Best for: Paella and, well arroz
At Arroz (which is Spanish for rice), chef-partner Victor Burgos (previously of Thyme) proudly presents a variety of rice-centric dishes. Think paella (Spanish fried rice cooked in a shallow pan) and arroz meloso (a more brothy form of rice dish), on top of familiar staples like cold cuts (of course, there’s iberico ham), gazpacho soup, croquettes and garlic prawns. Don’t miss the black ink paella with octopus and clams, and the chickpeas and pork stew with brothy paprika rice. To complement the meal, order some Spanish wine from their selection of over 100 bottles.
Sukhumvit Soi 53. See the full details here.
Best for: Tapas on a budget
This tapas contender is the sister restaurant of Madrid’s 12-year-old El Rinconcito de Juan. That restaurant’s chef, Ruben Gonzalez, teams up with husband-wife duo Manatsanan Charoensuk and Jorge Arnanz to give a three-story space on Soi Thonglor a Spanish makeover through beautiful patterned tiles and yellow accents, and serve authentic flavors. Prices are also cheap for this part of town: small plates start at B130 for the gazpacho and B150 for gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns) and albondigas de cerdo caseras (minced pork meatballs in homemade tomato sauce). More substantial is the arroz negro (imported squid ink paella with seafood), which serves 2-3 people.
Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor). See the full details here.
Best for: Basque-style coal-grilled meats
Northern Spain's Basque cuisine of coal-grilled meats takes the center stage in Naradihiwas. In the casual, soft-industrial space, complete with vast windows and some green visions, owner-chef Vimvadee Piyavanich and her team cook up imported meat and local seafood on a charcoal-fired Josper grill. The results give a beautiful smoky, char-grilled aroma to dishes like the Galician-style octopus served with confit potato and the Iberico pork presa (shoulder).
Narathiwas Soi 17. See the full details here.
Best for: Tapas with views
Open House at Central Embassy’s latest arrival does tapas-portioned Spanish dishes with Moorish influence amid beautiful tiles and alfresco views. North African influences are underpinned by a Mediterranean base in Rico’s tapas plates, like hints of cumin in the green chermoula sauce that seasons the roast cauliflower salad with almonds, pickled raisins and confit tomatoes. Spanish ingredients like quince, piquillo pepper, chorizo and manchego cheese play their part in dishes like the charred sous-vide octopus with piquillo pepper, potatoes, chickpea, glazed fennel and pickles, and pan-roasted scallops with cauliflower puree, green apple and Spanish morcilla (blood chorizo).
Central Embassy, Phloen Chit Rd. See the full details here.
Credit: www.facebook.com/Tabureterestaurant
Best for: After-work sangria and small plates
After a couple of years on Sukhumvit Soi 24, Taburete arrived on Sala Daeng right at the end of 2016 where its petite shop-house offers a Catalan-boho moodiness and tapas close to its back-alley Barcelona best. The Thai chef-owner spent 10 years learning her trade in Spain, experience that shows in delicious tapas staples like patatas bravas and croquetas de jamon Iberico—little cheesy flour bombs that we only wish were bigger. Dishes are said to change every few months, with the menu punctuated by specials like a chicken and rice casserole that’s somewhere between a paella and risotto. Taburete’s homespun flavors, B380 pitchers of sangria and outdoor terrace make for an appealing after-work proposition.
Sala Daeng Rd. See the full details here.
