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    El Raval

    4.3 (216 reviews)
    ModerateSpanish
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    EL RAVAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Raval

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    The fideos à la cassola ($20) - it's homemade pasta with wagyu beef and cheese. Very rich, and very tasty
    Stephanie W.

    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!

    Michelle V.

    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!!

    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.

    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.

    Delicious paella...Best in Austin by far! You would have to travel to Spain to find one this good!

    Take a Time Machine back to the 70s when a restaurant bent over backwards to make your evening meal simply outstanding! Just like the old TV series "Cheers" where everyone knows your name! Every server, bartender, manager came over to our table to introduce themselves, asked our names, and then remembered them an hour later. The paella, tapas, dessert and wine need to be given 7 out of 5 stars... With nearly all restaurants worrying only about profits, this is a one of a kind gem because they only worry about their customers which evidently takes care of the bottom line. Treat yourself to a flashback to the 70's at El Raval!

    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.

    Paella de Pata (duck)
    Frances M.

    This is by far one of the best restaurants I've been to! The ambiance is so artfully curated. A mix of American and Spanish fusion of decor and food. Reminds me of my trip to Barcelona. We ordered the calamari, Brussels sprouts, paella de pata, and they're all phenomenal! Most of all Derek was super amazing! What a warm welcome esp. that we're visiting from Los Angeles!! He even gave us dessert on the house and gift cards!! Arroz con leche with Ube ice cream is to die for! Everything is delish!! Sadly we have to go back to LA and I'll be craving all these food :(. Wish they had one in LA!

    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.

    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!

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    El Raval Reviews in Other Languages

    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?

    View All 3 Questions

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    Incredibly tasty happy hour! Not a single bad bite in everything we ate and we ate a lot! I'd say…read moreexpect them to be small bites as its tapas style but the burger is a nice touch to fill you up. The basque cheesecake was decadent and so tasty. I got the kalimotxo (wine+coke) which was nice but not as tasty as their tinto de verano (which was my personal fave when I was in Spain). They make their own chips too! They were so light and fluffy and felt like they melted in my mouth....being topped by jamon was just the pièce de résistance Service was great, the spot was decorated beautifully, and I enjoyed my visit. We only expected to get a few bites but everything just sounded so yummy and they do have valet which was nice (considering how hard it is to find street parking on the east side).

    Definitely my new favorite tapas restaurant. Definitely make your own reservation because it was…read morefull when we went. When we arrived, they were still getting ready our table so we did wait a little bit. But the hostess was so nice and then our waiter was amazing. I love how they explained each dish and knew what to recommend. And when I ordered our wine, I loved that the person that brought it out was like a huge enthusiast on it and explained to us all about it, which is so cool. I was so excited to know that they had real hormone ego from Spain. It was pricey, but that's just because of the import, but it was amazing. I was so happy it felt like I was back in Spain eating this cause it's literally my favorite thing to eat. We also got the Popeyes bravos, which was delicious the sauce and it was so good. We did order other things that I didn't post here but let me tell you everything we got was delicious. Everything is for sharing so you do need to go with that mentality about it. And as for the wine we asked for it to be in that special bottle because we wanted to do the whole thing of where we poured in our mouth which was really cute lol. The place is really cute. Has good music nice date night vibes or even go with your best friend vibes.

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    San Gines

    San Gines

    3.8
    (194 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    I was happily surprised to see this restaurant along Lamar, just across from CVS. It's owned by the…read moresame company as the original shop in Madrid, and the chocolate and churros are equally exquisite. This store has a lovely breakfast luncheon dinner menu. I'll have to come back.

    Honestly, I'm really disappointed with my experience this time around. We previously had an…read moreengagement dinner here and had a great experience, so I was especially surprised by how poorly things went this time. First, being charged a $25 cake-cutting fee for bringing your own birthday cake is ridiculous to me. I've brought my own cake to upscale restaurants and have never been charged a fee like this. I understand restaurants have policies, but this isn't about whether you can charge a fee, it's about basic hospitality and human decency. When someone is celebrating their birthday, charging $25 just to cut their cake feels incredibly tacky and leaves a bad impression. The service was also very slow, and despite specifically telling my waiter that I cannot eat pork for religious reasons, my food came out with pork. That is not something I should have to overlook, especially after clearly communicating a dietary/religious restriction to my server. Also there was little to no accommodation for dietary restrictions, if I can't eat pork why can't I substitute a fruit. the staff didn't seem knowledgeable about their own menu On top of that, the restaurant seemed unable to handle a larger party. Overall, the experience felt disorganized and very different from the positive experience we had here previously. I already know the response may be, "This is our restaurant policy," but that completely misses the point. Policies aside, hospitality matters. This was someone's birthday, and the overall experience was incredibly disappointing. I really hope management steps in and takes a serious look at what happened, because something clearly needs to change. This was last Sunday 8/9/26.

