Tapas lobito — Restaurant in Barcelona

EL JAPONÉS Escondido @eljaponesescondido Fresh place in Tokyo style. It's hard to get there, so book in advance. Adorable Juan met us at the doors and showed us our table (or even he can give you a choice, if you are lucky). In a second a waitress came to explain us everything about menu and how it works (you need to tick the boxes of what you chose) and leaves you for exactly 2 minutes so you can choose your drinks. For a starter we ordered couple cocktails and it was a great choice. Japones style Pisco Sour with a velvet foam and sake based variant of caipirinha were ideal to start the night of hadonism pleasures. We decided to try their edamame, couple of sushi rolls, chicken wings and a sandwich that all reviews praise. What can we say?! The food is delicious! But as it's a new place, of course, there are a couple of things that a bit spoiled our general experience. Sake was brought after we reminded tow times that we had ordered it to have together with our food. One mistake with our order, another dish was brought that we didn't asked for, so we had to wait a bit more for the right one. And if you pretend to be a fine dining, would be good to ask if there are any allergies. And yes, our beloved place in any bar or a restaurant: the toilet! Is it so hard to put a bin by the 🚽? All in all we liked our dinner and the time at EL...

Tragaluz has decided to turn “El Japonés Escondido” to “Tapas Lobito”, and that is deeply sad.

I can 100% understand the prior concept may have not been working and required change. It’s sad (for I loved the concept of “El Japonés Escondido”); but understandable.

My problem is with the proposed solution: the most non-descript Tapas Bar you could think of. The menu is a checklist of all the things a “Barcelona Tapas Bar” gotta have, mixed with some random stuff that’s hot now.

This is not me being a contrarian or a snob; but I do think a restaurant gotta have something to say, a proposal that feels genuine. This instead feels like designed by an algorithm that is making sure the place will amaze a tourist who doesn’t know better. The exact formula that’s deeply inauthentic and yet can fool non-Spaniards into thinking it actually is super authentic. It isn’t. You could roam the most touristic neighborhoods and you’ll easily find other 20 restaurants with a menu that’s 80% the same as this one.

I feel a bit bad, because the team behind “El Japonés” was amazing and maybe they’re still behind “Tapas Lobito” and yet here I am, saying this. I must be clear: service and atmosphere are great; but this change just goes to show how the city feels it gotta lose a part of its soul in order to perform “the idea of Barcelona” a tourist...

We had been searching all through Spain for the perfect spot that combined excellent sushi with authentic Spanish tapas—and we finally found it at Tapas Lobito. From the moment we sat down, the experience exceeded every expectation.

Our main server, Juan, was simply outstanding. His warmth, attentiveness, and deep knowledge of the menu made the entire evening memorable. He guided us through the sushi selections as well as the signature tapas, ensuring we got the best of both worlds.

The food itself was unforgettable. You must try the chicken and imperial ham croquettes—crispy, creamy perfection. The eggplant tapas were rich and flavorful, and the garlic shrimp tacos were absolutely off the chart. Pair that with their sushi, and you have a combination that feels both authentic and innovative.

Having dined in Madrid, Córdoba, and Seville on this trip, I can confidently say that this was the best dining experience we’ve had in Spain. The food was incredible, but the service truly elevated it—Juan deserves all the credit for making us feel welcome and taken care of.

If you’re in Barcelona and want a place that captures both the creativity of Japanese sushi and the soul of Spanish tapas, Tapas Lobito is the place to go. We will...