The first several times I came to cantina monarca, I was wowed: I loved their black beans, the ambiance and decor, the ceviche, and their pina nina (plus the concept of margarita flights). Service is sometimes amazing and sometimes disappointing, depending on who you get. But the last time I went, I noticed how the meat quality wasn't there anymore, and for the high prices I would expect very high quality meat. In general, the quality is too low relative to the prices. If the meat and service quality improved to match the price, I would definitely be back. read more

I don't often find time to write reviews anymore, but this place deserves some serious praise. Mexican cuisine isn't usually my first choice, but the promise of elevated dishes and a unique menu drew me in. I was not disappointed.The atmosphere is a standout--warm, inviting, and dramatically stylish, making it perfect for a date or, in my case, impressing business associates and clients. The music is distinctive but never overpowering, and the lighting and decor alone make this spot worth visiting.Our server, Jessica, was exceptional. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her professionalism was unmatched, rivaling the best high-end dining experiences I've had. She handled our early arrival and a last-minute party size change with grace, seamlessly consolidating us to one table. Now, the food--every dish, from appetizers to mains, was packed with an array of flavors and perfectly portioned. Their wagyu taco? Hands-down one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. The tequila selection is equally impressive, with additive-free options clearly marked for smarter sipping. Jessica's expertise shone again, guiding our clients to tequilas that matched their preferences. If you're in Bellevue and craving some of the finest Mexican cuisine in the Pacific Northwest, this is definitely the place to go. read more

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Would not order the steak tacos, tough meat, had to take the meat out to cut it. Black bean puree was great though. The noise volume was way too loud. read more

We were invited to dinner here by some friends who love this place and we immediately enjoyed the design and atmosphere and I was thrilled to find that nearly their entire menu is gluten-free. We were seated in the loft area which was fun, it felt like you were going up into a treehouse. Our server was helpful and got us some beautiful cocktail and mocktails out. The chips and guacamole was good but the tacos were even better! We had a few different types including the seabass and birria, all great! I was less impressed with the truffle taquitos and next time will just get more tacos instead. read more

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PHENOMENAL! I'm usually hesitant to try new-age mexican food because they stray too far from the real thing, but this was beyond expectation. My husband and I went for our anniversary and got the margarita flight (HIGHLY recommend the seasonal watermelon one), chips and guac/salsa, and I got the carne asada while my husband got three tacos of his choice. Our server Blake was so so kind and helpful and he even brought us a free anniversary dessert (raspberry, huckleberry, and pecan helado). I will come here EVERY time for a special occasion! read more

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Upscale Mexican restaurant and cocktail lounge in Lincoln Square South, right to the left of the entrance, and across the hallway from Fogo de Chao. Very nice decor with plants and branches adorning the space. Has an upstairs loft area in addition to the main ground floor space. Went there for lunch on a weekday with a group, and the place wasn't crowded. Menus have a good selection of drinks and food items. There were a few things that I haven's seen in other Mexican restaurants in the US. One of those was the tlayuda which I ordered. It's a a round flatbread/thin pizza dish that had a lot of vegetables on it and a bit of birria beef on it. With the main, I also got the sides of rice, beans and grilled veggies, and the three sides add up to a significant amount a food. I only finished the tlayuda and couldn't finish all of the sides. We also had chips and guac which were decent. Service and food presentation is good. I think the bill ended up being $30-40 per person before tip. 3.5 stars, round up to 4. read more

Cantina Monarca - tlayuda with sides - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

We went on a date night and made reservations for 7pm. The restaurant is fairly small so if its busy it is better to reserve a table ahead of time so you don't have to wait long. We ordered queso birria for an appetizer and was pleasantly surprised. We were expecting a simple queso but the cheese was so flavorful! I ordered the pastor, pork belly and birria tacos which was the perfect portion for food for me. My partner ordered four of the pastor tacos. As simple as I thought the food looked online- the flavors were all there. My only complaint was that our seating was so small it was a bit uncomfortable. We had the seating by the window which was nice but its a shared bench seating which means if the person next to you puts all there stuff on the seat you won't have much space. We were at a two seater table so the middle seat caved in which meant there was even less space to sit. Besides that everything else was great! read more

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Delicious food and cocktails beautifully presented. Love the atmosphere but definitely challenging to have conversation with the music. Underground parking and prompt service. read more

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Came here for Monday happy hour. The marg flight is super tasty. The decor is STUNNING with great lighting and music. From the hostess to the bar staff -- we had a great time. Shoutout to Jorge for always great service. We will be back for the good vibes and good drinks. Food is on the more expensive side for the quality, so I'm taking off 1 star because the salsa served isn't proportional to the chips and the nachos were too dry in my opinion. We haven't tried the full menu yet, so I'll update this review if my feedback changes with more dishes. read more

