Healthy Tapas in Boca Raton

When you open a restaurant in South Florida, people have thoughts. Tapas?  Why tapas?  Why not a great, New York-style steakhouse? Or a swanky sushi bar? Or one of the many tried and true cuisines people are very familiar with?

But tapas isn’t just food. Tapas is experience, a way of interacting and connecting. That’s what Chef Ali wanted to bring to people with Anyday Boca. Chef Ali wanted to create a place where they could slow down, gather, enjoy friendships and relationships. Because tapas is about turning meals into memories.

That’s the core of it, but there’s more, too. Tapas gives us the opportunity to blend the food and preparation techniques Chef Ali loves with the incredible range of ingredients here in South Florida. And it allows me to serve healthy, light, sustainable food to a diverse collection of people from all sort of backgrounds. South Florida is a crossroads, just the way tapas affords us at Anyday the opportunity to offer a crossroad of flavors and ingredients.

Tapas: Small Plates Meant to be Shared

A tapas meal is first and foremost about sharing. Tapas let you slow down, savor, and connect. Instead of everyone at the table choosing one oversized entrée, tapas let us spread a dozen small plates across the table so everyone gets to taste, sample, and discover together. A plate of octopus and truffle orzo is passed one way, while sizzling harissa lamb meatballs go another. A friend spears a braised short rib and says, “You have to try this,” and the whole table leans in.

That communal spirit is what drew Chef Ali to tapas. Food is nourishment, but also conversation. It’s laughter, storytelling, and connection. Tapas encourage you to be engaged with the people around you. In a world that moves so quickly, these moments are like small, glimmering gifts.

In the bustling tapas bars of Madrid or Barcelona, meals stretch into hours, tables overflow with plates, and conversation flows as freely as the wine. Bringing that tradition to South Florida felt natural. Our region thrives on diversity, sunshine, and social energy. Tapas fit right in—they’re vibrant, flavorful, and perfectly suited for an evening that lingers.

Why tapas?

Sheer variety. Small plates mean you don’t have to choose between this dish or that one—you can have both, and a few more besides. Craving something earthy?  Try the beet tartar? Want fresh umami? Order the shrimp with tomato-jam, chorizo, garlic and feta. Or the fried sardines.
For the adventurous eater, tapas are a culinary playground. For those who tend to play it safe, tapas are a gentle invitation to branch out: try one bite of something new without the pressure of committing to a full meal. Either way, you get to experience a range of flavors, textures, and techniques in a single sitting.

Spanish Inspired Tapas

Chef Ali discovered tapas while traveling and working in European kitchens. “The format immediately spoke to me because it mirrored the meze culture I grew up with in Turkey—lots of small, flavorful dishes enjoyed with good company,” Chef Ali says.

As a young man with a culinary career in mind, Chef Ali traveled extensively in Spain, from Barcelona to Madrid to the Basque Country. He found an honesty in Spanish tapas, a deep respect for ingredients and a celebration of elemental simplicity. He loved that each small dish was built around extraordinary ingredients. A foundational memory involves enjoying anchovies, olives, and vermouth at a tiny bar in Barcelona. “Nothing fancy, just perfection,” Chef Ali says.

The word tapa itself comes from the Spanish word for “cover.” Legend has it that bartenders used to place a small slice of bread or cheese over a glass of wine to keep out the dust or flies, and before long, people began expecting those little bites with their drinks. From those humble beginnings grew a culture where food and friendship are inseparable.

Healthy Tapas for Brunch and Dinner

It’s healthy eating. Smaller plates mean naturally more moderate portions. You eat a little of this, a little of that, and before you know it, you’ve had a balanced meal without overindulging in just one thing. Many tapas feature olive oil, fresh vegetables, legumes, and seafood—hallmarks of the Mediterranean diet, which is celebrated for its heart-healthy qualities.

Instead of one oversized steak and a mound of potatoes, a tapas meal might include roasted vegetables, grilled fish, a small portion of cheese, and beans stewed with spices. It’s satisfying, nourishing, and lighter than you might expect when dining out.

And because they are so steeped in simple elegance, Chef Ali found in tapas an opportunity to build and iterate in creative, delightful ways. Unlike a big fat steak or a couple of sushi rolls, each tapas experience offers the opportunity to taste a variety of unique flavor combinations.

“I constantly find in tapas variety, discovery, and joy,” Chef Ali says. “They are small plates with big personalities that are designed to be shared.”

Why Tapas in Boca Raton?

South Florida loves to celebrate. We gather with friends on patios. Once the sun steps offstage, we embrace the long, warm evenings. We crave food that matches our climate and our lifestyle. Tapas do all of that. A tapas meal is festive without being fussy, flavorful without weighing us down, and best enjoyed with a glass of natural wine or a handcrafted cocktail under the palms.

The small-plate format works beautifully with our region’s mix of cultures. Just as South Florida is a blend of Caribbean, Latin, American, and European influences, a tapas spread celebrates variety and diversity on the table. You don’t have to choose any one thing for any one meal.

Are you still asking, why tapas?

Tapas because everything in life is better when it’s shared. Tapas because variety is exciting. Tapas because culture enlivens and enriches us. Because eating well can also mean eating light. Because South Florida deserves a dining experience that feels as sunny, vibrant, and social as the place itself.

“When I was growing up in Turkey, we celebrated even the smallest moments,” Chef Ali says. “Meals were never rushed—they were conversations, laughter, and tradition, all at once.”

So gather some friends and bring your curiosity to Anyday. Don’t think of it as ordering dinner; think of it as curating an evening. Pick a mix of favorites and wild cards. Let the plates come as they’re ready. Pass them around. Talk. Laugh. Enjoy. Live in the moment. With tapas, every night is its own story. And you leave satisfied and more connected.

That’s why.