Dos Besos

Tucked away in Old Town Pasadena, Dos Besos brings the sun-drenched flavors of Valencia’s coast to Southern California. This Spanish tapas and paella spot strikes a lovely balance between refined and relaxed, with brick walls, patterned tile floors, and an open kitchen where you can watch chefs tending to the wood-fired oven. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to dress up just a little, order some sangria, and settle in for a leisurely meal.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the paella, and Dos Besos takes it seriously. Give them 30 minutes and they’ll deliver a skillet of rice that’s tender on top with that coveted socarrat—the caramelized, crispy bottom layer that paella devotees dream about. The Paella del Mar comes loaded with shellfish, but the saffron-infused rice itself steals the spotlight, each grain saturated with white wine and garlic. The squid ink version offers something more dramatic, staining the rice jet-black with an intensely briny, umami depth.

Beyond paella, the kitchen shines with simple preparations that let quality ingredients speak for themselves. The pan con tomate demonstrates how satisfying good bread, ripe tomatoes, and excellent olive oil can be, especially when topped with slices of five-star Ibérico ham. The tortilla Española arrives thick and impossibly creamy in the middle, while tender octopus gets the Galician treatment with little more than olive oil and paprika.

Dos Besos works for nearly any occasion—a first date, a birthday dinner, or an evening with colleagues who appreciate a well-curated wine list. Expect to spend around $100 per person, which feels reasonable given the quality. Just remember to sort out parking beforehand (yes, even in Old Town). A small inconvenience for what amounts to one of the best paella experiences in the LA area.