El Carajo Reviews

Inside of a gas station you can find this unique And beautiful decorated restaurant with the real flavors of The Spain cousin, is like cross a tunnel in time and space . Excellent place to surprise someone and by that person that really knows about good and unique restaurants. Go , you don’t going to regret ever , all the way around, you are going to Made El Carajo your favorite place “

This place is unique; nestled in a gas station, this Spanish restaurant is inside the building, great wine list; you pick your wine right off the rack; the menu is 100% Spanish; either tapas or main course, price is just right and the selection of Spanish wines is broad and well priced, SALUD!!!

Although I have been to this establishment many times, the food is always well-prepared but the service is lacking seriously. The restaurant offers a menu that is as close as you can get to Spanish cuisine. Orders comes out in a timely fashion but somewhat skimpy in quantity. It appears that the management of the restaurant are cutting back on portion-size and charging the same. There is a large selection of wines to choose from but again, they too are over priced. The preparation is excellent but one simply does not get enough to satisfy the hungry for a Spanish meal. Along the lines of management and service, I have notice a serious lack of coordination in the taking of reservations and the seating of guest. The host is either temperamental or flustered by the inability to perform her job effectively. Our invited guest were subjected to rude behavior and inconsistencies in seating people. First they take reservations, them they don’t. Which is it? I think that if the restaurant wants our business, training of the employees is crucial. Of that training, a block should include customer relations. We love the food but will not tolerate a rude host and testy waitresses. With any luck one will be greeted by someone who is polite and courteous.

Have been going there a number of times and it's O.K. The concept is interesting; the food agreeable if you're into Tapas .A bit of a drive for us but a nice change of pace. Service is good and the prices are reasonable.

Not a Hispanic place. Rude servers. They don't have a clue about wines and the variety of Spanish and Portuguese wines are scarce. Prices are on the cheap. That deserves a star.

Excellent selection of wines. Tapas were very good. Excellent service. Good place to have a glass and eat something with friends.

I had heard good things about this restaurant so I decided to make a reservation and take my husband. However we got there and they let another table go before us just because they were a party of 3 and we were 2. The manager and hostess were very rude and dismissive when we complained. Waited over 40 minutes and decided to just go elsewhere. It also looked way too cramped and loud and inside a gas station. Don’t waste your time, find a better place to go where your business is valued.

The name in spanish means "go to hell". Hell it was. So bad and pricey. BAD is an understatement. My tortilla de papas (potato omelette) was super burnt and imside was dry dry dry. Tasteless. A glass of wine $15.00, Do yourselves a favor and go to Casa Juancho Restaurant. TERRIBLE.

been trying to get here for a couple of years. glad I finally made it. great service interesting food fantastic wine selection

While visiting our daughter in the Miami area, we went with her and some friends to El Carajo. You pull in past the gas pumps and park next to what looks like a convenience store. Inside, there is your usual counter with cigarettes, sodas, gum, etc. There is also a counter with fresh baked goods and a large selection of wine for sale at good prices. A little further back is a lovely restaurant area. We sat down at our table and they opened the wines we purchased charging only $10 extra as a corkage fee. The prices on the menu were very reasonable and everything ordered was delicious. The service was excellent. I look forward to returning next visit to Miami.

El Carajo was a nice venue for a tranquile evening with High School friends. It was six of us and 4 had tapas and 2 dinner. The garlic octupus was excellent along with the spanish tortilla. The two dinner entrees were corvina with white rice and tostones, great entree.

Te tapas are as authentic as they can get outside of Madrid. Wines are amazing and the deserts are homemade. Hidden gem in a gas station. Well worth the wait.

We popped in thinking we would just quickly grab a cup of coffee and then be on our way... I thought I died and went to pastry heaven! Ordered a few different options and coffee all to go. The Coco Chanel was my favorite! Great size, amazing flavor and beautiful presentation. The latte I ordered was sugared just enough and the foam to coffee ratio was perfect. Will make a point of stopping in when we are in Miami again.

Hidden food & wine treasure not far from Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. Friendly service, magnificent tapas excellent ''Cava'' Just take a sweater since the place is very cold inside... They have brunch also.

Today we went in a group of 9 people to celebrate of one of our friends birthday at the restaurant EL CARAJO. The night could have been perfect if we had not been served by an awful and unprofessional waiter. He did not give any attention to our table during the 2 hours we spent there, nor did he ask at least once if we were all right. Everybody started being served, (including paella that takes 35 min to prepare) and two of us were left without food, because the “gracious” waiter forgot to put the order in. The waiter never realized the situation because he did not care about the table at all, and I had to get his attention. We ordered something else instead, but in reality I did not feel like eating anymore, because everybody else was already having desserts (chocolates). I spoke to the manager about it and not even an apology. At the end I realized the reason why the waiter did not care about us: THE 18% GRATUITY IS ADDED TO THE CHECK AUTOMATICALLY. IN OTHER WORDS: THE WAITER TREATS YOU LIKE GARBAGE BECAUSE THE TIP IS ALREADY GUARANTEED. DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE SERVICE IS HORRENDOUS AND YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY 18% GRATUITY. TOO BAD THE SERVICE WAS AWAFUL AT MY FIRST VISIT TO THAT RESTAURANT, BECAUSE THE FOOD ‘LOOKED’ ACTUALLY GOOD.

One of the best tapas restaurant in Miami. Fun fact: the restaurant is actually located inside a gas station convenient store! The store also doubles as a wine store with an amazing selection of fine (and affordable) wines. Last time we went there with friends, we found a bottle of Bordeaux from 1996 for about $30!! Cork fee is $10 but it's worth every penny when you get to drink a 20-year-old nectar... The wine was amazing, obviously, and so was the food. We had a selection of tapas and they were all very tasty. When friends from out of town visit us, we always surprise them with this place. And it's always a hit!

Authentic and great flavors, Wonderful menu and wine list not to believe. The House Red is a tempranillo that is very acceptable . Cuban chef puts a nice touch on all the dishes we had. Started with Belota ham plate, moved to Cabrale cheese , both had lots of flavor . Pallela for two is a wonderful entre. You can select items you would like and add or deduct. Anybody who has not been there, be prepared, as it is a gas station. Inside is total different story. This is no gas station. Bring your wine reference books and really enjoy. It is the Best.

This restaurant was recommended by the concierge team at the InterCon Hotel. It's not your typical location! You arrive at a gas station and enter a wine store; you walk through this into a tapas restaurant that could be in Spain!! The tapas were wonderful and resonably priced. The rioja was excellent and again fairly priced. The three of us filled ourselves to the brim, drank our fill and still walked away having paid less than USD100. Our only gripe would be that the Estrella Damm was bottled and not on draft!!

I had not been here in a long while. This restaurant is inside a gas station, and originally it was known for phenomenal wine selections. The gentleman who ran the wine back then was a waiter in NYC and served the rat pack back in the day. He still in town, but that is for another review. We decided to dine here since my wife had not been here for dinner. I will start by saying the wine selection is no where near of what it used to be. The ambiance is cozy because it is a small place. We sat down and it took forever for someone to take our drink order, and the service did not get any better. I will go as far as saying the service was very poor. As for the food the winner was the codfish croquets, the squid we ordered was chewy and not very flavorful. The garbanzo frito(fried chickpeas) was average at best and the chistorras( chorizo cooked in wine) again were not vey flavorful. It sad to say but this is not what it used to be. As for the corkage fee they charge you from a bottle that your buying of their shelf is a scam, just another way to charge you extra for wine. Definitely not worth returning. Happy Dining

Tasty Spanish food and excellent wine selection. Desserts did not look good - mediocre Cuban desserts. One is able to buy the wine and the uncork it for you which results in savings. Paella could have been larger and more generous with seafood. Wait for a table can be long.

