On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

El Chupacabra

3.5 star rating
based on 139 reviews

Categories: Mexican, Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Phinney Ridge
6711 Greenwood Ave N
(between Phinney Avenue North & 68th St)
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 706-4889
Hours:

Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Sat-Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Good for Kids:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Fri, Sat, Sun
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No

139 reviews for El Chupacabra

Review Highlights   

user photo
"…and is decorated with fun "dia de los muertos" items and folk lore images…" (in 7 reviews)
user photo
"Love the jukebox, the fake meat nanchos are my favorite too." (in 17 reviews)
user photo
"Great selection of condiments and a well stocked jukebox." (in 23 reviews)
loading  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Eduardo F.

 

46

47

Eduardo F.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/22/2009

I came here looking for a reptilian cryptid devouring the carcass of a goat. No luck. So I decided to have a beer and some tacos instead (I'm easy like that).

What you can expect (as the name suggests) is a fun, non-authentic Mexican food experience. A good variety of sauces and salsas, as well as good tap beer choices, make this place a really excellent after-work meet up. It's small inside, but in a quaint, pseudo-dive bar kind of way. To top it all off, you wont receive a massive dent to your wallet; great, cheap prices, particularly for Phinney Ridge!

Do yourself a favor; do try their vegetarian tacos, even if you are a die-hard meatatarian. The Chupacabra himself would devour these things like a fresh kill!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Sam D.

 

0

17

Sam D.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/20/2009

The food is good all-around.  It's not what most would think of as "authentic Mexican", but it's good for the Mission style that it claims to be.  The salsas are really good, very different styles, nice kick to them.

However, I've been in twice, and it's been plain cold inside.  My food got cold right away because the place was freezing.  Don't know why.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Julie L.

 

4

9

Julie L.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/9/2009

Love this spot. Good is super good. Great margaritas AND they have Corona lt. Be sure and ask about the enchilada sauce before ordering - they make it fresh and sometimes it is especially spicy. Had to send back my delicious prawn enchiladas because my head was on fire.

Also dig the old house - turned groovy bar atmosphere. Perfect locals spot and easy for out of town guests...

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Megan M.

 

1

12

Megan M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/18/2009

El Chupacabra is the kind of spot that makes a person want to live in Phinney Ridge. It totally embodies the neighborhood's unique vibe, and it's definitely worthy of regular (and frequent) patronage. It's a little on loud side, but that's because lots of people like it!

The food is good and cheap. I haven't really done a good job of  exploring the menu yet; I'm stuck in a salsa verde chicken taco rut and loving it. (I do think the guacamole could be improved upon by eliminating the tomatoes, but that a personal preference. It might be better when tomatoes are in season, too.)

The staff are attentive and nice.

I especially like the fireplace that remains from the building's former life as a house.

Thumbs-up from me...check it out.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ben H.

 

0

13

Ben H.

Everett, WA

5 star rating
11/18/2009

CABRA ROCKS! I come in all the time with my crew and we always have an awesome time. The burritos are spicy and pipin' hot (much like bartenders...tehehe). and they make great margaritas! This is my kinda place!!!!!!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of C C.

 

2

32

C C.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
10/24/2009

The service is bad and pretty slow, even when it isn't busy. Our waitress had pants that were so low that every time she walked away you could LITERALLY see half of her ass.  (which was not attractive)..... and as far as I could tell she didn't have underwear on...lol but then again I wasn't really wanting to look long enough to confirm that.

The chicken nachos were pretty good. But they actually put so much meat on that you could only taste the dry & overcooked chicken. (You get half the bird on your chips for under 9 dollars, so if your hungry thats good. )

The steak enchilada was good, but nothing special

Some of the beers at happy hour are under 2 bucks.

Ehh... besides the trashy waitress and funny smell in the place, its not too bad. but anyone who thinks its really good doesn't know good food that well.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Brian M.

 

2

27

Brian M.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
10/20/2009

I don't know why people are hesitant to pull the trigger and just give Chupacabra 5 stars.  I will go so far as to say they have my favorite burrito in the entire world right now.  I always order the same thing; small, basic, wet, pork burrito.  If I'm crazy hungry I may bump it up to a large, but the small usually fills my belly.  

So the service can have its moments from time to time, but once that beautiful burrito arrives, I'll forget about all the other little things.  Great beer selection, killer margaritas, rockin juke box, and one of the better patios in the area, make this a special place.  Just writing this review has given me a strong craving to get back!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Darcy H.

