One more scoop of ice cream and my dessert would've looked like a penis on a plate, but I'll get to that in a minute... I was long overdue for dinner with my original *bookclub.* Long ago we abandoned the charade of picking and reading books, opting to meet periodically for drinks, dinner, and laughs instead. We've long been fans of Meson Sabika in Naperville, so after hearing they opened up a sister restaurant in the city it was an easy choice. This location, aesthetically, couldn't be more different from MS, which is in an old mansion with flamenco dancers going room to room and considerable grounds. Tapas Valencia is modern, with cement floors, mosaic walls, sleek accents and no dancers, but the menu and chef are the same. About halfway through dinner the restaurant became packed, which I realized when our casual conversation turned into a series of huh's, what's, and pardon me's coupled with us craning over the table and yelling to hear each other. We started with a pitcher of sangria and shared 8 plates, but being a pescatarian (and mushroom hater) I only tasted the: Patatas Con Alioli, Canalón Relleno, Crepe Rellena, Queso De Cabra, and Vieiras Al Albariño. We also got: Datiles Con Tocino, Pincho De Solomillo, and Champiñones. Everything was fantastic as always, and did not disappoint. For dessert I had the Platano Con Helado aka penis on a plate. It was just OK. The ice cream was served in a little chocolate cup on a plate of caramel and pistachios with a whole banana next to it. I wasn't wild about the banana, sauteeing it left it slightly mushy. I also think the dish would've been better, at least visually, had the banana been sliced and over the ice cream with the caramel, but maybe that's just me. Service started out amazing and gradually veered toward mediocre as the restaurant got busier. In the beginning our server was engaging and attentive, excited that we were very familiar with the menu; by the end of our meal we rarely saw him. The busboys were outstanding, albeit slightly aggressive; there were a few items snatched that I would've continued to pick at. I would like to apologize to the busboy my girlfriend punched. It was an accident, I swear; she didn't know you were standing there! Bottom line: Even though the vibe here is totally different than the original, I am thrilled that I don't have to drive all the way out to Naperville for their tapas! TIP: It's a short walk from the Roosevelt El stop and the 29 bus drops you practically at the door. read more

Every time I come here, I am surprised by how good it is. I think I get so used to restaurants being fine, that I forget that some are really fantastic. The service here is exceptional. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. They have valet parking, and the valet guy opens the door for you when you walk in. Then you're greeted by the hostess and very likely the manager. Then your server greets you. There are several people going around refilling water, removing dirty dishes, checking to see if you're ok, etc. It is very attentive service without being overboard. (However if you were going to break up with someone, or have a very serious conversation that you wanted minimal interruptions or distractions, I wouldn't do it here. Go somewhere where the staff will mostly forget about you.) The food is great. There are certainly dishes that I think are better than others. I like their sangria's. I can never remember which one I like better though. Last night I had a mojito, and I thought it was just okay. But I had just had a glass of wine before it, and that could have affected how I was tasting it. My favorite tapas are: Salteado de Hortalizas-vegetables in a delicious tomato sauce. This dish is large, is $7.95, and makes you feel like you made a healthy dinner choice. Everyone should order it! Tilapia Marinada- $13.50 Tilapia with a couple small pieces of artichokes, some spinach, and some tomatoes. This dish is delicious, it is pretty large, and has a nice mix of fish and veggies. Pimientos del Piquillo-$8.50 Stuffed peppers with cheese and black bean sauce. The black bean sauce is amazing. Vieiras al Albariño-$16.95-scallops with couscous. The scallops are wonderful. Tarta de Pera-$6.95-pear cake with ice cream. I don't know what makes this cake so good or special, but it is outstanding. read more

