I absolutely LOVE this little spot. I came on a Monday for a snack before an event, and my mom and I were seated right away. They do have some parking available in the retail garage, it's a 3 hr limit but is otherwise free. My mom and I both had a cocktail called the "Ume Oro." I've had many interesting cocktails in my day but it's been a long time since I had a cocktail that truly surprised me - and this one did! I asked about a floral drink and they told me it's floral but not too sweet and that was exactly correct. The Chinese plum flavor with the ginger was a lovely combination, I can truly say I don't think I've had a drink like it and I love it when I can say that! We ordered the Fideos à la Cassola ($20) and shared it. Neither of us were very hungry and this dish was so tasty and rich that even half of it with the cocktail was plenty and we didn't need anything else to eat. The service is also phenomenal, our waitress was so sweet and at one point the manager came by and offered some Cava (like spanish prosecco) to our table and the table next to us. It is served by being poured directly from a very cool looking decanter, almost like a genie's lamp? He poured it directly into our mouths from arm height while we were sitting, it was such a fun thing to try! And on top of all this - the ambiance inside is lovely, it would be a great date spot. Bathrooms are immaculate too. I genuinely cannot rec this place higher, it's one of my favorites in Austin! I'll be back even just to have the Ume Oro again! read more

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Love this spot! We came for the Monday all night happy hour - amazing deal - plenty of tapas at discount and some drink specials It's beautifully decorated inside and a little on the darker more intimate side Service was great - able to get a table Monday night around 7 or so walking in. We tried a lot of tapas and the seafood paella My favorites were the seasonal salad (amazing) The croquetas are always so good The chicken brocheta is a large portion and delicious - comes with sauce and carrots Pan con tomate is classic and delicious The patatas bravas could've been a bit crispier personally but still great The ceviche and the sauce is incredible - just wish there was more fish but it was happy hour size Paella was great - we aren't huge seafood people lol but the scallops and shrimp and crab were so freaking good My husband ate the mussels and other seafood items but great portion for two people!! read more

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The Good: :: it's a local business! :: easy to find parking with the nearby parking deck :: delicious food...i don't know what else to say other than that. go with anything from their snacks, charcuteria and cheese plate, tapas, and paellas. complement with some wine and you're in business. delicious Spanish food while not being overpriced nor pretentious :: friendly service :: very fun vibe and decor while being cozy :: great happy hour options :: some outdoor seating The Bad: :: none The Ugly: :: none Would I go back? For sure!!! The happy hour is awesome but generally the place has a great vibe in addition to great food. Definitely plan on return visits. This place is IN. read more

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. read more

El Raval - Bone marrow paella - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

Omg! What a find! Delicious! Happy hour excellent! 4 of us fell into this little spot bc was on Lamar considering music places. Best find! As new locals it will be a go to place to bring all our guests! We had everything and it all was amazing! The paella with duck yummy!!! Potato bravas, croquettes, bread, butter!!!!, every bite was outstanding. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Don't tell anyone about this Austin gem. Food, service and ambiance are fantastic. Derek and G are the best and do not miss the Iberico ham, croquetas, albondigas and mariscos paella. I'd eat here every night if I could. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

El Raval - Ssam de costillas - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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 read more

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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. read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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! read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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! read more

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El Raval is some of the best food you can find in south central Austin, and competition is tight! This restaurant beautifully blends Spanish cuisine with vibrant, unique flavors from around the world. Tasty is an understatement- everything we ordered was bursting with flavor, combining fresh, crispy textures with melt-in-your-mouth decadence. The jamon iberico croquetas, patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and paella de marisco were our favorite dishes, and the arroz con leche dessert was the perfect ending. Service was very good and the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and upbeat, good for both larger groups and date night. read more

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

Service was fine but the food was just very average for the price point. Maybe Spanish food is just not for my palette? Started with the albindigas (wagyu meatballs) and patatas bravas. The albindigas were good but not mind-blowing. The patatas has a nice crunchy texture but again, flavor just felt meh? Ordered the short rib and paella of the day (wagyu). There was more veggies than short rib so that was disappointing but tasted pretty good with the strawberry gochujang! That was actually surprising. The paella could have definitely fed the both of us. The rice stuck to cast iron so there was a little bit of a char taste but otherwise, tasted fine. Truthfully, the star of the show was the arroz con leche with ube ice cream and pistachio shavings. That was amazing! We had made a trek all the way 40 mins south of where we lived and it was unfortunately not worth the drive. read more

