We had an incredible dinner at VYA! The restaurant specializes in Spanish food. The restaurant has a lively and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is on a busy street so parking can be limited. The seafood paella was the star of the meal. Well, it was the only thing we ordered and it was perfect for two! Heads up: Order the paella as soon as you sit down since it takes a while to prepare. Trust me, it is 100% worth the wait. Honestly, the best paella I've ever had. We also had white wine and white sangria, and both were fabulous. Our waiter was highly attentive throughout the evening. We arrived around 7:00 p.m. and ended up staying until closing because we were having such a great time. Such a memorable meal and experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

Vya - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A bunch of girls and I celebrated my oldest sister's birthday here. Through word of mouth, this was the latest and greatest for Spanish tapas. It was a little difficult to find and parking was limited. The dark street was not lit well, and the restaurant was hidden on the corner. Upon entering, there were two levels. It was hustling and bustling. Every seat was taken. Our table did not have enough chairs despite us reserving ahead of time. They were only able to precure one extra chair so we had to get cozy in our booth. We ended up going with the chef's choice. For starters, we had the cheese plate, the pan, potatoes bravas, and oxtail empanada. All of the food was decent. The empanada was probably the best choice amongst all the tapas we had. It was rich, savory, and beefy. The exterior was not too thick or thin and had a gorgeous crunch to it. Even though it was just slightly warm by the time we dug in, the empanada held well. We got both versions of the paella for our table. Both were hot off the press, and quite tender. The vegan one to my surprise, was actually the favored out of the two. The mushrooms and shitake dashi had a really nice umami flavor. As far as service went, it was very hit or miss. Descriptions of the plates were excellent. But our plates kept pilling up and spilling over, even when empty. Our waters were never filled up. They just seemed super busy. Also my younger sister brought it a cake but was not notified about the steep cake cutting fee of $30. We only discovered the cost when the bill was given to us. Overall it was fine. I would not to go out of my way to eat here again per se. If I were in the area, I might consider it. read more

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I had a really good experience at VYA. The food was flavorful, reasonably priced, and the seafood tasted fresh. I ordered the paella, and it was probably my first time trying it. It definitely won't be my last. One thing I appreciated was that the staff asked us as soon as we were seated if we wanted the paella since it takes about 45 minutes to prepare. That way it was ready at the perfect time instead of keeping us waiting. The seafood was cooked perfectly the shrimp were tender, not rubbery at all and everything was well seasoned. I also had the oxtail empanada, which was another highlight. The meat was really tender, and it was my first time trying an oxtail empanada. I'd definitely order it again. To drink, I had a Chardonnay and also tried the white sangria. I was expecting the sangria to be much sweeter, but I actually preferred that it wasn't. It was refreshing and went really well with the meal. One cool surprise was discovering they have a rooftop space for private events. We took a quick peek at the view, and it looked like a great spot for a party. The only disappointment was that they were sold out of the hamachi crudo, along with another tapa I wanted to try. Honestly, that's probably a good sign that those dishes are popular. I'll definitely be back to try the crudo since I'm a big fan of crudos. The service was great as well. Tony was our server, and he was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome throughout the meal. Overall, I'd definitely recommend VYA. The food was delicious, the prices were reasonable, and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try the hamachi crudo. read more

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Service: outstanding. Ambiance: slapdash chic. Washrooms: down a hall. Food/drinks: hurry if you want to experience this place. By the portions (including water), they seem to be running out of everything. Tiny glasses, tiny pours, tiny servings. Great if you and your wallet are on a crash diet. The charm and artistry of the servers nearly make up for leaving more hungry than when you arrived. read more

If you're looking to do a date night anytime soon Vya is your place. If you're wondering is it actually as aesthetic as it looks on Instagram? You'll be pleasantly surprised that it is! We started off with two drinks which were both delicious. Often nonalcoholic drinks are given very little thought, but both of ours felt intentional and unique. If you're going with one other person I would get at least 3 tapas. They are sharing size, but also not huge portions. We got the tomato salad, the potatoes, and the chive bread. Definitely order the paella right away as it takes 45 minutes to make. The paella was top notch, good amount of sea food and rich flavor. Last but not least, the staff was all very warm without hovering which I always really appreciate in a place. read more

