This place was good our server was fantastic. I know it was tapas but I don't feel that it was a great value. The meatballs were not that great ( idk their real name) but everything else was fantastic. We had a steak with a blue cheese crust, amazing! Drinks were great as well. read more

I love this place, especially during its happy hours. You can get all sorts of excellent tapas at reasonable prices in a very nice atmosphere. But I do have a complaint: On hot days, they tend to run the fans on the ceilings, while setting the airconditioning at a somewhat uncomfortably high temperature. Is the idea to mimic the south of Spain, where the outside temperature can be very high and energy prices much higher than in the US? Perhaps they have not been to Spain lately. With the strong euro and the prosperous EU, the days of feeble airconditioning in Europe's good restaurants are in the past. In any case, there seems to be a misunderstanding in this country about what tapas are. People here think the idea is to go to a restaurant and order a bunch of small plates of tapas. Well, that's really not what it is all about in Spain. Tapa bars in Spain have tapas, in much the same way that bars in this country have pretzels, popcorn, and peanuts. In Spain, people go from one bar to another getting a drink and a tapa in each bar. Tapas bars tend to cluster together to make this easier. Of course that way, if you have a lot of tapas, one in each bar, you end up having a lot of drinks. Now you know why people are so happy in Madrid ..... =================================== Following posting of the above message on yelp yesterday, I got this encouraging and gracious email message from La Bodega: "It has been a challenge for us this summer, and is in the process of being corrected. The unit we thought we had fixed finally burned out it's compressor - obviously on our busiest weekend. The unit is in the process of being replaced. We hope that this will solve our issues." I hope so too. ======================================== Well, I've now been back, and the air conditioning was working fine this time. So (hopefully) the problem is fixed. As usual, the happy hour here was outstanding with half price tapas and half price wine and sangria by the glass. read more

I've lived in in the KC almost all my life and have no idea why I've never been to La Bodega. After meeting friends for tapas and sangria last night, it's a new favie! We tried to make it before 6:00 for at least half off our pitcher of sangria, but sadly, parking made us late. That's ok. The hostess informed us there'd be about a 20 minute wait, which in reality was about 7 minutes. Fine by me! 2 of my 3 friends and I split a pitcher of the red sangria (Annie doesn't drink. Loser! JOKES.) and it was delicious. The tapas I got a share of were the tortilla espanola (so flavorful, but could have gone a little lighter with the red pepper aioli...next time I might order it on the side) and the baked goat cheese and tomato sauce with garlic toasts ("Queso de Cabra al Horno"...sure!). The free bread that came before our food was tasty as well. Our food came out quickly and we were happy campers. Minus a star for: -The cramped dining room (I can see why it's so crowded though) -The dimmed light--a little too dimmed, and the constant flickering got a little annoying. -Our server being a little too uppity. Service was good until I could tell he almost puked in his mouth when we asked him to take a picture of our table. Come on man! You could at least try to hide it! All in all, I had a lot of time and enjoyed great food with great friends. A date would score huge points if he took me here. Of course, I'd have to get asked on a date first...*angry fist to god* read more

Perfect for a Friday happy hour. Good food and a great atmosphere, but I don't think it would be worth coming outside of happy hour :/ The HH menu includes a good selection of half priced Spanish tapas. Our selection for two were the meatballs, baked goat cheese, the tenderloin and paprika encrusted pork. All were very good and nicely plated. 4 plates between 2 people is just about right, we ended up spending 33 bucks after it being happy hour and using a buy one get one card that removed the cheapest plate. If this were 66 bucks I would have bee very disappointed, which is probably closer to their normal prices if HH is half priced right? But I guess that's why HH is 4hrs long every day? Bottom line, the food is good and the atmosphere is trendy, but I think i'd rather try to see how many small tacos I can slam in my face a few doors down. read more

