La Paella Reviews

This little place that appears to be in s small house on San Vicente has been around for 25 plus years. The space is a little outdated but it only addds to its charm. The Paella is pretty good but not great. The tasty sangria you can pair it with is pretty darn good. The rest of the menu is pretty good. Depending on the number of people dining the service can go from great to where is the waiter. It is definitely worth a try.

great, cozy little spanish restaurant serving AWESOME paella. a nice spot for a date.

The food, service, and setting combined to create a memorable evening. The tapas menu was so tempting, we could have ordered every one. We all loved the paella.

Can't tell you how many times I've passed by this quaint restaurant on San Vicente. La Paella sits on the far right side of the street, near medical buildings, south of the Beverly Center. The owners are real Spaniards who have shared their enthusiasm and love for their food and culture to Angelenos since the 1990's. The menu is extensive and is much more than paella. Try the patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and boquerones - very Spanish tapas. The paella Valenciana is authentic and trust me, can feed an army. Would love to come back and try more dishes!

The paella is always excellent and well presented. The sangria was very good. The restaurant is in a home type setting which is very relaxing. Love going here for dinner.

This is a small family owned restaurant just outside Beverly Hills. It's traditional paella dishes prepared by a great family from Spain. In the 10+ years I have lived in California I didn't have a great paella dish until now. Once you enter this small family restaurant you feel as if you're in a restaurant in Spain, not Los Angeles. The ingredients are fresh an prepared to near perfection. They have an excellent assortment of tapas that are fun to share with others while enjoying their addictive sangria...and I usually hate sangria! If you have an appreciation for paella this place is a must!

This is a lovely quiet restaurant, a place to enjoy an intimate outing. The tables are elegantly set the lights are comfortably dimmed and the atmosphere is "like at home." Service is helpful, friendly and not rushed. The owner was on location, which is always good. We had a few starters which were all tasty. As a main dish we ordered Paella for four. Here I have some criticism. First, they do not serve single portions. So if your companion does not want this dish, or wishes to have a different Paella variety (they offer quite a few), or 'no garlic please,' you are stuck between buying two portions per person, or none at all. There is no reason why the restaurant cannot serve one portion in a smaller Paella pan, particularly in view of the restaurant's name. As for the flavor of the Paella. Those who have eaten Paella in Spain, know that the dominant flavor is always the saffron. Now, I know saffron is expensive, but in a place that calls itself La Paella, one expect real saffron flavor in the dish. This is not only the fault of this restaurant. I am yet to find a generous authentic saffron flavor in any Spanish restaurant in the USA. I promise to report if I find one. Otherwise, or if you do not like the taste of saffron, I recommend La Paella wholeheartedly. We did not have desserts. We did have good time.

Really yummy! Kind of boring atmosphere, but great food and wine.

The place was horrible. There's barely any room to move around (very tight quarters). It was very hard to find parking. The portions are very small, the dishes are nothing special, and I still was hungry after leaving the place. Owner and waiters kept on coming by and trying to sell wine. The waiter kept on mooching for a bigger tip after 15% was given. Stay away from this place. It's a waste of time, money, and food.

We were attending a concert at the Saban theater and wanted a small plate restaurant nearby. La Paella was a great find with delicious food and intimate ambience. We loved the tapas but will try the paella next time. The plates going by our table looked fantastic! Thanks to the chef and the wonderful wait staff.

This restaurant is a very good Spanish restaurant. I have dined there before and the quality is top notch. The foods is some of the best I have experienced in a restaurant.

