New Spanish restaurant in town! I've already been twice -- once with two friends and another time solo at the bar. Beautiful restaurant with a stunning show kitchen, a great vibe, and good music throughout. Had a great cocktail topped with Manchego cheese. The Jamón Ibérico speaks for itself -- always delicious, and this was no different. The sardines were a standout: super fresh with a clean flavor. The shaved asparagus salad was light, refreshing, and definitely screamed spring. For paella, the Arroz Negro was the showstopper. The rice was cooked perfectly and well seasoned, and the cuttlefish was tender and flavorful. Service was excellent as well. Kyle did a great job describing the menu and giving us some helpful pointers with ordering. Very engaging service with some fun, friendly banter throughout the night. Looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

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I wish I took photos! Service and atmosphere amazing. Acoustics worked. I could enjoy food and drink and still hear my friends. My favorite bites were the rock fish, the blue cheese cauliflower croquettes, the eggplant. Many other good things too. Share all the tapas. The basque cheese cake was amazing too. read more

This past week my wife and I actually experienced Barcelona quality cuisine, in West LA/Culver City. The restaurant is called "PICALA", and our desperate search for phenomenal Spanish food is over! Upon entering Picala, we were transported to a cool Barcelona/California setting. Simple and elegant, with a comfortable and spacious interior. And with its high ceilings, we were confident that "too noisy" wouldn't be a concern in a full house. Now let's get down to our meal! Starting with bread for the table may be typical, but when served with the "house smoked garlic butter", we quickly realized that this chef is super creative, innovative, pays close attention to detail, and was preparing us for a serious feast! Then came the Tapas! A unique dish of cauliflower/blue cheese croquettes, which was a departure from our usually requested hamon croquettes, but every bit as delicious! (They serve the hamon croquettes as well, and they're so tasty!) Following that, an exquisite sardine dish, patatas bravas, fried codfish, sausages with caramelized onions, shaved asparagus, and a mouthwatering mixed salad were served to our delight! All perfectly cooked and seasoned, and accompanied by delicious classic sangria! We suspected that the entrees to follow would be great, and we weren't disappointed! We ordered the arroz negro and chicken paella, which were scrumptious, delectable, and simply the best we've ever had. Suckling pig with juicy meat and heavenly crispy skin, and red snapper with aioli and vinaigrette sauce, followed. By then we were pleasantly satiated, and asked by our excellent server, (who had been extremely attentive to us without being overbearing) if we would like dessert? And I would be remiss if I didn't mention how wonderful the desserts were. We finished our meal with a cool chocolate moose, berries and pistachios plate, plus warm churros with homemade chocolate sauce. The absolute perfect ending to a "perfect meal!" We can't say enough great things about Picala, and how thrilled we both are that it's right here "in the neighborhood!" We finally have our great Spanish restaurant in LA! Thank you Picala read more

WOW! Start to finish this dining experience was fantastic - food, staff, ambiance, it was a 10/10. My husband and I loved Loquita and were thrilled to hear about Picala opening. We took my parents for a birthday dinner and everyone was throughly impressed. Quite note - if you take uber there, for some reason uber has the wrong address so make sure you get dropped off in the right place! We walked into a gorgeous, bright, airy setting, each table was meticulously set and the tables had great spacing between them so you're not cramped. I loved the open kitchen so you can watch the dishes being made. Staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and it was clearly a team effort for every table. Now to the food and drinks! We ordered 5 tapas and 2 mains between 4 and it was the perfect order, we finished all of it and got dessert! Croquetas de Coliflor - perfect starting bite! Creamy blue cheese, really savory and delicious. Pan con Tomate - one of my fave dishes in general, but the way they put a good char on the bread was really tasty. Tortilla Española w/ Jamón - fluffy, savory goodness, the ham was a great addition. Shaved Mango - super interesting dish, maybe wanted more of the bone marrow & uni flavor but it was refreshing. Bilbao Sausages - really tasty, the onions had great flavor too! Paella - smoky, flavorful, and with true socarrat! I would order this again and again! The chicken was cooked perfectly skin on and the peppers! Vaca - really nice rare to med-rare steak! The chicories were delicious too. Basque Cheesecake - just get it, you won't be let down. Churros - I'm Greek and they almost were fried similar to loukoumades, really amazing! The lovely staff brought over a sorbet with a birthday candle too! If you drink, the El Clasico was such a fun take on a martini, it's a must-order. Cant wait to return soon! read more