Well, well, well. We finally managed to dodge the crowds that always seem to have the same idea as us on a Friday (or Tuesday) night. La Bodega is seemingly ALWAYS packed to the gills with an hour wait, but we decided to try it out on a Sunday evening. 9 pm, you know, our usual dinner time. Our lovely waitress Jessica was more than obliged to help us newcomers out with the menu, starting first with the most important info: their house Sangria is half-off on Sundays. Needless to say, we ordered a pitcher. We chose 4 different tapas plates (the meatballs, fried artichokes, cuban maíz, and empanadas), and when our server found out it was my birthday, she made sure we were supplied with some FREE raspberry jam-filled churros, which were piping hot and amazing. We left very full, ready to dodge the hailstones falling outside, where laws apparently don't apply to mother nature (...rude). Wish we could have stayed there all night! We'll definitely be back, if we can get in. read more

A great place to grab a pitcher of sangria and some tapas. Also their bread is warm delicious and really tempting to fill up on before you even get your meal, so beware. I'm a fan of the red sangria instead of the white, and I almost always just get the "Tapas of the Day" - they are always good, and easy to order. I would suggest this as a great "long lunch date" and a wonderful place for a happy hour to grab some small plates and drinks after work. The atmosphere is laid back but also feels nice, think business casual with some quirks. read more

This place arguably has the best Happy Hour tapas menu in Kansas City. There is a wonderfully sizeable selection of items which go for half price during happy hour. The squid and chorizo with yellow rice was so awesome that I ordered a second one. It was by far my favorite that I tried, and they were all fabulous. Our bartender, Zack, was very personable as was the manager on duty, Brooke. Our interactions with them made us feel right at home. I have come here twice for Happy Hour and highly recommend the pitchers of red and white sangria to go with the outstanding food. Zack also let us know that they offer all you can eat paella on Wednesday nights. I will certainly be coming back for that. La Bodega fires on all cylinders. Two thumbs up! read more

Went for my belated birthday during the 1/2 price happy hour (4-6) Ordered a red sangria while perusing the menu. OMG! I love this place & regardless that I was the least fancy dressed in the place, I didn't feel out of place. Our waitress & T.J. were fantastic. We ordered 6 items off the menu & had 3 drinks for $45 with tip :) What a deal for food that was exceptional. My favorites were Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo & Tortilla Espanola. The Pimientos Rellenos de Piquillo was surprisingly good. I wasn't sure about cold rice pilaf & tuna, but it worked. The Queso deCabra alHorno (tomato sauce with goat cheese) was good, but just not as fab as the rest. read more

Stunning sangria. Tapas that just keep coming. Beautiful people, the perfect atmosphere. I always bring newbies to KC to the Bod. Best to get a pitcher of the Sangria; once you have one sip, you won't be able to stop. Albondigas are a must, as is the filet mignon. Paella is good for two or three, I suggest the mix. Absolute best way to spend a late afternoon downtown. read more

I've been here a few times but went again tonight and finally am remembering to write a review. I really like La Bodega! It is a great place, cool vibe, good bar, and fun atmosphere. They serve tapas (small plates) and it is best to go with friends and share. They have a good wine selection as well as many other fun drink choices. Go with friends and have fun! You won't be disappointed! read more

I have been to La Bodega many many times, and for the first time I recently went during non-happy-hour, which was just as enjoyable First of all, their happy hour is outstanding. Easy to polish off multiple pitchers of red sangria, and tons of plates. Nearly everything on their menu is half-price during happy hour (4-6pm if you're wondering!) My favorite tapas include (and I don't know the Spanish names) - Goat cheese, fig and red pepper, green bean potatoes, pork and apple. If you can't decide, I would really suggest their daily tapa platter. I believe it varies every day but you're guaranteed to get a selection of great food. read more

oh dios mio! What a disappointment =(. I've been wanting to try this place out for the longest time. Last Thursday (5/12) I had decided to give it a go during happy hour. Let's talk about the food and booze- First off, very impressed with the cocktail list. However, not the beers. The selection was limited. Happy hour, I believe the items in with blue dots (leaf?) were the items on happy hour which where ranged between $3-$5 not too bad. BUT the taste... what taste =l ? The Alubias Blanco con Pimiento- lacked any kind of flavor. And since the table had not salt and pepper, I couldn't even try to give it a little boost. The Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo- was NOT chorizo. We didn't even eat all 1 skew. I returned it without ordering anything else. The chicken was dry, the aioli had no taste of cumin or garlic. And the "chorizo" was literally a veinne sausage cut up. Not tradition, pork sausage. Outside seating was great! However, I never realized how loud the hwy can be ha! but that's okay. It was a nice day out! They had plenty of seating. So yay you guys (hence the 1 star) Will I come back? Nahhh read more