 

6

53

Darcy H.

King, WA

3 star rating
10/28/2009

Solid 3 Star Local Seattle Joint

what it is:
- LOUD jukebox music
- a big, heaping plate of inexpensive Mex food
- staff in tattoos, rolled up jeans, and black t-shirts
- decent margaritas

Go in expecting these things and you will be happy.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Rowena M.

Elite '09

11

91

Rowena M.

Des Moines, WA

3 star rating
10/10/2009

Out on the patio on probably the last nice evening of the year before the rain starts again. Air was crisp, music was loud, place was bumpin.

Tortilla chips were salty, just how I like them, but they came with only a tiny cup of salsa, which was ok since we also ordered the guacamole.

Hadn't eaten all day and figured I could polish off a large wet carnitas burrito. I got through half and had to give up. Getting a little weak in my old age I guess because I would have plowed through that thing no matter how much it hurt--if I was 19 again.

Carnitas was moist and tasty with a slight herb flavor that I wasn't used to. There was a glob of fat on my plate, and yes, I ate it. Yeah, I'm a freak like that, but what the hell, fat is yummy and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I would gladly have another right now if my arteries could take it.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Cameron B.

Elite '09

57

144

Cameron B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
9/22/2009

The Chupacabra is an above average place hidden up in Phinney Ridge / Greenwood.

We went here on a Sunday after a nice bike ride around town. So when we arrived, I was starving. We were seated immediately in a booth and our server quickly got our drink order. The margarita i ordered was strong and tasty. The chips and salsa we ordered was good and included some pico, which was excellent, but not nearly enough for the amount of chips provided. Luckily, we also ordered some guac, and the various chili sauces provided were good on the chips too.

For my entree I ordered the pork carnitas tacos. The meat was moist and tasty and the tacos were huge (relatively speaking to other tacos), so i was stuff afterwords. The only beef would be that they only came with one tortilla, so it easily ripped when i tried to eat. I ordered a side of 3 more, which they didn't charge for, so I was still happy.

I'll happily come back again when I'm in the area.

You can take the King Country Metro #5 here easily.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Kristin C.

 

3

12

Kristin C.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
9/8/2009

You know, up until this past weekend I was pretty convinced that La Carta de Oaxaca was the only good sit-down Mexican place north of the ship canal.  Happily, I was wrong!

While El Chpacabra isn't exactly traditional Mexican (more Tex-Mex, or American-Mexican), the burritos and tacos are good, with a good selection of meats and un-meats (they can sub in vegetarian fake "meat", which I appreciate).  Their sauces are really good, especially the tomatillo salsa.  The atmosphere is pleasant and the service is fast.  This isn't the Mexican cuisine of my childhood in California, but it's well done and satisfies my burrito cravings.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Nick H.

Elite '09

51

133

Nick H.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/6/2009

Watch out or the chupacabra will get you!

I came here with my hiking and drinking pal Kathleen M after we'd spent an hour tromping around Carkeek Park.  With our stomachs rumbling and palettes dry as the mojave desert, we decided the only solution were tacos and margaritas.  When we showed up at about 7:30 we were able to immediately find a table for two on their cozy patio, perfectly positioned for some prime people-watching.

The service got off to a slow start, but after the initial lag our super-sweet server was very attentive and helpful--and the margaritas flowed freely.  We ordered the chicken verde tacos, which were juicy and flavorful.  I especially love their fresh tortillas and the big chunks of avocado.  The poppers were pretty standard, but really hit the spot (once we let them cool down).  We barely ate half of a humongous plate of nachos.  It was way too much food for the both of us, but it really hit the spot.

I'm not sure I'd drive across town, but when I'm up north this is one of my favorite places for Mexican food and margaritas.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Erik M.

Elite '09

8

109

Erik M.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
8/20/2009

I think the hit-and-miss nature of the other yelpings here sum it up.  I wish El Chupacabra lived up to the promise, but after occasional visits over the last few years, I have to come to the conclusion that it is what it is and it's not likely to be anything more anytime soon.

Pretty deep thoughts about a middle of the road burrito joint.