"Mmmm. Ahh. Taste this. Try that." Just a few of the sounds circulating our table at Tapas Valencia- the newest spot to open in the South Loop this past weekend. I am familiar with their suburban location (Meson Sabika-go in the summer, the grounds of this historic builiding are beautiful to eat on) and it and Tapas Valenica share a chef so I knew the food was going to be great and I wasn't disappointed! The space is contemporary and open- a modern twist to a great way to taste little bites of some amazing food. There are Joan Miro reproductions on the walls that reminded me of my trips to Barcelona coupled with mosaic tiled walls- a nod to Gaudi's Park Guell, perhaps? Whatever the inspiration- it is a lovely space. We ordered several cold plates, hot plates and ended with their signature paella. A few of the most notable were the jamon seranno (served with bread and tomato slices- delicious) and the salmon for our cold plates, and the filet with potatoes and grilled garlic shrimp with three sauces for our warm. With several kinds of paella to chose from- we went with the Imperial that came with scallops, lobster, and calamari and was as good as my favorite place to get paella in Spain! Dessert was also delicious (still sharable sizes) so we split three. But the clear winner in my book was some kind of a pear tart with caramel sauce- I wanted to keep it all to myself. If you drive- valet parking is cheap $5 or there is usually street parking on this stretch of State. I love Tapas as there is no better way to spend time with friends than sharing and catching up over great food. And Tapas Valencia does a great job in providing an experience to do just that. read more

Except for one occasion I have only been to Tapas Valencia on dates. It is such a good date spot...not saying don't go with your friend...but fellas if your looking for a cute, affordable (during happy hour), and trendy spot to take your date I recommend this place. I went here on a blind date and after the embarrassment of approaching the wrong person, I was ready to have a cocktail and settle in. :) Definitely check happy hour times before you go. During happy hour a tapas that's normally $8 could be $3 The food and cocktails are really good! I had the championes, bravas potatoes, and the bacon dates. All delicious! The guy I was with just had a beer, but he seem to enjoy it. Lol The servers are really friendly and the atmosphere is very inviting. Another plus is they have patio seating outside (love the outdoors!). I don't frequent this place nearly as much as I should, but I do plan on coming back again. read more

I came here when it first opened and then recently with a big group. It was a Saturday night and well most of us know Saturdays are busy (we had reservations though) but wow the service was slow and a bit off. The place is decently sized with a great big bar and well that night almost every table was taken. Now I LOVE Tapas & Sangria. I just loved getting a little bit of everything. :-) I had: Setas Salvajes= Yum! Pincho de Pollo=OK Ensalada Pollo Marbella=Good! Tortilla Espanola=Very Good Patatas Bravas=Umm no thanks I have had better One thing about this place is the sangria is Gooood! Now I was expecting a pretty big bill since I felt like we all ordered so much...but in the end it wasn't bad at all. At least not for what we felt like we ate. Overall, the experience would have been better if service was better. We kept getting food we didn't order and then had to wait forever for some of our dishes. Now I remember it being way better when we first went about 3 years ago...or maybe I just had too much Sangria that day. ;-) read more

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I don't know if my group and I were just given the royal treatment during our visit on a Wednesday night of restaurant week, but the general feeling all around is that everyone must visit this restaurant and that it NEEDS more credit than it has been given. When we pulled up to Tapas Valencia, the surrounding area was an eye sore thanks to all the construction, but the inside of the restaurant is beautiful with lots of vivid colors and patterns. I checked their website and the photos aren't doing the scene justice at all. We were first greeted at the door by the owner. As we were directed to our table, every staff member we passed greeted us as well. I have never had a warmer welcome into a restaurant. I don't know if this is their first time to participate in restaurant week, but in my opinion, every other restaurant is doing it wrong. Tapa's menu had 4 courses, but they took away the burden of deciding which item from the course you want because.....you get all of them. A little taste of everything (but not too little because I left satisfied). Literally every plate they brought us was delicious. They split everything up into even portions based on your party, but when one plate had the wrong portion and we pointed this out, they actually brought us another plate instead of just bringing one more person's portion. The best part of the meal, though I didn't think it could get any better after the main course, was dessert. Again, we may have been getting special treatment for whatever reason, but instead of just bringing us the two choices that were on the menu, they brought us a plate with one of every dessert they offer. It was a plate full of heaven. I have never had an eating experience so good in my life as that plate of fudge, cake, pie, fruit, ice cream, etc. If you can only have one dessert though, we all agreed unanimously that the best thing on the plate was the almond pear cake (I don't see the exact name on the menu, but ask for that and you will not regret it). I could eat that cake forever and wash it down with the complimentary champagne that came with every dessert. If I could recommend everything that was on the restaurant week menu, I would, but that would be a long list. I had a great experience dining here and if they were underwhelming in the past, they are definitely stepping up their game. Please go and try it out. I will definitely be going again soon. read more

