Tapas Flavors of Spain relocated to Mission Viejo, California and had their grand opening in January 2018. The restaurant and nightclub holds a special place in my heart because I had one of my first dates with my now husband at the Newport Beach location 16 years ago in 2002!
Tapas Flavors of Spain features authentic Spanish cuisine that includes entrees and tapas along with live Flamenco shows and Salsa dancing. We were excited to be invited in to dine at Tapas new location at the Kaleidoscope that encompasses 6,500 feet! Tapas Flavors of Spain originally opened in 1998 by a group of close friends with over 30 years of experience in culinary, as well as entertainment. Owners, Stuart and Patricia have brought Spain to life here in Orange County and we are so happy to have such a stellar establishment in our very own backyard, in Mission Viejo.
We were enveloped into a darker, somewhat cozy and romantic atmosphere with fine art all over the walls. In addition to the dining room there is also a bar, a larger dining area for big groups, and an outdoor patio. Positioned in the middle of everything is a large stage for your viewing pleasure to watch Flamenco dancing! Tapas reminded me of a trip my husband and I made to Barcelona with a tour group where we all had the opportunity to see a live Flamenco show and sip sangria. This restaurant had the same feel as though we were in Spain.
We were seated in a great location near the front of the stage where we could enjoy our food and libations and take in the Spanish culture as it flowed freely from the stage that was full of music and dancing. I recommend arriving about 30-45 minutes prior to the show to put in an order for drinks and food so that the tapas can begin flowing and you can dine as you watch the lively show. With complimentary live entertainment and a variety of different tasty options, what could be better for a fun night out with friends, a date night, a party, family time, etc.?
I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from Leese-Fitch in Sonoma. My husband opted for a delicious Spanish beer, Estrella fresh from the tap. There were quite a few awesome draft beers on tap as well as a lovely variety of Spanish wines. Next time I go back I do need to get the Sangria as well!
Our bread with a delicious garlic aioli sauce was delivered promptly to our table to enjoy with our drinks and shortly after, two of our tapas arrived.
We started with an item from the Tapas Fria portion of the menu, named the Tortilla Española which came well-endowed with potato, egg & onion as a lovely omelet. This dish was very tasty and full of flavor. The preparation was also pretty awesome as it arrived at our table still in the skillet. Our Jamón Serrano Sliders dish also arrived from the Tapas Caliente portion of the menu at the same time. Entrees and Tapas come out as they are prepared, unless you request otherwise.
The Jamon Sliders were three mini patties that included blue cheese, caramelized onions & Jamón Serrano. I actually ended up saving one these decadent bites to take home, as I knew there was more food on the way.
The next dish to make its way to our table was a Spanish paella dish prepared with saffron rice, Spanish chorizo, calamari, bell peppers & fresh herbs. I am not a big chorizo or calamari fan, but my hubby loves it and this dish definitely made him smile.
Next up in our meal of delicious tapas was the Gambas Al Ajillo which was a sautéed shrimp in a garlic wine sauce. This dish was one of my personal favorites as I loved the flavor of garlic on the perfectly cooked shrimp! This made my mouth water.
Our next tapa was the Sauteed Mushrooms which were warm and buttery and literally melted in our mouths! We loved this dish.
Last, but certainly not least was my favorite dish we devoured at Tapas, which was the Lamb Chops Madrilènes. This dish consisted of three grilled chops served with a honey aïoli sauce & a bomba. The lamb was cooked perfectly and I was not quite sure of what a bomba was until I dug into the slice of heaven that arrived on our table. A bomba is a seasoned fried mashed potato ball served with garlic aïoli and it was full of flavor. Next time I visit Tapas, I would definitely get the bomba dish as I notice it also comes by itself in a garlic wine sauce on the menu as well!
We thoroughly enjoyed watching the live Flamenco stage in front of us while we enjoyed our meal and drinks! There were some fabulous dancers, musicians and singers, as you can see below.
With complimentary entertainment throughout the week, including live music, Flamenco performances, Salsa dancing and lessons and a happy hour on weekdays, this is definitely a hot spot to visit! Located on the Plaza Level of Kaleidoscope at 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy Suite 221 in Mission Viejo, CA, it is not very hard to find.
Hours for Tapas Flavors of Spain are as follows:
Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday from 4:30pm to 7pm.
Dinner is Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30pm to 9pm.
Flamenco shows are Friday and Saturday from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
Dancing is Friday and Saturday from 9pm until 1:30am.
Tapas Flavors of Spain is currently closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Tapas is an awesome restaurant to visit and a very unique experience that you will love. Have you ever been to Tapas? Please let me know your thoughts below about this restaurant in the comments. Enjoy the show!
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