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I recently dined on the patio with my dog and appreciated how easy the parking was, the restaurant offers two hours of validated parking. The food itself was good and refreshingly not overly salty like so many restaurants in LA, which we really appreciated. The service, however, was surprisingly chaotic. Over the course of dinner, we had three different waitstaff, with two separate people introducing themselves as our "new waitress," only for the previous one to reappear later. Servers also kept bringing us dishes meant for the table next to us, and I basically had to direct where each plate was supposed to go. It was a bit confusing and unexpected, especially given how polished and upscale the restaurant looks. I hope they work out the kinks soon, because it would be a shame for an otherwise lovely restaurant with solid food to be held back by inconsistent service. read more

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UGH I really wanted to love this place, but unfortunately the food is very mid. Service and aesthetic feels like you're at a super nice, fancy place but the food just doesn't live up to it. We got the Baguette & Smoked Butter (the butter was good but the bread needs some serious work), Asparagus Salad (this was actually our favorite item, which is kinda crazy in itself/I'm not sure it's even on the menu anymore), Patatas Bravas, Huevo Roto and Paella. My main issue was that the paella was not good when this is supposed to be what they are known for. My husband somehow thought it was too salty, while I thought there wasn't enough flavor (I do not eat my food salty at all so this was strange), but we both agreed that something was just off with the flavor. The patatas bravas and huevo roto were ok but honestly, this place just felt overpriced for what they taste like. For dessert, we got the Churros which were ok but also needed work. They could've used more cinnamon and were much too oily. Unfortunately, we will not be back. The 3 star is really just for the phenomenal service but I would really give the food a 2 overall. read more

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Our tall, trim bearded waiter was excellent. Open, friendly with great knowledge about the menu so he was able to explain the ingredients, cooking process, Spanish terminology. Pícala is a huge, well appointed contemporary space where the light is slowly turned down so low, it's hard to see the food as the night progresses. Such a shame since according to a Japanese aphorism: "We also eat with our eyes." 1) Sopa de Ajo: Ibérico Sausage extra hard & dry, almost flavourless in nice chicken broth. 2) Roasted Almonds with cumin, rosemary undertone. 3) Shaved Mango: Uni & bone marrow emulsion. Smokey, tart Myers lemon agrodolce flavours. Skip this. There are no naturally growing mangos in España. Better to eat a Southeast Asian Papaya Salad. 4) Sardine Escabeche: Tartine toasted, crunchy Pan de Cristal. Plush, tasteless sardines marinated in light vinegar with cilantro green herbal Aïoli, mildly garlicky olive oil aerosol. *5) Tuna Crudo: Looks like raw albacore tuna dressed with possibly light soy sauce. Rings of pickled onion. Salpicón: scattering of chopped veggies marinated in lime. Underlying it all, Mojo Verde is a thick purée of fresh cilantro, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and vinegar. Tastes nutty with a parsley greenness. ***6) Jamón Ibérico de Bellota: Aged 5 years, cheesy, fermented, buttery, meaty yet unearthly. Way superior to Prosciutto di Parma or San Danielle which is saying a lot. Standard rustic baguette. *7) Bilbao Sausage: Whole chorizo earthy, porky, paprika, salty, fermented, with julienned onion confit in chicken broth with touch of Vermouth. 8) Cochinillo: Roast suckling pig with cabbage chimichurri. Portion of a leg marinated, slow roasted. Wild, chewy, rubbery skin, covering fatty, soft meat, plush yet bit mushy. Nappa cabbage dressed with orange blossom Chimichurri which tasted more like cilantro vinaigrette. *9) Arroz Negro: Paella dyed black with squid ink. Chewy yet soft, nutty, bit sweet, Ocean funky. Soft, fishy, julienned calamari white meat . 10) Vaca: Aged rib-eye steak, but not very beefy. Chewy, marinated in olive oil, herbs. Radicchio, a type of chicory. "Picala's aged prime rib-eye gets presented with a dollop of egg yolk, anchovy for added brine, and a pleasant bitter add of grilled chicory." 11) Dayboat Rockfish: Tasting like cod. Firm meat, fibrous, nice fish meat; lightly grilled. Fibrous, fried artichoke. Couldn't sense the saffron sauce. 12) Calamar: Whole body cut into rings. Firm, yet turning soft as one chews. Salsa Verde is a light broth with marjoram-like sweetness, Gigante beans similar to lima but firmer. **13) Fideos: Thin Cappelli d'Angelo al dente, deep Umami, seafood broth. Caledonian shrimp, venus clams, bay scallops, and topped with Aïoli. 1-13a) Vibrante: Spanish Gin, Pastis/fennel liqueur grapefruit juice. Garnished with fennel leaves, grapefruit slice. Refreshing licorice scented cocktail. Dessert: 14) Basque Cheese Cake: Burnt, baked, moist, creamy, airy. Blueberry confiture. *15) Torta de Santiago: Almond flour for dense, chewy, heavy mouthfeel. Rustic and satisfying. Yogurt and blueberry compote. **16) Chocolate Mousse: Bitter chocolate ganache. Raspberries, crème fraîche, crispy sprinkles. *17) Burnt Butter Ice Cream: Beurre Noisette infused vanilla ice cream. 18) Churros: Had better in Mexican eateries. Too light and airy, no substantial heft and overfried in oil that seemed stale was accompanied by dulce de Leche sauce. 7 of us sampled the 18 items, coming out to about $100/ person which is not bad in this period of inflation. The asterisks are suggested dishes and the only photos uploaded to my review. 4 stars read more

