The story
Paella is meant to be shared — though not everyone wants to.
Sharing has never been easier at Paella & Tapas, an unassuming food truck tucked in the heart of West Pasco that turns out skillets for lunch and dinner.
Owner and chef Patrit Gocaj, a naturalized American from Albania, learned to cook paella in Spain before coming stateside. He offers several versions, including a chicken-only dish and a vegetarian option.
“I do it like they do in Spain,” Gocaj said. “It’s not fast food — it’s quality. That’s what it should be, because it’s paella, and the people who come for that, that’s what they want. I can’t make paella for $10. It’s about $30, but I’m still selling it for half of that.”
The dishes are built for groups. The smallest skillet feeds two, and the largest, a pan so wide it looks like a bid for a world record, serves 10.
Customers drive from as far as Lakeland and Orlando for the authentic Mediterranean flavors, Gocaj said. Weekends are the busiest, in part because paella isn’t something to be rushed.
“Paella is hard — that’s why not many make it at home,” he said. “I’d say 90% of people love paella in the summer. It comes by the pan, in big batches, and they’re coming from all over. In New Port Richey, not so much.”
Choose your own adventure
Gocaj knows seafood isn’t for everyone, and that paella isn’t for anyone who doesn’t like seafood.
“They just won’t like paella, even if it’s no seafood, or just chicken, or no protein at all,” he said.
That’s why the menu runs wide. One version pairs chicken and chorizo. Others go all-in on seafood, including a lobster-tail option. A simpler plate offers just rice and shrimp.
The top seller is the mixed paella, which includes every meat on the menu and starts under $20. There’s also a kid’s portion.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised when a kid likes paella,” Gocaj said, “but I’ll make it for them any way they want, no problem.”
Pro tip
Start with croquettes or empanadas. Gocaj doesn’t serve the small plates most diners picture when they hear “tapas” — the cured meats, olives and toast — so the fried starters fill that role. The croquettes are a steal: 10 for $9.
Final verdict
Paella isn’t for everyone, especially the no-holds-barred version loaded with every meat and shellfish that will fit in a skillet. But for the curious and the devoted — and Gocaj has plenty of both driving in from out of town — Paella & Tapas is a solid option, no white tablecloth required.
Even if you’d rather not share.
Dining and Cooking