A Paella You Won’t Forget: Seafood- and Vegetable-Packed Paella at AQⅢ in Amagasaki

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We heard about a restaurant in Amagasaki serving authentic Spanish cuisine—especially an exceptional paella cooked from raw rice—so we went to take a closer look.

Opened in 2016, the restaurant celebrates its 10th anniversary this April.

The restaurant is near Amagasaki Q’s Mall, about a 10-minute walk from the north exit of JR Amagasaki Station.

The restaurant mainly has counter seating, with one table at the back.

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Drinks are available from lunchtime, along with a variety of dishes that pair well with alcohol.

The owner opened the restaurant after noticing that there were no Spanish-cuisine-focused restaurants near JR Amagasaki Station. They had planned to visit Spain to study the local food scene, but the COVID-19 pandemic made that difficult. Instead, they visited well-known Spanish restaurants and paella restaurants throughout Japan, continuing their research.

To make the paella, large whole-head shrimp, mussels, and other seafood are first sautéed in a frying pan, while the rice is cooked from raw in a separate pot. Since the cooking time varies depending on the condition of the rice and the day’s conditions, the chef determines when it is ready by observing and listening—truly a demonstration of culinary skill.

It takes about 30 minutes to finish, so if you would like to order paella, it is best to place your order as soon as you arrive or reserve it in advance.

The trivet used for the paella pan is from Spain, featuring a colorful and beautiful design. Even while waiting, it is exciting to imagine what kind of paella will arrive.

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“Paella (serves 2)” ¥3,080 (tax included) ※The two-person size became available from August.

Here is the finished paella! Along with an impressive selection of seafood, it is generously filled with bacon, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, and lime. We could not help exclaiming, “Wow!”

As we moved the ingredients aside and took a bite of the rice, the flavor of each ingredient had thoroughly permeated every grain. It was by far the most delicious paella we had ever tasted.

The secret to its flavor is the shrimp used in the paella. Each one is carefully seared with a blowtorch. This helps prevent any fishy odor while adding a fragrant, roasted flavor.

The chef also uses shrimp miso and Kagoshima’s sweet soy sauce in the broth used to cook the rice. Although this is a dish from another country, these flavors gave it a familiar, comforting quality. The texture of the socarrat also differs between the center and the edges of the pan, making it a dish you will want to keep eating.

“Homemade Basque Cheesecake” ¥640 (tax included)

We also tried the “Homemade Basque Cheesecake,” which has recently returned to the menu.

The owner developed this cheesecake after being unable to forget how delicious the Basque cheesecake was at a Spanish restaurant visited during their research trip. Its defining feature is the surface, which is thoroughly baked at a high temperature until deeply blackened.

With its bittersweet flavor and rich cream cheese taste, this cake is ideal not only for those with a sweet tooth but also as an accompaniment to drinks. It is truly an “adult dessert.”

The paella is also available for takeout, making it perfect for a party or dinner at home.

The restaurant offers many other carefully prepared Spanish dishes, including jamón serrano imported from Spain and sangria made with fresh fruit. Whether you visit during the day or in the evening, you can easily enjoy the feeling of being in Spain.

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[Image provided] “Catering Paella” serving 20

The restaurant has also recently started offering “Catering Paella.” It prepared a 20-person paella in a custom-made pan at a care facility, and the dish was reportedly very well received.