Eastern District Spanish Tapas Bar — A comforting potato omelet that warms the soul

Text and photos byPaperclip 'Food Photography Joy'

One day, after exiting Zhongxiao Dunhua Station, I walked down the alley lined with Adidas and Swatch flagship stores, heading toward Civic Boulevard. As I strolled along the lane, I stopped at the traffic light just before reaching Civic Boulevard and spotted an intriguing restaurant across the street — "Youth TAPAS." In this area known as Taipei’s grilled meat street (though there are far fewer grilled meat shops these days), having such a uniquely styled eatery really stood out. I went up to check the menu and sure enough, it specialized in Spanish cuisine. I made a mental note to gather some friends for a feast someday.

When it comes to Spanish food, my experience can be counted on one hand. The first time was at Guandu Migratory Bird Habitat over a decade ago, and I went again once after that. Later, in London, I also had an authentic tapas meal with my brother and sister-in-law. That’s about it. Taipei does have other Spanish restaurants, but they never seemed to be on my radar. This time, I gathered a few college friends — partly to celebrate a birthday and partly to try out this new spot. A win-win plan.

Youth TAPAS isn’t very big, and its black-and-white sign is quite recognizable among the surrounding eateries. When I arrived, there was only one other table occupied, and my friends hadn’t shown up yet. Even so, the music was playing loudly and the atmosphere was lively. The waitstaff, all young, were getting ready for what might become a busy evening.

Since it’s a tapas bar, most of the dishes offered are small but varied, perfect for pairing with drinks — things like skewers, cutlets, meatballs, stews, sausages, seafood, and omelets. And of course, no Spanish meal would be complete without the iconic Spanish paella. Worried about being overwhelmed by too many choices, the restaurant also offers set menus tailored to group sizes, averaging around NT$800 per person. It’s not exactly cheap, but in my experience, that’s about the going rate for Spanish food in Taipei.

While waiting, I ordered a pitcher of Sangria (NT$580). This drink could be called Spain’s national beverage. It’s typically made with sliced fruit, red wine, spirits, and soda water, resulting in a deep red color — hence the name “Sangria,” where “sang-” comes from the Latin word for “blood.” You can also substitute the red wine with white to make Sangria Blanca (blanca = “white”), which Youth TAPAS also offers. The taste is naturally very sweet, with little alcohol, but do remember: “Don’t drink and drive!”

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As I chatted with one friend who had arrived earlier, the waiter brought out a small plate of appetizers after we’d ordered a few items. It was ice cold, probably just taken straight out of the fridge, and didn’t do much to whet our appetite in the chilly weather ^^

Soon, the other two friends arrived, and our first round of dishes started coming out. First up was the potato omelet (NT$180). Visually, it looked incredibly indulgent — the surface was covered with gooey melted cheese and drizzled with mayonnaise.

The ratio of potatoes to eggs was just right. Each bite delivered tender, fluffy bits of potato, while the omelet itself was savory, complemented by smooth, rich cheese on top. It’s the kind of dish that gives you a warm, happy feeling in the winter.

Parma ham rolls with cantaloupe (NT$160). I’d assumed this was a classic Italian appetizer, but turns out you can enjoy it at a Spanish restaurant too. The combination of cured ham and cantaloupe is something I’d tried years ago at a now-closed Roman-style Italian restaurant in the Eastern District. Though the ingredients seem like an odd pair, the flavor combo is unforgettable once you try it.

Unfortunately, the melon-ham combo at Youth TAPAS that day didn’t quite hit the mark. Perhaps the cantaloupe wasn’t in season, as it lacked sweetness and juice, making it unable to balance the saltiness of the ham.

Spanish seafood salad (NT$280). It’s a cold dish, with just a thin layer of seafood on top — the rest was mostly alfalfa sprouts.

Spanish spiced beef meatballs (NT$220). The tomato-based red sauce was rich, though the meatballs were a bit dry. But once coated evenly in the sauce, it helped make up for it.

Grilled herb chicken rolls (NT$220). The chicken was slightly dry, served with basil pesto.

Since tapas portions are small, the four of us chatted and ate, quickly finishing plate after plate. By then, I was about six or seven-tenths full. After waiting another five minutes or so, the star of the meal — the hefty Spanish seafood paella — arrived in all its glory. Abroad, paella is usually served in massive portions for ten people, but luckily Youth TAPAS offers smaller sizes, with options for two or four people. We went with the four-person portion (NT$1060).

The paella at Youth TAPAS wasn’t extraordinarily outstanding, but the seafood was fresh and delicious, and the rice had a rich, satisfying texture. Even though we were already around six or seven-tenths full, we couldn’t help but keep scooping more onto our plates.

In the end, the total bill came to NT$2970 including service charge, averaging about NT$740 per person. If I had to nitpick, the music was really loud, making conversation a bit difficult. Also, for reasons unknown — maybe they forgot or simply didn’t provide them — we didn’t get any water glasses, which left us thirsty from all the talking. I thought about asking the staff, but with time running out, I let it go.

[info]

Youth TAPAS
https://www.facebook.com/YoungForeverTapas/
Address: No. 147, Section 4, Civic Boulevard, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-25777755
Business Hours: 14:00 – 01:00

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