Tapas Valencia - most amazing desserts - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cannot say enough good things about my experience here! I was hosting a group event for 15 people at 7pm. Over half the group showed up at 6 unexpectedly and I arrived at 6:20 to set up-yikes! The staff set up our room quickly and accommodated all of our early guests plus the nearly 30 that ended up coming!! The servers and exceptional manager Chris, didn't miss a beat and attended to our event as planned. Food was tasty and brought out timely. The caprese salad is amazing, as are the beef medallions. I know the staff valued my business tonight and was empathetic to my last minute changes. I will DEFINITELY eat here again and recommend to all . Big time thank you to Chris! read more

My friend takes me to this one during my trip in Chicago. Like the paellas very much! With really fresh seafood in it! And the tapas are yummy too! read more

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Love this place, there's guitar and a dancing performance Saturday night starting at 7pm. Paul was our server and he was AMAZING, it was my friends 30th birthday and he gave us great service. Paul even pulled me over and asked for my friends name so the band can sing her happy birthday. Just FYI there's a $1.50 cake fee per person which was worth it because the band song for my friend, and Paul did a great job communicating if I wanted candles on it, or if I wanted the kitchen to cut the cake etc. Tapas were delicious, very hot and fresh when they came out. There's free parking outside (but not when there's an event at one of the stadiums) or you can valet for $6. Overall great experience will go back soon. read more

Great pre Covid ... but limited options and no outdoor seating ... yet can't wait to get back after Covid subsides. Pre Covid rating is 5 as I haven't been post Covid. read more

I was there last night for the first time . Really nice place , very friendly staff . We tried the patatas bravas , pincho de pollo , crema de elote but outlr favorite was the pollo al limón . The sangria was ok read more

Can't believe I've lived here for 7 years and never been to Tapas Valencia. Overall I like the place but none of the food blew me away. The decor and ambiance is very cool and the server we had was outstanding. Half price bottles of wine on Wednesdays? Yes, please! They give you some olives to start as opposed to a bread basket or chips and salsa. The food came out at a decent pace, slightly too quickly. I like that they have fresh plates and forks right at the table cause that is always the problem with tapas. We started with the serrano ham. The dish was prepared nicely but the serrano itself was just meh. We got the empanada. It is one, huge empanada so not optimal for sharing. It was also soggy. The flavor was pretty solid but not a fan of the way it was served. We got the grilled shrimp with lemon butter, which was my favorite dish of the night. We tried the scallops which were okay. The spicy potatoes were decent. I know we got some sort of beef or lamb but that is not not memorable it was that I can't even remember which. Overall, not a bad spot and none of the food was bad but nothing was awesome either. read more

This restaurant is not just an amazing restaurant it is an entire experience!! Tapas are authentic and the staff are so wonderful every time!!! read more

Loved it -food and service top notch! My faves were the papas alioli and the bacon wrapped dates!! read more

Tapas Valencia - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tapas Valencia was a home run, out of the ball park. I say that since last night and this morning my wife agreed that going forward we see no need to go back to Cafe Baba Reeba or Iberico !now that we discovered this Spanish tapas gem blocks away from us. Having lived in the area for 1.5 years, we've walked or driven by it on numerous occasions and often talked about going but didn't make it until last night. From the outside, it's somewhat unassuming since its in a condo building nestled on a residential section of S State Street. At 5p, we were able to secure reservations on a Sat night for 9p. Below some of the highlights of our visit: - live music until 10p along with a dancer - pretty spacious inside, given from the outside it appears much smaller - great Sangria that is not diluted by ice. They bring it in a pitcher with glasses filled with ice and fruit. (at $30/ pitcher, it was a little steep) - food was A+. We ordered quesa de cabro (goat cheese with tomato sauce), grilled squid, bacon wrapped dates, stuffed mushroom, grilled shrimp on spinach, the paella and the chocolate cake dessert. Everything tasted really good. And I'd be hard pressed find a flaw. PS: Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures! read more