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What a great spot! We ate at the bar on a Sunday evening and wow. Morgan, Mark, and Joey (bar manager) were so hospitable and fun. Drinks? NO NOTES. Cocktail menu does it all. Joey even gave us a sneak peek of a Dirty G&T that's coming soon. Food? We had to stop ordering tapas plates so we could have mains! Lemme just list things as everything was so good! Olives. Baguette and smoked butter (best butter I've ever had). Croquetas de Coliflor. Fideos. Churros. I think the menu may change monthly, so get there soon for these dishes, but I bet next month will be awesome too! The room is beautiful, as much as I'd love to sit at a table one time, the bar is great! read more

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Easy parking by the whole foods. FYI they do validate. So our parking for less than 2 hours there was free. Started with the rosado sangria, it was refreshing and not too sweet. Tapas: The patatas bravas were actually our favorite. They were perfectly fried but tender on the inside. And the spices! Wow, we loved them. Had the olives, and really no notes. They were good olives lol. Croquetas de jámon, were delicious. Nice and cheesy on the inside and nice and soft as well. Mains: Chicken and chorizo paella :I am the kind of person who likes the crispy rice at the bottom of the rice cooker.... So I really loved them. The char and smokiness was amazing. Really added a nice depth to the dish. Would come back to try their other paellas! Especially since that's what they're known for. Vaca: the steak was so tender and juicy. No Notes. Also really good with the patatas ! read more

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What a vibe! The space is well-designed, the music is great, and the food is awesome. Our server was friendly, attentive, and great at dishing out suggestions. To eat, we had the pan con tomate with anchovy, shaved asparagus, sardine escabeche, pulpo a la planche, paella, and New Zealand snapper; to drink we had the Melon, Verde, and a Naked and Famous. The chicken in the paella was cooked perfectly, the shaved asparagus was tasty, and the sauce in the New Zealand snapper paired well with the fish. My only gripe with Picala was the speaker placement - one was so close to our booth, it felt like a third person was sitting between my wife and me. It was pointed right at our ears and was pretty uncomfortable at times. They only opened a day ago, so maybe they'll move the speakers around. EXTRAS: they validate parking and the Metro E line (La Cienaga/Jefferson) is only a 5 min walk away. read more

