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El Raval

4.3 (207 reviews)
ModerateSpanish
Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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EL RAVAL ATMOSPHERE

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Trendy
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - El Raval

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Bone marrow paella
Tiffany M.

The paella with bone marrow wasn't my favorite. The rice was really lacking--it's usually my favorite part. There's a very thin layer of rice which I thought was odd. It also was way too greasy because of the bone marrow. I also didn't love the white sangria.

Small fruity drink
Loreth E.

Food and services was excellent! If you feel like eating Paella give El Raval a try, you won't regret it. We also had different tapas like Gambas, Potatoes brava-bit spicy, calamari, albondigas & croquettes. Raval has true Spain flavors!

Arroz Negro
Michelle D.

The vibe on a Saturday night in this place screams Spain. We were lucky enough to get seated at a high top which I think adds so much to the fun Spanish experience. The sounds of the kitchen with sounds of pots and pans and plates and glasses clanking, the hustle and bustle of the wait staff, the elbow to elbow with the other parties beside you, the dark ambiance that sets the mood.... for those who have been to Spain...you know. We ordered a smorgasbord of food for a party of 6 to share family style. One recommendation from our waiter that I would have never known to try is their roti. This roti is now a staple in my life! Or at least everytime I come here lol. This is a must go to. And! Even a must take someone to if they're coming from out of town.

Spring L.

I really enjoyed El Raval's extensive menu, there are so many options, and several items felt refreshingly unique. The service was attentive, and the plates were perfect for sharing, making it a great spot for groups. That said, I'm taking off a star because both the paella and several of the tapas we tried were noticeably too salty. Everyone in my group agreed on this point, so it wasn't just a matter of individual taste. I'd love to come back and try more of what the menu has to offer, but I hope the kitchen can adjust the seasoning a bit for a more balanced experience.

Albóndigas
Mario A.

Food and ambience were good. The service was ok- our waiter did not know what wine to recommend. The wine list is robust but overpriced. Spanish wines should not start at $90 a bottle. The meat balls were way too big; they were like little meatloaves. We could not finish them. They were more Moroccan than Spanish. The pulpo was amazing, but it came towards the end when we were full. The patatas bravas and croquetas were on point although a little cold. The pan con tomate was a healthy serving. We could have had half the amount. The three cheeses were good, but nothing outstanding- I've had better Manchegos . We really wanted to like this place, but the food, execution, and service were off. For a Saturday, it was pretty empty.

Plantain chips for the ceviche
Rick S.

Tapas, the Spanish version of the "small plates" concept, are a favorite choice for me as you can sample a menu and gain a good sense of a chef and a restaurant's flavors. Thus it was that we wandered down to South Lamar to check out El Raval, an eatery located in the retail space of a larger apartment complex. Reading the Yelp reviews, I was very excited to give it a go here. We arrived right as they opened for dinner service and were seated promptly. The dining room was comfortable but decorated in a very generic retail design. It could have been a sushi place or a bistro for all I knew looking around. Before I launch into the rest of my review, I should mention that unbeknownst to us before arriving, the restaurant was engaged in some kind of collaboration with another chef so the menu was not the regular one although the dishes we chose are typically available. Our server did not seem to be well acquainted with the beers available so I settled for a pilsner on tap (forget the name) that was decent. Settling into the menu, we were advised that paella could take a while (30 minutes) to prepare so we made sure to order the Paella de Mariscos and get that in the queue while we had some of the other tapas. We started with the Patatas Bravas, their take on home fries served with a spicy tomato sauce and another sauce drizzled over it. Fries were crisp yet fluffy inside and just the right texture. I appreciated the bit of pepper heat that was perfect without overwhelming the potatoes. The same can be said for the Gambas al Ajillo, packed with savory goodness and cooked tenderly. I would have liked to have had a couple more shrimp (there were six). It just seemed a bit overpriced even for the Austin market. The ceviche had some nice brightness and a decent hit of cilantro, but the hamachi preparation was sloppy. I prefer a small dice for ceviche and the fish was sliced-that was okay but was a problem was the slices were not cut through so the fish hung together when you tried to eat it. Someone in the kitchen needs to work on their knife skills. Plantain chips were meh. It was otherwise beautifully presented but the portion was way too small, unless you're Billy Barty. That brings us to the dish that should have been the notable highlight of the evening, the paella. It was notable but not in a good way. Even at a tapas restaurant, the paella shouldn't conform to the small plates format. It comes in a big pan chock full of rice piled high, which may be prepared fluffy or slightly al dente, and laden with fresh seafood. The Paella de Mariscos could have had a few more pieces of something (shrimp, scallops, calamari, fish, etc.) but the tiny portion of rice was disappointing. There was barely enough to cover the bottom of the pan and what was there was greasy and dry, well beyond any description of al dente. To add insult to injury, the mussels and scallops had a significant amount of sand and grit (actually found a small rock in one of the scallops) so someone screwed the pooch when cleaning the fish. It's a shame because the flavors and seasonings are pretty good so I think that someone in the kitchen does care about the food, but at the same time someone isn't paying attention there as well. And the overpricing bothers me-dude, either make the portions bigger (my preference) or shrink the prices a bit. It's been a while since I've gone through an empty-your-pockets exercise but that's what it felt like at El Raval. I've enjoyed some great meals at tapas and Spanish/Latin restaurants in Chicago and Miami Beach so I have some idea of what that experience looks like. This wasn't it and while maybe it was just an off night, I was highly disappointed.