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My husband and I were able to snag a couple seats at the bar around 5:30 on a Saturday night. The restaurant is beautifully designed, not cramped and not loud :) We started off with sangria tinto & esmeralda cocktail, along with the complementary corn nuts, and placed our order for paella right away. I'm allergic to shrimp and my husband hates mushrooms, so we asked for the Valencia mixta paella with shrimp on the side. Unfortunately, they could not put the shrimp on the side but they could take it out. We also ordered the octopus carpaccio and a carrot dish that is not on their online menu. Light and refreshing and a good way to kick off the meal. The paella was yummy, with a good mix of textures and flavors. Finally, we ordered the basque cheesecake with quince jam. Super delicious and would definitely eat an entire slice on my own. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu! read more

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Love the ambiance. The only reservation we could get was for 4:30 and it quickly filled up in the next 45 minutes which is about how long it takes for their paella which is amazing! Our server recommended we order the paella right away if we were interested because of how long it takes. It is their only entree so we went for it! The tasty cocktails and curated wine will keep you company. Everything we ordered is 5 stars. Ox tail empanada, beet tiradito, Valencia mixta, and you can't go wrong with their desserts! I can't wait to come back. The service is warm, friendly, and relaxed. We never felt rushed. It felt like a vacation:) read more

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Cute Spanish ambiance. Nice bar with about 10 seats. Overall the dining capacity is small, and some with small seats. Hence the staff will over to hang your jacket. Paella rice was pasty. The toppings could be more plentiful. One paella is good for 2 people if you add appetizers. Appetizers were ok - good. The waitress recommended the beets. They were a bit dried and portion is on the smaller side. Well plated, but tables are small for the well plated items. Drinks are cute. read more

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Dropped in without a reservation shortly after they opened. It was booked up upstairs but we were able to find seats at the bar before it filled up. We started with some cocktails - a white sangria and la novela. Both were good and went will with the gildas we got to start. The gildas were good, but for $7 a piece I thought it was too much. We also got the octopus carpaccio which was super tender and delicious. Of course, we had to get the mixta paella, which was well worth the wait. It was a pretty good portion, considering that paellas have gotten smaller and more expensive before almost disappearing altogether in Portland. The rice had that great brothy flavor and the chicken was kind of carmelized into the pan. There was a good mix of clams, mussels and shrimp, too. I would go back again for paella. It's not the best in Portland's history (that honor is reserved for Chesa/Ataula, RIP) but it will scratch my itch for sure. read more

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A very cozy restaurant, with a nice and kind team, always very attentive. I thought that it'd be a nice touch if they had bigger cups for water, because our waiter was stopped by the whole time to fill our cups - they're really small, like 6 oz. The paella is really good. I like they make in these individual pans that keep all the flavor and the "crust" in the bottom of the pan. Really really good, above all my expectations. The only reason for the 4 stars is because we had a pregnant woman in our party and I asked twice if the zero proof drinks were ok for pregnant and the waiter said they were. But, to my surprise, after ordering it, I double checked and they are not, as they're both made with liquor that has 0.5% ABV - so if you're pregnant, do not have their zero proof drinks... get a Mexican coke instead, which is a great pair with the paella, the croquettes and the empanada (the starters were also very good). Cheesecake felt home made, with the fresh compote was a great option as a not so heavy dessert. read more

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The service was really good, our waiter Tony was very attentive and informative. He was inviting and friendly. Wonderful ambiance, there's nice cool colors inside and the decor is very welcoming. Now for the food, I have to saw the seafood paella is one of the best I've ever had, every bite had burst of flavor tell the end and the croquettes are to die for please get those! Definitely will go back. read more

Vya - Seafood paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I reserved a bar seat and although I arrive early, I was seated without any fuss. I ordered the skewered anchovy and the paella mixta. Having dined in Spain, I assumed the anchovy would be a whole roasted skewered fish. I was wrong. It was a small and tasteless boquerone skewered with a good olive. Thankfully, the paella was abundant and terrific, with super fresh shrimps, fat mussels, juicy clams, and savory rice. I will return soon for the paella, skip the anchovy, and try another tapas. read more

The ambiance of the place is great and service was good. I will say the food portions are smaller than some places but I just thought the food was ok. I got the jamón croquettes the texture reminded me of a runny mash potato that was deep fried. I also got the oxtail empanada, it was nothing too special. The cocktail was good. Just thought it was an ok taste and experience for the price point. Don't really see myself returning alone, but if friends wanted to come check it out I'd be down to go. Glad to have been able to check it out! The restaurant is packed for a Thursday night, but I was able to get seating for one at the bar fairly quickly. read more