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Beautiful ambiance, delicious food, potently balanced cocktails. Every dish masterfully captures the spirit of Spain using the nonconformity of California's fresh ingredients. All dishes served as traditional tapas, you'll quickly discover that you won't want to share. From one bite pintxos to a selection paellas - you can go wrong with any decision you make. This night we ordered a variety of different options. Gilda (* 5), Ibizian Tomato (* 24 anchovies, pan de cristal & caper berries), Tuna Crudo(* 22 mojo verde & salpicon), Croquetas de Coliflor (* 12 cauliflower & blue cheese), Baguette & Smoked Butter (* 7), Pescado Frito (* 18 saffron date aioli), Fideos (* 56 Caldonian shrimp, bay scallops, venus clams & aioli), Calamar (* 28 Pacific squid, salsa verde & gigante beans), and Vaca (* 55 aged prime ribeye, egg, anchovy & grilled chicory). The cocktails are balanced - but be forewarned - they pack a punch. Being that the dishes are tapas, the cost jumps up really quickly. So be ready to spend a pretty penny filling up on many delicious options. read more

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The food was top notch. My least favorite cuisine is Spanish but this resto nailed their dishes so much that a non enjoyer of comida de Espana loved it. The only drawback was the too light of an aesthetic to make it a cool vibe. But still, great service and great food. read more

Picala - Spanish Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ive been waiting for months for this.Each time I go to Wells or Whole foods. The place id beautiful, staff amazing and food sooo good The pig ,paella everything just great read more

Beautiful restaurant and ample parking at Whole Foods. Tried Picala and had some hits and misses. The jamón ibérico was hands down rich, melt-in-your-mouth, worth every bite. Basque cheesecake was just like you were in Spain, burnt top with that creamy center done right. The pulpo was delicious but you get one little tail and for the price and it just doesn't feel worth it. Patatas bravas were fine, nothing special, should be more dense and the sauce should be rich. The tortilla española was more like an egg omelet vs what I've had in Spain, plus it was on the salty side. Not quite the potato thick tortilla I was hoping for. Shaved asparagus salad was amazing, fresh and lemony and a must. Overall a mixed bag, some dishes hit, some didn't. I'd go back for the jamón and cheesecake alone though. Definitely coming back to try the paella which we didn't. read more

The food, ambience and service was exceptional. The tapas, bar vibe, bartender Morgan was especially welcoming. So excited to have an upscale Spanish tapas restaurant in our neighborhood; we loved it. read more

Imagine Jim's fondness for pranking Dwight combined with Michael's fondness for Ryan and Angela's fondness for her cats. That's how charmed I was with Picala in Culver City. Opening a new restaurant in LA takes dedication and hard work, and Picala understood the assignment . It was 10/10 (or I guess 5/5 in Yelp ratings) in ingredients, atmosphere, and service. The staff, especially the bartenders, were top tier with their knowledge of the menu and attentiveness. The bartender deserved a Dundee award for Exceptional Hospitality. Fact: I plan to become a regular here and try all the vegetarian friendly tapas and cocktails on the menu. read more

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We had a great experience here. This place nails the Spanish art of convivencia - the feeling of just gathering, drinking great wine, and sharing incredible food with friends. Do not skip the bar program. Drinks are very good and creatively presented - especially liked the gin & tonics. I want to come back and try everything. Our standouts were the Sardine Escabeche on Toast, and everything wood-fired had a smoky depth of flavor. Finally we tried the basque cheesecake which is a must-have for dessert. Off the charts! The service was very impressive. They obviously are well trained, from servers to runners - knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the menu. An incredible addition to the LA dining scene. We will absolutely be back! read more

The food and drinks were excellent and the service was strong from start to finish. I already can't want to come back! read more

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First time visit to Picala and had a great dinner with some friends. Staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the cocktail pairings along with the origins of some of the alcohols from Spain. Inside was nicely designed, not too loud and bathrooms were also nice. Croquetas, crudo, and pan con tomate were great tapas choices. Sardine escabeche had lots of flavor. Chef gave us the tomato salad on the house and it was delicious! I'm not a fresh tomato person but the way these tomatoes were dressed and seasoned made it very enjoyable, the croutons were tasty. For the mains my favorite of the 3 we tried was the fideos. Recommend the basque cheesecake and the burnt butter ice cream for dessert! As a new restaurant I would return again to see if it holds up. read more