Bitter disappoint awaits those who expect a great Spanish dining experience. And any claims that this is the best paella in LA are delusional. But our disappointment with the food and service could not have prepared us for when the server came running after us on the sidewalk outside the restaurant complaining about her tip. Need I say that we will never be returning to this poorly operated restaurant again. Having had dinner earlier in the evening, I wasn't hungry and didn't order anything. My wife ordered the Gambas al Ajillo and a seafood paella, or more accurately, a Paella Marinera. The server failed to ask if we had been to the restaurant before, or if we were familiar with the menu, most importantly, he failed to mention that the price on the menu for the paella did not accurately list the price of the paella. Elsewhere on the menu, and easily overlooked in the very dim and quite noisy room, the menu states that paella is served ONLY in portions for two. So even though in clear bold numerals the menu states that Paella Marinera is $26.95, the real price is $53.90. SInce the server failed to point this out, and the menu fails to properly price the paella at $26.95 P. P. , or per person, you can imagine my surprise when the bill came and I learned I was being charged $53.90 for a plate of rice with some seafood scattered across the top. Perhaps I would have felt differently had the paella been outstanding, but it was not. Rice was a bit mushy, the shrimp lacked any real shrimp flavor, and although the mussels and clams were very fresh and tasty, what passed for a lobster tail left me asking myself, should I call PETA and alert them that tiny baby lobsters are being slaughtered; see photos of the paella to see just what I mean. The lobster meat, like the shrimp, was overcooked, chewy, and absent any real flavor. No delight was to be found in this dish even when I believed that it was $26.95, but when I learned that it was $53,90, well I felt like I had just been robbed. Which is why the tip adequately reflected my experience of feeling taken, not to mention that the service itself was lackluster and absent any effort to enhance our dining experience. To be fair, the floor manager, or owner, seemed affable enough, but those who actually waited on us seemed distant and unconcerned about our needs. As to the Gambas, again a big disappointment. Overcooked chewy shrimp lay in a shallow serving of a one-dimentional sauce that failed to add much flavor to the bland shrimp. The uninspired sangria was another disappointment, pass on it. For desert we ordered the flan after being told that it had been rated "Best in LA". Flan is really easy to make so it's hard to understand how the flan we were served could be so terrible and unlikable. We forced ourselves to finish it; it was the worst flan we have ever eaten. To sum things up, mediocre food, outrageously mediocre and incompetent service throughout the meal, and then the outrageous experience of having to deal with a server that seems to require psychiatric observation for her emotional instability in making a scene outside the restaurant over her unhappiness with our rightful choice to demonstrate or dissatisfaction with our experience by not leaving a tip, make this one of the worst restaurant experiences I've encountered in LA, The worst was finding both a live cockroach and a long black hair in my food at an Asian restaurant in Toluca Lake. La Paella? Never, never, never again.

The food is very good and authentic although 10 kms from Spain! unfortunately they don't have any liquor...no Carajillos!

I don't plan to go back. The owner was nice. The food wasn't. And neither were the waiters. The sass was not in the paella or tapas but in the annoying waitstaff. No viva La Paella.

This place had my heart when I saw an authentic Spanish specialty: canned vegetables. The various options for Paella are tasty and the non-Paella dishes are just as delightful.

Charming little Spanish restaurant with great food and an excellent selection of classic Spanish dishes and wines.

Reminds me of Santander, Spain!

Here i tried the best Pealla i ever have in my life, we ordered the spicy potato and cheese Croquettes and mix seafood La Pealla and it was great, the rice is done to the right level and full of flavour, hats off

Great Spanish food.. paella is excellent and so are all the tapas, especially with Sangria.

A friend likes this place. I like the paella at Spanish Kitchen or Tinto Much Better

Excellent food in a good location. The place haven't been updated but the service and the food are great. Do not plan a visit on a Sunday, they don't open.

La Paella is a gem. While L.A. is endlessly infatuated with celebrity restaurants featuring style over substance, La Paella goes in the other -- and most welcome -- direction. Outstanding service, a delightful atmosphere without a shred of pretense and, to be blunt, some of the best damn cooking in this or any other town. The paellas are exquisite and well worth a visit, but the kitchen also prepares the finest lamb chops ever. Go once and it is inevitable that you'll return -- it's truly that good, splendid in every respect.

I have been coming to La Paella for quite sometime now and this place never ceases to amaze me. The ambience, service and most especially the food just makes me want to come back again and again. I visit Spain at least once a year and I can honestly say that La Paella is authentic - it captures the taste of real Spanish cuisine. Unfortunately, I now live up in Northern California but whenever I am in Los Angeles, I make it a point to come here. This place has yet to disappoint me and I seriously doubt that it ever will.