Came here for looking for a local South loop spot to eat and couldn't have been more disappointed. Restaurant was relatively empty but then again it was a Tuesday night. Was then seated at a corner table in the back of the restaurant by the kitchen, despite there being open tables all over. Had a nice waiter however we ordered 4 tapas, 1 cold and 3 hot, and everything was just lukewarm and the chorizo was undercooked. Nothing special to speak of taste wise either. The check took almost 35 min to come out because the waiter kept forgetting us in the corner. Will not be returning. read more

Tapas Valencia - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered from here a few times during the quarantine. It was very tasty - fresh, good portions. I ordered the chicken and steak kabobs, the shrimp, mashed potatoes and the garlic bread. I don't live overly close, so don't see myself dining in, but definitely will continue to order for delivery. read more

Wow. What an amazing gem in the South Loop. I met a friend here for dinner after she informed me how delicious their food was. We were greeted immediately by a friendly waiter who consistently checked in with us. He wasn't the only one checking in-all of the staff seemed very attentive to their customers. We ate outside (#covid), but I did walk inside and loved the music and decor. Every part of the restaurant has a sexy vibe, even the restroom, making this a great date spot! Now on to the cuisine-the Sangria was delicious-we did Flights to get the most bang for our buck and everything tasted very fresh. I appreciated that everything was wrapped to minimize contact as well. I am thoroughly satisfied with my experience and will return (and you should too)! read more

This isn't your average tapas place by any means. They take tapas to the next level, and you don't have to be a meat eater to enjoy everything they have to offer! I have been to Tapas Valencia twice and both times were in big groups and the restaurant was very accomodating, the service was good, and the food was excellent. The first time was for my friend's b-day. He chooses a new tapas place every year and I have to say this is one of the best we have been to in the city. We even had a 2-year old in our group that night and she's a pretty picky eater, but even she loved the food! The second time I went was for my best friend's bachelorette party. They arranged the table in a square for about 15 of us and we were all able to mingle comfortably instead of being stretched down one long skinny table. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for something out of the ordinary. The prices are on the higher side, but totally worth it for the quality of food and the experience you get. read more

After an amazing time at Meson Sabika, I was looking forward to this experience. Unfortunately, that never materialized. The service was extremely slow after the initial order-taking. The menu was a mix of American food, Americanized tapas and that too - paella was too soggy (watery), patatas bravas had too much cheese on it, the apple-cheese crepe was interesting.. I absolutely did not enjoy the food here and while the ambiance was colorful and the restaurant is spacious, the food is really nothing to remember it for. read more

I'm going to go with 3 stars. I went with my guy and we sat there for a few hours. We were never rushed or anything. We originally just wanted to go in for a drink and ended up staying a lot longer. We went on a Saturday and it was not super busy. He started off with a passion martini and I had a glass of white wine sangria. We ended up ordering a pitcher of red wine sangria and some food. He also ordered 2 other drinks with vodka.They started us off with some olives and bread. My guy ordered an appetizer, but I don't remember what it was called, but it wasn't all that. He ordered lamb and I ordered the grilled squid with garlic lemon olive oil. I thought it was good. Our waitress was cool and very friendly. I give it 3 stars since I loved the ambiance, a very nice place to just chill and relax and the friendly waitress. We did think it was a bit pricey and the drinks and food was not that great. read more

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Loved Loved the place, food is excellent. Ordered the grilled shrimp and calamari, so much flavor and so many tapas options to choose from. Paella Valenciana was so good and well seasoned. They have few mocktails for people who don't consume alcohol, I liked the sangria. Hospitality over the top, the Valet guy is very kind, the hostess, our server, amazing people. Will definitely come back and it's an establishment worth every penny. read more

Food was full of flavor. We ordered the mustard artichoke, steak, spicy potatoes and marinara cheese bread.... but the Spanish versions. Water was refilled consistently. Price was reasonable. I like how spacious the restaurant is and the large square bar gives it a modern feel. Would love to dine here again. read more

