For Farman Khaligh and his wife Barbara, the story behind their restaurant, Fideuá Taste of Spain, began long before opening the Las Vegas eatery at855 E Twain Ave #107.
After spending more than two decades representing Scandinavian design in Spain and Portugal and traveling extensively throughout Spain, Khaligh developed a deep appreciation for the country’s cuisine and wine. That passion eventually led them to make a major change with new lives and a new business adventure in the United States.
The couple arrived in Las Vegas in November 2021, after traveling the U.S. in an RV. But during their cross-country journey, Khaligh brought along his paella fire ring and pan, and began preparing Spanish food for friends, families, and people they met at national parks and RV resorts.
“There was the same request and suggestion by everyone after tasting our food: ‘Why don’t you bring this food to the USA? We need it!’,” Khaligh said. “The idea came from everyone who tried my food in the USA and their requests.”
That repeated encouragement eventually became the foundation for Fideuá Taste of Spain. Khaligh saw an opportunity to introduce an authentic Spanish restaurant concept to a market where there is a gap, and the potential to eventually expand through franchising.
Khaligh chose Las Vegas as the starting point because of its enormous visitor and convention industry, seeing the city as an ideal market for establishing a concept that could eventually reach customers around the country.
“Over 40 million visitors each year, more than 4,000 conventions yearly, bringing people from all US states and across the world. It’s not the easiest place to open a restaurant in the USA, but it is the best window for our future,” he explained.
Fideuá operates as a family-owned restaurant with limited seating and reservations. Its dual menu includes a daily menu as well as a 24-hour advanced menu, allowing the restaurant to focus on providing guests with an intimate experience.
“Every guest should feel welcome, respected, and feel as though they are invited into our home rather than sitting in a restaurant, enjoying the true origin of our cuisine and wines freshly made for them while seated, for an affordable price,” Khaligh shared.
The business faced significant challenges during its early years. Khaligh said 2023 and 2024 were particularly difficult as the restaurant dealt with establishment costs, but 2025 became its first full operating year and marked a major turning point. He expects 2026 to end with even better numbers.
Khaligh also said the restaurant has earned recognition as the highest-rated Spanish restaurant in Las Vegas on Google, Yelp, and RedNote in less than two years. In addition to its food and wine, Fideuá hosts live Flamenco music events featuring guitarist Ricardo Griego around various holidays.
The restaurant recently welcomed another opportunity to connect with the local hospitality community, when What Now Media Group hosted its Las Vegas Accelerate event at Fideuá on September 22. Hosted by What Now Event Host Marian Ebhamen, the gathering brought together 42 attendees.
For Khaligh, building connections is part of the larger vision behind Fideuá. Ultimately, he hopes to create a business model that can provide opportunities for other families to enter the restaurant industry.
“We came to make a legacy by creating a different business formula which will enable many young families to start their business up, become their own bosses, learn how to cook wonderful food for the wonderful guests visiting their private restaurant, and enable them to make a respectable living!” he said.
Fideuá will complete the requirements for its Franchise Disclosure Document by 2028, following three consecutive years of growth, and can then look into expanding.