The things that will keep me interested in future visits are the stiff, relatively inexpensive margaritas, the reasonably priced, consistently tasty burritos, and the atmosphere, which is generally a cross-section of Ballard/Phinney/Greenwood/Fremont twenty- and thirty-somethings enjoying the kitschy dia de los muertos motif.

The things that will always make me consider other establishments are the frequently indifferent service, inordinately loud music in the middle of the dinner rush, and overall scene they're trying very hard to manufacture with the quasi-ironic (but ultimately sad and annoying) hair metal on the jukebox and hipster waitstaff.

In summary, the food is fine, the drinks are good, and it's all reasonably priced.  But the total package is pretty middle of the road.  Worth a visit when the mood strikes and you're nearby, but it's unlikely to be a regular destination.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of nathan r.

Elite '09

25

173

nathan r.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
8/17/2009

Finding good Mexican food in Seattle is about as easy as finding an eagle perched atop a cactus with a snake in it's mouth in Pioneer Square.  Let's just say it's few and far between- far, far between in a galaxy far, far away...

Well, I didn't have high hopes for Chupacabra.  I liked the decor, hard rock on the juke box, the outside deck, tattooed waitresses et al...but, could it come through where it counts?  

When the waitress came by- we got off to a rocky start.  I was eying the tacos and I asked if they had "al pastor".  The look I got was priceless- "What the FUCK are you saying dude?"  I looked at my wife and she had a similar look, but her's was, "What the FUCK are you asking for Al Pastor in Seattle?"  I was dazed and dumbfounded at the non-verbal responses I was receiving from two ladies- my wife quickly interjected on my befuddled behalf- "Do you have pork?"  "Oh, yes- they are the best" the waitress replied- WELL THEN, just gimme the pork.

For those who have not had the experience of authentic tacos al pastor, er PORK tacos- I pity you.   Their brilliance comes in the form of simplicity.  Crispy bits of shredded pork, seasoning, onion, cilantro, in a warm corn tortilla- that's it.  Squeeze a little lime, PERHAPS some queso fresco- and your golden.  Perfection on a plate- an edible plate.  

After a shaky start I imagined what I'd be served, in a manner of minutes- two greasy fried taco shells; a la The Bell/JITB, with lettuce, tomato and bright yellow/orange cheddar cheese atop flavorless ground pork.  Well color me surprise- my cynical self was proved wrong.  All the proper ingredients- down to the last bite.  Three well-prepared corn tortillas with just the right schtuff.

Now, the tacos weren't amazing- but, they were good.  The pork was a tad too greasy- but not bad, certainly worth 5 bucks.  I will come back again to give it another try- considering I came during off-hours.  I have to say though, this was a glimmer of hope in a vast desert plain of Mexican Cuisine.  Hurrah- now pass the peyote.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Anne B.

Elite '09

26

117

Anne B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/28/2009

Like sitting in plastic patio chairs, sipping garden-fresh (read: no corn-syrupy, shelf-stable mix here) margaritas from pint glasses and nibbling on burritos the size of your (or at least my) forearm while a jukebox blares all those old favorite songs you'd nearly forgotten about?

Then head to El Chupa, my neighborhood Mexican joint. Perched just around the bend where Phinney Avenue turns into Greenwood, it resides in an early-century charmer of a house, as a realtor might say, bedecked with glowing red Christmas lights and buzzing with chatter from its reliably crowded front deck.

And therein lies El Chupa's major downfall: the crowds. It's a small place--no more than 50 seats, including the bar, I'd estimate--and it draws its primarily twenty- and thirtysomething crowd in droves, especially when the weather is reasonably dry and no colder than jacket-appropriate.

Waiting for a table in itself wouldn't be a problem if the process weren't such a nightmare--nowhere to stand without getting in the way of customers or wait staff, an informal sign-in-on-the-clipboard-and-maybe-we'll-find-you set-up. They're also not built well for carry-out: Placing your order requires arresting the attention of an already-swamped bartender, then hoping he thinks to find you after the kitchen packages up your meal.

In general, the service--albeit friendly and artistically tattooed--is spotty, but this four-star rating rests on the consistent the quality of the food: Addictive taco salads are frisbee-sized deep-fried shells overflowing with the best refried black beans and Mexican-style rice I've ever tasted at this price point, lettuce, pico de gallo with a surprising kick, black olive rings, shredded cheese and avocado wedges. The tacos are minimalist and authentic, and the burritos are expertly seasoned, crafted in the chewy-heavy consistency I dreamily associate with San Francisco Mission District offerings.