Back-to-back reviews but I can't help but give La Bodega another 5-star rating after a fantastic Sunday afternoon happy hour. This time around, we chose La Bodega to introduce our families to each other. It's already my mom's favorite place to go when she comes to the city, and we knew her parents would absolutely love the place. The process of tapas is ideal for this - communal eating, a wide variety of flavors and ingredients, sangria, the afternoon sun lilting through the canopies and brightening the soft oranges and grays of the room all make for an afternoon where hours can disappear without a second thought or care. We called earlier in the afternoon to make a reservation at the start of the 2-6pm happy hour for one of the comfortable tables along the far wall, and couldn't have been happier with the far table in the litlte "point" of the room nearest the windows. Jules took great care of us, and his easy-going nature helped everyone get in a celebratory mood. My mom, of course, brought a hand-written list of things she'd pulled from the online menu to order - she's getting to be a La Bodega pro. Miss K's parents' eyes were wide with the choices, so we helped navigate the first round with our favorites. With the first pitcher of sangria poured and the crispy slices of bread making their way to olive oil and tart vinegar mixes, we were underway. As the spectacle of plates made their way out - the chilled roasted mushrooms tossed in delicious herbs and vinaigrette, the fried-then-roasted patatas bravas, then the green beans and walnuts, and then more and more came out, it was clear we were in for a great, leisurely afternoon. We worked our way through the first round just as Jules brought our second pitcher of sangria, and again with moments the parade of the second round made its way to our table. As the afternoon moved on, the room around us filled up without much notice on our part. Lost in conversation, the clink of wine glasses and the sharing of plates was all we needed to know that our families would come together just fine. As we closed out a weekend full of culinary delight, the immediate reviews of our guests were of pure splendor. Little did they know, thanks to Jules' quick help getting me the bill before the old man grabbed it, that we'd enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours at less of a cost per person than most fast food places could have offerred. The decor, the delights of exotic, subtle spices, the unhurried atmosphere of the room, and of course, the refreshing glasses of the signature sangria all contributed to another wonderful afternoon looking out over the bustling Boulevard, and we were thankful once again to share this Kansas City gem with a new set of converts. Both sets of in-laws have already agreed La Bodega will be the prime stop the next time they are in town, and we wouldn't have it any other way. read more

Oh boy is this place cool or what? We came here two weeks ago for niece's birthday. We ate outdoors and it was a perfect night for it. The server was attentive and friendly. First, we had a pitcher of the delicious sangria. I could have drank the whole pitcher by myself! We had several types of tapas to include the olive tray, pork and apple, steak, shrimp, a cheese and tomato dip... oh man! So flavorful and it just made you go in for more. The paella dishes were superb. We had the chef's special which frankly wasn't as good or complex as the Valenciana but that's ok because there were some in our party who preferred the less decadent Chef's choice to the Valenciana which was loaded with surf and turf and everything else. Anyway, I could gush all day and night about this place and I will definitely be back. It's a great place to take an entourage or just your main squeeze. It can be romantic and it can be a big frigging party. read more

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Las Tapas son para compartir! Yes indeed they are, grab some friends and head down to La Bodega, but if you really have to choose from their two locations, pick the one on Southwest Boulevard, because this one has Charm, and Grungy Old Spanish Flair. As far as the Tapas itself, they are all good, have at it, and be adventurous. =) read more