The charm of this cozy place was only surpassed by the wonderful tapas, the amazing sangria and the warmth and charm of the staff. This was a very special birthday and I could not have picked a more wonderful place to celebrated.

This cozy restaurant nestled in a charming little street somehow sheltered from the city madness, yet in the heart of Beverly Hills, is the best place to go for paella in Los Angeles. There are not that many tables so you need to make a reservation. SOME of the tapas are great, a number of them just average. But the paella is A number one divine! Whether it's chicken, sausage or seafood it is always, always amazing. And their house Spanish red wine is wonderful and inexpensive. I have to have my paella fix there once a month! One note: you have to order paella for two there, no individual servings. But when I go in there alone I know that i can take the second portion home and have divine food the next day!

great service.. oki paella

Good food, owner was on hand the night I went and he was careful to make sure our table was well cared for. Warning...the parking is around the corner on the street.

Feels like a real Spanish restaurant. Great for when you need a tapas fix, without the attitude

I have been to this restaurant three times over about five years. i would have gone more frequently ...but I don't live in LA. The food has been consistently great over the years. This is a small restaurant with great atmosphere. The wait staff is pleasant. The food arrives timely. The food is fresh and very tasty. This is wonderful for a date night or a leisurely lunch. My son lived in Spain for six months and says the food is very authentic!

The best paella outside Barcelona.It taste like home made ,the sea food is fresh and the meats are very tasty just the perfect combination. They have also great tapas such as the caracoles en ajillo they are so good ,champinones are excellent choice spicey potatoes ,calamari to share with the family ,don't forget to order a pitcher of sangria you won't regret it .everything was amazing good.

Once again, a spectator feast celebrating Valentines with my hubby. Tapas selections were abundant, a must try was escargot with chopped garlic and butter, squid, jamón ibérico accompanied with a pitcher of homemade sangria. Our main course was seafood paella. Desert to be port wine with crema Catalan. Food was prepared as if you’re dinning in Spain. A perfect 10!

We had dinner last night at La Paella abs we weren't sure it would be as good under the new owners. We were pleasantly surprised it was even better. They have great, authentic cuisine, and of course, specialize in Paella, which was outstanding. Most of the servers are Spanish abs the wine list offers lots of good options. We highly recommend it!

Great tapas and satisfying paella...definitely want to try more dishes in the future

I love Paella, but this was not very good. I still have not found great Paella in LA. pick another dish to eat. not worth the money or time

Always love this place. Best tapas that I have found in LA. The scallop tapa is extremely good. The sangria is amazing. Good place to try.

Unfortunately the service here was very unprofessional. My husband and I had a $192 bill and left a $40 cash tip. The restaurant manager, Tudor, called us immediately after we left and asked why we did not leave a tip. We explained to him that our tip was in cash. He proceeded to berate us about not leaving a tip and how the staff work for tip money. We asked Tudor to review the cameras to see who took the cash. First, we left a pretty good tip and second, it is so unprofessional to call me to complain. Not only that, he looked me up on the private reservations list to ask me why I did not leave a tip. I will never return to this restaurant and hope no one experiences the very poor service I did. Do not visit!

Place was great :) small, intimate restaurant - the tapas are absolutely amazing. However, the paella was much to be desired. It was ok - it wasn't bad, but having been to Spain recently, I was expecting something much, much better. Menu can be confusing for some: each person must spend 20.00 worth of food/drinks at the table. For a party of 6, our bill came to almost 300, so prices do run up fast. My tip: either go just for paella, or just eat tapas all dinner long.

As I previously posted several reviews, if you ever tried tapas in Spain, and love to experience exactly the same quality of food, flavor and service, this is the place. For the past many years, we have been searching for a tapas and seafood restaurant to duplicate our experience in Spain, we finally discovered this awesome restaurant, inexpensive, great wine selections and incredible service!!! We gladly give them a 10!

After living here for many years - and driving by too many times to count -never saw this gem of a restaurant! -Finally had dinner with another couple and Voila!!! what a pleasure! - Delicious food - excellent Spanish wine - charming and helpful staff - some of us had paella - very good - my husband had the mixed grill - definitely will order that the next time we dine there - oh, the Spanish ham was - as they say - awesome!!!

