Paella

You haven't mentioned what city?
Paella is the specialty of Valencia, but of course available elsewhere.

Where are you going to be? It's a regional specialty.

I won’t ask what’s already been asked, but we (a group of 10) had good Paella in both Santiago de Compostela and Palas de Rei. The Santiago restaurant didn’t survive the Covid shutdowns and unless you’re walking the Camino I doubt you’d find yourself in Palas de Rei.

Paella is usually made for groups and takes a while to make. When you see a sign outside restaurants in Spain (I can’t remember the brand) showing photos of 20 different types of individual sized portions, ready in 15 minutes, stay away. I refer to it as Rice-a-Roni paella.

To be a bit more precise, the "paella" is the name given to the large pan where it´s cooked. In Valencia, where this dish is originally from, they call them "arroz" (a "rice") more often than paella. The classic ingredients are "bomba" rice, chicken, rabbit, garrafons (flat green vegetable) and sometimes artichokes and snails if in season. The evolution of this dish has produced dozens of different "rices" that are also known as "paellas", but the original one is far from those ones (it does not mean they are bad, of course). I would have a paella in the Mediterranean, rarely in the Atlantic coast. I´ve had many (Asian mainly) visitors looking eagerly for paella in Bilbao and the disappointment has been huge, of course (although there are a couple of good places).

Oh, sorry. Will be in Madrid

I guess I will hold off on a specific recommendation, places change you know, but there are a number of decent Paella restaurants in Madrid. Being the capital, they get a mix of food from different regions, more so than some of the regional towns, so you will get better Paella in Madrid, than say Bilbao. A number of regions also do rice dishes similar, so do not be put off if a restaurant advertises themselves as an Arroceria. Also, the Valencians are rather adamant that Paella is a mixed meat dish (Chicken, rabbit, pork, snails) whereas a number of people like a seafood dish, there are plenty around, even in Valencia, but it may be advertised more as an Arroz dish, than Paella.

The standard advise is, if it is a casual restaurant that offers Paella in addition to lots else, and can get it to you in 5-10 minutes, you are getting some frozen mix. A good place will need 30 to 60 minutes to prepare the dish to order, there are some places though, that specialize in Paella, that during a busy time will make large portions and divvy them out as ready,

Paul, I’ve read much comments about the rice a roni type of prep. I am looking for a spot that specializes in the dish and certainly don’t mind waiting the prep time. Living in AZ. I have not had a prop Paella in quite some time.

If you really want expert advice, there is a poster called Maribel on the Hungry Onion website whose advice I can vouch for.

rizan—My go-to for food recommendations in Spain (Especially Madrid) is James Blick on the Spain Revealed YouTube. He's a New Zealander whose been living in Madrid with his Spanish wife for 10 years, during which time he co-founded and sold off Devour Tours

Scudder. I have watched several of their videos and jotted down a few suggestions for restaurants in general. I have not had success finding a video where they recommend any paella spots other than one that they said was terrible.

Mar Mia, very close to the Royal Palace, is the place everybody is talking about:
https://www.walksofspain.com/best-paella-madrid/
I do not know it yet but I know the other recommendations on that post, Los Galayos, El Buti, Vinitus and all are very good.

Thank you, Madridman I will check it the article out. Appreciate it.

I’ve read much comments about the rice a roni type of prep

Most likely that would be Fideua. It is a noodle dish, using something like a vermicelli. It also originated near Valencia, and is more likely to have seafood than traditional Paellas. I would think that in Madrid, if you find a good Valencian restaurant, they will have Fideua as well as Paella. Just as an example, this was one place we looked at going, but did not work out, but their menu gives you a good idea of what is on offer, including the Fideua.

Paul, do you remember the name of that restaurant?

Sorry, I thought I added a link.

This was the place we looked at, though I can't vouch for it, since we did not make it there,

https://lapaelladelareina.com/

It seems a good place, indeed. But some hints on the "rice" or paella menu: normally, the simpler and with less ingredients, the better. Paella del Senyoret or A Banda is a rice where all ingredients have been peeled for easier eating (the "Senyoret" is the way they refer to the "Señorito" or the "owner" or "landowner"), so he would not have to get his hands dirty when peeling the ingredients (mainly, seafood). The "Arroz Caldoso" is not properly a paella but a kind of "soupy" rice, very good with lobster (I´m reading the menu in Spanish).