Friends took me here because they know I like food! As others have stated it’s a gas station, a bakery and a wine and tapas place. Too much fun just looking around at the setup. Had the sausage and mushrooms soaked in wine and the calamari. Superb! Try the sangria it’s awesome. A must when you come to Miami!

***FOOD: Tapas style food. Some good some ok. Had the patatas a la Brava - tasty liked the sauce over the potatoes, 2 types of octopus- sliced into rounds and drowning in olive oil. It was ok, shrimp- was good, meatball- was a little dry, chorizo - ok-good, tomato on bread- ok nothing special really, empanada- ok a little dry again, guava sandwich type cookie dessert -ok, brownie and vanilla ice cream was ok. ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$$ - got to watch the tapas, small plates between $8-$16 can add up ***DÉCOR: located in gas station complex. Gas station convenience store also sells the wine and bakery/desserts as well as sandwiches. The restaurant itself is cozy, dark, like in an old tavern, transported back in time. Not many tables maybe can seat 50 max in the entire restaurant, so make reservations. Timed seating. Variety of seating - bar seating and communal high table top seating as well as individual tables. ***SERVICE: prompt, ok service. Nothing spectacular. You really do feel it’s authentically of being in another place without having to travel. Do well if you can order in Spanish. ***RECOMMEND: YES Would RECOMMEND for the experience.

If you want to try a restaurant off the beaten path, this is the place to go. There is a great selection of Spanish wines very reasonably priced and the food is wonderfully prepared. The restaurant is literally in a gas station which adds to the adventure. I recommend the octopus, very very good. The prices are very reasonable, the portions are generous and parking is easy too. Give it a try, you won't regret it.

It is a Catalan food , the atmosphere is very nice , the tapas and wines are great the price no too expensive

I am here at the entrance close to the sign " wait to be seated", then I have people arriving and not respecting the sign, when I asked to the hostess I was waiting at the sign, and was ignored, she answered me, the client was here before and went outside!! And??? No respect for the line and the sign they have. Bad management.

It’s a place that put together gas for your car , bakery , great food and service. Also, as a special gift, you can consume the best wines at a very affordable price. All together, the place is outstanding and a good local place to find very enjoyable people.

I thought this place was heaven according to comments in The newspaper EL NUEVO HERALD but guys I had one of the worse service ever. Rest was empty and plenty of servers and nobody came to offer me a kind of service. I just want to order A CHICKEN SOUP TO GO and the story goes on. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS Place

What a total surprise, a very good restaurant inside of a convenience store. I was with friends who went on a recommendation from another member of the group. After a long wait we ordered a number of tapas and everyone enjoyed the meal. Nothing outstanding but it was authentic. But beware, you will get hit with a $10 corking fee if you purchase any of the wines off the shelf. This was never mentioned by the server and after 3 bottles for our group we got hit with a $30 charge. I have seen corking charges in restaurants when you bring your own wine but to charge for their wine? I won't be coming back as a result.

Bad surprise. Food leaves a lot to be desired. After so many excellent ones here, we expected more. The simple thing can be done well and in this case, they missed the opportunity. There are better Spanish people in Miami.

Service was terrible, server with attitude Will not go back. Expensive and on top we ordered a bottle of wine with dinner & they charge a $10.00 charge to open the bottle, really?? It used to be a good place to go.

Came here for dinner with two friends last night - great service by Mary. We enjoyed a delicious bottle of Gruner Veltliner, an Austrian white wine - wine prices very reasonable here and only a $10 corkage charge. Very tasty. We enjoyed a variety of tapas - the octopus in garlic was so tender, the ceviche and cod croquettes were outstanding and the chick peas and potato bravas were good - the skirt steak was undercooked - medium rare was very rare but still tender. Fantastic meal inside and at the back of a gas station with nice quiet music and a European atmosphere. They say it’s a hidden gem, not so much! The place was packed at 6:30 pm! Good luck making a reservation - my friend rang for 3 days and could never get through! Not on Open Table just FYI.

Susana and Carolina did and amazing job . The food was delicious and the service was top notch. The manager Elias was great and profesional too. Will recommended .

This magic gas station has one of the best Spanish restaurant located on the back. Everything is made by order. Great desserts . Awesome service all the way from management to servers .

Imagine parking a really good restaurant, attached to a gas station. Welcome to Miami! If you passed this place because you saw gas pumps outside, do yourself a favor and go inside. A cozy restaurant with brick walls lined with hundreds of wines awaits. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, and there was no place to sit, however we were told we could pick out a wine, so we had a glass as we waited. We went with another couple, who ordered a fabulous paella for two they could not finish, it was so big. They said they loved it. I had the short rib and my wife had churrasco steak. Everything was excellent- I order short rib a lot and I have never seen a portion of this dish so big-- and it was very tasty, served with Spanish potatoes and asparagus (though you have your choice of two sides from about 8 options). The appetizers -- a seafood mix and a Spanish dish I cannot remember--were superb. We had two excellent bottles of wine and it was a memorable, fun, satisfying evening. The only downside is that the wait for the entree was very long-- well worth it as the food was very good and the portions were huge. We ended up taking some home. For dessert we had Crema Catalano (like creme brulee) which was excellent and flan which was only ok. There was a wine spill and one of our friends got wine on her white pants...a server was there in seconds with a special spray that helped get most of it out. The prices, given the quality and quantity of the food, were very reasonable. With faster service, and perhaps a place to sit while you waited for a table, this would easily be a full 5 rating.

Unexpected place with unexpected great food. If they tell you that the restaurant is at a gas station you will never guess how cute and good it is. All the tapas are amazing including the garlic shrimp and the potatoes with spicy sauce. The omelette and the paella. I also tied the cocido and is superb.

I love watching first-time guests' reactions to discovering this oasis of a restaurant in a gas station! Welcome to our secret club! Great food, service and energy!

Wow wow wow. This was incredible. In the back of a gas station in Miami. Visited with family and if you are anywhere near coral Gables section of Miami you must visit El Carajo. Outstanding Tapas. Wine is unbelievable Sangria was best I have ever had. Recommended tapas are the dates wrapped with bacon and chorizo and also the mushrooms and chorizo. Everything is great. Had full entrees also. Save room for desserts or take some home. You will be thrilled if you make a stop at El Carajo.

The food here is excellent. The service is very good and the ambiance is fantastic. You could easily fool your family or business associates by appearing to be a cheap-skate by taking them to a "Gas Station" for lunch or dinner. But behold you enter and there is a very elegant restaurant tucked in the back surrounded by wine racks store where you can either pick a bottle you want to drink with dinner/lunch (corkage is price of bottle PLUS $10) or buy the wine at great prices to take home with you. I have not ordered a single dish here that I would no order again...and I've pretty much ordered most of them on the menu.

What a great time we had at this tapas bar located in, yes! A gas station! The wine selection is incredible. The food was terrific - have the dates covered with bacon and the service was lovely. I'll definitely go back on my next visit to Miami!

A very knowledgeable staff and superior service. Don't let the location (adjacent to a gas station) or venue (inside a wine shop) deter you. A very nice ambience and well prepared food make this a first-rate dining adventure. An extremely varied and eclectic wine selection (it is in a wine shop) and Spanish inspired menu featuring small plates and charcuterie with full meals and a paella special (35 minute wait). It is easy to pair your wine with whatever you are eating (pro tip: grab a bottle of wine in the shop at retail price--their experts will assist you with selections at your price point--and they'll serve it for nominal corkage fee ($10) and you can take whatever remains in the bottle home). This is definitely a "hidden gem" of a place. The tables are a bit close together and I'd recommend getting a reservation on a busy night, but well worth the visit. We will definitely return!

Great place to eat, great menu, great chef, great staff, i will higly recommend this place oh i forgot great wine selections, i will go back in Jamuary. If you are in the Miami area stop by you wont regret it.

