Tapeo Bar De Tapas y Vino

We wanna save up that avoid Fofo by el Willy and squeezed on Hollywood. The reputation was promising and I though I could at least get average con de tomato or bikini toast. Nuh.
The pan seared scallop was a thumb-​up. They balanced the lightless with a bit pork cube which surprisingly goes on well. Just tenderly cooked while maintains the burnt edge. Then the mackerel sandwich was rather plain. Tapas means greasy and tasty, this one is just not seasoned evenly. Then we looked at next table’s pork belly sizzling by the time we finished our prawn and already looking out for churros. I don’t deny 50% reason I go tapas for the churros. They do it alright. Crispy, falling sugar, hope they steal some cinnamon on top!

Compared to the other tapas restaurants in Hong Kong, Tapeo offers a more casual environment than the rest. Expect a crowd but find a spot and order a sangria/​wine while waiting for your table. All the today’s specials are written on the white board above the open kitchen. Don’t be shy and ask the waiter for recommendations.

If you’re looking to get the closest thing to traditional Spanish tapas in Hong Kong, look no further than Tapeo on Hollywood Road. I love tapas and I guess you could say I’m pretty well-​versed on the abundance of tapas joints in Hong Kong. The newest contenders, like Jason Atherton’s Ham & Sherry and 22 Ships, are very trendy, serving very pretty plates, but sometimes that’s just not what you want when you’re looking for post-​work bites, or after-​hour snacks. You want something gritty (not literally) and unfussed, something that brings it back to that quintessential tapas hole-​in-​the-​wall in Barcelona you remember so fondly — comforting snacks that you cover your drink with while you practice your hopeless Spanish with the barkeep and friends.
The platos pequenos — or small plates — are a good place to start. The pan con tomate here, a classic on any tapas menu, is surprisingly good. Other classics include the patatas bravas, gambas pil pil (I think similar to gambas al ajillo, with plenty of garlic), albondigas or Spanish meatballs, and a variety of tortillas.
We also tried the braised beef cheek with pea purée, PX reduction and horseradish, but tasted sadly underseasoned. Also, have a look at their Specials — there are a usually few gems there, as they often source their foods (and wines) from Spain.
Tip — if you get there before 7pm for an «early bird dinner» (any day), you can get any 2 tapas plus one glass of wine for $ 165. It’s very casual — walk in and walk out.

After spending a couple months in spain «studying» I grew to be in love with the culture — women and food to be specific — and nothing screams Spanish culture like a decent round of tapas.
There are differences between the tapas here compared to Spain, which goes without saying. For example, with a single 300ml glass of beer one receives a free tapa (in Granada). Here, especially in central and Soho, one must buy the beer and the tapa spending at least $ 150. Cost aside Tapeo provides some top quality tapas even to die-​hard tapas-​eaters such as my self. They offer a wide selection of authentic Spanish foods and are quick to recommend their best Rioja.
I’ve visited Tapeo about four or five times now and I generally order similar things, if not the same. A tortilla, some gambas, a bit of lamb, sardines, and their bread with oil. All of which I vouch for, especially the gambas. A little hint: make sure to keep the sauce from the gambas dish to use with the bread! The last time we shared (Yes, sharing is a must) between three, which was perfect because it meant we could sample a range of tapas. Because of the shape of the restaurant, a single L-​shaped counter, it makes groups of above 3 difficult to negotiate, and the people usually ends up splitting into smaller groups. I enjoyed every experience at Tapeo save for the paying part. It is expensive as I tend to need quite a bit to eat before I feel full but the prices are justified by the standard of food and great service, que rico!