Cantina Monarca - Margarita flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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I was pleasantly surprised to find that they offer homemade tortillas here! I've tried several of their drinks and dishes and have enjoyed them! Everything is very pretty, from the decore to how they serve the food - drinks and food are so colorful! The staff is very pleasant and I'd recommend making a reservation as they are usually pretty busy! The only reason for the 4 star is that everything is a little overpriced, and yes, I'm aware it's in Bellevue... I do like it enough to visit again! read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Amazing night out! The atmosphere was great, the drinks were on point, and the service really made the experience. Our bartenders Jorge and Felix were fantastic; super friendly, attentive, and clearly know their craft. They made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down and kept the good vibes going all night. Definitely a place we'll be coming back to. Highly recommend! Buena onda todos! read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I wanted to visit them for quite some time. Unfortunately, they didn't accept kids. I recently learnt they do for lunchtime :) But we came here for dinner. I thought we were not going to make it because you have to get reservations, but we don't know if we are going to be able to go out most of the times :) Fortunately, we had their last table. Small, but very intimate. Ambience is inviting your senses for a good experience. The room is beautiful! Details everywhere. Staff was glad to show us animal representations on their wall design. Music was good, but a bit loud. I guess for younger people. Food was amazing. Consider js their own representation. Cocktails are so good!! I want to try each one :) Staff is great! Friendly, helpful, fast, knowledgeable, go beyond. They were sure to make us feel comfortable, and have a great time here. Thank you all!! I guess the only part 2hete I could lift my brow is with prices. Food is really tasty, but nothing spectacular. It's their own representation of mexican food. And eventhough we are near Mexico, consider this is a delikatessen outside such country. It is also well plated and cooked. Restaurant and location is different. Loved this place :) Glad it is in a mall with parking. But...it can also get hard finding a spot. Who would knew.. read more

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Super cool venue/atmosphere food was good, not memorable Armature staff, maybe I'm a little old school but always appreciate professionals. Would have been nice to know that there was a happy hour going when we got there, could have tried a lot more things Premixed cocktails which is a turn off for me read more

This vibes here are immaculate, the space is so beautiful and total is on the mark for tulum. The staff are also incredibly nice. Compliment sandwich, incoming the downsides to this place is that it's hard to find the entrance and there's no signs, it's pricey and not exactly worth it, and related to that, the chips are d finitely something that comes out of a Costco bag and not homemade. For some that is $15-18 I def expected high quality or homemade chips. The positives, the drinks were amazing, especially at happy hour prices! The equities were great as were the taquitos that smell more like truffle than it tastes like, so don't be scared! The salsa were also very good. Would definitely come back again for an important girls day or date night :) read more

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First off, service was superb! Friendly, patient and truly listened to our thoughts on the place and food. Jorge, Logan and Sergio were all iconic, 10/10! I loved the margarita flights! Also try the salsas! A must visit! read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Sat upstairs and waited over ten minutes for the server to visit the table to tell us "just a few more minutes, I'm finishing up a table.." five minutes later she returned and we ordered drinks and food. All of the food showed up in 15 minutes, drinks after that. Table was wobbly as well. Horrible service! read more

Go to wild ginger!!! I called to see what the wait list time was for walk ins at cantina and the person who answered the phone said bar was first come first service. My husband and I drive down to the mall and when we got to the restaurant my husband checked the bar and a gentleman said for us to sit down but the front desk girl Stephanie said they had a wait list for the bar? The staff obviously was not on the same page but we ended up having dinner upstairs at wild ginger and the staff was amazing and the food was outstanding. read more

This place is beautiful inside. Had a dinner date here with my girlfriends. Service was amazing, our server was so attentive and sweet. My friends and I all ordered the margarita flight with different choices. I realllly enjoyed the spicy pepino and the melon belo I ordered after. For food; we ordered the salsa trio to share and tacos. I got the sea bass and asada primo. Both were so flavorful and delicious but the sea bass tacos was my favorite between the two. We had a great time here! Will definitely be back. read more

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Great atmosphere, friendly service, and a spot I'll definitely be coming back to. If you're looking for good food and great margaritas, this place is it! read more

Came for an early lunch on a Saturday. Food, drink, and atmosphere were incredible, but our server Becca was the highlight. Professional, personable, and very knowledgeable about the menu. We literally ended up coming back later that day because Becca was so inviting. Highly recommend. read more