This is s terrific and Unique Restaurant. It is located in a Mobil gas station. When you walk in there is a bakery with a great assortment of cakes, empanadas and a variety of coffees. Then there is a wine area with wines of every selection of your choice. The restaurant is a gem. We started off with Shrimp Ajillo, stuffed mushrooms and chorizo grilled. Each was fantastic. For main dishes we had grilled salmon, grilled Corvina and Charasco steak. Each dish was delicious and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this restaurant and recommend a reservation for dinner. We will be back there very soon.

We have the most interesting experience. Spanish food in a gas station. Tapas and Paella with wine. We even find food for the kids that they liked. Fair prices good service. Thanks Ara for taking care of us....

Excellent service and food. Do order their Surf and turf Paella. Amazing Wine selection on every wall of the place with good pricing. Surprised it is inside of a gas station. Well worth the visit.

We wanted to go somewhere new.Heard of this place from a few friends never went it's a little far from where we live but decided to go.No Regrets.Food was good and the service . For a Monday night they were busy.We are planning to go back when my nephew visits us this month.I know already what I will be ordering we got a feel of the place and now we know we want to do more tapas with wine.Very nice

cute place, going ones a week love the wine list, you can buy excellent wine for a very reasonable price

I never imagined eating inside of a gas station would be sooooo good! The wine selection is incredibly extensive. I’ve been a few times with my parents and went yesterday with my fiancé for the first time and we had a great experience. The croquetas are superb. We ordered the meat platter which is enough for 2-3 people, but seeing as how we were 4, we ordered 2. The quality of the meats and all the food in general is exquisite. Great service as well. If you’re a wine lover like me, you have to check this place out. El Carajo is one of my new favorite restaurants in Miami.

Had lunch at El Carajo today. The restaurant is located on the property of a gas station! It is immaculate and beautifully decorated. Patricia, my server was knowledgable and offered wonderful suggestion. My lunch was supplemented with a delight rioja from Spain again something Patricia suggested. If you have a chance come by this gem, but be forewarned it IS pricey, even for lunch

Good food, wine and place for luch and dinner. It is an small and noisy place. The restaurant is in a gas station.

Once you get over the fact that the restaurant shares the same location as a gas station, you will be all set for a pleasant surprised. Pass the doors and you will be welcomed by a "bakery", keep moving towards the back and you will find yourself wondering if you, in fact, parked your car at a gas station in Miami or just transported yourself to a small cava in Spain. Ample selection of wines, decent menu and reasonable prices. Salud!

The restaurant is in the back of a gas station but don’t be fooled: the place is great! Lots of Spanish options with a great selection of wines, and a fair price. The only hiccup was the dessert: they are way far from starters and entrees.

If you see a restaurant inside a gas station you usually don’t expect too much, right? Well, this place is an exception. Service is great, friendly and helpful. Food was delicious, the bacon wrapped dates were amazing! Bacalao fritters and sausages in wine were also very good. Sardines were disappointing, nothing special. None of the desserts impressed. You choose wine from the store and drink over the table, which means lots of options and good prices . The overall experience was great, will definitely be back.

First, the wine. All of the bottle selections are out on the floor or in the coolers. You find what you'd like and bring it to the table. All the wines are priced for carry-out so add $10 corkage to whatever you see on the label. There is a more limited BTG selection as well which is served as normal. Excellent selection of wines at really reasonable pricing. All major regions are well represented throughout all different price points. I had an excellent Austrian Gruner Veltliner for about $30 and a grower Champagne for $45 (after the corkage). (PRO TIP: If you know you are going to have more than one bottle with dinner, pick them all out first and bring them to the table. The place gets crowded and you don't want to have to keep getting up to go hunting for wine. Also, if you pick out more than you need, you can just put it back later. No harm, no foul.) Food: A huge selection of tapas (cold and hot). I would describe the the food as Spanish/Cuban/Argentinian. The bacon wrapped dates were ridiculous. (We ordered more.) Spanish omelette with chorizo. The "meat" appetizer board wasn't your typical charcuterie, it was big hunks of chorizo, chicken, pork loin, churrasco, and blood sausage. There were 6 of us and we ate until we were stuffed, had three bottles of wine, and the total was about $40pp. Totally worth it. I wanted to go back the next night.

We were recommended by some friends to visit this place for its great food and wine variety, and is true, was a great experience at this level. The service at the door, seating coordination, was terrible. So, be prepared for some kind of someone not knowing what they are doing with seating, so be patient. Otherwise all great.

What a wonderful little place! So unassuming. Once I walked in and saw the vast selection of wines .... I was sold. The menu comes in the form of a scroll and the options are endless. The food and service were excellent! And the check was a very pleasant surprise :) Reservations required on weekends.

Secretly located in front of an old gas station, the place is busy yet cozy. Always have the best time with friends and family.

We ordered paella to go last May 15 for a dinner with friends and it was terrible. Rations seemed small (and we eat a lot of paella often), rice was undercooked and with a strong condiment smell and half of the seafood shells were not even open (a sign of being undercooked and inedible). Service was good and fast.

The worst experience of my life, my family and I were scammed at this restaurant by the manager. The waitress said they had ribeye steak but it was not on the menu. When they brought the food they actually served us OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK, which they did have on the menu and cost half the price they had told us the ribeye cost. When I politely told the waitress that they had probably mixed up the order and what they brought was not what we had ordered, she got upset and went to look for the manager. The manager came with a very bad attitude saying that the meat was indeed ribeye. I tried to explain to her that she should look at the meat and realize that the type of meat was not ribeye and the manager continued lying while she opened her eyes with a rude gesture to shut me up. Then to try to convince us that we were wrong she brought two pieces of raw meat, one of OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK and another of steak. And I showed her clearly that what we had on the plate was OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK. To stop the dispute and seeing that it was clearly a scam by the manager who was charging double the price for a steak, selling it as another more expensive one. I told my family, let's eat the most expensive outside skirt steak in the world and we will never return to this place. I paid the bill and we left. En español: La peor experiencia de mi vida, mi familia y yo fuimos estafados en un restaurante por la manager. La camarera dijo que tenian ribeye steak pero no lo tenian en el menu. Al traer la comida en realidad nos sirvieron OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK, que si lo tenian en el menu y costaba la mitad del precio que nos habian dicho que costaba el ribeye. Cuando le dije amablemente a la camarera que probablemente se habrian confundido de orden y lo que trajo no era lo que habiamos pedido, se molesto y fue a buscar a la manager. La manager llego con muy mala actitud diciendo que la carne si era Ribeye. Yo trate de explicarle que viera la carne y que se diera cuenta que del tipo de carne no era ribeye y la manager siguio mintiendo mientras me abria los ojos con gesto grosero para hacerne callar. Luego para tratar de convencernos de que estabamos equivocados trajo dos pedazos de carne cruda, uno de OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK y otro de steak. Y le mostre a ella claramente de que lo que teniamos en el plato era OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK. Para no seguir con la discordis y viendo que claramente era una estafa de la manager que estaba cobrando una carne al doble del precio, al venderlo como otro mas caro. Le dije a mi familia, vamos a comernos el outside skirt steak mas caro del mundo y jamas volveremos a este lugar. Yo pague la cuenta y nos fuimos.

I had this restaurant suggested to me by one of my cycling buddies. My wife and I drove thru the gas pumps and parked. A gas station? she said. We walked in a found a well stocked wine shop ( good prices). Towards the back of the wine shop we found the restaurant. In an instant we were in a courtyard in old Spain. They had a large selection of hot and cold tapas, we opted for the lunch portions of salmon and trout. The portions were generous and absolutely delicious. Wines can be bought in the shop and for a ten dollar corkage fee enjoyed with your food. I highly recommend this hidden gem.