The drinks are strong and well-mixed, and the selection of beer on tap far surpasses what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant, with local microbrews in the mix, and at happy hour, you can snag a pint for less than $3.  

Nothing is fancy, but everything I've sampled from the two-page menu pleased my palate. My advice: Go at an off-peak hour, and soak it all in.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jocelyn B.

 

2

27

Jocelyn B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
9/5/2009

The salsas are great! What a variety.  The carnitas are extremely tender.  The camarones on corn cakes were a real treat, but perhaps a little too sweet.  The atmosphere is laid back and fun.  It is worlds above Azteca (to reply to someone elses review) and doesn't feel greasy at all.  I would say it is almost up to NorCal standards...but of course no SoCal (after all we are in Washington).  I will return for Sunday brunch and perhaps happy hour.

Oh and cheap!!!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Henry L.

Elite '09

91

301

Henry L.

Belmont, CA

3 star rating
7/21/2009

Haven't been here in at least 3 years and I'm glad that this restaurant still seems to be doing well.  I love the divey-home atmosphere of Chupacabra. Given that I spent the last 3 years away from Seattle, the high esteem that I once held for this place has dropped somewhat. The food is still tastey, but I've had better. LOTS better. Good Mexican for Seattle, meh relative to the world. It would also be nice if they had some free chips. The portion that comes with the entree is tiny and not satisfying. Ordered 3 tacos and was comfortable, but not really full.

I like that I can be lazy and not have to go get salsa from a cart or something, but out of the squeeze bottle often feels, well, divey. But hey, that's what this place is all about: the atmosphere and the pool tables.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Kate H.

 

8

22

Kate H.

New York, NY

5 star rating
7/10/2009

I have strong feelings for Chupacabra...very strong. In fact, you may call it love.

Yes, it has it's issues once in awhile, but overall, I always leave Chup with a smile on my face. I love the divey atmosphere, the sometimes brash service, the loud rock music that sometimes plays on the jukebox...the tattood bartender...ahhhh. It's just all part of the experience.

Chips and guac are a must-have and the salsa with pineapple in it is amazing. Order the chicken tinga burrito...and make it wet. You will not regret (wow, that rhymes!). In my effort to be a tiny bit healthier I've started to get the shrimp tacos (watch out - sometimes extremely hot!) or the veggie tacos - tons of rice, beans, cheese, olives, avocados, etc...all in a delish tortilla. On a warm afternoon, my mind first drifts to sitting on the deck with a mojito...and to top it off, food and drinks are very well-priced.

I'm partial to Chup - it's always been my neighborhood joint. They just don't disappoint!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of David M.

 

0

5

David M.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
10/12/2009

So it was date night and we really wanted Mexican......after deciding on trying Chupacabra my girl friend and I went and put our name on the list on friday night around 7:30. Well we sat at the bar which was edgy and loud and everyone had a bit of attitude with patrons on the hip and tattooed side. We asked if we could eat at the bar and were greated with a smile and menus. We ordered burritoes wet- enchilada sauce, cheese and sour cream I got beef and my girlfriend chicken.....Awesome!!!!!!   We also had the well margaritas...Awesome!!! and had a great meal. FUN place with loud music, GREAT food and and above all for Seattle....cheap eats.   Overall great dinner experience. It made it into the top 5 list for us.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Lindsey H.

 

0

9

Lindsey H.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
7/3/2009

I would have loved to say the three tacos I ordered were delicious, or that their tortilla chips were the perfect combination of salty and greasy. Or that I loved the decor and the outdoor seating was great. Seriously, I had half of a glowing yelp review already written in my mind, because I knew it was going to be tasty.

Sadly, all I can say is that they never put our order in. Never. We waited for 40 minutes before asking if our order was placed, then gave up and went back to work with empty bellies. Other patrons who came in after us were almost finished with their mouth-watering meals when we left.

If I didn't read the reviews of people with similar experiences, I'd think that I really did something to piss them off.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Matt K.

 

9

29

Matt K.

CA

4 star rating
8/10/2009

Loved the food, the vibe, the jukebox (especially the jukebox, it was like someone raided my CD/record collection) and the red pepper cream sauce.

It was funny to me that they described their own food as SF Mission style, because it wasn't, but that doesn't mean it wasn't tasty.

