Spanish Diner in Mercado Little Spain is a vibrant, spacious cafe that offers a casual twist on homestyle Spanish comfort food in a lively atmosphere.
"If an American diner suddenly appeared in Spain, what would the menu be like? That seems to be the thesis of this admirable casual cafe in the Little Spain Mercado complex at Hudson Yards. There is more overlap with the regular American diner menu than you might suppose, including omelets, potato salad, tomato soup, and sandwiches." - Melissa McCart, Robert Sietsema
"Spanish Diner in Hudson Yards from Jose Andres offers deals all three weeks at both lunch and dinner. The $30 lunch is three courses that might include a tuna empanda, Catalan beef stew, and churros with chocolate. The $45 dinner adds another first course choice, and wine is $10 per glass at both meals." - Robert Sietsema
"This spot occupies a key place in Jose Andres’ Mercado Little Spain, a take on the traditional diner with a sprawling and eye-appealing setting where lots is always going on. What could be a better summer starter than a bowl of cold gazpacho, followed by an entree of pollo guisado spiked with sherry? It’s $30 lunch only." - Robert Sietsema, Melissa McCart
"Hudson Yards is full of people who are “working for the weekend,” and those people require Happy Hours to tide them over. Many of the establishments in host “sangria hour” with discounted drinks and snacks from 4-7pm. But Spanish Diner, a huge separate restaurant with its own courtyard and TVs playing sports, feels more like the bustling bar you want to let loose in after work. Come for the tapas and sangría de cava, and if you’re still hungry, stay for dinner combo platters of jamón-stuffed pork loin or seared squid. Or start your day with a solid breakfast of Arroz a la Cubana with ibérico sausage and eggs. They do have “diner” in the name, after all." - Neha Talreja
"Shortly after dusk, the crowd at Spanish Diner in Hudson Yards gasped. At another José Andrés restaurant, a modernist foam or “liquid” olive might’ve prompted such a reaction. But on this warm September night, good Iberian food was not the main event. Folks were here to watch live television. As my friends and I mopped up briny mussel juice with potato chips, at least three giant projection screens showed American tennis star Frances Tiafoe succumbing to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in a U.S. Open semifinal match. It wasn’t quite the same as being at Flushing Meadows, but the Euro-leaning crowd seemed to enjoy the outcome, and the energy was absolutely electric." - Ryan Sutton
