In the dregs of winter, the need for a respite grows. And where better to find such a blissful interlude than within the gold standard of Spanish cuisine? Paella takes its name from the traditional frying pan typically used to prepare it and originates just outside of Valencia, Spain. Saffron illuminates the dish in a warm yellow, and rabbit, chicken, and sometimes duck are nestled within a bed of fluffy rice. Over the years, chefs have taken liberties to add all sorts of other meats, seafood, and vegetables. Suddenly, those frigid temperatures don’t seem so intolerable anymore.
Dig in and warm up at these Westchester County restaurants.
Sonora
179 Rectory St, Port Chester; 914.933.0200
Seek out Sonora, which bills itself as a tapas restaurant for modern Latin fusion cuisine, on a Friday, and you’ll find a paella prix-fixe menu offering four paellas: paella de tierra (duck confit, pork tenderloin, chicken, chorizo, rice, and sweet peas), seafood paella (shrimp, clams, mussels, chorizo, and saffron rice with sofrito sauce), special squid ink paella (shrimp, cuttlefish, and rice cooked in squid ink), and vegan paella (farro, pumpkin slices, roasted Brussels sprouts, beets, and cauliflower, topped with tofu aioli). And if that’s not enough, choose between a classic red or white mango sangria to complement the flavors.
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Yuka’s Latin Fusion
2011 Albany Post Rd, Croton-On-Hudson; 914.862.4449
Looking for a paella that has it all? Yuka’s offers a version complete with luscious shrimp, steaming mussels, clams, calamari, chicken, and saffron rice, all served in a chic atmosphere. Founded in 2015 by owner Claudia Villeda and then-partner Mike Guerra, the place offers a refined take on several cuisines in Latin America, craft cocktails, and a special happening every day besides Friday and Saturday, when you’d want to be there anyway.
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The Cube Inn
22 Main St, Tarrytown; 914.372.7974
For paella with a Cuban flair, stop into The Cube Inn for the vegetable version, one of the eatery’s most popular dishes. In this intimate, 40-seat restaurant, you’ll be served a steaming plate of that gorgeous Spanish yellow rice along with roasted vegetables and some fried yuca. You can’t go wrong, unless you try to order it for lunch. This entrée is for dinner only.
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Don Coqui
107 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains; 914.576.7676
Eat. Drink. Party. That’s the motto at Don Coqui, a wonderfully popular restaurant serving authentic Puerto Rican fare, including a mouthwatering take on a classic seafood paella. Lobster? Check. Shrimp? Check. Mussels and calamari? Check and check. Add signature drinks and special events, and this place certainly lives up to its motto. Go ahead, indulge yourself.
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Buleria’s Tapas & Wine Bar
106 Main St, Tuckahoe; 914.600.8639
At Buleria’s Tapas & Wine Bar, if you hunger for paella, you have five different options: marinara (clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, baby squid); de carne (skirt steak, New York strip, chicken, and chorizo); mixta, which combines the two; king prawn (Spencer Gulf prawns, shrimp, chorizo, lima beans); and de verduras (crispy artichoke hearts, chickpeas, seasonal vegetables). Don’t worry, you can’t go wrong. They’re all delicious. And be in the know about the name: “Buleria” is the dance that often ends a flamenco party, in which the artists form a semicircle and come out one by one to dance a part of the piece. This place specializes in celebrating Spanish culture and is especially inspired by Seville, the capital city of Andalusia.
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Related: 13 Standout Latin Restaurants in Westchester County
