If you have had paella in the L.A. area before, you should go back y exigirles que te regresen tu lana porque te dieron gato por liebre. Si bien existen varios restaurantes que se especializan en comida española, very few of them can make a decent, much less a good paella. Pero como todo en esta vida, el que busca encuentra. To find this joint you will have to pay extra attention since it’s easy to miss. However, they don’t only specialize in paella at this joint, “LA Paella” also has a diverse tapas menu, if anything this restaurant should be called “LA Tapas”. Whether you go for the paella or just grab some tapas, la comida aquí no te desilusionará, eso sí, it’s a little bit on the expensive side.
Comida Española auténtica
“LA Paella” is a nice and cozy restaurant that makes the perfect spot for a romantic date. It has a very homey feel to it, por lo que sentirás como que estás en casa. Since it’s all made from scratch, food usually takes somewhere between 20-30 minutes to come out, so prepare to wait… para eso están las tapas, just make sure you don’t overeat before the main entrée.
There are so many things to choose from you’ll find it difficult to pick just a few tapas. The server brings bread and a scrumptious butter spread with garlic, which goes well hand in hand with a sangria pitcher.
When choosing tapas at a place you’re not familiar with, the best thing is to ask, so these are the top dishes at “LA Paella”: “patatas bravas”, “alcachofas con jamón”, “vierias al ajillo”, and “espinacas con piñones y pasas”.
When it comes to veggies I’m always picky, especially spinach, I never got the Popeye fixation así que ni fu ni fa. So after several years of avoiding spinach, when I had some of their “espinacas con piñones y pasas” I was pleasantly surprised by its flavor.
Las “vierias al ajillo” are nothing but scallops seared in a garlic concoction, those were a little on the bland side. Ahora si quieres algo con sabor and with a kick, las “patatas bravas” will blow your mind- the fried potatoes tossed with spicy tomato sauce can easily become addicting. Also, the “alcachofas con jamón”- grilled artichoke and jamón Serrano- has a good taste.
Pa’ ella y pa’ él también
If you are planning to eat paella, make sure one of your buddies or your date/ significant other also plans on ordering paella since at “LA Paella” they won’t make paella for one, so if you’re single and lonely ya te jodiste.
In spite of that little bump on the road (which seems quite ludicrous to be honest), the paella at this joint is worth every minute you wait for it and every single dime you spend.
We decided to go for the “Paella Marinera”. The time of preparation for the paella ranges between 20-40 minutes depending on how busy the place is, pero la espera vale la pena since everything is made right then and there.
The “Paella Marinera” has calamari, mussels, clams, shrimp, and even lobster. It’s hands down one of the best paella in the area… and coming from someone that doesn’t really stomach seafood, that’s saying a whole lot.
Portions are huge y la comida te llena hasta reventar, sin embargo siempre hay lugar para el postrecito. You cannot go to “LA Paella” and not have some of their “flan de naranja”… screw the diet and just go for it, you won’t regret it.
LA Paella 476 S San Vicente Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048 323.951.0745