4 of us went to dinner here last night. It was beautiful. That is the only word that can describe it. We had the restaurant week menu and between the 4 of us we had one of everything. Apps were Hubby had the potato omelet, a friend and I had the green beans and potatoes and friends hubby had the chicken skewers. I couldn't eat the skewers or omelet because of dairy but the potatoes and green beans were excellent. I was also given a house salad because all the deserts had dairy. The house salad was fresh greens and a vinaigrette which we all shared. Dinner hubby and I both had the Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto, mushrooms and olives with a lemon flavored rice with golden raisins. The golden raisins were a nice surprise and a perfect sweet burst amongst the lemon rice. There was also a sauteed spinach salad with the dish. My friend had the paella which was rich with shrimp, muscles, clams and sausage. The rice was was delicate and delightful. It came out in it's own little paella pan and was enough to feed several people. My friends husband had the pork chop stuffed with cheese. This dish I didn't get to try once again due to the dairy but the reviews from the table were magnificent. Dessert was flan and a chocolate torte. Both had rave reviews again I didn't try them because of the dairy. The only thing that could have given this place a 4 start was the service was slow due to the large crowd because of restaurant week. We had to wait for water several times, but the food shined so well that I must give it a 5 star rating. I can't wait to go back to sample more items. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place. read more

I have very limited experience with Tapas, but I was thoroughly impressed by the complexity of each dish as well as how simple flavors could be presented so well. A wonderful happy hour and beautiful presentation of the food. Jess was a amazing server with a very easy demeanor and quite the knowledge base. Will be coming back again! read more

La Bodega - Tapas Bars Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Went here for a company Christmas party and had a blast eating tapas, drinking sangria and enjoying the atmosphere. The menu has a great variety on it, with something for everybody. Nothing stuck out to me as outstanding but nothing was bad either. In the middle of a sea of Mexican restaurants that all seem to be the same thing, La Bodega is a nice change from the ordinary. Great atmosphere for a date or for hanging with friends. read more

Delicious and fun meal for a date or a group. We went with a party of 6 and each of us ordered 2 dishes to share. Potatoes were simple, hearty and devoured. Loved the stuffed dates - bite through the crispy pancetta and they melt in your mouth- a heavenly balance of flavor and texture. Also loved the meatballs in cream sauce and the fresh and toasted breads. Hubby's favorite was the chicken skewer. Don't miss the sangria, either. What a special meal. read more

I first stumbled across this place one afternoon while apartment hunting a few years ago with my mom and then boyfriend. As fans of tapas, we could not pass it up! This is by far one of the best places to go for Happy Hour! Not only are the pitchers of Sangria well priced, but they make it hard decided between the white and red ...you have a large enough group and you can do both ;). The tapas are excellent for sharing amongst friends... or creating a meal for a single person. I have yet to find a tapa here that I didn't like... The happy hour tapas menu has a good variety and each is well priced... However, there are plenty of other options on the regular menu that are equally tempting. Some of my favorite tapas include: Datiles con Jamon Chorizo, Calamares A La Plancha, and Pintoxs De Higo. Only complaint about the place: parking = there are lots of pigeons under the highway where park (don't be surprised if you need to take your car to the car wash afterwards/the next day). Word of advice... on certain days of the week, I highly suggest you make a reservation for dinner as they can get busy. read more

FANTASTIC! The Tapas options can satisfy any taste at the table and the flan (though not as good as my grandma's) was delicious too. :) For sure you've got to try the coffee...it's worth it just for the show and it tastes great. Enjoy! **I am Puerto Rican and I know rice...personally...anyway! I had the paella recently and it was so sad. The rice was so mushy and the chorizo was just so-so. I mean the shrimp was cooked well but I already knew that they made wonderful shrimp from their tapas. La Bodega shall retain the 5 star status for me because the coffee, tapas and sangria are all worth the visit. read more

Came here for a friend's birthday. The atmosphere was perfect for a group setting. We shared tapas, which can get a little pricey. When ordering tapas in a group, order two plates of your choice to share and that would be plenty for everyone. The waitress gave the birthday girl a free dessert, even though I asked her to put it on my tab. It was very sweet of her. Parking though is a hassle since it is on the street. Get there early because it does get very crowded at night. read more

La Bodega is one of my favorite places I wish I could visit more often. All the food was good, but the roasted potatoes were my favorite. Much like a fast food joint, any restaurant should be measured by the potatoes they serve. Or so I'm currently proclaiming to give merit to my review. Atmosphere is good and it can get busy, which is either good or bad depending on your mood. In short, love it. read more

Good food, but I personally didn't care for the atmosphere. We came in a large group, and they had a hard time getting service to us all--some felt the need to go out to get something to eat afterwards because the small portion size (which is their schtick) just didn't work well for our group. For a onsey-twosey table, It would be great. For a group of 20, not so much. read more