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! read more

El Raval - Albondigas - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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! read more

El Raval - Paella de Marisco! - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've always loved this place before it became what it is now. It used to also be a tapas place called tapas y mas which was also delicious. So the place inside basically looks the same now there's just like a bunch of writing on some of the walls which is interesting. Anyways, I had tried the paella at an event and it was delicious so I was so happy to know that they were opening this restaurant. I have to say that this place really stepped it wrong with the Hammond ego. It is to die for and I can literally eat it every single day. It is as good as when you eat it in Spain. I also got the croquettes. They were very good and a good amount. The girl with the octopus was good and it wasn't overly chewy. We got the Maricopa as the main dish and it was delicious. Great consistency on the rice. Nothing was burnt or stuck to the plate and all the shellfish on that was on point. At first, it did take a little long to get a server which was kind of surprising but once we got one, they were super nice and attentive and knew what to recommend and the dishes came out very promptly and they did an overall great job. When it comes to the drinks, they have a great wine selection as well with any kind of cocktail that you would enjoy. read more

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Service was great. Ambiance nice.food ok but way overpriced for the small portions. Don't be in a hurry take's awhile to order get food and get checked out read more

The food was great... the service was excellent. The manager was super nice. I will definitely come back again. read more

I would give El Raval a 8/10. The food was all tasty, just not knock your socks off memorable. The gambas were super yummy and really flavorful with the garlic and smoked paprika notes. The patatas bravas were crunchy and fresh, although I could go without the tomato sauce it comes with. The pan tomate is also good, especially that fresh bread. The paella de mariscos was okay, it needed salt and more flavor. read more

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How come we never been here before? Loved the vibes of the place, service was outstanding, our server was very knowledgeable about the history of the food, anticipated every our need, and just in general was a pleasant person. We ordered couple appetizers, and he suggested to do half-and-half. That was a great offer which allowed us to taste even more variety. Paella was outstanding, loved it. We washed it all down with a pitcher of white sangria, it was made with tequila and it was one of the best I ever had. Loved it, will be back. Would love to try their flamenco night. Will be back for sure. read more

El Raval - Veggie paella (vegan) - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had been to Barlatta so wanted to see what the new hype was. I did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Up front, two small issues but combined brought it down one star. Those were coursing a portions. The coursing was very rushed. At one I was three dishes deep. It made me feel rushed and it was just awkward at my seat as they didn't quite know where to keep putting food when they brought out more and I obviously wasn't ready for other dishes to be cleared. The portions were also massive considering there were seven courses and this was a per person tasting. I ate maybe a third of the food in total. I was able to pack up about 75% of the paella to go. I felt bad wasting so much food and had to be really careful to not eat too much of one thing knowing more was coming and I wanted to taste everything. That being said, the service was very attentive and the food was delicious. The ceviche was some of the best I have ever had and the calamari and octopus were cooked to perfection. The paella was so incredibly flavorful. The potatoes were on the spicy side for me but if you do t mind spice I think you'll enjoy them a lot. I could have done without the tomato toast but the croquette was delightful. The arroz con leche was so good! Better than the are con leche I had at Pujol in Mexico City the week before! Over will definitely return. The tasting menu is good value if you can't decide what to get but I probably won't get it again. read more

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El Raval has become one of my favorite spots. This is the best place for a group dinner with the amount of tapas you can order for the table to share as well as the Paella. Every time I've tried a new item here I've been impressed. Can't forget to mention the cocktails and wine list here, both are stacked and provide great options. I can't wait to bring people from out of town here when they visit. read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was amazing. Loved their seafood paella. Did sit outside they can improve ambience outside. Service was great read more

Very, very good. Love the Albondigas meatballs, with a wonderful flavored sauce. Fried potatoes are delightful. Of the paella selection, I prefer the duck confit version to the bistro wagyu (which was a little tough). Am indifferent to the toast with tomato topping. In awe if the delectable Arroz Leche dessert. Service was very good. Got a bit loud on Saturday night before we left at 8:30 pm. Highly recommended. read more