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The perfect bridge between what I love in Culver City and what I love in Mid City/West Adams! When you want something a bit sleeker cuz you're in the mood or on the way to or from Sofi or the Forum. Odd as it sounds - based on an Eater review - we (my son and I) strolled to Picala while my husband was visiting our favorite salon on Washington. Wow! and I mean Wow! Unexpected super airy space with lots of light and beautiful decor. We sat at the bar and experienced a well crafted drink and yummy bar snacks. I had a unique Passion fruit/Tequila cocktail and my son had a bourbon cocktail infused with saffron and citrus peel. Sorry no pictures - I wasn't thinking (just drinking) Not for nothing - they were served in great glassware...top notch everything. We only ate a few croqueta so I can't comment on food...but we'll be back. Okay - I'm jonzing to see the space after the sun goes down ...the lighting looked amazing. A couple extra thoughts...Full array of great liquors (I spied my Monkey 47 gin for instance). All the staff we chatted with were so nice and attentive (especially Terra!) Not only a very sexy bar in general but has a nice tweak...they have power under the whole bar so you could plug in to charge up or maybe work there? Also, they apparently validate for 2 hours of parking underneath! Clutch! We'll be back. read more

Very impressed by Picala. I was thrilled to find this place while searching for a good tapas restaurant in the LA area, after moving from New York last year. Great service - the server was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The modern earth toned decor was chic but cozy. The high ceiling completed the great ambiance, and helped to control the acoustics. A perfect place for date night or great conversations with friends. The food was AMAZING with interesting flavors - from tapas staples such as patatas bravas and pan con tomate to delicious sardines, arroz negro, suckling pig, and paella. The heavenly churros and chocolate mousse were a perfect finish for the evening. Thank you Picala for the wonderful evening! Looking forward to trying out more dishes during my next visit. read more

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I've had the pleasure of coming here twice and have to say the food have been outstanding on both accounts. Not to mention the decor is so beautiful, elegant, and inviting. Great drinks, and very attentive service. It has that overall elegant and yet super fun ambiance. Some of the big standouts are: - Arroz Negro. So much umami flavor, not to mention the super tender cuttlefish - Sardines. Never thought I would ever say this about sardine,but it;s one of my favoriets. To my surprise it wasn't fishy at all, super delicious! - Suckling Pig. So moist and tender and the inside and very cripsy skin - Churros. Very different than most of the other churros you will find in LA, it has a much softer and almost goey filling...super yummy! We'll be back! read more

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An open floor plan with high ceilings made the energy in this place buzz! It was exciting just walking to our table. The tapas could use an upgrade in portion size to enjoy more of the uniques tastes, especially when dining with friends. But overall, the service was sexy and the food was sumptuous. read more

Picala - Picala Paella - Spanish Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We were carded despite being in our 30s, I didn't have my ID and wasn't allowed to order wine. This is OK, disappointing, but how we were treated afterwards is why I am writing a bad review. Our waiter knew we were upset at not being able to order drinks and proceeded to ignore us the rest of the night. Never asked us how our food was (it was under seasoned and overpriced- steak was very good), never asked to refill my husband's cocktail (he had his ID), never asked if we wanted anything else. In our opinion it is fine that they have more strict rules against serving without ID - but because the waiter was too scared to do the rest of his job with us the rest of the night we will never come back and will definitely not recommend. It was just an unpleasant evening and we would have hoped to have been shown some degree of understanding and sympathy given the initial disappointment but also knowing that we were going to have a $200 meal and still deserved hospitality. We do expect folks who work in expensive restaurants to be able to handle and make the most of difficult situations with more grace and professionalism. read more

we went shortly upon opening & the food was well executed, delicious - we enjoyed yummy mocktails as well - definitely going back

