Don Quijote is often described as an experience. What sets the Don Quijote experience apart from most restaurants is its authentic Mediterranean cuisine and Spanish heritage. These days, International food has become the rage. At don Quijote, it’s a passion. For over 40 years, Don Quijote has honored what it really means to be immersed in the most delicious parts of Spanish culture. We welcome you to try a variety of tapas, sangria, paella, fresh seafood, or one of Elena’s remarkable desserts. Fans of Spanish wine will love the diverse collection of Chef Carlos. Cheers!
Established Spanish restaurant serving classic entrees & tapas in a traditional, candlelit setting.
Ricardo Cervantes
First time eating here. Let me start by saying the owners of this place are amazing, they make everyone feel very welcomed. They will talk to every table we even got free samples of other food just so we can try it. The food is just as incredible. We had the croquetas and pállela for two and the pitcher of sangria. For dessert we had the flan. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. It is no wonder it has been in business for over 40 years.
… moreMauro Picardo
The food was outstanding and the service was absolutely wonderful. This was our third time dining here, and once again, everything exceeded our expectations.
The Tortilla à la española was cooked to perfection, and the Cordero asado was incredibly tender—literally melting in your mouth. We also had the pleasure of meeting Carlos, the owner, and his business partner, Mrs. Elena, who is in charge of desserts. Both were extremely kind, welcoming, and generous. Elena’s flan deserves special mention—it had a truly unique and unforgettable flavor.
To top off an already perfect evening, they surprised us with a complimentary bottle of wine. Exceptional food, impeccable service, and genuine hospitality.
Highly recommended. We will definitely be back.
… moreMelissa Freeman
Highly recommend this restaurant! Our servers, Ed and Morgan, provided excellent service to our group and ensured that we felt welcomed and comfortable. They timed everything perfectly, descriptively described dishes, and kept our waters filled. Service was complemented well by the tasty red sangria, tapas, and marinara paella to create a memorable experience. Carlos can sure throw down in the kitchen! We made sure to save room for dessert. We ordered the flan, lime ice pie, pear, and blueberry desserts. So delicious! These all paired especially well with the port wine that was offered to us. We look forward to returning. Thank you so much for everything!!
… moreMile Dom
Don Quijote in Valparaiso is a fantastic spot for authentic Spanish cuisine. The food is flavorful and well-prepared, especially the paella and tapas like croquetas and patatas bravas. Great wine and sangria selection, friendly service, and a warm atmosphere. Highly recommended for a memorable dining experience.
… moreJuliana Ford
If we could give 100/10 we would!
The food was incredible, highly recommend the calamares en su tinta, and the flan for dessert.
Elena was incredibly sweet and treated us like family.
Healthy portions, attentive staff and each bite continuously tasted like the first.
We WILL be back!
… moreLisa Lindholm
For over 30 years we have driven the Route between Elkhart Indiana and the suburbs of Illinois to visit family. We have seen the Dan Quixote billboard for that long and always mentioned that we want to go. Well last night, on June 20th, summer solstice evening of 2025, we finally stopped! This place felt magical to us. It’s so quaint and such an Amazing atmosphere. We dined outside on the most beautiful evening. Our server Thomas was so fun and very attentive. The appetizers, soup, entrées, dessert, and wine were all out of this world! Very authentic The proprietors, Carlos and Elena, treated everyone there like family. You just don’t see that very much anymore. It’s obvious they have poured their hearts and souls into this restaurant for the past 40 years. The experience there was just as magical as the food. We can’t wait to go back! If you’re driving through the area on the tollroad, Don Quixote is worth the time a little bit off of the highway in downtown Valpo.
… moreCheryl Zelek-Rodriguez
To begin with, the bread and garlic cream spread starter was unmatched; had to buy a container of the spread to go, it was so good!. Every item we tried (and we tried many) from appetizers to desserts was impeccable and the service every bit as impressive. The servers were friendly, attentive, informative and always right on time. A table of four, we all ordered separately and a pan of paella to share. We ended up sharing everything because it all looked so good, you just had to try it all! The port wine paired with dessert was perfect and the sangria…don’t get me started!
My husband has been on a quest for the perfect paella; I think he found it and more at Don Quijote!
Quaint, cozy atmosphere, tremendous food and service. Overall, five star dining experience. Don’t miss out!
… moreAnne Knudsen
Maybe I ordered wrong or it was an off day but having eaten authentic Spanish food that my sister-in-law has made, this wasn’t authentic. The manchego cheese tasted like mozzerella. The bread was soft, not crunchy and the meal was fine but not authentic Spanish. Like I saide maybe it was an off day because I’ve seen many wonderful reviews. The service and atmosphere were good.
… moreMelissa Hack
Our server was absolutely incredible and created an atmosphere that truly helped to elevate our already fantastic dining experience. The food was phenomenal and the owner came out to greet us. I already can’t wait for our next visit
… morePaula West
Everything about this place was an absolute treat. From the care that the servers took and making us feel welcomed and explaining all of the variety of options, to the owner actually coming out and greeting us making us feel very welcomed. I would recommend a reservation if you need one as it does get very busy, but we were able to go early and enjoy our meal. There was live music that was not too loud at all and he was very talented, it was very much a relaxed atmosphere. When it came to the tapas, we got the combo platter and it was an absolute treat. The variety was amazing and all of the things you could want were on there. I’m told some of their best stuff! We completely cleared our plate of appetizers, and couldn’t imagine how good the main entrees would be. I got crab stuffed flounder, and it was cooked to perfection. Served with vegetables and the best Spanish rice I’ve had in my life. Hands down. No questions asked. We also sampled the house wine, and ended up leaving with three bottles because they had a buy two get one free. There was also another dish that was pork skewers served with vegetables and rice, and they were an absolute succulent bite each time. We were so impressed that there weren’t much left on our plates by the time we were done. Still unable to stop, we ended up ordering two desserts! Everything they say about the desserts is true, they’re the best ones I think I’ve ever had. And the flavor is incomparable. We got the wine stewed pear and the pound cake in a cream, jelled sauce. I’m so relieved that we decided to get two desserts because they were both beyond words. The sponge cake was refreshing and light and cool as well as very rich and creamy. What really impressed me was the wine stewed pear as the caramelization and sweetness of the wine went together heavenly. That served over ice cream which gave it a lovely vanilla creamy base. I think my favorite part was drinking the juices afterwards. This is truly a gem of Valpo, knowing it’s been around for 40 years makes it all the more special in my opinion. As you can see, the food is plated beautifully the servers. Truly make you feel welcomed and are very informative. I went for an anniversary and it was beyond our expectations. The owners seem to know their regulars, the wife even took a photo of our table, which was very kind. I’m genuinely looking forward to the next time we can go again!
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