3.5 Stars. Ambiance 4 Stars. Beautiful decor, seating, bar. Though still have not been upstairs yet, sitting in main floor has always had a feeling of being in another country in a more upscale setting. Certainly a great place to host visitors, business, or dates. Though seating capacity and size of restaurant was smaller then I expected (expect it to be wider), its definitely worth it for just ambiance. Food 3.5 Stars, very decent but not great. This visit I ordered 3 a la carte tacos, the Wagyu, Sea Bass, and Chicken, all solid, presentation was great as usual, and satisfied. The guac appetizer comes in a super chilled stone bowl, its almost too cold but gives it a very fresh appeal and its nice. Price 3.2 Stars, a bit much, but understand, you have to pay for the location and ambiance. For example this lunch we had 8 people and it was $700+. A great time, good food, and better ambiance. read more

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Amazing experience!! I came in for a little family reunion and had such a great time!! The atmosphere felt upscale yet welcoming, and every detail--from the food to the service--was thoughtfully executed. The dishes were beautifully presented, full of bold, authentic flavors, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful-it's such an experience. I would 1000% recommend the Baja Sea bass taco, I think it had apple coleslaw or something but it's AMAZING. I come back just for this taco and I can never get enough. A huge shoutout to our server Lokesh, who truly made the experience exceptional. He was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable about the menu, and took the time to offer great recommendations. His professionalism and warm personality made us feel well taken care of the entire night. Also, special thanks to Manager Logan, who was absolutely awesome and generous. His attentiveness and genuine hospitality really stood out and elevated the overall experience even more. If you're looking for an outstanding Mexican restaurant with amazing food and top-tier service in Bellevue, Cantina Monarca is a must-visit. We'll definitely be back! read more

Expensive but you are paying for the location and vibe. Food was 3.5/5 but while I love Mexican food can't quite get behind upscale Mexican. Next time I might be less adventurous and just get the classics like enchiladas. We tried all of the tacos and found them a bit too "extra" and found ourselves instead wishing we were eating street tacos in SoCal. Rice and beans were solid though. And I will say the horchata was perfection, as was the salsa served with the chips. Also top notch service. Wonderful ambiance, great energy and is be a perfect date spot. I actually would overall still recommend this place for the right occasion, so long as you know what to expect. read more

Highly recommend to make a reservation before you go. We went on a Thursday evening and it was crowded. The ambiance is amazing. Very different from the usual restaurants. We were seated upstairs. We ordered non alcoholic beverages lychee tamarindo and hibiscus drink. Both were delicious. We ordered corn starter as recommended by the waiter. It was good and cheesy but the portion size felt too tiny.We also ordered veggie taco ..it's like make ur own taco kind of plate. It comes in as 1 taco.As I requested no meat I felt it was bit too bland with no sauces but it came with cilantro chilli dip which was watery on a taco. The fish enchiladas were good and tasted good with sauces. For the price I would say the quantity could be more. But as it's fine dining type of service one should go with "less is more " kind of expectation. But would recommend to try. read more

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came here to celebrate a birthday and they gave us icecream complimentary for the birthday girl and a note! ordered the baja fish taco and wagyu - fish one was nice and wagyu meat was ok. also ordered chips and salsa and free refill on the chips. park in the parking garage and they can validate for you. read more

Cantina Monarca - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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The food was okay for me, nothing spectacular, but the real highlights were the beautiful plating, stunning interior design, and amazing ambiance. And huge props to Daniel for exceptional service! read more

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The Birria taco was stellar. Enjoyed the traditional guacamole. The salsa was semi sweet and smoky. Carne asada was hard for me to chew through but we deconstructed it and the toppings were awesome. Fried sea bass was tasty. Dessert was fun, whimsical and really tasty. bosque magico white wine poched apple, cinnamon allspice brulee, cilantro sponge cake, chèvre, berry purée, almond crumble, huckleberry ice cream, grandeza fog The service was good, and decor was chic and unusual. Upstairs had additional seating and was in the shape of an L which makes it quaint but usable for smaller gatherings. Like a small birthday celebration of 10-12. A little pricey but would come back. read more

Made a reservation which I am glad we did because it was busy! We started with the queso which was the perfect temperature and had great flavor. We tried 3 different tacos and tlayuda. Personally I felt the asada tacos were alright, lacked in flavor compared to quesabirria and el Rey. The tlayuda was delicious, we got it with birria and it is a good dish to share! Their horchata was also amazing! Cute date night spot, would come back! read more

Cantina Monarca - Quesabirria Taco on left and El Rey taco on the right - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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The food and service is amazing. The ambience makes you feel like you are somewhere else and is very stylish. I love coming here. read more

Cantina Monarca - Margarita flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Let me put it this way... this restaurant really is here to serve vibes. It's a great spot for an occasion- a birthday, celebration, anniversary, etc. But for the prices and the food quality - it's not worth the money. I doubt you would "crave" any of the food here. The food is good but it is nothing more incredible than food you'd get from a family taqueria in the suburbs, honestly. Bottom line: if you're looking for a spot to celebrate something special, somewhere you wanna treat yourself, dress up and take cute IG pics - this works. If you're just looking for a casual place to grab a bite, this is not worth the money. read more

