by Nomad Quynh

When it comes to foreign cuisine in Việt Nam, Italian, Japanese and Korean are certainly the most familiar. Spanish cuisine, however, is gaining more and more well-deserved attention and has become one of the trendiest foreign foods here these days.

I have to admit that the first time I was introduced to the concept of tapas, I immediately fell in love with it. Who doesn’t like chilling out after a long day of work with a group of friends, a drink and several plates of delicious small bites to share?

Perhaps that’s why it’s no surprise that so many new tapas bars are jumping into the market. Tomatito, known by its slogan as the “sexy tapas bar”, is one of the most recent.

Fans of tapas in Manila and Shanghai are probably already familiar with this name. Indeed, this HCM City branch is Chef Willy Trullas Moreno’s third child, born under the same concept after two other successful openings in the cities mentioned above. What separates Tomatito from the rest of tapas restaurants here is its fun and playful spirit, just as the slogan “sexy tapas bar” promises.

Opened several months ago in the burgeoning foodie area of District 1, a few hundred metres away from the famous Bến Thành market, Tomatito – Spanish for “little tomato” – is set to be one of the most popular places to socialize after work, especially with the nearby metro line project underway.

The entrance to the restaurant is charming with an added element of mystery. Upon arriving at 171 Calmette Street, look for the small opening on the right side of Marou Chocolate Bar, which will turn into a small staircase that leads you to Tomatito upstairs.

Opening the door for me and my companion was a pretty hostess who ushered us to the table we reserved. I looked around. The interior design is chic and modern with the overall tone being red – an appropriate colour for a Spanish restaurant. There are plenty of tables for couples or groups to sit down for a relaxing meal, plus a bar area for guests who prefer some casual drinks and chit-chat.

Tapas are no doubt the heart and soul of this place. But that’s not to say there aren’t other Spanish dishes on the menu. Thanks to the chef’s talent, every dish carries a touch of creativity and its own personality.

We decided to start with “Salmon TNT 2.0” (VNĐ195,000++), the signature appetizer that I’ve heard many rave about. We were not disappointed. It was one of the most unique executions of Balik salmon I’ve had, a wonderful combination with sour cream and truffle honey on top of crispy filled crackers. Just like the name suggests, it was indeed an explosion of taste and it justified the somewhat high price.