New Spanish Restaurant The Paella Mix to Open in Kansas City

News Summary

Kansas City will soon welcome The Paella Mix, a new Spanish restaurant at City Market, specializing in communal dining with traditional paellas and tapas. Owned by chef Carlos Saura, the restaurant aims to bring the vibrant flavors of Spain to life, featuring signature dishes like Paella Valenciana and various tapas options. The venue will also include a private event space, enhancing the culinary scene at the historic market as it nears 100% occupancy.

Kansas City is set to welcome a new dining experience with the arrival of The Paella Mix, a Spanish restaurant specializing in paella and tapas, at the historic City Market. The restaurant will open at 25 E. Third St. in late summer or early fall of 2025, contributing to the market’s goal of reaching 100% occupancy.

The Paella Mix will be owned and operated by Carlos Saura, a chef originally from Seville, Spain. Saura brings extensive culinary experience, having spent the last decade working in Hong Kong where he focused primarily on Italian and French gastronomy. With his new restaurant, Saura aims to showcase the rich flavors and culture of Spain, with an emphasis on communal dining that encourages guests to share and enjoy their meals together.

The restaurant’s menu will be diverse, offering various traditional paellas, including:

• Paella Valenciana – a classic dish featuring chicken, pork, red pepper, and rosemary
• Paella de Mariscos – seafood option with shrimp, clams, and calamari
• Paella Negra – a unique dish made with squid ink, shrimp, clams, calamari, and white wine

One of the highlighted features of the paella served at The Paella Mix is the signature socarrat, a crispy layer of caramelized rice that forms at the bottom of the pan during cooking, providing an authentic flavor and texture that is integral to the dish.

In addition to paella, the restaurant will offer a selection of tapas, which may include:

• Croquetas Caseras – homemade croquettes made with béchamel and jamon
• Patatas Bravas – crispy potatoes served with brava sauce and aioli
• Calamares Fritos – lightly fried calamari accompanied by aioli

Desserts will feature traditional Spanish sweet treats, including Tarta de Queso, a Basque burnt cheesecake, and Crema Catalana, a custard dessert similar to crème brûlée. To complement the food offerings, The Paella Mix will also serve a range of drinks, including both red and white sangrias, beer, Poppi, and soft drinks.

The restaurant will include a private event space located upstairs, which will also facilitate a catering operation allowing Saura to bring his signature paella to various events in the Kansas City area. Guests will have the opportunity to witness the cooking process firsthand, enhancing the dining experience.

In recent news, the City Market has seen some shifts in its culinary offerings. Sushi Nami is expanding and will move into the former Bo’s Kitchen space (108 E. Fifth St.) slated to reopen in September, focusing exclusively on Japanese cuisine. This new location plans to feature fresh sashimi, inventive rolls, and traditional appetizers, while retaining some of its popular signature rolls. Additionally, Richard Ng, co-owner of Bo Lings and Bo’s Kitchen, has sold his interests in Bo Lings to shift his focus towards slowing down and restructuring business efforts.

Meanwhile, Minsky’s Pizza Cafe & Bar is transitioning away from its Tenderloin Grill offerings to prioritize a more consistent selection of pizza while still keeping popular menu items. These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the City Market, as it continues to evolve and enhance its culinary landscape for both residents and visitors.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

New Restaurant Besos y Abrazos Opens in Kansas City

Additional Resources

• Fox 4 KC News
• Wikipedia: City Market, Kansas City
• Startland News
• Google Search: Paella History
• Kansas City Star
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Paella
• The Pitch KC
• Google News: City Market Restaurants
• Sonoma News
• Google Scholar: Communal Dining Culture
• New York Times

Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER

The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.