Jaleo by José Andrés

Location

Disney Springs in West Side

Summary

This restaurant from celebrity chef José Andrés brings classic Spanish cuisine to Disney Springs’ West Side neighborhood. We think Jaleo is one of the best restaurants in Disney Springs.

Setting and Atmosphere

Jaleo’s entrance is an expansive, open space with tile mosaics and large-scale photo murals of iconic Spanish scenes on the walls. Warm colors from lighting in the kitchen and dining areas bathe the restaurant, reflecting off metal accents. The highlight is the paella pit and accompanying view into the kitchen—every time one of the massive paella dishes has finished cooking, the chefs ring a bell and the entire restaurant joins in the celebration.

House Specialties

The restaurant serves Spain’s famed aged ibérico ham. A selection of Spanish cheeses and, of course, traditional pan de cristal con tomate are both good first courses. Garlic shrimp and grilled chicken with garlic sauce burst with flavor, highlighting incredibly fresh produce and tons of herbs (with rosemary and cilantro at the fore). Our table nearly came to blows fighting over the last morsels of patatas bravas—fried potatoes topped with spicy tomato sauce and aioli. As for the paella, it’s decent. The kitchen seems reluctant to serve the socarrat—the intensely flavorful crispy rice at the bottom of the paella pan—to Americans. To us that’s like serving Thanksgiving turkey without the skin. Ask the waitstaff, though, and they’ll bring you some.

Other Recommendations

Drinks are on par with other Disney Springs restaurants in terms of pricing and quality: $12–$16 will get you a cocktail off Jaleo’s varied drink menu, with beers in the $8–$9 range and a highquality selection of vermouth. The wine menu is extensive, featuring a pretty nifty table at the front describing standard wine qualities and colorcoding them on the subsequent menu.

Menus

• Lunch
• Dinner

Details

Requires Credit Card to Reserve: Yes
Requires Pre-payment in Full: No

Discounts

Photos