Ssam de costillas
Chelsea L.

Ssam de costillas $35 Paella de marisco $39 must get!!! Albondigas (meatballs $18 with roti $7) Second time back and still love it here! Dishes are a bit pricey but the food is delicious and worth it. You must get the paella here-it's the best I've had in town. They sometimes have specials for different variation of paella such as steak, but I guarantee the paella de mariscos slaps every tjme. I wish I had gotten two paellas instead of one! Meatballs are delicious! Also opted for the additional puffy roti for $7-it has manchego cheese inside. Dip it in the marinara sauce with the meatballs! Wow! Ssam- meat portion is great but wish there were more lettuce to wrap them in. Made a reservation and was able to be seated immediately. The tables are kind of small so if you order more than 2 large dishes, you may wanna combine your table with another one like we did.

Selina G.

Great menu, lots of fun bites and lively environment. Food is alright, but you can tell there was a lot of effort put in the food. Service is also great. Good place for a large group

Garrett R.

I didn't take pictures of all the dishes here. The food was great. The ambiance is nice as well and it feels very upscale. The service we had was horrible. We were there for over 3 hours and it was over an hour before we got our first dish. It took 30-45 minutes to get the drinks we ordered and it took 30 min for them to bring out a canned coke I ordered. This place really needs some improvement on the service but the food is very good.

Marion W.

We went to celebrate my birthday, and booked last minute on Open Table and got a spot for 2 on a Friday during Happy Hour. That's already a win. We had to sit at one of the high tables though, because the place was crowded quickly, I did not expect it to be so busy!! The restaurant is dark, and moody, and stylish. I liked the ambiance, but I would say maybe more appropriate for a night with friends than a family dinner with toddlers. The Happy Hour is reasonable, but otherwise prices are high. Hence my 4/5 stars. Spain is known to be so cheap. Why am I paying 5x Spain prices for the same food? Service was good, the waitress was sweet and not pushy. On happy hour, we got: * Mule $10.00 good * Golden Hour Cocktail $10.00 good as well * Glass of Red wine $8.00 * Embutidos $19.00 - the cured meat selection was good, again, small portions, but a nice shearable and for 2 it was enough with the cheese plate * Tabla De Queso $18.00 - I came for this, I wanted cheese and meat, and it was a good portion, but I wouldn't spend more than $18!! * Croquetas De Jamon $12.00 - I love them, but that's pricey! * Ceviche $12.00 DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE, so good, and worth the $12. I would get 2 of them it was so good * Because it was a birthday dinner, we ordered Torrija ($12.00) for dessert and it was good, kind of a chocolate french bread? I think it's expensive for a dessert though, especially a piece of bread. Pro-tip: use your InKind app to pay for your bill and get the 20% cashback!

Brenda R.

What a fantastic experience! I highly recommend the feed me experience the food just kept coming! From ceviche, oysters, and calamari to duck, paella, and so much more, every dish was a delight. The white sangria was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Our waitress and her team were absolutely amazing. They described each dish as it arrived and even repeated it when needed, ensuring we didn't miss a thing. This place is perfect for a girls' night, date night, or just a "why not?" evening. There was a mix-up with our reservation at check-in, but they made up for it with a kind gesture with complimentary champagne. It showed they truly valued our time and experience. I'll definitely be back! I was in the moment this time around so I didn't get pictures of everything, but I will next time!

Albondigas
Jennifer V.

We went before a play on a Friday night. Arrived at 5:30 and we were seated right away. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was happy hour. The $8 hour red wine was a really nice Tempranillo. The two us is shared a few tapas. Each was delicious with the mussels being my personal favorite. The service was excellent. Highly recommend!

Paella de Marisco!
Cristian H.

My wife and I went for date night around 5 PM and it was nice and chill! We ordered the Paella de Marisco! It was so dang good. If you get Ben as a server, you'll learn all about it and get excellent service! 10/10!

Marisco paella

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We had a reservation at 7:30 but I asked my dad to move us up to 5 o'clock when I found about the wonderful happy

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11 months ago

Spanish tapas bar. We shared the food. I didn't like the lamb. It smells. The octopus and salad are both good

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Ask the Community - El Raval

Is there a happy hour?

Yes! Monday all evening, and Tuesday through Friday 5-6:30. They have GREAT deals and you can get much of the regular menu and wines at a lower price. It's one of our favorite HH deals in Austin!

Are tables close together. Would like space to avoid Covid?

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El Raval - spanish - Updated May 2026

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