I came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Make sure to book a reservation in advance as they seem to book very quickly, especially on Saturday nights. It's a cute restaurant. They offer a variety of small and big plates to share. My table tried their seafood paella, croquettes, brussel sprouts, and calamari. The seafood paella was good but sadly, a lot of the rice was stuck to the pan. Croquettes was delicious and their calamari was different from anything I've had before. There is plenty of parking. There are 2 parking garages on either side of the restaurant. It's free for the first 3 hours. read more

Definitely get the paella here! If you're looking for some light bites I recommend coming during happy hour. Food: The ceviche was great - citrusy, refreshing, portion was a bit small for the price but would get again. The oxtail dish was comforting and warm, very filling with the pasta and the sauce - a must try! I would skip the mushroom hummus - wasn't my favorite and the roti was very greasy. Paella was the star, and filled with lots of seafood! A nice shareable portion. Drinks: The house sangria is bomb! Service: Our waiter was very helpful in explaining the different parts of the menu (traditional tapas options vs the fusion ones). It started getting a little slow once the dinner rush came, but that's expected. Vibe: If you want to dine indoors, would recommend a reservation. We sat at the patio and it was pretty comfortable with fans and shade. The decor inside looked nice and tropical, and feels lively. read more

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Great spot - food and service were great. Portion sizes for tapas were fair. Ironically we thought everything was great.... EXCEPT the paella which they say they're known for? That was dried out and overcooked. And expensive for the worst selection of the evening. Go elsewhere on the menu. A bit loud if you want lively but I may just be getting old. read more

El Raval - Paella de Pato - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

Amazing Tapas and Authentic Flavors!! El Raval is an awesome spot! The tapas-style menu lets you try a variety of dishes, and everything I had was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The cocktails were delicious, the wine selection was excellent, and the service was top-notch! I couldn't decide on a cocktail, told my server what I usually like to drink and they just created cocktails for the night and I appreciated it! 10/10 cocktails too I visited Portugal shortly after dining here, and I'd say the flavors at El Raval were impressively authentic. This place left a great impression, and I will be back. Highly recommend! read more

My family went to El Raval to celebrate a birthday and it was an excellent idea. We had Dominique as our waiter and he was outstanding. He provided several recommendations before we decided on the Feed Me Experience which is 8 courses of the Chef's selection and it was excellent. Everyone at El Raval provided us with an excellent experience. read more

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This is a great spot for a sexy date night or an elegant backdrop to catch up with friends. The service is very accommodating, we made the mistake of not making a reservation in advance but they were still able to find a place to seat us at the communal table. Next time, I'll remember to make one. The food was very tasty. The chef's ideas for the fusions are very creative and complementary. I loved each dish that came out and was impressed by everything that I tried. You can tell that this establishment puts great care into each and every dish. I'd recommend the Croquetas, Canelones De Rabo De Buey and Setas al Carbon as standouts. I can't wait to go back and try more tapas! read more

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

I could not recommend a restaurant more. El Raval was suggested to me from one of my girlfriends & I thank her so much for it. Celebrated Mother's Day here & ordered the patatas bravas (potatoes w tomato sauce & harissa all oil) albondigas (wagyu meatballs), calamares en adobo (calamari), mejillones en suquet catalan (mussels), some bread with fig jam, & of course, the paella de marisco (seafood paella.) The sauce in the mejillones was so amazing I could drink it. Had to order the bread to keep dipping in the sauce! Incredible food. Not one bad thing to say. The ambiance: amazing. It's always so lively, & they had a DJ for Mother's Day which was fun! Our servers name was Serena S & she kept apologizing for them being short staffed but did the best she could & we could not thank her enough! Truly so sweet and made our experience delightful. I come back every time I'm in Austin. read more

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Best Spanish food I've ever had (even after 2 weeks in Spain) Very flavorful food that was great quality and excellently prepared Recommend: Chicken skewers Patas Bravas Ceviche Waygu meatballs Cocktails! read more

I came in for the first time last week and the service was amazing. My server Darby was very attentive, informed me of the specials and the food was delicious. read more