Hands down 5 stars... A.) I love Tapas B.) I love outdoor seating...and 3.) I love atmosphere This place has them all. To bad we came right after happy hour, so our 10 Tapas were not half price..yes 10...Lets just say we got to try a lot of the menu. I would have to say my favorite tapa was the beef tenderloin..yum. As noted by others, the white sangria is excellent, but not $25 a pitcher excellent. That would be my only complaint about La Bodega.... I guess I will have to com back during happy hour so I can drink more sangria! read more

Until tonight I'd never been to a tapas restaurant. I'd heard a lot about this place, but since I live in the burbs I'm not in the area often to get to try it. What great place! It has a warm, cozy atmosphere that makes you want to sit and enjoy some wine, good conversation and great food. Our server was friendly and knowledge. She helped us pick a great wine and several plates. She was around enough to take care of us, but never interrupted our evening. It's best to go with friends and share. There's so many menu items I still want to try. Overall the food was scrumptious. The atmosphere was relaxing and the service was wonderful. I will be back, hopefully for happy hour to try more! I also can't wait for this place to officially open in Leawood, yeah! The burbs needs some culture and more KC originals. read more

This is the only place I have found authentic Paella in the city! The sangria is pretty good, and I also LOVE that they have white, rose' AND red rioja. Lovely cozy atmosphere and great service. You must have your entire party present before being seated. read more

This happy hour is totally badass! I had been here for dinner before and was impressed but didn't review right away, so after my experience on Friday, I definitely had to drop a few lines about this fine establishment. GO TO HAPPY HOUR. Half price sangrias and half price on tapas (like everyone has been saying). The chicken skewers are to absolutely die for. Actually, the four small plates we shared were all amazing (mushrooms, meatballs, fried potatoes, chicken/chorizo skewers). Wash it down with a sangria (or a couple... or well drinks (also 1/2 off!)) and you've got yourself a successful start to the weekend (or weekday evening). Ambiance is wonderful. I love the throw pillows and it might've been the sangria but it definitely made me giggle watching the waitresses fluff them in between customers. Get there early as it tends to get busy towards the tail end of the happy hour. There's outdoor seating too---either option is intimate. Service is great! Love it, can't wait to go back! read more

I have been here several times and ordered different items off the menu every time and I have Never. Been. Disappointed. This place is classy. I take friends from out of town here and we sit outside if we can. I hit up the happy hour which everyone knows is one of the best in the city. I bring multiple friends because La Bodega is all about the small plates and what's more fun than splitting a ton of small plates among friends? For a long time, this was also a go-to 2nd date spot because what can you not discover about someone based upon their chosen tapas? Very little, my friend. I've even been to the one they've got out in Town Center and although nothing touches the original on Southwest Blvd, they still had some good food. The original, though... man. It's eclectic before being eclectic was hip. It was hipster cool before there were KC hipsters. Just come and see for yourself. read more

I really like this place. The menu can be a little intimidating the first time you go, but don't let that scare you from trying it. If it's your first time, you should note this is Spanish food, not Mexican. The first time I went with my mom we got up and left after looking at the menu and we watched a couple do the same thing when we were there today. The names of the tapas are in Spanish so I think that's why it scares people (myself included once) away, but I since I gave it another shot I seriously haven't tried anything there that I haven't liked. They also have great sangria and the decor is beautiful. read more

The atmosphere is cool, the decor is eye-catching, and the patrons are clearly there to have a good time, which is all good. I've been at least three times with my wife for happy hour, when tapas are half price. I don't drink, so it's all about the food for me, which is not bad at all but not especially satisfying. The primary parking area, beneath the freeway, is noisy, chilly, and lots of pigeon droppings. read more

