El Encuentro is a valencian rice restaurant in Ciutat Vella, Valencia.
El Encuentro on Carrer de Sant Vicent Martir in Valencia's Ciutat Vella is a neighbourhood arroceria with a strong local following, eight rice variations and a daily menu del dia.
Signature dishes: Paella valenciana, Arroz a banda, Fideua
Must order: The paella valenciana for two with the canonical rabbit and chicken, ordered ahead.
Tip: Closed Sunday evening and all day Monday. Reserve weekend lunch a few days ahead.
Address: C/ de Sant Vicent Màrtir, 28, 46002 Valencia
El Rall on Carrer dels Tundidors in Valencia's old town has cooked paellas to order in a tiled medieval-corner dining room since 1980, with one of the wider arroz cartes in the centre.
Signature: Paella valenciana, Fideua, Arroz negro
Order: The paella valenciana for two cooked over wood, or the fideua a banda with seafood.
Tip: Reserve 24 hours ahead for paella. The dining room is small but has an outdoor terrace in good weather.
Kaymus on Avinguda de Maestro Rodrigo in Valencia is chef Nacho Romero's modern Valencian kitchen, with a strong arroz carte, a Mediterranean tasting menu and a serious wine list.
Signature: Arroz, Bacalao, Croquetas
Order: The tasting menu at lunch (around 45 euros), with the chef's choice of arroz that day.
Tip: Reserve through the website. Lunch tasting is excellent value; dinner is the full experience.
Askua on Carrer del Felip Maria Garin in Valencia is a Basque-style grill founded 1994 by Ricardo Gadea, with rotating local-fish specials, chuleton from old dairy cows and a Bunol tomato carte.
Signature: Chuleton, Pescados a la brasa, Tomate de Bunol
Order: The chuleton (old-cow rib-eye) sliced at the table, with a tomato of Bunol salad on the side.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Reserve 10 days ahead. The fish-and-chuleton menu changes daily on a small chalkboard.
Fierro on Carrer del Doctor Serrano in Valencia's Russafa is Argentine chefs Carito Lourenco and German Carrizo's open-kitchen tasting room, with a counter for 16 diners and one menu.
Signature: Tasting menu, Steak, Empanadas
Order: The full tasting menu; there is no a la carte. Add the wine pairing of Spanish-Argentine wines.
Tip: Reserve through the website four weeks ahead. Two seatings per night, dress smart casual.
El Rall on Carrer dels Tundidors in Valencia's old town has cooked paellas to order in a tiled medieval-corner dining room since 1980, with one of the wider arroz cartes in the centre.
Signature: Paella valenciana, Fideua, Arroz negro
Order: The paella valenciana for two cooked over wood, or the fideua a banda with seafood.
Tip: Reserve 24 hours ahead for paella. The dining room is small but has an outdoor terrace in good weather.
El Tap on Carrer de Roteros in Valencia's Carmen quarter is a chef-driven modern Valencian bistro with daily tasting menus and a strong arroz turn.
Signature: Tasting menu, Arroz, Croquetas
Order: The shorter tasting menu (around 38 euros at lunch) with the day's rice.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reserve a few days ahead for weekend lunch.
Vuelve Carolina on Carrer del Correus in Valencia's centre is Quique Dacosta's modern tapas room near the town hall, with a long carte of tapas, arroces and a youthful bar.
Signature: Tapas modernas, Croquetas, Arroz
Order: The croquetas of jamon iberico and the steak tartar; a glass of natural Valencia white.
Tip: Reserve through the website; the room fills with lunchtime office crowds and evening tourists. Good vermut hour.