I’ve driven by it countless times and never really noticed it until early March 2025, and I am glad I did. A few blocks from the Beverly Center, it doesn’t look like much, but it’s surprisingly cozy and intimate. The food is excellent. We had snail and calamari tapas, a split pea salad and the seafood paella, paired with Spanish wine. Every dish was excellent, and we cleaned our plates, well almost, as we had to take some of the paella to go. The servers couldn’t be any more attentive yet unintrusive. It’s a bit on a pricey side once you add up the tapas, wine and the main course, but it’s worth it. Street parking was a concern, but needlesly so as there was plenty of parking available. We’ll be back.

Spanish Tapas in a cute Spanish home type setting. Nice date place. Hit and miss with some dishes.. but overall very pleasant.

We booked a table at La Paella whilst we were on holiday in Los Angeles. The place is lovely, very authentic Spanish. The service was great and we had a lovely chat with the lady who was originally from Valencia (sadly we didn't get her name). She made us feel so welcome. The food was great as we love tapas and paella. I would recommend for anyone in LA wanting a real taste of Spain to check this place out. Lovely staff!

We ordered a paella marinera which tasted pretty good though I can't say it's the best I have had in my life. Service was excellent, well trained staff. My only complaint was with the portion of the paella; too portion controlled. Though I must highlight that it was light indeed. Not greasy nor salty. At every place I have had paella before in my life, and I'm 52, they bring enough paella to be able to repeat. That was not the case here. Perhaps, I have been spoiled by my previous experiences, which have been too many. I was left expecting my second plate. Aside from that, it was reasonably priced considering the location.

How can a Spanish restaurante offer such a mediocre potato omelette? It seems they get the food from some place else and serve it there. On top of that, it it way too expensive. Only tourists were spotted. We often go to Spain and are quite familiar with their prices and quality. This is a rip-off.

Enjoyed a lovely evening meeting old friends in a great atmosphere with good food and good cerveza. Paella was good. Whats not to like.

Setting - casual , comfortable Location - near Beverly Hills , plenty of street parking even on a Friday evening The food - some good, some a little disappointing. We sampled 8 different paellas - the grilled squid and the clams were my favorite. The snails were nicely cooked but lacked flavors . The spinach dish was a little disappointing- there was just not a whole lot of flavors in it . We shared the mixed paella - not the best paella I’ve had but it was fairly tasty. The service - very good . Pleasant , efficient. In summary - typical Spanish place , some dishes great , some so so...

This place has been around for years. It's busy; it's excellent in all respects and yet gets no hype. Perhaps that's the result of being very good at what you do and becoming an institution. Perfect Paella; perfect service. Doesn't that say it all?

The negro paella was good, but of course can't compare to Spain. We also got it with Spanish rice was $2.50 extra, which was good but not sure if it is a must. The chicken croquette was not bad but not mind blowing. It was overall a good experience with a good service. I would probably come back if I am craving for some paella.

We had a lovely evening at La Paella. Ambience is a lot like a NYC bistro only with more room between tables. We decided to treat it like a tapas bar and shared 7 of the starters. All were great. We'll be back to try the paella. It looked wonderful. One other thing--La Paella is very reasonably priced. I'd like to see a bit more selection on the Wine List.

Great service, great food, lovely place - we had a reservation, I would recommend it. Nicely private tables, even when the restaurant is full.

We've been several times for dinner and had a small dinner party at our home catered. Impeccable service and just lovely people.

I am Spanish and live to try Spanish restaurants when living abroad to see what we offer from our cuisine. I woul recommend the place

i'm really picky when it comes to paella. this is the best paella valenciana i've had in town so far (i'm still looking though). the tapas are very tasty too. i loved the chicken croquettes, odd texture but delicious all the same. the place is great, cozy and intimate. it's basically a living room turned restaurant (kinda like a cuban 'paladar'), so that alone makes it unique. they have an excellent selection of spanish wines and their coffee is great... the espresso i had kept me awake for 72 hours. i can't wait to try their arros negre (seafood and rice cooked in squid's ink... YUM!), and their pitcher(s) of sangria.