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Lee made reservations for a Friday night. When we got there, we went through the wrong set of door and had to wait a bit before we caught attention of the host. There are another set of entry doors, oops. We didn't see it as it was our first time to this establishment. When we got seated, we were informed that for the paella, it would take 40 minutes to make so it would be best if we ordered it first. We placed an order for the seafood paella. Then we quickly looked through the menu for drinks and our small plates. We ended up getting the pan, jamon croquettes and oxtail empanadas to share. The small plates came out very fast! So we were informed that we didn't have to order all of our dishes at once. The jamon croquettes were tasty, the empanadas were a bit underwhelming, but the bread was decent. When the seafood paella came out, the presentation was good, but it seems as though the rice was a bit soggy and the protein on top was a bit lacking. I have had the authentic paella in Barcelona and was able to compare it to that. However, for Portland it is good as well, in its own way. Overall all of the dishes are decent. The restaurant was full by the time we left. The decorations were very nice and modern and the seating were standard. read more

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Came here with a few girlfriends after work. Tony was our server and was so wonderful. We never felt rushed and he made sure to check in regularly. The vibe and ambiance was amazing- beautiful vibrant decor and plants. The food was delicious. My favorites were the paella, croquettes & chocolate cheesecake. The small menu ensured every dish was fresh, flavorful and thoughtful. Definitely will be returning for more tapas split with friends! read more

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What a beautifully designed and decorated space. The energy was so good here. The staff were all incredibly helpful and nice. They gave recommendations and shared their favorites. The drinks were so delicious and unique and fresh. The food was impeccable. The oxtail empanada was my favorite. Will definitely be back. My only tidbit of critique was the prices were just slightly too much. Take 2 dollars off each item and it would be ideal. Especially for the portion sizes. But quality of ingredients was on par. read more

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Spectacular is all I can say. Excellent food and service. So were the cocktails. The remodel is gorgeous. Highlights for us were the patatas bravas, octopus, and of course the jamon iberico. If you go here you must also get the paella. The oxtail empanada was also tasty. Will definitely be going back. read more

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Welcome to Portland Vya! You have brought a new cuisine and a lively stylish vibe to the area as well as skillfully created paella that is light and refreshing. Our server Nicole was an absolutely gem in every way. My favorites of the night were the seafood paella and the chocolate basque. The appetizers were good but I could've done without them. The gentleman who brought out the paella was a little gruff but he did hand me delectable food so I'll take it with a grain of salt. read more

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I liked this place. I wouldn't say Spanish food is my favorite, but they do many things well and I would certainly consider coming back. Service was friendly. We arrived late on a weekday and there were plenty of open seats despite our reservation. I was looking forward to some sangria but was dismayed to see their version included Coke. That was a pass for me. I ended up with a lovely glass of red Spanish wine, albeit very pricey for what I recall Spanish wines are priced at. We had the cheese platter - two delicious cheeses, olives, quince jam, nuts and bread. Very satisfying. Beets- good, not great. Empanada- nicely deep fried and great filling. Not my favorite in Portland, but would certainly order again. Lastly, we had the paella of course. I liked the paella, but would ask for no aioli next time as the small dollops of aioli just tasted like mayonnaise. I also wish there was a spicy sausage or something to give it a bit of a kick in flavor. Overall it was a solid dish. I enjoyed our meal at Vya, but wouldn't say it's a top of my list for dining in Portland or a place I'm clamoring to return to, but it's certainly worth a visit. read more

Vya is a fantastic addition to Portland's dining scene! Not only was our waiter super friendly and excited to share with us all their favorites - the seafood paella was truly one of the best I've had in a long time, packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. Their tapas were filling too. The octopus carpaccio was tied for first place at our table and is a must try. And surprisingly, the beet salad completely stole my heart. It was incredibly savory, balanced, and unforgettable. The cocktails were just as impressive and insta worthy, every dish we tried was a hit! I would absolutely come back for a special occasion and I can't wait to work my way through more of their tapas! Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

