ISO good paella
Need recommendations for good paellas in los angeles. Is "La Paella" any good?
elle-squared
Mar 19, 2006 11:36PM
11 Replies so Far
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try ciudad downtown. i love their paella..
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La Ciudad has a decent rendition of a Latin American paella (using long-grain rice instead of Valencian medium-grain) - BUT it is certainly NOT Spanish.
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Do Latin American versions count? If so, the massive paella at the Cuban restaurant El Colmao is certainly delicious, although it is probably about as Valencian as a pepperoni pizza. Order in advance, unless you feel like munching tostones for an hour.
In Spain itself, great paella doesn't even make it as far as Barcelona, not to say Madrid, so it would make sense that it would be hard to find here.
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Disagree EMPHATICALLY about Madrid lacking great paella - I had a what could only be described as transcendent, life-changing paella experience from a simple street vendor in Madrid that would shame all the Valencian paella I ever had. In fact, a certain paella I had once at a farmers market in neighboring France (Provence) even bettered the Valencian versions I've tried.
Yes, I know Chowhound Team... Keep it in L.A..... I know...
L.A. has many decent Latin American style paellas - I even like the Cuban one at Versailles.
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The Latin American versions - and the arroz con pollo offshoot- tend to use annatto (achiote) as the coloring/flavoring instead of saffron.
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You found it--La Paella IS good, and maybe the best around--but not great.
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La Paella is probably the closest you can get to the real thing in LA.
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Disagree about La Paella - their paella is mediocre at best.
For the most authentic Spanish paella, go to La Espanola in Harbor City on Saturdays for the takeout paella (Order by phone on Friday).
La Espanola
(310) 539-0455
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Doesn't the Spanish Market in the South Bay, La Espanola (link below) make Paella on Saturdays?
I haven't been but others on this board in the past have referred to the paella as the best around here.
Link: http://www.laespanolameats.com/
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YES! I was taken their recently late one Saturday afternoon. Sadly, they were sold out. I will go one day soon for a fix. The owner is so nice. I bought chorizo (pamplona that was divine) wonderful types of Manchego cheese, membrillo-quince paste and homebaked bread.
Definitely worth a trip. Call for directions!
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La Espanola has the closest thing to a real Spanish paella in SoCal currently. It is only available on Saturdays. You must order the day before. See my prior post under this thread for their phone #.
Que aproveche!
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