Honest Bao

As a big city and famous for seafood, it's no surprise that Barcelona has some quality Japanese restaurants. It seems people are really crazy for them here too, as I really struggled to find any online availability when I tried to make a reservation. They are definitely busy, but not 100% full every day. Stay until the end of the post for a little tip to secure a table. Good quality tuna from Spain Sato I Tanaka, a small, unassuming spot that promised an omakase experience for less than the price of a flight to Japan. The moment I walked in, I felt like I was back to Japan. A long, elegant wooden counter, the quiet clatter of knives, and a chef who looked like he knew his way around a fish. This was the real deal. Love the red prawn We went for the lunch tasting menu, and at under 50 euros, my expectations were set to "cautiously optimistic." I mean, I've paid more for a sad-looking sushi platter in London. But what arrived was pure magic. The rice was  perfectly seas...

The second part of my Barcelona journey is here, and it's all about the glorious, chaotic world of tapas. As I moaned about in my Madrid post, I just didn't get the tapas scene there. But Barcelona? Barcelona is the tapas kingdom I was promised. And let's be real, I’m already planning my return just for another shot at the city’s culinary magic. Here’s the rundown on my tapas-fuelled escapade: Tapeo Bon This place is, without a doubt, the single best tapas experience I’ve had in all of Spain. Sorry, Madrid, but it's true. Stepping inside, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a top-tier tapas joint: a small, bustling, and wonderfully chaotic space that buzzes with the kind of energy that makes you feel like you've just been invited to the world's best dinner party. Amazing mini burger, sorry for out of focus picture  The food, though. The food is just on another level. The foie gras burger is a religious experience. It’s a tiny, perfect morsel of a mini-burger, bu...

Alright, this time, I’ve left the rain-soaked streets of England for the sun-drenched shores of Barcelona. A city of surreal Gaudi architecture, late-night tapas, and a seafood scene that will make your taste buds do a little Flamenco dance. Spain, a country bordered by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, knows a thing or two about pulling delicious creatures from the deep blue. So naturally, my first mission was a pilgrimage to the city's best seafood joints. Lluritu: The Unpretentious Seafood Sorcerer Good decor and vibe Now, I'm not one for frills and fancy tablecloths. Give me a place that lets the food do the talking, and I'm a happy Bao. Lluritu is exactly that kind of place. Tucked away in what feels like a local's secret spot, this restaurant serves seafood that is so fresh, it practically winks at you from the plate. The cooking method? A glorious ode to simplicity. A whisper of olive oil, a gentle caress of garlic, a sprinkle of salt. It's so basic it'...