I've been here a few times now and have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. While the restaurant is on State Street it's really kind of isolated and not in a main restaurant corridor. It is worth the trip and search though. It's a really spacious restaurant and has a good flair in terms of decor. The service I've had here has always been great, as well. The first time was last year during Valentines where we did the San Valentin prix-fixe (including Mixtos de la casa, tapas frias populares, mixtos caliente, mar y montana... and delicious white chocolate pistachio mousse and french vanilla butter cream cake for dessert) and wine flight combinations. In my more recent visits, I did the Taste of Spain prix-fixe (which is a really good value!). Some of my favorite items are the Tostadas de Centollo (king crab and avocado), Calamares a la Plancha (grilled squid), and Vieiras al Albariño (grilled scallops with couscous). There was only one thing I didn't like off that tasting menu and it was the breaded chicken breast (with each chew all I kept thinking was ew, Country Fried Steak lol). Favorite dessert by far is the Crema con Chocolate (custard)... YUM. read more

This is a solid 3.5. I went with some friends because I live in the neighborhood. Early Sunday night dinner. The place was empty so we chose the table we wanted. I brought my dog and the waiter brought him some water. Services was good, we ordered multiples times and they were not upset despite the fact that the kitchen was closing early. The good: I don't like sweet drinks, so i thought the red sangria at this place was amazing. For people used to a sweeter sangria might be different. Baked goat cheese Calamari (my favorite dish) Stuffed mushrooms Anything with their chorizo Chicken and beef skewers were just ok. The "I wouldn't ordered again" - octopus - meatballs read more

Delicious food. Excellent service. The entire staff was gracious, accommodating and genuinely working hard for us to enjoy our experience. They succeeded!! read more

I really enjoyed this place and it was a great choice for Restaurant Week because the service was amazing and the food was great too! The menu included salpicon de mariscos which is almost like a ceviche with shrimp, calamari and scallops, tostada de jamon con queso, and patatas con alioli y pisto manchego. I really loved the patatas actually, because even though it was just potato salad, it was just really tasty! The second course included stuffed mushroom caps, grilled tiger shrimp and bacon wrapped dates. The dates were amazing! The bacon itself was a bit candied and that sweet and salty combo was really nice. The main course was grilled beef tenderloin and grilled tilapia. The tenderloin was amazing and the sweet potato pure was awesome! Finally, the best part of the meal was dessert because instead of just giving us champagne and a slice of cake, they gave us one of every dessert from their regular menu. We felt so special! The Tarta de Pera was AMAZING! It was an almond pound cake with pears and was by far the best! We also had profiteroles del pirineo, tarta de chocolate y caramel, tart de pecans, and cazuelita de chocolate. Yum! Overall, it was a great dinner with great company! I can't stress how amazing the servers were so I highly recommend this place, even if it isn't restaurant week! read more

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Wow! I was very impressed with their Covid precautions. Temperature check at the entrance, all staff in masks, clean plates wrapped in plastic on the table, and tables sufficiently spaced. But the star of the show was the food. Everything was fantastic, from expected tapas to new twists. Not only were the staff safe they were so happy and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

The atmosphere, food selection, and the way it is served is uniquely in the Spanish style. The food is excellent - full of Mediterranean flavors and served in dishes that are meant to be shared. The servers are very friendly, professional, and have a wealth of information about the dishes. For someone looking for this type of experience, this place is a "must visit". read more

Tapas Valencia - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for Restaurant Week dinner after their brunch blew us away last year. Overall good but not amazing. I was most excited about the patatas bravas which were delicious, not spicy at all as described. The Salmon a la plancha and chuleta de Cordero were also both solid although I wished the chuleta was more rare as it was a little chewy. Can't go wrong with tres leches for dessert, the portion of churros is small. read more