Best paella I've ever had.

I am a big fan of spanish food and was impressed with this place. Very tasty tapas and Paella - good service - worth a visit

Overall this was such a great dinning experience. Drove an more than an hour to meet with our friends to celebrate his birthday. Although it doesn't have a kid friendly menu, everything is delicious and very authentic. Great atmosphere as well. Worth the drive for sure!!!

Amazing service, good food.

the service is very friendly and efficient, the tapas are truly authentic and honestly, the best spanish restaurant in los angeles

Our group had mixed reviews...Tapas...the Grilled Squid with parsley, Steamed Mussels with wine sauce and sauteed snails were fresh and cooked perfectly. The slices of salt-cured ham were tough, a bit too chewy! For our entree, we had the Paella Marinera it was good, light spice, can be made spicier. The dish could have had more seafood. We had an assortment of traditional desserts which were very good. The restaurant offers sangria, beers, and mostly Spanish wines. Our server was very attentive, also had a great sense of humor! The ambiance is charming and cozy... do give it a try!

Really great tapas....defintely worth the dough

Authentic Spanish Cuisine. Wine, rice, and ham are imported from Spain.

Flamingo Music mixed with a bit of Julio Inglesias in the background. Wonderful assorted Spanish plates decorating the walls along with a Picasso prints on the walls and then the wonderful smells from the kitchen Was I really in Spain, no just in a really nice spot on San Vicente Blvd. in LA. We were in a rush so the Tapas was our best bet. Shrimp, Calamares, Olives, potatoes in a wonderful spicy sauce, etc. Really nice lunch. The staff was very attentive and helped us very quickly. the Paella looked great, we just did not have the time. We will return for a much more relaxed meal. DO not miss this spot.

great gazpacho, i think the paella is a little better than at Spain Restaurant

Finally a place with Gazpacho Andaluz almost like in Spain. Gambas al ajillo are also nice. Very nice atmosphere, fast service and reasonable prices.

Small Spanish/ tapa restaurant.

Reminds me of Spain!..Like cajun food but the chefs have spanish blood!...LOL

I went here a couple of days after I got back from Spain, so I think the food is average. I would probably think it was better if I hadn't been to Spain for a year or 2. The service is very good and the place has a very nice atmosphere.

This is probably the most authentic restaurant in LA for good Paella. We went with our family and shared a few dishes. The Paella was excellent. Not the cheapest restaurant in town, but worth the experience.

I went to LA Paella with some friends and we enjoyed a great Spanish dinner with real Spanish food, I was amazed!! Tapas are great, the place is cozy and the service is quite nice, so I truly recommend everybody to go!!! Let me highlight that the croquetas were absolutely amazing, my grandmother could have done them!

When I am missing Spain I will some to La Paella. The food authentic and the service is always excellent.

This is a tiny restaurant along San Vicente Blvd, not too far from Wilshire Blvd. You have to make a reservation because there are only maybe ten tables and it gets full as the night progresses. It is ideal for those quiet romantic nights for two, or if you just want to eat in peace, this is the place to go. I particularly love their callos and the black paella! Try it!

So cute

Was a great choice for our anniversary dinner...the decor made u feel like u were in someone's home...the service was outstanding from start to finish. We enjoyed some appetizers, tha paella Valenciana for two and Sangria...apparently, they have a new owner and he loves to interact with the patrons...he's very sociable and makes u feel welcome...I will definitely go back.

