Emily Eats Everywhere

How We Ended Up Here: 

Looking for a new tapas place to try Alicante, we stumbled upon Tapería La Boya. With over a thousand reviews and a 4.5 star rating, our expectations were high. But did it live up to the hype?

The Vibes:

We went to Tapería La Boya’s Albufereta location, right next to Albufereta beach. It’s a cute, small restaurant with more outdoor seating than indoor. It’s always packed with Spaniards and tourists alike, and the tables are so close to each other you have to squeeze around everyone. It’s got cool, chaval vibes, and the food comes fast.

What To Know:

There is no parking. And parking in the area is hard to come by. Be prepared to park far away (10-15 minutes walking) and walk to the restaurant. But with the beach nearby and the hills of Alicante in the distance, it’s a pretty walk. 

What We Ordered: 

We came for dinner, just the two of us, so we ordered the classic patatas bravas con salsa secreta—traditional fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and creamy garlic mayo—and two pulpitos—fried octopus with special sauces. 

I saw their hojaldre—a delicious puff pastry treat with a creamy inside—on the menu before we came and I was so disappointed when the waitress told me they didn’t have it that day. When do they make it? Depends on the chef, depends on the day. 

What We Thought: 

First came the patatas bravas. Unlike traditional fried potatoes, these were thinly sliced almost potato-chip-style tapas. They were covered in the special sauce, which was similar to the traditional brava sauce, along with a chimichurri-esque chopped parsley and olive oil dressing as well. 

Here’s the thing… I LOVE alioli, that delicious creamy garlic mayonnaise that Spain is known for. So, patatas bravas without the star of the show?!? No-go for me. If they would have had alioli, they would have been a solid 9/10, but since that was missing, they get a 7/10.

⭐ Patatas bravas: 7/10 

Now for the octopus. Portion sizes were big, the octopus was cooked wonderfully and it had a very light batter that made it feel just slightly fried. There were two sauces, a creamy red sauce with a little bit of spice and a fresh and fruity purple sauce with an interesting texture. 

The octopus was mainly seasoned with paprika, quite a bit of paprika. Since that’s not my favorite seasoning, after a while it became a little overbearing. Overall, it was a yummy dish, but I prefer my pulpito grilled. Solid 7/10. 

⭐ Pulpito: 7/10 

Final Price Tag: 

Dinner for two came out to €43.45 euros. This place is very reasonably priced, we just ordered one of the most expensive options on the menu: octopus.  

The Million-Dollar Question: Would you come back? 

Tapería La Boya has a lot of different options on their menu, and since we only tried two, I would come back to try other tapas. 

I think the best way to experience a tapas restaurant is with a group of 4-6 people, where everyone orders a different menu item and everything is shared. 

Next time I go, I’ll have to try the garlic shrimp, the honey eggplant, and some montaditos to top it all off. And hopefully the chef is in a good mood and they have hojaldre that day. 

Tapería La Boya Information

Address: Av. de la Condomina, 19, Alicante, Spain

Website: https://taperialaboya.com/

Operating Hours: 12pm–5:30 pm, 8 pm–12 am. Closed on Mondays.

Average Cost Per Person: €20–30