What a remarkable find! Let me begin by saying that when I take time to write a review, I critique thoroughly and state the good with the bad. But with Tapas Valencia, we couldn't find any negative at all -- save for mediocre ambiance, which is nice but not opulent. But that was made up for by attentive and friendly service. As for the most important things, the gastronomical, we started with a sparkling Cava Rosè sangria which was actually brought to the table in ingredients and mixed in front of us. It was best sangria I have had since Tio Pepe's in Baltimore. We ordered a smattering of dishes. Each one that was brought was truly outstanding. The beef was tender and marinated to perfection. The charred lamb was done perfectly as was the grilled calamari. We've had our share of scallops and usually enjoy them, but I have to say that never have they been so perfectly cooked as here. We also ordered the Valencia paella (chicken and seafood). Wow! Smooth, yet complex flavors! Lastly, we ordered 3 desserts to share. Again, no disappoints here; only raves. We had tried to make reservations at another place but couldn't get the time we wanted. I'm so glad because that got us to one of the finest meals we have ever had. Go, enjoy the beautiful dining that Tapas Valencia offers. read more

We found our new favorite tapas place!! Really enjoyed the live music and dancing. It really added that extra touch. Service was excellent very attentive and we had the best seats in the restaurant. Food was delicious. We had several tapas, and for the main entree we had skirt steak spilt for two, perfect amount of food after having all the tapas. We topped it off with the flan. The perfect touch of sweetness to end our fantastic meal. We will definitely be back. Great place for large families or birthday celebrations. No available parking but they provide valet parking for $6. The restaurant has very beautiful murals made of tiles and mirrors, bathrooms are super clean and modern touches. The drinks were super strong and the sangria was refreshing. read more

Tapas Valencia - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fantastic food! Every dish we had was amazing! The service was great and the Covid precautions were outstanding. Definitely will be back!

This is one of my favorite restaurants! They used to have a location in Bloomingdale and we ate there so often that when it closed it was like losing a friend! I can't get enough of their complimentary olives, although I do wish they were a bit more generous with them. It forces me to purchase an order to go! We still are able to get to Naperville every so often and the quality of their food has not changed over the years. Their prices are competitive and they have more than enough options to suit anyone's taste. The staff is generally welcoming and service is relatively efficient depending on the night. Weekends are super busy! The structure itself is a refurbished mansion so you feel like you are traveling to an exotic B and B. It has a romantic decor. Since It's Chicago so the patio is only open a short time but it is beautifully landscaped. I hope I can get over there once the weather improves! read more

This is my go to place when you just want to try everything and not sit down to a conventional meal. The staff is great and he food is fantastic. read more

Love the $5 margaritas, and the friendly wait staff who didn't even mind when I had to plug my dying iphone in. I also love that this restaurant really doesn't have much around it, makes it clear that it is worth going to as well as much-needed in the neighborhood. The food is good too: my favorite (unsurprisingly-- it's always my favorite at tapas places) was the Queso de Cabra. We also tried the Pimientos del Piquillo which were super tasty. I think we also had a rolled-up eggplant sort of thing, but it's hard to remember now... those $5 margaritas hit hard! I appreciate the number of vegetarian items on the menu, and the prices are fair. This was definitely a winner! read more

Great atmosphere,Vibrant and fun place in the South Loop! delicious small plates. Will certainly go back!!

Happy to see a tapas restaurant in the Near South and decided to give it a try tonight. Went for the $2 tapas menu and ordered a bunch of different dishes. Everything I ordered was excellent, with my favorites being the Bacon-Wrapped Dates (of course) and the Spanish Omelette with Salmon. The tapas menu is quite different from what is currently shown on their website, with many of the items we ordered appearing to be new additions. I'm reserving 5 stars for places like Café Ba Ba Reeba but if I could give 4 1/2 stars here I would. I'm not sure how the portion sizes change for the regular dinner menu but for $2 a dish you can't beat it. read more

I am from Nepal and have a very different taste bud, but I immensely enjoyed Tapas. Also, the sangria was awesome We went there with a group of almost 10, and everybody had a great time :) read more

This place never disappoints. Food and service was exceptional. Ordered all 8 of their hot vegetarian tapas and they were all super nice . Then we wanted churros for dessert and it was no longer on their menu but the chef still went ahead and made fresh dough and made it for us .. read more