Tapa Tapa — Restaurant in London

I recently dined at Tapa Tapa, a Spanish restaurant in an unexpected London area. The restaurant focuses on traditional tapas, offering a variety of Spanish dishes. The pan y tomate lacked salt and the tomato flavor fell short, overshadowed by an overpowering garlic taste that persisted throughout the meal. However, the boquerones stood out with their well-balanced, vinegary, and herby profile.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the ceviche, even though it's not traditionally Spanish but South American. It was a wise choice for a warm summer evening in London. The ceviche's star was the tiger milk, skillfully balanced with a refreshing citrus kick. The croquettas de jamon were also quite pleasing, with a well-made béchamel, although the ham itself left something to be desired in terms of flavor.

Moving on to classic tapas, the chorizo stole the show with its simple yet delicious preparation. Unfortunately, the tortilla de papà y cebolla was a letdown, being a small, precooked tortilla that was then microwaved, resulting in a dry texture. The absence of ali oli was disappointing, even more so since I had requested an extra portion to dip, which they forgot.

My anticipation for the octopus dish was met with a well-cooked octopus, complemented by Jerusalem artichoke purée. However, the purée was served cold, slightly detracting from the dish's overall enjoyment.

Despite the culinary highs and lows, the outstanding service from the front of the house left a lasting positive impression. The staff were incredibly helpful and polite. While I plan to return due to the excellent service, I would recommend that the chef pays closer attention to the flavors of the dishes and ensures proper seasoning. Perhaps a taste test before sending out each dish could prevent the consistent issue of under-seasoning that I encountered during my dining experience...

After a morning at an exhibition at the ExCel Centre, my 16-year-old son suggested tapas for lunch, leading us to Tapa Tapa, conveniently located en route to Custom House Train Station. From the moment we stepped in, we were warmly greeted and ushered to a cozy sofa and table. The wooden decor created a relaxed, inviting ambiance—perfect for unwinding after a busy morning.

We ordered a variety of dishes, some so good we doubled up! The Chicken Croquettes were a standout, boasting a crispy, golden crust encasing perfectly seasoned chicken. The Tenderised Octopus with a sprinkle of olive dust was pure magic—succulent, soft, and our absolute favorite. The Burger Sliders were as visually appealing as they were delicious, with soft brioche buns, tender beef, gherkin, tomato, and a delightful dressing. These three-bite wonders were devoured quickly!

My son couldn’t get enough of the Fried Chicken Wings in bravas sauce, a perfect balance of piquant and sweet tomato flavors, polished off in record time. The Calamari, beautifully coated and seasoned, paired with a gorgeous alioli, was a shared highlight we savored slowly.

To drink, I enjoyed a crisp pint of Cruzcampo beer and a glass of Bobal, a Spanish red with a cherry-red hue and good density. Its dark fruit notes, Mediterranean herbal character, and balanced tannins with a touch of tart fruit delivered a satisfying finish. Our server, Mevin, was attentive and offered excellent wine and dish recommendations, elevating our experience. The relaxed vibe, flavorful food, and great service make Tapa Tapa a gem I’d happily revisit—next time with my vegetarian mother in tow, as I’m confident they’ll cater to her tastes too.

Highly recommended!

Would I go...

If you are allergic to Crustaceans or seafood, please be aware that you won’t be able to have half the menu. I was very excited to try this restaurant as it’s got really good reviews, it was my Partner’s birthday and he loves Spanish food. When I booked, I warned the restaurant that there was a person with an allergy to Crustaceans (my partner). Upon arrival, we reconfirmed this and they gave us a post-it note with the few things he could eat (a very limited list!) given that most of the things were fried in the same oil they fried prawns with. The croquettes were off-limits and even the Patatas Bravas and Spanish Tortilla (vegetarian dishes) were fried with the same oil. He can eat Octopus and despite the fact that it’s meant to be a grilled dish, they advised it also couldn’t be eaten. This is the first time that in the UK and in Spain we have had such an experience. The restaurant suggested they could prepare the chicken wings in a separate oil and that the salads were safe. Chicken wings and salads are not really dishes you go to a Spanish Restaurant to eat, are they? We were taken aback by the situation and politely told them that we preferred to dine somewhere else. Whilst the whole exchange was amicable and polite (from both sides), our friend who had stayed behind to go to the restroom before leaving, overheard two employees say “what did they want/expect?”. Perhaps we expected potatoes not to be fried with fish, at the very least? … and also, it was empty on a Friday evening - they could have been a little...