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I had big hopes for this place because of my love for paella. We first walked in the door and found out then we needed to have reservations. The man at the front desk saw that I was disabled and then pointed at the stairs and says we can set you upstairs. What a jackass. There was a two person table right in front by the door and he sat there and it was OK. We ordered paella straight off because he says it's a 45 minute cook time. So we ordered. I had ordered a plate of paella and my wife did as well. I also ordered a Diet Coke. That only was it not a refillable fountain drink. It was a bottle that looked like it belonged in a child's Playhouse. So incredibly small and it was five dollars. He brought us each a glass of water, which was nice, but it was about 1/3 the size of a normal water glass. Nobody came back and asked if we needed a refill for quite some time. We were a little bit hungry and thought 45 minute wait for dinner was sort of long so my wife ordered a cheese and cracker plate. How embarrassing for them. The cheese was hard and half dried as was the bread. My wife could only eat the small center of the bread because the crust was too hard to bite through and you would need to rip it in your mouth in order to even get the crust off. I about broke a tooth on one of the olives cause he were not pitched, then there was a sprinkle of almonds on the plate with a couple other weird things. Definitely no value to cost ratio. It was actually pretty disgusting. Now the big to the paella comes to the table. He put down one pan for the both of us to share, which was not our intent. By this time of the night, I was already pretty irritated. Very poor service except for one gentleman that was actually really good. The others were worthless. The pay was just OK. I make paella at home that run circles around this stuff. I'll just have to make some so I can have a good pay. You don't have to rack your brain for a entrée on the menu because paella is the only entrée they serve. They have a lot of side items that you can order, but definitely not meal worthy. So the service sucked, the food sucked, and the prices were way too out of control for what little you got As much as I was looking forward to finally trying this place, I only discovered that I will not be back. I'm sure there are raving reviews about this place because the inside of the restaurant is actually kind of cool. But as far as actual food service, nope. read more

Vya - The host saw that I was disabled and wanted me to sit down upstairs. He might just as well asked a blind man if he wanted to see a menu. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Newly opened. Very interesting blend of Spanish and Local wines. Their Spanish wines are all organic. We had the oxtail empanada and the Valencia paella. The paella is for 2. Or an appetizer for 4. Worth the 40+ min wait. A bit expensive tho..... read more

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This place is amazing, it's absolutely a delight. First off walking into this space is a dream, the ambiance is 10/10. Every detail is perfect. It's cozy, it's lively, it's fun. The food is incredible, we had one of everything and the drinks match the food with the same type of energy. The drinks are beautifully & thoughtfully curated, everything has so much flavor. My favorites are the beets, croquettes as well as the oxtail empanada that comes with the salsa verde. The Valencia seafood paella is also the perfect entree. Packed with flavor and the portions are generous for the price. The staff is incredible, fast & very attentive. So excited this is now open & in the SE neighborhood, it's PERFECT for any and every occasion. Date nights, dinner with the girls, or dinner with friends. Cannot wait to come back. read more

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This review is strictly on the tapas or starters because I was dining alone and really didn't want to sit alone at the bar for 45 minutes waiting for paella, although I would love to one day try it. I came to Vya on my own without a reservations, and sat at the bar, almost like what you would think about the experience in Barcelona. But if you're expecting rustic Barcelona tapas, then this isn't it. Vya serves up fancified or even reimagined tapas. Yeah, there are the typical tapas like coquettes and jamon, but the others are more touching on flavors and ingredients of Spain but presented in high-end plating. My favorite was the octopus carpaccio, which was beautiful and such a light and tasty dish. The oxtail empanada had the rich flavor of oxtail in a simple bite, and the beet taradito was a creative beet salad dish. The only not-so-exciting tapas was the blistered shishitos because it came with a green curry foam, and there was just too much of the foam. The cocktails also get a star turn if you happen to order one that comes with the fancy designed imprints on the foam top, such as the cosita dulce, their version of an espresso martini (I admit my first attempt to get a fancy drink came off plain when I tried the esmeralda, which was refreshing but no fancy foam top.) The vibe, decor and service was all professional and welcoming. I could come back often to the bar just to get the octopus carpaccio. read more

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Staff writer as super friendly. You need reservations to come here. It is a tapas/ paella place. A variety of cocktails, wines, beer. The host held 4 chairs at the bar for us. We arrived 10 minutes late but the sat us down. Very Gracious. We ordered the vegan and the seafood paella. We had leftovers. We also ordered the patatas bravas and croquettes. Delicious!! The bartender was very attentive and super nice. It was a very pleasant evening with friends. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Utterly perfect - no notes! Charming service, delightful ambiance, and generous portions of yummy food. My husband and I had 3 tapas, 1 order of paella, and desert, leaving stuffed and with plenty of leftovers. We'll be back! read more

Celebrated a birthday here and the experience was amazing! Hospitality and food were 10/10 read more

Vya - Paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cute place! The croquettes were good! We ordered octopus and paella. The paella was ok. I have tasted better. The drinks were ok too. I think you pay for the ambiance. The servings are really small. Its not a place where i would go back and crave... but good thing our server was a nice and friendly. read more

