8 restaurants for dinner in El Raval beyond the temptation of durum and kebabs

BarcelonaEl Raval is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Barcelona, with a density of restaurants that can overwhelm anyone. Between the places designed for passing tourists, the chains that have been occupying corners, and the establishments that have been feeding the neighborhood for decades, choosing where to sit is not as easy as it seems. Those who live there know it: the offer has multiplied, but finding places where the cuisine has soul and the service is genuine requires a bit of discernment.

Despite the neighborhood's fame, in El Raval there are good options beyond durum and kebabs, which are always a temptation. And to prove it, we offer you eight places for a good dinner with very different profiles: from eateries with affordable set menus to signature proposals, including Japanese and Indonesian cuisine, and options for celiacs. All share one thing: roots in the neighborhood and a desire to do things well. You will also find an extra option that is worth keeping on your radar if you are looking for a place to eat.

Ca l'Estevet

Three generations of the same family keep alive this benchmark of Catalan cuisine at Valldonzella street, 46. Pepe Cabot, his mother Anna Ros, and his daughter Carla look after a loyal clientele who come to eat escudella i carn d'olla, fricandó, or brains, dishes that are no longer found in many places. Waiters retire here and remember each person's table and coffee. It is advisable to book, as they have no free tables for two weeks. They are open every day except for Sunday dinner.

Juicy

The roasted duck croquette, the steak tartare with bone marrow and soufflé potatoes, or the skate with black butter: the menu at Suculent makes you want to dip bread without haste. Toni Romero, who worked at el Bulli, has been at the helm of this restaurant at Rambla del Raval, 45, very close to Botero's cat, for over eleven years. To reach the back room, you have to cross the kitchen, which is already part of the experience. Open Monday to Friday, lunch and dinner.

Arraval

Format with Jordi Vilà and Paco Pérez, the chef Àlex López has opened this restaurant at Marquès de Barberà street, 22, with a proposal focused on Barcelona cuisine. The escudella meatball with french fries, the onion soup bikini, and the macaroni vindicate a very local recipe book from a bright space, with capacity for up to fifty diners and a private space. It serves dinners from Tuesday to Saturday.

Cal Robert

If Robert places the specials board in front of you and explains the dishes with his sense of humor, he will have already won you over. At Requesens street, 7, very close to Sant Antoni, this long-standing chef prepares stewed oxtail, meatballs, stuffed squid, and breaded kid goat at popular prices. On the terrace, you will often find musicians from the Taller de Músics, which is next door. Be careful: for dinner, it only opens from Thursday to Saturday.

Pötstot

Eating everything without gluten or lactose and leaving happy: this is the promise of Pötstot, at Pintor Fortuny street, 32, where the mythical L'Hortet used to be. The spinach croquettes in Catalan style, coated with pea panko, the candied leeks with mustard and nuts, and the truffle cannelloni show that allergen-free cuisine can be tasty. Don't miss the vegan cheesecake with lemon jam. The space, with white walls and warm light, invites you to prolong the after-dinner conversation. Open every day, for lunch and dinner.

Carlota Akaneya

Crossing the door of this restaurant on Pintor Fortuny street is like landing in Japan without going through any airport. Carlota Akaneya was Europe's first sumibiyaki a Japanese barbecue where the diner is the one who cooks the meat. The Fukuroi menu includes cuts of Matsusaka Beef and culminates in a nigiri of Ito Ranch sirloin that is difficult to forget. You have to go with your wallet prepared. Open for dinner every day and for lunch on weekends.

Makan Makan

The rendang of beef cooked for six hours over low heat with finely chopped grated coconut is the dish everyone asks for at Carrer Lluna, 4. Andrey Finanta has been cooking Southeast Asian recipes inherited from his Javanese grandmother there for seven years. Also worth trying is the shao mai, a steamed dumpling filled with pork, oily fish, and shrimp, and the pangsit goreng. In winter, the soto ayam soup is as comforting as few things are. The place is small: book ahead. Dinners from Tuesday to Saturday; Saturday also serves lunch.

Muy Buenas Bar

Entering Carme street, 63, is to come across modernist Barcelona: a bar from the 1920s carefully restored, with covers of the magazine El Patufet on the walls and a bathroom that distinguishes between maidens and heirs. The menu follows suit: cod with ratatouille, meatballs with cuttlefish, wild boar civet and Catalan cream. All recognizable, all well done. They have a good selection of Catalan wines and liquors. Open every day for lunch and dinner, and on weekends it has continuous hours.

For a home-style meal: La Grangeta del Raval

Nineteen years serving breakfasts and midday menus in the neighborhood, now in a new and much larger premises on Peu de la Creu street, right in front of the ARA newsroom. Xavi Serna, Isa Hidalgo, and Paco Hidalgo keep the handwritten menu with starters, mains, drinks, and desserts. Fideuà, macaroni with cheese and hazelnut sauce, breaded hake: all homemade and at a price that hasn't changed. Upstairs, there is also a space that collects the legacy of L'Hortet. Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.