Food ok for Tapas , service is good ,better call for reservation ,wines are excellent , average food price

You find this hidden jewel by a gas station, when you enter the first impression is how in the world can you imagine to visit a place so nice, so different from the concept of a restaurant in a location unusual. After the first surprise, comes the second : The restaurant, food is awesome, the third: Wines, from now on I declare this one of my favorite places to go in Miami

We brought a new business associate here. The first question to her was "are you open minded" ... Yes, this is important. Some will say this is a gas station. It is true. You can fill up your tank her, but this is soooo much more! The parking lot is filled with Bentleys, Mercedes, Porsches, etc. The secret is the spectacular Spanish restaurant located behind the cashier. It is wonderful! Our visitor loved the experience. Their wines are amazing. Best prices in Miami, too. High end selections, and very diverse. Try the octopus. Try the skirt steak. You will thank me!

Best food hands down the a bar the seats like 4 people small cute spot better then any south beach restaurant It’s literally inside of the gas station parking is limited easy to find right off the 95 area

Food and service couldn't have been better. Wide selection of beer and wine available which you purchased at retail. A $10.00 corkage fee for wine was O.K. but a $5.00 charge to open a bottle of beer seemed way out of line. I returned the beer but found the whole thing off-putting.

Real Spanish restaurant in town. Excellent Variety of appetizers, chistorras, gamba al Ajillo, costillas Canarias. My favorite tapa stuffing dates. To curvina al Limon, tabla de Carne etc . Service is top notch. And obviously Wine.

This was my first time here and I must say I will come back and bring more people!! I had the Churrasco a la Parrilla and i was phenomenal! The flavors were out of this world. The steak was so like butter when it touched my tongue. You can tell the chef put love into their cooking. The space is a bit small so i recommend making reservations. But the setting is intimate and feels elegant.

First time in this quaint, cozy restaurant in front of a gas station! Place was remarkably well decorated, cozy and once inside you would think you are somewhere else other than a gas station house. Food was good but a bit pricey considering the size of the portions. Sangria was very good but way to expensive at $28.00 a pitcher (4 glasses). The Octopus Tapas was tasty but again way too much money $14.50 for a very small portion that also lacked presentation. Service was fast and made you feel they want you out of there fast to attend the next customer. Music was very loud and the small setting packed with tables and a small bar is so loud it is impossible to have a conversation, the loudness of the place does not allow you fully enjoy your meal and you want out after 15 minutes of not hearing yourself think! Nice place to visit once, pero no vuelvo más! The Crepe con Dulce de Leche was very good dessert! Overall nice experience but way too loud and pricey!

I only intended to pay for gas when entering this place. But I couldn't resist tasting one of these wonderful pastries displayed at the cashier. Those art pies were absolutely wonderful, a little piece of heaven. If you happen to be hungry, please taste their food, you won't believe it !

What’s better than pulling into a gas station and finding a delicious treasure trove of tapas and wine? It’s a bakery, tapas, and wine store in the gas station parking lot. The ambiance is surprisingly intimate and festive. It’s like walking past the gum rack to another dimension of Spanish culture. The dining area is lined with library shelves of wine, low ceilings, and is dimly lit to complete a somewhat mysterious yet romantic ambiance - how is that even possible in a gas station? They are magicians. And the food speaks for itself. Highlights - bacon wrapped dates (a must), red wine soaked mushrooms, and garlic sautéed shrimp. If I lived in Miami I’d be here every weekend. And sangria is a must.

It's in a gas station! Great use of the old convenience store. Some of our family had been here before and said it was a must try. It did not disappoint. Having just recently been to Spain and Portugal this cuisine was a flash back to the great food we had there. Plenty to share and tapas plates!

I was there quickly just to pick up a snack for lunch. I ordered cod croquettes and a beef 'empanada'. I was very satisfied with the quality of the food. Contrary to most of the places around offering cod croquettes that do not taste like cod, this place's cod croquettes really taste like real cod, even a little bit over on the salty side, but delicious nonetheless.

My husband and I were looking for lunch prior to visiting the Cuban Museum nearby. We El Carajo online and read the great reviews. When we arrived, my first reaction was "it's a gas station?" Don't let that stop you. It is a lovely combination of bakery, wine shop and authentic Spanish restaurant. We enjoyed a selection of tapas and soup. Definitely order the Dulce de Leche Crepes...amazing.We also bought a lot of wine!

This restaurant is in a very unexpected place. The ambiance is festive and cozy at the same time. We've been there three times. Last year, we ate there twice and, in general, I liked it better than I did this year. The service wasn't that good this time; for example, the server cleared the table while I was still eating; I admit that I eat slowly but this is totally unacceptable. My daughter ordered the "Pulpo a la Gallega" and she loved it. My husband ordered one of the day's specials, which was not on the menu; the server told him it was pork but it looked and tasted like beef. He liked it but it was definitely not pork. I ordered the "Churrasco a la Parrilla" and it was tasty but not something I would order again because the beef was more fatty than I expected. There were three of us. We asked our server if we could get a fourth chair so we could place our handbags on it and she said no because they were expecting a large group to be seated next to us. When we finished our dinner, it was almost closing time and there was no big group there. There were also many empty chairs all around us.I was not impressed with the service this time. In the past, the service was much better. Overall, this is a nice place. If and when I go back, I will definitely order tapas instead of a main dish. Tapas seem to be their specialty.

I am staying temporarily in Coconut Grove. El Carajo is a short walk away. I’ve been making it over regularly to their food counter (which opens at 7 am) for a morning cortadito- less sugar. I’ve had good coffee elsewhere in Miami but this is the best spot. Their guava - cheese empanada is excellent as is the spinach n feta cheese croissant. Am here another week - so hope to try much more of their goodies. It’s a simple old school place right by a mobile station of US1 that does things right. Their restaurant apparently opens at Noon.

I love el carajo to buy wine ! The sommeliers are always very helpful and prices are the best in the area. Also if you are constantly buying ask them for their points card!

El Carajo was a great surprise. This restaurant is hidden in a gas station in Coconut Grove. But when you are in, what you see is a spanish restaurant with a huge Adega. The Adega is huge and cheap, you can find a lot of interesting wines. The spanish options are the best ones. The food is also great. I really appreciated the Cod Cake or "Frituras de Bacalao" and the Tabla del Mar. A two people plate with all good ocean food.

I had breakfast at el Carajo for ten years. At the beginning of 2023 they started rising prices like crazy. Then, they started affecting the quality: first they started by changing their coffee from Lavazza to Quimbo. Last week they change the bakery provider and now their bread and croissants are average, at best. The only thing that remains good is the service. The ones at week days are great. No more El Carajo for me!

This is a nice, fun and loud place. Great to have some tapas while enjoying a good wine. We have visited this place several times. Service used to be much better. There was an incident with another customer who was buying some bottles of wine and there was a discrepancy with the price. That customer should have been treated a bit better just to say the least. It was discouraging this last visit.

Unbelievable, such a hidden gem in Miami at quite shocking location. You walk through a gas station store to find this restaurant in the back. Once you get inside the restaurant you forget about the location. All tapas were insanely delicious. In fact, I haven't tried better in Spain. And the sangria, oh boy, the best sangria I've ever drunk. It was so refreshing, fruity, with rich taste and deep color. The service was also very good. I enjoyed relaxing and charming ambiance. I cannot recommend one particular dish or tapas as I loved them all. You just won't go wrong with any of your choices. If you love Spanish cuisine, this is the best and most authentic place in Miami. Such a wonderful experience!

Fantastic wine selection. Food is always great. Service is good. Should make a reservation, there is always a line. No music 🎶

This was very cool surprise. I love wine and we luckily got in with only 2 of us sat right away. I was worried from reviews there would be a wait. If you do have to wait the little coffee area is great nice cordito n pastry available. There's wine to drink or ..buy but careful uncorking fees apply in restaurant for bottles bought and opened. Food was good service good. We would go back and prices average not outrageous like Miami can be.

You would never know this place existed unless friends insisted you should go. It is located inside a gas station with only a small sign showing its name. It is so much worth it to go in to enjoy all they have to offer from the hot and cold tapas to their daily fair. And the desserts are so delicious, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices. Besides the food they also offer a great selection of wines which you can also buy right there and take home. Great little place with fantastic Spanish food!.