Solid place. Food was good. Service was fine. Clean and nice. $27 martini (terrible martini) left a bad taste in my mouth. Literally and figuratively. I'd go back but skip the martini next time. read more

The space inside is so warm and inviting. The food brings all the authentic flavors of Spain together in a modern thoughtful way. The sardines escabeche was delightful and tasty. We also had the pork shoulder which did not disappoint. Felicitaciones Picala! read more

Pícala is a lovely, modern Spanish restaurant. The food and drinks were wonderful. We had just returned from Spain when we decided to try it on Mother's Day. We're glad we did. I look forward to going again. read more

I'm really glad a Spanish restaurant has opened in our neighborhood. Fun vibe on entering -- lively but not overly loud -- and a sincerely warm welcome from Tara and James. Every dish we've had so far has been really good. Not quite traditional Spanish, kind of a lighter California touch, but that's more than okay with me. Especially enjoyed the tomato salad, wood-fired calamari and the saffron-forward paella. Absolutely perfect, crispy socarrat on the paella (I've never been able to do that right at home, and now I can stop trying). Definitely also recommend the Basque cheesecake. I hope we stay neighbors for a long time! read more

Picala was an absolutely incredible experience! Our server, Katya, guided us through the menu to select the perfect dishes for our table size and preferences. Some of our favorites were the chicken and chorizo paella, the asparagus tapa, the croquettas, and the cheesecake. Cocktails were incredible and they even had an NA Aperol spritz. What an incredible addition to the area, we will DEFINITELY be going back! read more

Very good new spanish resturant. Every dish that we tried was good. The Sardine tapas is must try. The servers were very nice and friendly. i totally recommend this resturant. read more

Staff was super attentive. Food and drinks were not only great but they were thoughtfully crafted to invoke flavors from different areas of Spain. The space is beautiful and every corner was beautifully manicured. You could see Chef being attentive to every dish. read more

The coolest new restaurant in Culver City! Tapas were amazing (especially the tortilla espanola) and the churros quite literally melt in your mouth. It's got a great vibe too, especially sitting by the open kitchen. Staff were super kind and service was great! Overall 10/10 and great spot for a date night read more

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Just went to a pre-opening event at picala and have nothing but praise for the food, drinks and the team. Sampled many of the tapas and all were delicious, as was the paella. Tried a bunch of different cocktails, all fantastic. Finally a promising Spanish tapas place in the area. Looks like we will be visiting this place often in the future read more

This place is fantastic! My husband and I had a great night having dinner at the bar. The food was delicious and the service was amazing! We have to mention Joey, Mark, and Ramtin who all went above and beyond to make it such a fun night. We are happy to drive all over LA for great food but it's the hospitality that we experienced at Picala that makes the difference and will definitely bring us back! read more

I adore this restaurant. The chef, Luis is so talented .... his plates are beautiful and perfectly balanced in taste. And the cocktails are incredible. The best gin/tonic I've ever had. Did I mention the space? The lighting is magical at every hour.... Go there! read more

Good ambiance and food. Parking is easy and service is pleasant. The Paella was on point.

I was looking forward to eating here on my birthday but was disappointed in the food! Our server was great however the food was relatively lackluster. There are better Spanish tapas places in Los Angeles! For tapas, we ordered the soap de ajo, croquetas, escabeche, patatas bravas, pescado frito, and the shaved mango. 3 of the 6 tapas were good, the others were nothing special. The shaved mango with uni and bone marrow was creative and surprisingly delicious. What was truly disappointing was the paella. We ordered the Chicken and chorizo paella and it was burnt. Looking at other reviews and photos, it seems like this is normal but it is far from the golden "socarrat" that paella is gloriously known for! The photo of the paella only shows a fraction of the burnt bottom. We took 3/4ths of the paella home and it's impossible to pick through the charred rice. The taste was pretty bad. Glad I tried it but would not recommend. read more

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Our meal was delightful! Service was also very warm and accommodating- we will definitely be coming back!

Amazing food. Amazing service - we had 2 small kids and they went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. Highly recommend the squid ink paella and the cocktails were phenomenal! read more