Vya - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Invited by a friend to check out this new restaurant at Vya! It was so much fun girls night out with good foods and drinks. I like Valencia mixta paella with seafood and cosita dulce, pretty drink! The service from Tony and great and friendly! read more

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Wow!!! This place is down right spectacular! Service was fast friendly and what made even more enjoyable was our food was delivered by Steve the owner. He talked us into the vegan paella, I would not normally do the vegan version but happy we did because the flavors were truly awesome. We always enjoy dining at the bar because we are not shy and enjoy engaging with other patrons. Their signature coctails... very good! The decor was festive and beautiful. We will be back and check out their other places: Alma, Doja, Kooks and Landsdowne. Thanks for an awesome experience!!! Charles & Quan read more

We tried Vya with some friends and had the best experience. Tony was amazing and recommended some fantastic dishes. We had the vegan paella that was absolutely delicious. Would definitely recommend and we will be back. read more

We are tapas connoisseurs (we love Spain!) So of course we had to try this new tapas place. The ambiance is nice but they need help with their playlist which does play loudly (at least upstairs). The music is random and doesn't fit the vibe- felt more like taqueria vibes than restaurant dining. The staff was so friendly & attentive. To start they bring you a small dish of crunchy corn-nuts which were unfortunately stale. Food: We ordered the croquettes which were delicious! Octopus dish - it was a meh for me but my husband liked it. My favorite was the beet dish and unfortunately it was hard to enjoy the cheese plate. The bread was way over baked - hard, dry. The olives are way over marinated and inedible IMO. We and our neighboring table had to ask for a small side of olive oil to use as a lubricant to get it down. The empanada was OK- the meat inside was kind of dry and chewy. I would return if somebody I was dining with really wanted to try this place, but I can't say that I would be excited about it. read more

Love this place! The vibe was super fun and the food was delicious. I wish they would add more pintxos or tapas to the menu to supplement their paella. The service was great and it was nice upstairs where we sat. read more

Good, service and atmosphere has always been wonderful. Been there numerous times as we love the tapas and the paella is incredible.

We were a party of 4 celebrating my birthday and despite having a reservation on Sat night, we waited 45 min for a table. A complimentary drink would have been nice but they did apologize several times and offered some seats at the bar. After we were finally seated upstairs, we got our tapas. I was disappointed and a bit annoyed at how tiny the portions were, given the price. Especially the bread, that was just silly. And I'm a petite sized woman with a smaller to normal appetite. As far as the food, everything tasted delicious especially the croquettes, octopus carpaccio and mixed paella. Great crust on the rice. We did get 2 complimentary desserts for the long wait. Vibe is lively and it's a nice place for drinks or dessert but definitely don't go there hungry because you will leave hungry. Sadly, I won't be going back. read more

Great food and service. Love the ambiance. The wallpaper is vibrant and welcoming. The oxtail empanada and the octopus were our favorite.

The empanada, The Esmeralda and paella are phenomenal! Highly recommend this place for any occasion.

The food was delicious! We had the jamon croquetas, shishito peppers, oxtail empanada, and Valencia paella. Everything was amazing. We also tried the two gin and tonics, the sangria tinto, and Esmeralda cocktails. Omg, they were all so good! We closed out the meal with the chocolate cheesecake which literally melts in your mouth. Also, the service was amazing. Everyone checked on us throughout the meal and made sure we were taken care of. Finally, we absolutely loved the space. We'll definitely be back! read more

Cute little place. Polite but scant service. Good, but few tapas choices. However, the paella is the worst I have ever had. It was very greasy and it was brown and not the proper yellow saffron rice, seafood was scant with tons of very oily rice. The dish is meant to be shared, but it's really not enough for two as far as the seafood goes. Rice seems like it was sautéed in pork fat. The worst part is that it was very, very salty such that I had a bad dehydration, headache all night. They're also too tight with the water in tiny glasses, very understaffed such that it was disturbing because the staff were rushing around so much. They nearly collided on numerous occasions because they were virtually running everywhere. We asked for a carafe of water to just be left at our table and got pushed back for that but they did relent. Overall, I just feel that they are running onto too tight a budget such that you don't feel relaxed or that you were getting quality. The server also called the Hamachi "tuna", when it is actually yellow tail. read more

Menu is extremely limited ( only 1 entree) , we would have ordered more but we tried everything! Very small portions (even by Tapas standards), and the signature Paella dishes are average at best. Putting that aside, the service is fantastic, very friendly and knowledgeable. Ambience is great as well. read more