All food is frozen the ham and cod croquettes are the worst I’ve ever the Galician empanada don’t taste. The place is to loud,service is good

A couples of friends were in Miami for few days and visited this place on August 12, 2018. Is in the back of a gas station. They have a bakery and restaurant plus a very good selection of wines at a good price. I'm not a drinker so I asked for sangria and it was really good. The others had beers and were very cold! They offered us delicious Spanish Tapas. We tried Chorizo Al Vino. Was excellent!! We spend a great time there.

Who knew there would be a wonderful authentic Tapas restaurant in a Mobil gas station? While traveling through the Miami area, we thought we'd look for authentic Spanish Tapas, which is surprisingly hard to find. When I first saw that El Carajo was in a gas station I passed on it. Not finding anything else that looked appealing, I went back to it and looked at the photos. It looked like a real restaurant and the menu was very authentic. We decided to give it a try. So glad we did. This place is terrific! Plenty of small plate options. Selections are tasty and well prepared. We ordered six dishes, then took three dessert home from their small, but beautiful bakery section. They offer a large number of wines, which you can purchase to take away or have with your meal for a corkage fee. Our server, Elisa, was charming and efficient. The atmosphere was quiet and comfortable. I look forward to a return visit.

I’ve been meaning to try this place; it came highly recommended. Stopped in for lunch but there was a wait so I decided to simply pick up some soup to go. The to go order was taken by the hostess who was slower than molasses. I ordered the caldo gallego to go; the kitchen staff brought out my order immediately but it took her two tries to get my change correctly. When I got to the office and opened the soup the container was only 1/2 full. Had it been a 1/2’portion of a hearty serving but it was mostly just broth with barely any potatoes or ham and no sausage. It is disappointing.

Went last weekend as a double date night and was pleasantly surprised. Had been hearing of this place for a year so excited we were finally able to go. This place is super cute and still amazed it’s in a gas station. Reservations are a must or you will wait a long time or not even be able to get a table. It’s small not sure how many seats they can fill but probably 50 tops. Definitely worth the wait. The bacon wrapped dates are so good, the skirt steak tender, really everything was good. Liked how you can pick a wine bottle from their wine wall and have it at your table. Love how they have a great selection and a bunch from Napa, that I love so that really was nice. Will definitely go back, perhaps a GNO.

HORRIBLE!!!! Tasteless, cold!!! We had potatoes in mayo and red sauce!!!, a cold omelet, cold rice, and passable ham croquettes!!! I read this was a gem tucked away in the back of a gas station. The ambiance is the only thing that was nice. The food was as if the chef didn't have spices, an oven, or understand flavor which other then the rice, everything was lacking! So so so disappointed. The bread looked awesome!! We should have just gotten some bread and butter!! Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Gas station food at what was supposed to be really good tapas! Stay away!

We visited this unique restaurant and market with friends looking for a good Spanish restaurant, but at the end found a great little piece of Spain in Miami. Me and my wife went with other two couples and the place was full, but they allowed us to sit at the bar. The food was delicious and the wine outstanding! We had the opportunity to speak to the manager, who guided us to some great wines. The waitress was very courteous and knowledgeable. Great place!

Located behind a gas station on US1 and 17th ave. This is a hidden gem. Great Spanish cuisine with a remarkable list of wines to choose from. It's a very small place but don't let that fool you. The food is excellent as well as the service. If your looking to go out with your significant other or go out in couples, this is the place for you to unwind with great tasting wine.

This is a tiny hidden gem, located in the back of a Miami gas station. It's a gas station, wine store, convenience store, cafe, and restaurant, all under one roof! The front is your typical gas station which also doubles as a dessert/coffee/sandwich counter. However, the real treat is the extensive selection of wines which you can purchase (ranging from wine selections from Spain, Italy, France, California, etc). The small (albeit delicious) restaurant serves excellent Spanish-style tapas. Additionally, I believe you can purchase any bottle of wine sold in the store to have with your dinner. The service is very good as well and you will be greeted with a smile by the host/hostess. Don't forget to make a reservation if you plan on visiting from Thursday through Sunday, as it is very small and gets crowded! It is also a bit pricey, but well worth it for the food and the wine. El Carajo is a must for the tourist and Miami native alike.

When my husband and I arrived to the front door, we almost went back home! It is in a gas station. But we read so many nice reviews that he insisted that I should go inside and check. It was a nice surprise to see such a nice wine selection in the store. The desserts in the store were so beautiful (like the "chocolate corruption cake"), but we ate so much that I wasn't able to try. The restaurant is nice, very typical, with tapas and paintings in the walls that makes you feel in a spanish villa. It really worth the visit and the 30 minutes waiting line. The only thing I didn't like was the Cava...

It looks like a nice place. They greet you at the entrance, and that’s it. What a disappointment! I asked for a substitution in a salad, the waiter said No, it’s not possible. My friend asked for a steak, and there was not a steak, only for the lunch menu, that already passed according to the waiter. We are still deciding if the ingredients of the Spanish tortilla were natural or artificial. Bad experience! Don’t think on returning!

Horrible Culinary Experience We ordered a traditional paella, and they gave me rice and Spanish sausage chorizo. Then they took it back and said they would fix it. Then they returned in 15 minutes the same rice with cold seafood on the top it was on audible. The manager was a trick. She cursed she said a bad word and then she told us go ahead and just eat the seafood on the top go ahead take a vantage of it. We were like what do you mean take advantage of it this is an edible you eat it. Oh I spent my one Sunday off with wanting to have a nice meal and this truly truly was a horrific experience do not waste your time or money. Let them go to El Carajo

Delicious Tapas behind a Bakery and Wine store, Gas Station. We went for lunch. Bubbly Glasses and Tapa Fría, Combinación Mesón Jamón, Embutidos y Queso Importado: Cured Pork Loins, Serrano Ham, Spanish Chorizo, & Manchego Cheese. Served on a wooden board, and Tapas Calientes- Frituras de Bacalao & Gambas al Ajillo. The cold cuts were a very good, ample selection of the more popular cuts. Can not go wrong with it. Salty. The Hot selection consisted of Cod Fritters(small sized Fritters) served with a Homemade Cilantro Aioli. Perfect size. The Gambas, Shrimp in a Garlic Olive Oil Sauce Sprinkled with Chili Peppers & Parsley, were ok. A Basket of little crusty Bread pieces. Café A great lunch! Olé!

El Carajo is divine and it’s good for a family meal 🥘. It’s in front of a gas station ⛽️. There it a cafe ☕️and A restaurant 🏬. I recommend it you should go . Bye 👋 hope this review will help you.

I accidentally discovered this place when I stopped in for gas, on my way to UM. So this time, on my way to UM, I stopped just for the sandwiches. Their prices are ridiculously reasonable, and the food is very delicious.

WOW ... if you are looking for an authentic coffee / breakfast experience this is the place! Thank goodness there was a short line as it gave me an opportunity to view the selection of pastries and breakfast goodies. I settled on a cortido and several croquetas. The mini breakfast sandwiches were going like hot cakes ... great place as it is difficult to decide! Dont miss it!

When my sister parked outside a gas station, I thought she was pranking me....we went inside the store, and the minute you opened that door, it was like you were transported to a restaurant in Spain. We had an amazing lunch, the sangria was perfect, my favorite was the datiles wrapped in bacon and the chickpeas with chorizo. We ended with the best crepes I ever had. Great experience; I highly recommend it.

Poor management horrible service. After been going to this place for over 20 years and referring to dozens of people i had a horrible experience. For my Birthday i made a reservation a week ahead. Upon arriving on time manager told me couldn't seat us as the people that were in my table since 4:30 were no done, this was at 8:00 PM. I asked if he could ask them to live. Managers said he couldn't turn customers away. Outraged i left with my party of 7 to never return again and assure will advise all not to go.

