Post by Chiefeater Khor Hui Min

Trying a new restaurant is like embarking on an adventure into the unknown because there are no reviews or very few. So I was excited to sample the food at El Cero Tapas Y Vinos in KL, which was newly opened in March 2023.

I made reservations to dine during the off-peak time of 2pm to avoid the lunchtime crowd. I spoke to Victoria, the friendly manager, and she said the popular dishes were the tapas and the paella. So I sampled one of each type. Since I loved seafood, I ordered the Paella Con Mariscos, which consisted of organic Spanish short-grain rice, scallops, squid and king tiger prawns, cooked in a saffron sauce. For the tapas, I ordered the Gambas Al Ajillo, which was tiger prawns flavoured with olive oil, fresh parsley, chilli and garlic. Victoria said this was the most popular tapas on the menu.

The Paella

The paella was a pleasant golden orange hue, and the seafood was fresh and juicy. I particularly enjoyed the squid and prawns, and the crunchy bits of rice at the edges. The lemon juice we squeezed onto the dish really brought out the flavours of the rice dish, and I was tempted to ask for more lemon wedges. ;-) I'd imagine that Spanish expats might find this dish like a warm hug from home.

The Tapas

However, the real showstopper was Gambas Al Ajillo. The tapas were brought to our table in a visually impressive, bubbling swirl of hot olive oil on a small cast iron pan. The aroma was so appetising that we wanted to dip the slices of bread served with the dish into the oil right away, but refrained to let the dish cool down first. The soft bread with crusty edges soaked with high-quality olive oil, and topped with thin slices of garlic, bits of parsley and pieces of plump tiger prawns was a feast for the tastebuds. Definitely a gratifying experience for the senses.

If you want to try Spanish food, tapas and paella here are a good place to start. The chef from Spain has over 20 years of experience and most of the ingredients are sourced from Spain itself. The beautiful interior decor and murals were done based on an authentic Spanish concept. I felt the ambience is relaxed and romantic, suitable for a date night or a celebration with family and friends.

Parking

I thought it was a worthwhile trip to make. Although roadside parking is limited, there is a 24-hour open-air car park nearby that charges RM3.00 an hour, which I think is reasonable for the KL city centre. The leisurely walk from the car park to the restaurant took approximately 7 minutes.

Business Hours
Opens Daily
09:00 am - 11:00 pm