I had the Chilaquiles for breakfast after determining that this dish contained almost everything on the menu I was interested in. Yum, I almost licked my plate.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Kathleen M.

Elite '09

58

138

Kathleen M.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/26/2009

I have been to El Chupacabra on a number of occasions over the past year and always have a good experience. Love the Day of the Dead deco throughout the interior of the restaurant and I am a huge fan of their patio even on a cool crisp fall or spring day. Had the shrimp tacos (which were a bit spicy) and smoked salmon tacos with avocado sauce. Fresh, good, and very delicious. Margaritas are always very good and heavy on the liquor. A number of the margaritas contain different splashes of juice to mix up the flavor, which I appreciate.

I  am also a big fan of the music provided by El Chupacabra's juke box. Some of my good friends are on there: Poison, Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, and Metallica to name a few. Oh, how I am a fan of an all male 1980s or early 1990s rock band!

The thing that always kills me about El Chupacabra is it seems they never have enough wait staff on the clock. The servers are always busting their butts to keep up and do a great job of it, but I think it would be nice for the servers on duty and the patrons if one more server was available to help work the room. That place can get busy quick!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of John L.

Elite '09

34

60

John L.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
5/6/2009

The only reason I'm not giving this a 1 star is because the margaritas were decent. Definitely a place to go drink, and NOT eat. Seriously, do not go here for food. The food was bad, and things were hot for the sake of being hot... not good Mexican food spicy, but just "let's just pour a bunch of cheap Tabasco crap from the grocery store on top of this food". I have to give them credit for not beating around the bush, and straight up saying on the menu that they serve "fake meat". At least they're honest.

Patio is nice for a drink if you can get a table on a sunny day, but would never order food here again.

Waiter barely paid attention to us. Never got water refills. And we were charged a margarita that was ordered but never delivered to our table (but in their defense, the waiter was very cool about removing it from the tab).

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Sonia C.

Elite '09

133

438

Sonia C.

New York, NY

2 star rating
4/27/2009

There are 2 good things about this place - outdoor seating and fast, efficient service.  Unfortunately, the most important element - the food - sucks!  We had a few tacos each and I was extremely disappointed.  The beef was super dry, tasteless, and I was a little skeptical about whether or not it came from an actual cow.  The chicken and shredded pork tacos were mildly better.  The tacos came with neither cheese nor tomatoes.

So disappointing that I won't be back!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Rob N.

Elite '09

8

44

Rob N.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
6/17/2009

The food is pretty good and the prices are outstanding, but the service is horrible!

Besides forgetting to take our order, we asked if they could turn the music down a little bit because we couldn't hear each other and they were playing death metal. The waitress told me she couldn't and then I saw the bartender actually turn it up..  awesome.

I recommend placing your order "to go" unless you enjoy bitchy staff and death metal.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Just Y.

 

3

255

Just Y.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
5/4/2009 3 photos

Two stars, only because when it is warm and sunny, their patio is a perfect spot to down a few beers or a somewhat decent margarita.  Without the patio or sun...

Waitress chewing gum. Duct tape keeping a sauce bottle on our table from leaking. Sticky chair. Stuffy dining area (outdoors full, I'm stuck inside) despite open door. I do like the decoration - very Dia de los Muerto.  Menu boldly states their food is inspired by San Francisco's Mission District: I lived there, it isn't.  Why is it taking so long to even get a second beer? Frozen shrimp. Salmon out of a tin. Cheap, greasy cheese. Canned red sauce. Is anything fresh? Nothing has any flavor; like Tabasco on egg whites.  I'm not touching those "beans". I'm hungry (not that hungry), but neither of us can make it even half way through our orders.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of wesh w.

 

8

145

wesh w.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
8/4/2009

Servers are either inept or proudly neglectful. The Mexican food served here is on a par with that available at Seattle chains like Azteca or Guadalajara, where comparable meals can be had for less and without the feeling you've been a part of some jerk's bad, juvenile prank.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Scot K.

 

2

60

Scot K.

Lynnwood, WA

1 star rating
5/2/2009

This place would probably rate at the most a three if things were better.

This was my third visit and it didn't improve.  

I need to warn my fellow Yelpers that even though El Chupacabra is a Mexican restaurant, they charge you for the tortilla chips.  This is ridiculous!  That's like soup restaurant charging you for crackers.  Next thing you know they'll be charging you for water.