Nice place, kind is small and tables too close to each other. Good food and wine. The service is very good. Everybody is very nice and polite.

We don’t live in Miami, and had visited El Carajo on a previous visit. Our return to the exceeded our expectations. It is one of Miami’s hidden jewels. The menu has expanded, our food was delicious and the desserts were sublime even a big too large couldn’t finish, unfortunately. Only minor complaint was the air conditioning–tooooo cold

We have been meaning to go for several years. It finally happened. The Patatas a la Brava were amazing. The spicy sauce wasn't too spicy for me. My husband stuck to ketchup. The ribs were so filling. There were 6 of them and it had a lot of meat on the bones. I only had 2 and my husband age 3. We should have skipped the Empanada de Langosta. It came at room temperature and it was SO salty. Caldo Gallego had a lot of processed meat but NOT salty. It was a little warmer than room temperature. We are planning on going back to try dessert.

The food here is great. You can go very casual. The seating is intimate. There is a nice unpretentious feel. The wait staff is pleasant and has good suggestions for wines, dishes, etc. You are not hurried out and can take your time to leisurely sip the wine you have chosen. This place is a little gem.

This is a restaurant in a gas station!!! It was the first thing I heard about the place and I was hesitant to go, surprisingly, the ambience was really nice and enjoyable. The service needs improvements but it wasn’t terrible, the tapas were of fair quality. The best of this place was the wine selection and their prices, there is a $10 uncork fee but the wines cost around the same you pay at the store, sometimes even lower. I kind of recommend the place if you are near by.

Our good friends from Charleston had driven 577 miles to take us to lunch as we were in Miami after a cruise. They had found El Carajo while searching the Internet to find somewhere nice for lunch and boy was this a find! Telling us we were having lunch in a gas station, we thought they were joking but when the pulled in to the gas station and parked up, we were very pleasantly surprised to discover this hidden gem, which was indeed inside the gas station but don’t be fooled, it is very nice inside and the selection of wine is outstanding. We shared various Tapas, all of which were outstanding and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience; if I lived in the Miami area, I would be a regular and would take all of my visitors to El Carajo!

Amusing gas station location belies great service and excellent paella in an informal, lively setting. Bring your own wine or buy in the retail store attached or ask your waiter to make a selection...corkage fee only. Often full, always fun.

This was my third visit to El Carajo, the first time was a surprise and we actually couldn't find it and went into the gas station for directions and Voila!!!! This is a great tapas bar in the back of the gas station, great ambiance (believe it or not), service was good, food is fabulous and great value! Will be back for visit 4 on my next trip.

I came here with two friends. This is a restaurant hidden in a Mobile gas station. It has a great selection of wines at great prices; it also has a place when you can eat very good simple food Highly recommended

This is the second year my husband and I have visited the Coconut Grove area. We specifically looked for lodging so we could be convenient to El Carajo! Their sandwiches and pastries are delicious! The service is impeccable! The lattes and cappuccinos are unbelievably excellent. I typically find some coffees too acidic, but didn't find that with this coffee. We wish there was one closer to us!! Eight hours is a long drive for coffee! 😉

The first time they told me that the restaurant was located at a gas station i had serious doubts, but that's exactly what make it unique. Behind the C store you get transported to Spain and the world of tapas and an amazing selection of wine. Octopus and Shrimp al ajillo (garlic) are my favorite, of course you can find paella, tortilla, chorizos, quesos board, patas (potatoes) bravas. Great place to meet locals and save a travel to Spain to enjoy a delicious food.

Susana was Ane excelent server the food was amazing and I will definitely recommend this spot to all my friends !

We were excited to revisit this unique restaurant tucked away, literally behind a gas station. The vibe is a Spanish wine cellar. It was a bustling Saturday night filled with locals, yet there was no music. The menu appeared unchanged from prior years. We tried the red sangria which was not pleasant (tasted of old wine) and the white sangria was extremely sour (lemon forward). The baccalao croquettes were mostly potato, not fish. The ham croquettes tasted like strong cheese, not ham. The patatas bravas were okay. We did not feel inspired to try any other tapas or dessert.

This was probably the highlight of my short time in Miami. There are long bar top tables and multiple parties are seated at each table. It was fun to talk with other people. The food was amazing. The wine list was stellar. The service was exceptional. The staff was very friendly. I loved everything about this place.

Visited this local dining Gem that's literally located inside a Mobil gas station! What a terrific tasty Spanish tapas surprise. The place is small/cozy but jam packed inside & around with an incredible selection of bottled wines to bring to your table. Each dish was perfectly prepared and paced out for delicious table sharing. Rather than list all the assorted tapas & paella we ordered, let me simply say this: About the only mistake you can make is Not to order! The hospitality & service was welcoming, attentive and the moderate prices (and authentic Spanish dining experience) were well worth the culinary adventure. Just remember, the place is small and Reservations are strongly recommended (they were actually turning walk-ins away when we were there due to limited seating capacity). FYI, our entire meal with 9 orders of tapas, 1 paella, a beer and 3 bottles of wine came to just $265 (plus tax & 18% gratuity). A great place to be/share with friends & family. Bravo El Carajo!

What a cool place. Strange location as it is quite literally in a gas station convenience store. The restaurant is tapas style and was PACKED. We walked in without reservations and they seated us at a long bar table with other people. It was so nice. Sangria was great....if you like wine the menu was extensive. Food was yummo.....small portions to share which is the way I like to eat. So if you ever need gas, Gatorade, cigarettes, sangria, tapas and flan all at the same place....head to El Carajo!!

Any Foodie will tell you to trust your nose and be open to the unexpected. I stopped for gas on the corner of 17th & Dixie where I-95 ends. I was an out of town businessman looking for my hotel, caught in commuter traffic at night. I needed gas and a comfort break after being stuck in traffic for almost 3 hours. I saw the gas station, pulled over, filled up, and went in to use the bathroom. As soon as I opened the door I knew I was in a different world. The smell of wonderful food, and a REAL Resturant in what would otherwise be a convenience store. It turned out to be one of the best eating establishments ever. It is singularly the best Tapas Resturant this side of the Atlantic Ocean. It rivals the finest in Spain. Even more surprising, it has a large and excellent wine cellar, and an extensive wine list by-the-glass. I had three Tapas: chorizos served in a reduction of red wine, octopus served in a reduction of white wine garlic olive oil and spices, and an empanada langoustine. I considered a number red wines from the single glass list, priced from $4-$30: Spanish, Argentine, French, American & Italian. I chose an old favorite, a $28 glass of Brunello. I knew the $12 Spanish red would cut through the chorizos better. But I could not resist the unexpected joy of a glass of my favorite wine with a piece of hot bread served quickly by a wonderful wait staff. The dinning area is small and the patrons love to talk about their Tapas with you. Whether you live in Miami, or visit Miami, go to El Carajo. Gas up outside, park & go in for a fabulous meal. Two additional notes: they have an extensive baked goods counter and the make paella for two or more to order (35 minutes.) My Tapas were out as soon as each was made, the first within 10 minutes. This will be a food experience you will talk about for a long time.

Great place to either purchase wine and food to go or to eat there. Service very friendly, wine selection outstanding, small selection of ready made food which was delicious

The restaurant is very charming inside! It is inside of a gas station what is funny, but the restaurant is very cute. The service was really bad! We have to keep calling the waiters because they were too busy talking to each other. We had about 6 tapas, all delicious... The Paella was extremely expensive for the poor taste. I wouldn't mind paying the price if it was good, but it was far from good... disappointing ... Wont came back

Good food, good wine, great service. I always go when I travel to Miami. Great quality, simple food.

