El Marques — Restaurant in Da'an District

I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Marques Tapas Bar, and it was an outstanding experience. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm hospitality and a vibrant, authentic Spanish atmosphere.

The menu is a delightful exploration of Spanish cuisine, offering a wide variety of tapas that cater to all tastes. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The patatas bravas were perfectly crispy with just the right amount of spice, and the gambas al ajillo were succulent and cooked to perfection. The paella was a true highlight, rich and savory, capturing the essence of traditional Spanish cooking.

The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, offering excellent recommendations and ensuring our dining experience was top-notch. The ambiance was cozy yet lively, making it a perfect spot for both casual outings and special occasions.

El Marques Tapas Bar is a gem that brings a taste of Spain to our city. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine in a welcoming and vibrant setting. Can't wait to return and try more of their...

Monday morning, walked in and no booking, the place was 80% full, being anti-social we opted to sit at the bar rather then at a table, it turned out to be the perfect place to watch the chefs at work as well as what other people were eating before we ordered.

Got a bottle of Chardonnay with the Gildas, the wine a very characterful and dry, we found it has the perfect pairing with the food.

Garlic shrimps were cooked perfect, needed a little more garlic to our taste (we love garlic), tortilla was a mini version of the classic, cooked fresh and still runny inside. The meatballs was a nice fusion creation and the reconstructed trotters was simply genius! The dessert was on the house, cinnamon ice cream inside a dragon fruit taco, an explosion of flavour yet refreshing.

Chef Jorge took time for a chat a a drink, and together with the lovely lady (sorry we forgot to ask for your name) who served us they made this a warm homely neighbourhood joint. Officially one of my favourite in Taipei, have to come back to try their Gin...

Good service from staff, but quality of the dishes was underwhelming. The potatoes on the octopus + potato dish (pictured) was so soggy, soaked in oil. Every piece i tried to pick up disintegrates and falls off the fork. Basically had to scoop it, and it tasted pretty salty. Garlic shrimp was pretty salty as well.

I could not believe how the paella (for two) was served (pictured). It came in a giant pan and there are sections of the pan where you can see the bottom of pan, as if they ran out of supplies and this is all they could find in the kitchen to put together for the dish. Like come on, i get that we ordered portions for two, but presentation of the dish is a huge part of the dining experience and no self respecting restaurant chef should approve a dish to be served like this. Paella itself was mediocre.

Overall, i thought the prices were high for the food received. Maybe the kitchen was just having a bad day but i most likely won’t be back again for a...