is part of the Christmas traditions, especially on January 1.

Chocolate ice cream with churros

Present in all the leisure and tourist guides of Madrid, "there are many local guides who stop here", the truth is that this chocolate shop is used to serving international stars and celebrities of the stature of Dua Lipa, who was "enjoying a lot" with some churros in the city; or the actors of the latest Marvel installment, Captain America: Brave New World, Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez. But although it is known for its churros, for some time now its offer has gone further: chocolate ice cream with churros, truffles and pastries "to relieve the summer heat". And for those who want to take the experience back to their country, they can also do so in the truffle format in this same flavor. All made, of course, with their own churros.

To sell beyond the capital, the Madrid store has a space in the center of Marbella (Calle Buitrago, 24, next to Plaza África), where they prepare tejeringos, a typical variety of Malaga in a circular or bow shape. In addition, it has just opened another one in Puerto Banús, in an ephemeral market until September, from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (in Plaza Antonio Banderas).

But the place founded by Pedro Trapote has long since expanded much further. In 2010 San Ginés opened an establishment in Tokyo before jumping into the Chinese market in Shanghai, a process of opening up to the outside world that continued in 2013 in Colombia by opening two branches in Bogotá, and later in Mexico City, Lisbon and Miami. In Madrid, they already have six stores: the original with three rooms, La Escondida, the store, the two recently opened on Calle Bordadores and another located in López de Hoyos. The first five are concentrated in the Plazuela de San Ginés. As a novelty, the group plans to continue its expansion in the city and at the beginning of 2026 they will open a new space in the Philippines area.

"Churro is a very popular cheap dish not only in Spain," says the businessman, who does not rule out opening more businesses in different parts of the North American country, "but also around the world."

The next time you meet one of them, you know, remember that they can no longer only be eaten at Christmas, but also in summer. If you don't mind drinking hot chocolate at 40 degrees...

 

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