Updated review. Been back a few times now and have pretty much tried all of their a la carte gourmet tacos. Here's my primary takeaways: * the Baja sea bass is a staple and a must try. That's the one taco that I get every single time. * the new lengua (beef tongue) taco was another standout and I'll be getting that again as well. * the guacamole with the watermelon was pretty amazing. * their corn esquites is also pretty amazing. * their salsa is good but for more heat ask for some of their spicier options. We'll likely return! read more

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Walked in on Thursday night with my partner, no reservation, and we waited for just about 7 minutes to be seated which was great. We planned to grab a drink before meeting up with friends. Highly recommended to grab some cocktails! If we had more time we would've definitely opted for the margarita flight which looked amazing (you get to choose 3 flavors out of 5). Our server was super friendly and helpful. Loveee the overall vibe and ambiance. I'll be back to try their food for sure! read more

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Amazing ambience and service. My new favorite restaurant in Bellevue. Stephanie was very thorough in explaining all of the food and drink options. Highly recommend! read more

Cantina Monarca has such a pretty vibe--the decor, the food, the drinks--just all of it. Our server, Blake, took such good care of us. He was attentive, did special things (like a citrus smoke experience) to make sure our birthday celebration was on point, and more. He made sure our table was cleared and had space and gave us suggestions when we asked. He really impressed me by how kind and accommodating he was--a real professional. He even put up with our constant need for photos and videos like a champ! The food and drinks were spectacular as always. I love Cantina Monarca and Blake made me love it even more. read more

Only came for the food: Wagyu Taco - 4/5 - The meat is super tender, and pairs well with the guacamole and pickled toppings. Very juicy taco. Sea Bass: 4/5 - This taco was my favorite, flaky sea bass paired well with citrus flavors making the taco delicious. El Rey: 2.5/5 - By far the most disappointing, literally just a taquito wrapped in a tortilla. The ambiance of the place makes you feel like you're in an upscale tourist spot in Tulum if that's your vibe. Service was decent. Some of the tacos are pretty good, but not even close to justifying the cost of around $12 a taco. If I came here for drinks could be a different story. read more

Cantina Monarca - Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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My treat after my IV was getting to enjoy lunch with my Handsome date at a restaurant on our must go to restaurants. Didn't disappoint read more

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Phenomenal Mexican food in Bellevue? Amazing surprise. I live in San Diego so I was unsure about getting Mexican food here but the aesthetic looked super cool so I decided to pop in, and I was pleasantly surprised. Vibe is definitely very cool, giving Tulum for sure. I was just here for lunch, so can't speak to the crowd but I'd love to see what it's like on a Friday night. Lunch menu isn't available on Fridays which is kinda silly in my opinion, so restricted to the normal dinner menu. I started off with a margarita and chips and salsa. I forget the margarita flavor, something with coconut, it was incredible though. Well balanced flavor with the tequila, like a more delicious Pina colada. Chips were solid, salsa was okay, I added a hot salsa too which ended up being tangy, not my favorite. I then got the enchiladas divorciadas, absolutely incredible. the texture was great, not soggy like many enchiladas. Meat is perfectly tender. Both of the sauces tasted amazing. I have had so many enchiladas and these were definitely top tier. Would love to come back and try more of the food and margaritas. Definitely a cool spot and stand out among the restaurant row in downtown Bellevue. read more

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Ambiance. Customer Service. Music. Great atmosphere and decor. Drinks were spot on and margarita flight a must . read more

My best friends and I came here for our annual friendship dinner, and it was incredible from start to finish. It was our first time, recommended by one of the girls, and we're already planning to return. Two of us tried the mini margarita flights -- the passion fruit, Piña Niña, and watermelon were all bright, creative, and perfectly made. We shared queso and their tropical guacamole topped with cojita, and both were delicious with the warm homemade chips. For tacos, we followed our server Becca's enthusiastic recommendation and all ordered the sea bass taco. She was absolutely right -- it was amazing. Our second-round tacos (pork belly, queso birria, al pastor) were also full of great flavor, and we shared rice and beans on the side. But the real standout of the night was Becca. She didn't just serve us -- she connected with us. Her recommendations felt genuinely thoughtful, and she made us feel celebrated for getting together as longtime friends. She even shared her own story of reuniting with her closest girlfriends each year, which made the night feel even more special. To top it off, she surprised us with complimentary ice cream with butterflies. We left full, happy, and appreciated. Thanks to the amazing food and Becca's warmth, this spot is officially part of our tradition now. read more

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Amazing first time experience at Cantina Monarca! Delicious food and atmosphere that gave off a beautiful Yucatán vibe. Our waitress Beca was amazing and was ready to refill drinks and salsas before we even asked. Will definitely be back here again!!! read more