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SO and I did happy hour for a friend's birthday last week and loved the food. We were both a little embarrassed to admit that it was our first visit, even though we'd both thought of going for *years*. Admittedly, the food falls a bit out of our price range, and small plates can tend to run a bit high if you want a full meal. The happy hour is nice, because you get cheap drinks (including sangria) and a selection of half-price tapas, which makes the price a bit less daunting. I can see now why our friends' picked the place. I can't remember everything we had, since everyone had a bit of everything, both from the happy hour list and the regular menu. It was all interesting, all good. Freshly made, well seasoned. I loved the baked goat cheese in a light tomato sauce, and the aioli that came with the skewered chicken was awesome, really made the dish. I thought the crostini with the cheese and fig jam was a bit too sweet, which could have been corrected by using dried figs instead; otherwise, it was good. The only thing I didn't really like was the tortilla, which was a tad too dry for my taste. The sangria was great, not to sweet with the right touch of spice (I could guzzle that stuff all day). The service was good. Our waitress kept a good eye on everything and made sure that drinks were filled, asked if we wanted anything else, etc. Wasn't pushy about getting us out of there. The dining room got a big noisy towards the end, but I've been in far worse. I didn't even mention that the space was lovely, artfully designed with high ceilings that make it feel more spacious. I'd love to spend a summer evening eating out on the walk. So yeah, I really really dug this place and plan on doing the happy hour again. We'll probably save the main menu for something fancy. It had everything I like, but most of all great food. I hesitate to give it 5 stars only because it wasn't perfect, but I'd definitely recommend it without reservation. read more

I absolutely this restaurant! The food is wonderful as well as the drinks. The prices are good and the staff is also wonderful. I never had a bad experience and will return. It's much better to go with friends to be able to share various food entries! read more

Excellent excellent excellent. Ambiance, food and service! Must order the bacon wrapped figs, sangrias and s'mores dessert again!

Excellent food and great service. Thank you to La Bodega for keeping your patio open in December. It's nice to have a spot that can accommodate outdoor seating in the winter during the pandemic. The heaters outside are awesome. Kept us warm when the weather was in the mid-40s while allowing us to enjoy a meal out while keeping our family safe. read more

Atmosphere: Trendy, chic Seating: Smaller inside w/sidewalk seating available Price: $$$ Service: Grade-A...as long as you have a reservation for dinner :) Experience: Best tapas in KC The short story: La Bodega downtown is by far one of my favorite date nights ever. My partner and I venture here about once a month...sometimes more in the summer because nothing cools the palate like their Red Sangria. Seriously, I could drink a pitcher by myself. The full monty: I've been to several tapas restaurants in KC and across the US. La Bodega never disappoints. Try these and you'll see what I mean: Queso de Cabra al Horno: goat cheese baked in tomato sauce Datiles con Jamon y Chorizo: bacon-wrapped dates stuffed w/chorizo Solomillo con Cabrales: grilled beef tenderloin w/blue cheese And for dessert, check out the churros. It does for Spanish food what Tiramisu does for Italian. I'm sure you'll agree, the food is hard to top. read more

Love, love, love. The happy hour here is one of the best in town - half price pitchers of sangria and half price on select tapas. Potatoes, mushrooms, bread - it's all delicious, and incredibly cheap during happy hour. This is a great place for veggies and meat-eaters to share small plates and everyone gets a little bit of what they want. They offer a white and red sangria, though I've only had the red and it is fantastic every time. The ambiance is cozy but romantic, and the service is always top-notch. Great place for a first, second or 47th date or just meeting a group of friends out after work. read more

Yum - I am in Kansas City for work and what a lovely treat post a long long loooooong day. Good flavors. Good vibe. Nice staff.

Wow, this place is outstanding. My colleague and I flew in from Chicago late morning and only had about 45 minutes before a meeting. I fired up Yelp on my Blackberry and it brought up this fine place first thing. The services was very good, the food was excellent and the decor very quaint. The only negative is that the "parking lot" across the street is filthy and inhabited by pigeons and loads o' their poop. Gross. Thankfully, the restaurant FAR outweighed the parking lot. I look forward to catching happy hour at La Bodega next time so we don't have to hurry in/out! read more

Just as good as the tapas in Madrid! Having recently had the opportunity to sample many of the tapas bars in Madrid I can easily say not only does the food match the quality and taste of those in Spain but the menu is a whole lot easier to read! We had 6 different tapas for dinner and not a single one was anything other than delicious and unique. The rojo sangria to me was only ok, the blanco sangria though was much better. A great place to eat if you are near boulevard brewing or just looking for a unique dining experience! read more