This visit was on a rainy day and since the place is small, we couldn't sit outside.

The food was decent, I'd rate it one star higher than Azteca, which means its edible, but not fantastic.

Price wise, they are expensive for the type of food served.  Not a great value.  Don't get me wrong I don't mind paying a high price for my restaurant food, but the food and the service has to warrant the price.  This place doesn't.

The kicker makes this a one star is on this visit we had seven at our table.  We wanted separate bills and some wanted to pay with credit and debit cards.  They said only one card per table.  The waitress seemed real annoyed too about the separate checks.  

Not great customer service in a time when people are going out less.

In my opinion, there are tons of great Mexican restaurants that have exceptional customer service.  Head up Highway 99 or down to Ballard to Mexican restaurants with great food and service.

Stay away from this place!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Gordie H.

 

0

40

Gordie H.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
6/3/2009

El chupacabra is delicious.  The burritos are off the richter scale and the prices are fantastic.  It's a little joint but who gives a care?  They have authentic mexicans in the back and will provide paperwork on request.  Great selection of condiments and a well stocked jukebox.  These douchers that are complaining about the food all probably live in those condos and townhouses on greenwood and think Thai food is supposed to have ketchup in it too...get a life.

Thank you el chupacabra for calming my stormswept heart.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jerin W.

 

8

66

Jerin W.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
4/5/2009

You offer me three delicious veggie tacos for under $5 and I'm there. Not to mention four different freshly made salsas!

I went to get some mexican fare with a group this evening on an absolutely perfect spring day and we decided to sit out on the deck. It was quiet enough and the decor was shabby chic.

But I think the waitress repeatedly forgot about us. It took 15 minutes to get drinks and at least 45 to receive our food.  It was good, but tacos do not take that much time to prepare.  

Also, we overheard the wait staff arguing unhappily about which of them would serve us. If you automatically charge 18% for a group, why not be nice?  We're really not that difficult.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Anthony M.

 

0

34

Anthony M.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/21/2009

Love the jukebox, the fake meat nanchos are my favorite too.... Yes it's not real mexican but who cares. My girlfriend and I enjoy this place quite a bit, like the previous entry said the Matador is not too far away. As for service everytime I've gone (6 times now) they have been nice and pretty attentive to our party.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of hector o.

 

0

1

hector o.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
11/1/2009

no   bueno    es  muy  sucio y  los  cosinero  no  se  banan  son  sucios

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Garrett W.

 

2

3

Garrett W.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
1/27/2009

Worst Service ever...waitress argued with us for like five minuets cause she over charged us but wouldn't admit it untill i found out what was overcharged.  the menu said a dish included meat but she charged the price of meat on top of the two dishes, and when i pointed out that the dish says its included she simply said "whatever, if you have such a problem with it don't pay anything and just leave".  Are you Fwording kidding me???  What a B.  im not going to do that so we paid what it should have been...and yes i still tipped 15%.  Did she deserve it, absolutely not, but im also a server and know thats how we make our money.

oh and the food was not to my liking...but i am from San Diego so i have VERY high expectations for mexican.

...I will not be going there ever again...

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Katy H.

Elite '09

296

313

Katy H.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
1/6/2009

I'm worried about how I will review this place because I strongly think that it was just a bad night and that otherwise this place might be a lot better..

Here's the first no-no .. what Mexican Food place runs out of avocado? A vegetarian friend of mine ordered a meatless dish that relied heavily on avocado and about 15 minutes after ordering and drooling over what she was expecting to eat, the waitress approached our table and told her the bad news. Not only was this bad for her, but almost all of the dishes we ordered at our table of 8 people included avocado as well. D'oh!

The service was a little slow, the waitress wasn't very friendly or helpful and when the food arrived some people had to wait 5 minutes for their plate when others were already eating.

Here's where it got really bad/awkward...

Large groups can never really seem to get it together when it comes to paying the bill. However - we sat down as a group and decided that the service didn't amount to a 20% tip. After asking to split the tab a few ways as we were a large group the waitress huffed and puffed, roller her eyes and said "usually we DONT do this..". We calculated the tip all together and then were headed out the door when we were caught off guard by someone shouting in our direction. We turn around and it's the waitress.. she approaches us and says her tip wasn't large enough and that she was insulted and felt that we should give her more money.