When you think of getting something to eat at a gas station, it usually involves some type of roller food or bags of chips. El Carajo is the complete opposite of that. When you walk in the bakery is outstanding. The wine selection is exceptional and then you walk into the back and experience the restaurant. Small and quaint, you are transformed to Spain with and excellent tapas menu. The service is exceptional, the presentation impeccable and the atmosphere is perfect. If you are in the area don't miss it. I drove an hour to get there and made sure to get food to go.

Hands down the best paella I have had since Barcelona last year.. loved everything about this place. Wait was one hour at first but then it was 10 minutes so don’t give up. Shrimp appetizer and house bread were scrumptious.. bit of heat on shrimp but im ok with that. Sangria was best I’ve had in Miami in 3 years living here. Paella I can’t tell u how happy I am with this place.. the service was stellar our waitress Susanna was so gracious and on point with her suggestions as well. dessert was magical dulce de leche with coconut Truly perfect 😎😎

Stopped here on the way from Daytona Beach to Key West, had to stop again on the way back and made a special trip again when I had to go back to Miami to pick up a special part for my car. It was listed as one of the best hidden gems on TripAdvisor and it does not disappoint. Easily the best Spanish food I’ve ever had and some of the best meals ever.

My sister & I went to this place after visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This was one of the best restaurants I went to while I was in Miami in 2.5 yrs. The food was OFF THE CHAIN!!!!! DON'T be fooled by the location because it is in the Mobile Gas Station. You will be completely SURPRISED!!!!

Yes its in a gas station, all ways crowded. You need to dona resrvation really in advance, couples days before or stay in the line. The mix of store and restaurant make them offer you wines at unbeatble price, pick your own at the store and there are a $10.00 corkage fee. Highly recomend the tabla del mar for the ones hungry, easily share for four as appetizer. The only remark is the service, isn’t exactly friendly, some people looks that wasn’t exactly happy to be there.

Fantastic tapas restaurant hidden in a gas station. Don't let the location fool you. The food, service and atmosphere are excellent. El Carajo has a great wine selection, by the glass or bottle, very good Sangria. The staff was friendly, very knowledgeable on the menu, always on top of things. We had the warm chickpea salad which was delicious. The sardines were prepared just right. The only dish that was not perfect was the Carne platter. The chicken and pork were over cooked. They are very thin cuts of meat, ask your server to have the kitchen not over cook the meats on the grill. Save room for dessert! Check out the dessert selection in the deli cases up front. They all looked amazing. Sadly I had no room for dessert, but next time... El Carajo is a hidden gem tucked away in what looks like a mini mart attached to a gas station. This is a must go in south Miami.

One of my favourites been here several times Food and service very good wine selection 2nd to none. Ribs, Dates in Bacon, mushrooms garlic shrimp all to die for. Wine very reasonably priced. IL be Back !!!

Seems there’s a place that wants to be like this in every city. At least there should be. What appears to be a gas station with a mini-mart attached is actually not only those things, but a wonderful bakery, high-end Tapas-style restaurant, and a wine shop featuring a selection of wines that looks like a veritable who’s who of top winemakers and brands from around the world. Wonderful food—from the Octopus to the croquettes. Wonderful service from start to finish. A team of passionate, knowledgeable professionals led by an owner who not only knows what he’s doing, but clearly enjoys doing it. Park, go inside, and be ready to be amazed. Thank you!

Well I couldn't believe it until I seen it! Located in the back of a gas station but the food was amazing, atomsphere elegant and service was first class. Just a great place to take family, co-workers or friends and surprise them just like I was surprised. definitely worth a try.

This beat every place we dined at in Barcelona in 3022. Best Caldo Gallegos ever and the albondigas (meatballs tapa) by far the best in Miami AND Barcelona - exceeding El Xampayet in Barrio Born and Ciutat Comtal! Our friends loved the lamb chops and patatas brava. A reasonably priced Garnache from the old vine slopes of Catalanya was worth trip by itself. It had the musty smell of a wine warehouse but you won’t notice that when the food comes promptly. Very noisy because I believe everybody is so damn happy.

We drove by this place for years before considering to try it out: all you see in front of the restaurant is a gas station, and gas stations are not really famous for good food… As soon as you go in you think you’re in a bakery, but in the back of the bakery you think you’re in a wine store; and when you enter the restaurant: wow! The first “room”, with a high top table, resembles a wine cellar; while in the dining room you have the feeling you have been transported to an old castle! We have tried almost all their tapas and some of their main entrée dishes and have never been disappointed. Not to talk about their huge selection of wines at very reasonable prices, like the Malbec from Mendoza we had last Friday. Last week we had friends visiting us from Oregon: when they asked us if we knew a good restaurant for a Caldo Gallego, we drove them here to from WPB: our friend liked the soup so much that he ordered it twice! The parking doesn’t have many spaces, but we always stopped here for lunch or for an afternoon drink & tapas and never had a problem.

I ordered food for delivery. I have been at the place before, and I experienced there a good atmosphere in a clean environment, with good service. The food tastes really good, and the portions are reasonable. Prices are not on the cheap side, but they will not break your pocket.

I have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Quality never decreases. The service is good and the food is great. Amazing place to eat paella, but also just tapas and wine. Love it.

Great food and wine selection. The service and atmosphere were excellent. We highly recommend this gem hidden in a gas station.

This is my 5th visit to El Carajo. I am never disappointed. The tapas are amazing and the wine selection is large. It is surprising to find such good food in a gas station but it is delicious. The chorizo frito with mushrooms in wine sauce is my favorite! I suggest you stick to the tapas you can’t go wrong.

As you walk in the for the first time it's kind of hard to think you are entering a gas station. It's all top shelf Spanish food. We have been there three times now and thoroughly enjoy it. The wine selection is very large and you pay retail for the wine and a small corkage fee at dinner. It comes out much less than traditional wine prices at a restaurant. The food is all about the Tapas and fresh seafood. Plan a night of it with friends. Each time we brought someone new we enjoyed the look on their faces when we pulled into a gas station. The service was good and they can make recomndation on the wine.

felt like trying a different place tonight and picked this one. Interesting place, they sell wine in bottles as a retail store, you can buy a bottle and for the corking fee enjoy part or all of it with your supper. The tapas were great, as was the soup and chicken plates. Worth the visit

Went with friends and found the food very tasty and well prepared; excellent wine selection at very decent prices

This place in inside a gas station which that in it's self is fun! Inside you have a full beautiful spanish restaurant and also a small cafe with available to purchase Wines and beers and other delights. Don't miss this its awesome!

This place is a mix of market and tapas restaurant located on the back of a gas station. Don't ask me who came up with the idea, but once you locate the place, you will not regret the travail. We were there with another couple and did not try their regular menu but instead we had several dished of tapas and their delicious sangria. The tapas are well prepared but the service is just regular.

Been here with couples but just visited with kids and had a great experience. Kids menu light on choices. Great Tapas selection and unbelievable wine selection. I would highly recommend making reservations. Seating is limited so most likely they will not hold your table if you are more than 15 minutes late.

I frequently attend lunches & dinners at this exclusive restaurant. A concept very unique to the are. A gas station, restaurant, fine wines and great serves. Food here is excellent a touch of foods from Spain. A must go if you live or visiting the area.

WOW, we happened upon here by accident. The food is INCREDIBLE! The wine selection is very good, they have a decent deli case, and a great pastry case. Our waitress was quite snooty but the food was so freakin good that I did not care. My only regret is that we were too stuffed to try more items on the menu.

This was our first experience and we chose just to have tapas . Enjoyed the croquetas,the garlis shrimp and the lobster empanada/the garlic octopus was tough and chewy. Very good wine selection .The atmosphere is very pleasant and makes us feel happy. Next time will try the main plates

On our way from the Hotel to Little Havanna me and my family said we must visit before we left. It's an old place to be because it looks like a pit stop with a gas station. But when we went it the Restaurante was in the back. It looked nice, we didn't do the restaurant, but they have coffee, baked good and breakfast in the front for a quick snack. We order a few things, and they were all good. The coffee was authentic and strong, the empanadas the chicken had an odd taste but was not bad, but the beef was good. The baked guava and cheese delicious. It was crowded at 9am so they are doing something right. The cutest thing is that the empanadas had the stamp of the name on the edge. they have breakfast pastry they are cold, but they warm it up for you when your order. The girls in front are nice and ready to explain what you see.

