El Raval

Best paellas I've had in the United States. The duck paella was pure lustful joy - didn't think to take a picture. Came back for dinner the next day and had the paella negra - an item I've never seen outside of Spain before. Their paella chef is a crack expert and nailed the socarrat. I look forward to returning to El Raval if ever I'm back in Austin! I'd also like to thank the designer of the menu for being thoughtful and including gluten-free dairy-free items.

My husband and I just moved to Austin from Barcelona. We knew this place existed, but we put off trying it bc we’re generally disappointed with Spanish cuisine outside of Spain. We tried El Raval today and it exceeded our expectations. The food felt authentic but unstuffy (considering it has a playful touch of filipino fusion on behalf of the owner’s roots). Top dishes were the patatas bravas (which i’m very picky about), and the basque cheesecake (this one was a highlight for us). Service was great. Atmosphere is clean and trendy. Gluten free and dairy free options are clearly marked on the menu. Free parking on site. I hope this place survives the restaurant scene in ATX, bc it’s 10/10.