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    Emmer & Rye

    Emmer & Rye

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    Emmer & Rye was such a good dining experience. We met up with friends for their dinner event…read morefeaturing visiting chef Rockman, and I'm so glad we did because everything was delicious. A quick parking tip: street parking was hard to find. We ended up parking in a garage, and I was shocked when my husband told me it cost $28. In hindsight, we should have just used the valet for $20. We had reservations and were seated immediately, which was a great start to the evening. The restaurant was busy and lively. The noise level was definitely on the higher side, but we could still carry on a conversation without having to shout across the table. Service was attentive, and the drinks were excellent. We started with the bread, and I don't say this lightly, it was the best bread I've ever had. It was a beautiful brioche stuffed with whipped ricotta and topped with candied pecans. I actually had to force myself to quit eating it so I'd have room for the rest of the meal. We also tried the Johnny Cakes, which were good, but they didn't stand out compared to everything else we ate. For our shared entrees, the Cacio e Pepe was outstanding. I've had this dish at a lot of restaurants, and I honestly can't remember having a better version. The Texas Akaushi Wagyu was very good as well. The tortelloni was another great choice, and the pappardelle was equally delicious. By the end of the meal, we were completely stuffed and couldn't even consider dessert, which is probably the best compliment I can give. Between the food, drinks, service, and overall experience, this was a memorable meal and one I'd happily repeat.

    Wow what a fantastic experience. We came here for a friends birthday dinner and loved it…read more It's a small but can't-go-wrong menu. Here's what we ordered: 1. Smoked gulf oysters - delicious! 2. Tomatoes & peach salad - refreshing and a delicious unique dressing 3. Sourdough bread - amazing freshly churned butter and cheese spread 4. Cacio e Pepe - perfectly made all around 5. Rigatoni - this was the only dish I didn't really care for 6. Gulf fish - light and perfectly cooked 7. Blue corn empanada - (complimentary for our birthday girl!). It was vegan and you'd never know! 8. PB blackberry dessert - literally the best dessert I think I've ever had. I would come back just to eat that over and over again. What an incredibly made dessert with so many different flavors and textures. Amazinggggg! Our server was amazing too so just all around a great experience!

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    Ciclo

    Ciclo

    4.1
    (113 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Each year, my husband and I participate in Lent by giving up something meaningful, such as meat and…read moredesserts. Lent is a 40-day period of spiritual preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday (symbolizing the need for repentance) and ending before Easter. Its main goals are reflection, repentance, and renewal. After observing Lent, our treat was brunch at Ciclo (Four Seasons Hotel). Ciclo hosted Easter Brunch and an Easter Egg hunt including the hotel's lake-level ballroom. The celebration included live music and lawn activities for hotel and brunch guests. The brunch included a cold buffet, hot buffet, carving station, benedict station, and dessert buffet. You also could order customized omelets from your table. Ciclo's brunch features gluten-free and vegetarian choices. OMG...the Four Season's Hotel and Ciclo restaurant looked as though a lush bright flowered garden had been quietly grown there. Flowers spilled over every surface from the hotel's entrance to the Ciclo restaurant out onto the patio. The floral arrangements were stunning. They also served as a beautiful backdrop for photos. In addition, we ran into ole friends at brunch, which was a pleasant surprise. The standout for us was the lamb chops (one of my favorites) and callosal-sized shrimp. The sweet potatoes and ham were memorable as well with perfectly spiced sweet potatoes. All desserts were good today, however, the Oreo cheesecake and sugar cookies were the highlights. Our server was so attentive and pleasant. Also, Abribal, the restaurant manager, came over to inquire about dining experience. Such excellent service... Dining a Ciclo today was superb! It was fantastic end to our Lenton season.

    Had an amazing experience at Ciclo. We were in town with friends attending an event. For some it…read morewas a return visit and they could not speak highly enough. Outstanding service provided by the staff. Denis was our tables primary attendant. He is super. He provides impeccable customer service which makes your experience even better. The garden backdrop to the restaurants decor is a perfect pairing. Our meals were excellent. We shared the Tomahawk in addition to our individual dishes. My salmon entree was really good. I'm calling it premium surf and turf. Great night with friends and dinner. Ciclo did not disappoint. Well done.

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    Tuna tostadas were tasty
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    16 oz. Prime Bone-In Ribeye was delicious

    El Raval - spanish - Updated August 2026

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