Granted.. she seemed embarrassed to ask us that.. but REALLY? For the size of our group the gratuity was already added to the bill and we each gave her a little more than that. I don't know if she had trouble with math or if she misread the bill but she literally asked for a bigger tip. WHO DOES THAT? Especially when they couldn't complete our orders or serve the food together. The food wasn't terrible but I don't think I'll ever go back..

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Liana R.

 

0

15

Liana R.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/2/2009

Food is delish, they bake the tortillas right upstairs, love the chips and the sauces.  Decor a bit freakish, eat outdoors on the patio during nice weather.  My only complaint about inside is that the music is sooo loud you can't hear a thing, and I'm not really a fan of death-metal.  More power to ya if you like it, just not my thing.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of scott k.

Elite '09

581

237

scott k.

Atlanta, GA

3 star rating
10/14/2008

It's got an almost Capitol Hill atmosphere on Phinney and for that I gave it an extra star, but where's the magic!?

You name a place El Chupacabra and you've got to up the ante!

I want crazy names on the menu, and delicious appetizers that are made from animals the Chupacabra hunts!

Mmm... just off the top of my head... here are some ideas...

Slaughtered goat (cheese) quesadillas.
There's no way a dog killed this cow beef chimichangas.
Red Eyes in the chicken coop Margaritas.

Lets raise that Cryptozoic bar!

Hey! There's a sweet ad campaign!

Cryptozoic Bar!

Now if they could just make the food that exciting!

(Hire me... I'll fix it)

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Becky L.

Elite '09

47

210

Becky L.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/18/2009

I had very low expectations from word of mouth - but this was just what i wanted! Chips and Salsa: stat! Guac: stat! Margs: stat!
Bring that triple threat and it's hard to put a furrowed brow on my face. We needed food - we needed casual - we got it. This is a cool little house on Greenwood with a front porch patio and indoor decor screaming dia de los muertos everywhere. We shared tacos, one shrimp order and one special with smoked salmon. The shrimp were the runner up fave - unpredictably spicy on some bites, nice and tasty for others, but the little shrunken suckers were hard to find. The salmon on the other hand; smack me now- i've never had a salmon taco, but these were awesome! With avocado and a few additions of veggies, i loved them.
Service was perfectly punctual and our waitress was stylish and friendly.
The margaritas were refreshing and tasty. Not too strong, which boded well for this outing. Overall good dinner out and recommended for a low-key, fun and lively night.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ann W.

 

3

11

Ann W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
12/12/2008

Oh my gosh...my favorite hole in the wall!  I love this place!  

Yes, it's a little seedy, and yes, the service staff is a little, how shall I say, rude...but that's part of it's cache!  The food is AWESOME, especially if you're a fan of nachos like I am.  $6 for the largest plate of Steak nachos in Seattle...how can you go wrong? And if that doesn't fill you up (I always take a food buddy), then I HIGHLY recommend going with the regular steak burrito (I'm a fan of the meat!).  

Now, if you happen to become a regular, like moi, that's when the going gets good!  The staff become GEMS and I've been privy to well "stocked" Margaritas (AWESOME), tequila shots, and "bar dollars" that they hand out to plug the juke-box...make sure you get some of the bartenders' requests in, and those dollars just keep coming!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Clayton B.

 

2

42

Clayton B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/19/2009

Food is good; but I would come for the sauces, the Margs, and the Mojitos.  Good bar, good food, and better sauces.  Sorry.  I LOVE the sauces this place has.  No joke, I made my girlfriend steal a couple of these in her purse.  She still hates me to this day.  I'm fairly certain it has something to do with the sauces..........

Was this review …?

 

Photo of G R.

 

7

92

G R.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
12/26/2008

I've always wanted to check this place out. Since its been snowing and the roads suck ass I thought I'd finally go in.
I had a menu in my hand before both cheeks hit the seat. It has a really funky interior and they had some good music streaming from the juke box.
I was hungry so I ordered the large burito, and It was large indeed. I think I'll tone it down a little next time. I loved their house sauces, and the Drink I ordered was pretty potent. The only neagative thing I could say was the salsa was cold, & watery. Which I want pasty hot salsa so Thats all I got.

Was this review …?

 

1 to 40 of 139 |  
Page: 1 2 3 4
Write a Review

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

People Viewed This After Searching For...