Having been treated by friends, to lunch here when we were last in Miami, two years ago, we booked a table when the opportunity arose for us to visit again prior to flying home from Miami after a cruise. Our return visit was just as good as our first time, so good that we know we will visit again next year when we return to Miami! The staff are friendly and helpful and the food is authentic Spanish tapas with an eclectic array of wines to choose from. Don’t be put off by it’s location inside a gas station, it is quite simply excellent. The onsite bakery/delhi is also excellent and their cakes, which can be served in the restaurant are to die for.

We were on the area and because the meaning of the word we went there. Is a gas station but when you go inside is a cute Spanish cava, full of wines. The place is small; we sit down on the bar and was excellent. The menu have a variety of tapas and plates. We ordered few tapas and Sangria, delicious and the bartender was our server very professional. I want to go back again, so next time someone “tell me go to the Carajo” I will be more than happy!!😋😉

It is a most to go when you are in Miami. It is inside a gas station, but it is a fine restaurant like tapas, and the best food and best customer service.

We were stopping for fuel and ice for our road trip home, and saw the sign above the door.. "Wine Store, Tapas, Bakery Cafe" of course we checked it out! The Wine Shop looked amazing, I wish we had time to sit and enjoy some Tapas and a glass (though they weren't open yet). It was really difficult to choose from the Bakery, the selection of sandwiches, empanadas, croquetas etc etc was excellent and the Tortilla Espanola, Cuban Sandwich, and Chocolate Croissant we actually had were superb!

Visited the restaurant to see what the hype was about. Found a good selection of wines and one in particular that had been difficult to find in Florida. The price on the front bottle was $21.95. I proceeded to get four bottles and took them to the register. When the bottles were rung up, the price charged was $31.95. The clerk stated that the price was $31.95 and showed me that those were the prices on three of the bottles. However, I showed her the bottle that was placed in front and that it stated a price of $21.95. She did not budge and I requested to speak to the manager. The manager came with a poor disposition and showed me a card with their policies regarding pricing. The policy stated that if a bottle is priced incorrectly, they had the right to charge the correct amount. His attitude was of someone that should not be working in customer service. He offered no real resolution and threatened to take the bottles back if I did not agree. I ended up purchasing the wines because I had been searching for them since January. However, that will be my last visit to this establishment. I wish them the best and ownership should monitor the actions of its employees in their interactions with customers.

We were so surprised with how great this place was. The food was amazing. Wine was excellent. There are cheap and VERY expensive bottles available. If I went there again, I would have loads and loads of Tapas because it was the most yummy. Plus, you can get lollies or fill up your car with petrol on your way home.

Best Sangria on Town and brunch time, won’t miss stop at this place and get also a bottle of wine, price unbelievable. Thanks Serve Gabriela F, your service was amazing

Gosh, I'm joining a bunch of other reviews and repeating what they have written. This place is great. We were early going someplace nearby, you know traffic on US1. My husband suggested this place, he's passed it several times and was curious. You have to go if you like excellent service, great tapas and what looks like excellent and reasonably priced Spanish food. And you can take home some wine. This is a lovely and surprising restaurant in the back of a gas station building. Beautifully decorated to make you feel like you're in Spain. We were there for happy hour - a great buy. We had the octopus - good, but it could use a wedge of lemon on the side, and the tostones stuffed with bacalao and with chicken. We could not decide so we went with both. Really nicely done. Five stars for this place! Oh yes, there is also a great selection of wines for sale and I never saw so many varieties of sake!

We were visiting friends and they told us about a Spanish restaurant located in a Gas Station. Yes, we were skeptical however trusted their judgement. We made reservations and were glad we did. Yes, El Carajo is in a gas station. Once you're in the restaurant, you realize that you have just landed in Spain. Amazing restaurant. Spectacular Wine Selection. Service was amazing and friendly. And, the Food . . . WOW! Churrasco a la Parrilla was one of our favorites. Many Tapas to choose from and the portions are huge! This place is a local favorite and a real 'hidden gem'.

Only in Miami can you find a combination gas station/wonderful restaurant/wine shoppe! Their wine collection is extensive, the food is great, and there are even macaroons in the dessert case. Talk about one stop shopping!

This restaurant was recommended by a friend. A real surprise as the restaurant is housed in a gas station's quickie market. The sangria was excellent and all the meals were good. A great restaurant to take someone if you want to surprise someone.

My wife and I had not visited this place since 2017. Back then they cooked the best paella in town. I am sorry to say that the paella we had today is not even closed to that one. I guess the the old chef is no longer there. The service is still good and the wine selection an prices are good as well. The majority of people that were having lunch asked for tapas. Maybe they already tried the paella before and stayed away from it. I am not sure about the tapas, but the croquettes were OK. Net time we will try some of the tapas and will inform.

This place is amazing! Jany Leal gave us five + star service. Coming from Sonoma, CA we were extremely impressed. I highly recommend lunch at this secret hideaway Gas station. Yes..... a gas station. Get ready to be surprised!!!!!

Such a wonderful experience! From the staff so attentive to the amazing food is a delight! The tapas are great and so are the entrées. Every time we go is as wonderful ss the time before! Must go!

When you stroll in, you are greeted by Spanish flamenco music in the background. This quaint little gem was absolutely exquisite. From the vast selection of wines to the delectable and tasty tapas to the wide array of main courses; this restaurant is a must. I forgot to mention the torta de Santiago and the Crema Catalana were absolutely scrumptious. Reservations are recommended because it is very small. I plan on visiting again soon. Salúd.

Went there for lunch with a friend and the place was empty with the exception of three tables . I was seated facing a wall and when I ask if I could be seated at another table I was denied the request and as I questioned it was treaded extremely rude to the point that we decided to walk out . I also have to mention that I have been there ones before and can’t find anything that stands out about this place. Service is below average and the food is mediocre at best. I guess that’s what you get at a gas station joint. There are way better places near by where the staff is friendly and the food is good. I’m shocked to see some of the good reviews here and guess some people live there life’s with lowered expectations. It’s very rare that I write a negative review but in this case it’s very deserving.

The GM of Pestana recommended this place!! When you arrive is a gas station:))) Then inside, what a great surprise, the wine shelves are infinitely, great in quantity and quality. Food, is Spanish tapas, with a great variety, kind of meal I love, sharing plates. Great Sangria. Loved it.

I am a bog time foodie/wine love yadda, yadda. Anyhow, we had one night in Miami and I wanted to go somewhere funky, cool and frickin awesome. After much research and a lot of reading the same old reviews I selected El Carajo on SW 17th St. In front it is still a gas station and convenient store but somewhere in the middle things begin to morph into a fine wine shop/deli and then, in the back, with walls lined with wine bottles that you can choose from, is one of the coolest, most inspired eateries Ive seen. The menu has something for everyone and the wine selection is simply stunning. We enjoyed a bottle of Ribera Del Duero with a plate of Spanish cured meats and cheeses followed by a bowl of chickpea, chorizo, spinach soup served with crusty bread and garlic olive oil. We then had a mixed grilled meat and seafood platter with a gorgeous California Cab. They even have a really cool wine room where they keep the extra special bottles. This place is cool as hell, delicious, innovative, priced incredibly well and inspiring. People of Miami and visitors thereof, go here, really, its a must. Salut!

Great service, super delish food, great wine selection, very unique spot. My paella was to die for, definitely coming back.

Been here a few times and always good great service, family atmosphere and a fun place to spend with friends times go by quick trying different tapas my friends and family really enjoyed this place.