Just around the corner from Beverly Hills on San Vicente Blvd. is a charmingly romantic little café named La Paella. Lace trimmed windows, amber lit wall sconces, Spanish music playing softly in the background, terracotta tile floor, twinkling lights line the window and sit upon the tables sends you to the far away country of Spain. Warm and inviting, this little café will become your all-time favorite place for Spanish cuisine. Pasqual (the owner) will graciously greet you at the door and take you to your cozy little table. Service is served with a smile and a beautiful Spanish accent. We started our night with a pitcher of the house sangria- delicioso … Our server Stephanie, was open to suggesting a few popular starters or Tapas. As recommended, we ordered the Aceitunas Rellenas (Spanish Olives with anchovies), Manchego con Membrillo (Spanish sheep cheese with quince marmalade), Jamón Serrano- Importado de España (Slices of imported salt-cured ham from Spain), Champiñones con Chorizo (mushrooms sautéed with Spanish chorizo), Calamares a la Plancha (grilled squid with garlic & parsley), MejillonesCosta Brava (steamed mussels with white wine), Patatas Bravas (friend potatoes tossed with spicy tomato sauce), & my all time favorite – Caracoles al Ajillo (escargot sautéed with garlic and a touch of red crushed chili). After ordering all those amazing tapas… there was no room left for the famous Paella we had originally come for. Next time! However, if you’re a fan of Paella - four types are offered! Each selection made to order and served hot at your table. Attire is dressy casual. Reservations strongly recommended as the venue is very small and they do fill up fast. Parking is street metered, so bring plenty of change. Children are welcome (but not recommended), if you plan to have a quiet & romantic evening. If you go, please send Pasqual our regards and tell him Rocio sent you… Buen Provecho!

We went there twice to celebrate a friend's graduation. They offer great Spanish cuisine, tapas and wonderful wine. The restaurant is pretty , food and service are superb!

Seating for our reservation was on time for this busy weekend night. The atmosphere is very relaxed in a decor that is reminiscent of a Spanish home. Our servers were very attentive and extremely accommodating for our group's sesame and gluten issues. The order came exactly as desired with a great presentation and the taste did not disappoint. We all had sangria by the pitcher. The only criticism is that the sangria seemed a bit diluted. After 2-3 glasses each, no one felt the desired effects.

the tapas were delicious, but the paella wasn't remarkable. I loved that we weren't rushed and we stayed for 3 hours without the bill being shoved in between our conversation.

One of Los Angeles' original Spanish Tapas restaurants is still going strong. After three crappy meals at so-called tapas places in the area, we opted to return to an old favorite at La Paella. Pasquale, the owner, is a very gracious host who welcomed us like old friends even though it's been a while since we've been in for a meal. We ordered Gambas al Ajillo, Croquetas, Pulpo, Patatas Bravas, Tortilla, Champingnones & Chorizo with a modest bottle of wine and made a feast of it. The Tortilla is one of the best in town, tall, densely packed with thin potato slices and it is best eaten warmed with garlic mayo that comes with every table. Every real tapas place does Patatas Bravas its own way, and the sauce here is excellent, with a lemony twist, not overloaded with Ketchup, and no grit from Paprika. Atmosphere is like a country house with a cozy feel. The night we went it was packed so glad we called ahead for a table. We travel to Spain periodically and my husband used to spend a lot of time in Andalusia, so he find the Gambas al Ajillo to be as close as it gets to a trip back his favorite village of Nerja as it gets in Los Angeles. If you are looking for real Spanish food/Tapas made with quality ingredients, served professionally without attitude and price-gouging, this is the place.

As we are big fans of Paella and Spanish food in general, we decided to celebrate our 28th anniversary at what critics recommend as the place for Paella. We were not disappointed. The ambiance was delightful as were the hostess and waiters. We were treated very nicely and given a table by a window. We felt not rushed and truly enjoyed the tapas and drinks. Thank you.

Driving down from the Nikon building on Wilshire Blvd, I got super hungry around lunch hour. Was heading down San Vicente Blvd to eat at a Thai restaurant when I noticed the La Paella sign. Was just talking to my cousin how years ago when I was a teenager, circa 1980s, there used to be a truly authentic Castillian place on Wilshire Blvd where I loved eating Spanish paella. Lo & behold, I spot the La Paella sign. So it was providencial that we had this seafood mix paella. The huge shrimp, mussels, and clams were remarkably scrumptious. Though I must say that the Sangria glass was just so-so. However, Tudor was a gracious host. The place had a lovely ambiance, and was quite popular among several other folks who dined for lunch. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience, and would recommend this place.

Quaint, charming with great service and food. This is one of my favorites places to eat in LA. The food is authentic and even the servers speak Spanish with that Castilian lisp. Really made me feel like I was in Spain again. The jamon serrano, tortilla espanola, and paella were simply delicious. I'll definitely keep coming!

Our reference is Barcelona Spain and among other restaurants as cities as New York. Here at Paella they serve pre - made up-heated not fresh dishes and the Sangria was a watery excuse for the real stuff. The dishes came in very fast which means it was just reheated old food. We ordered: Mushrooms with chorizo - very pre heated with a hard surface. Artichoke with Spanish cured came - ok Fried chicken croquettes - ok Small parts of Scallop - worst ever. Very warm. It was cancelled Shrimp with Garlic Sauce - served very warm. Not OK Slices of domestic salt cured ham - thick dry slices, not very good. This place can not be recommended. The ambiance ok but all the staff ran around, like headless hens, pulling the plates away from the table which is not good at all.

Wonderful retreat from the ordinary. Authentic cuisine and a very friendly staff. We even had a special visit from the owner. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking wonderful tapas and traditional Spanish fare.

The most original Spanish foods you could find in L.A., you don't have to travel to Spain for the real paella, awesome. =) gotta try the sangria, two thumbs up!

I can't remember how I discovered La Paella, I'm guessing either Yelp or LA Magazine, after returning from my trip from Spain in 2008. According to foursquare, my last visit to LA Paella was in 2011, and I can't believe I didn't take the time to do a review until now. The paella is their specialty, and requires a minimum of 2 orders, and run $21 and up, per person, depending on the type of paella you order. Give them about 30 minutes to make it, and enjoy the wait by ordering tapas and a pitcher (or half pitcher) of sangria. We shared a 1/2 pitcher of sangria, house bread with garlic spread and olives, and appetizers serano ham with figs, and the tortilla espanola, which is a potato and onion omelette, served hot or cold. By the time we finished our starters, the paella mixta was ready. I had upgraded our paella with the spanish rice, and asked to have the paella "more crispy" so that the bottom of the pan got a little burnt, making the rice crispy and crunchy. The serving for 2 was plenty, and with the appetizers, had just enough room for dessert and coffee. For dessert we shared the rice pudding, served cold. It was a dense rice pudding, not mushy or creamy , and paired very well with coffee. Overall, the meal wasn't that bad. For 2 appetizers, sangria, paella, dessert and coffee, it came to $100 before tip. Reservations highly suggested on the weekends. DIning at 8:00 was nice, as it was not crowded, and the noise level was low. Service was spot on, and the owner stopped by to make sure we were having a good meal. He even tried to photobomb us.. that rascal! Meter parking on the street, and its free after 8:00 pm. Otherwise, bring coins or use your credit card to pay for parking. If you've never been to LA Paella, it can be tricky to find. Rely on your GPS, and keep an eye out for a tiny street inlet. Its not on the main drag of San Vicente.

Paella is deceptively hard to make well. Many restaurants in the offer claim to offer paella but a lot of it is just latin american chicken and rice. La Paella has the real deal. It's one of the only places in LA to get good, authentic paella. I'd put their paella up against some of the better houses in Spain (and I've eaten at the best of the real deal in Spain). Their tapas and other entrees, especially the fish cooked in salt, are very well made and authentic as well. Some people may just not be into paella. You need to like rice to enjoy it. Spanish food is also very salty. If you don't like spanish food fine, but LA Paella makes spanish food done well. Many los angelenos order the sangria. It's a profit center for them, but no one in Spain orders sangria (it's for the tourist). Check out the spanish wine selection-- marked up for a profit but a very good selection. Staff is friendly and efficient. Setting is clean, homey and nice, if uninspiring. Food is expensive, even considering what you get, but well worth it if you love spanish food. In fairness, there is no way to do spanish food on the cheap-- the good ingredients necessary are too expensive.

Like every year by our visit to LA, we always eat at this Spanish restaurant. There is plenty of choice from the extensive menu. The staff is attentive and friendly and does everything to be able to make you a good night. Is well worth a visit. Best book in advance!

I have been in this restaurant many times and the quality and service are always the best. I love this restaurant and it is one of my preferred restaurant in Loa Angeles