"Wow." That's what I kept thinking as we sat down at our table and later enjoyed our meal. This is a beautiful restaurant on the Kirkland waterfront, serving delicious Mexican food. We parked inside the hotel parking garage (later validated the ticket, which applies for 2 hour parking slots), and walked into the restaurant from the garage. We were seated indoors as there weren't any out door tables available but our table was close enough to the deck so we had plenty of sunshine. The rest of the indoor restaurant is beautiful with its tropical/island feel. Our server, Joanna, was super friendly and helpful at providing recommendations. We had margaritas, guacamole with corn, Mahi mahi tacos, potatoes with bacon and sour cream, and the frijoles/pinto beans. Everything was so flavorful and fresh, my favorite was the Mahi Mahi taco plate. Would love to comeback for more! Happy eating! read more

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10 out of 10 experience across the board! First of all, the entire experience felt like I was in Tulum, Mexico, or just on a vacation in general. The view, aesthetic, service, and atmosphere was incredible. I appreciated the little nods of homage to Mexico as well, there's plenty pieces of Latin inspired art and photographs in one of the hallways while walking towards the bathroom. It felt intimate and beautifully placed with care and love. Now the happy hour... one of the best I've ever had. I visited shortly after they opened to experience their happy hour from 4 PM to 6 PM. I enjoyed a well poured glass of red wine, guacamole and chips, & their smoked mushroom tacos. Phenomenal!! Everything is incredibly well priced as well (I almost want to keep this happy hour a secret!) I absolutely recommend this restaurant, especially their happy hour! I'm not sure about the rest of their menu items, but their happy hour hit it out of the park and they will definitely be seeing me back again for it. read more

El Encanto is easily one of the best restaurants I have ever visited. The beautiful view creates an unforgettable dining experience, and the food is just as impressive. I started with the guacamole with esquite as an appetizer, and it was outstanding. The tortillas were incredibly thin, crispy, and perfectly prepared. The esquite added a subtle sweetness and crunch that complemented the guacamole well. The guacamole itself had a fresh, lime-forward flavor that made it difficult to stop eating. To drink, I ordered a raspberry mojito. While it was enjoyable, it was not my favorite part of the meal. I found it a bit too sweet, and although it was good, I have had better mojitos elsewhere. For my entrée, I ordered the shrimp tacos. The tacos were served on small, thin tortillas, with three tacos per order. While the shrimp was cooked well, the overall flavor was fairly simple and lacked anything particularly memorable. In addition, the large amount of salad topping caused the tortillas to become very soft and tear easily. I believe handmade tortillas would significantly improve both the texture and overall flavor of the dish. Finally, I ended the meal with the churros. These were, without a doubt, the best churros I have ever had. They were perfectly cooked and incredibly delicious. However, they were coated with a very generous amount of sugar and served with what I believe was cajeta, making the dessert extremely sweet. Despite being a bit overwhelming in sweetness, they were still exceptional. Overall, El Encanto offers excellent food, stunning views, and a memorable dining experience. While there are a few areas that could be improved, the quality of the appetizers and desserts alone makes this restaurant worth visiting. I would give El Encanto a 9.5 out of 10. read more

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This place is so fun! I walked in with my friends on a Monday evening and we were able to get a table pretty quickly. Got one of the lovely huge couch tables. It felt like we were on vacation- so gorgeous and chic. Got a little chilly outside and they brought us blankets :) We ordered queso to share which was lovely- so delish. Went quickly! They also have an espresso-martini-esque drink that is SO decadent. They were able to do it decaf too! Got a little chocolate cake to round it off and that was great. A perfect setting for a quick girls get together on the lovely lake Washington. I would definitely come back! Validated parking is super easy and intuitive. View is amazing. Service is attentive and kind. Definitely a cool spot for a birthday dinner. Lots of gluten free options too. read more

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Came in on May 22nd 2026 at 6:30 PM Food: 5/5 The food was phenomenal. We ordered the barbacoa and short rib tacos and both were packed with flavor, incredibly tender, and beautifully prepared. The giant chip was also such a fun and unique touch that made the experience feel memorable and different from other places. Service: 4/5 Despite the restaurant being busy during our 6:30 reservation time, the servers were attentive, checked in on us often, and were very informative with menu recommendations. The actual dining service was great and the staff handling our table did an amazing job keeping up with how busy it was. Hostess Experience: 1/5 The star was for the brunette hostess in the cute Anthropologie/Free People looking outfit. She seemed very sweet and made us feel welcome. Unfortunately, a couple moments later, a hostess interaction completely changed the tone of the night. Originally, we were seated inside after my friend asked a male host/manager if outdoor seating was available, and he let us know there wasn't any at the moment. A few minutes later after sitting back down at our table, the hostess in the black tank bodysuit and white skirt with strawberry blonde hair came over to let us know that an outdoor communal table had opened up. What made the interaction uncomfortable was the way she approached us -- or honestly, the lack of approaching me at all. She directed all of her attention toward my friend, barely acknowledged my existence. She was bent forward leaning on the table with both hands on it toward him, and asked only him, "Is this okay with you?" in a giggly tone, while fully facing him and turning her back toward me entirely. This was distasteful, inappropriate, and blatantly rude. My friend said the interaction was unprofessional and uncomfortable, especially since we both work in the restaurant industry. Personally, I could never do this myself as someone who is also a hostess at a restaurant. I feel that it's honestly common sense to acknowledge everyone at the table, regardless of couples, families, friends, etc. Even if one person asks the question, you still make eye contact with both guests and speak to both people equally. I wasn't going to write a poor review until I saw her seat another couple and acknowledge both of them, including the woman. Watching that interaction unfold in front of me signaled that she is fully capable of doing something that simple and consciously chose not to do it for us. It was disappointing because the restaurant itself and the food were genuinely great. read more

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The setting here is hard to beat--beautiful views and a great place to spend time. Where this visit fell short was the menu. I had been looking forward to the guacamole and their unique, large-format chips. The concept is great, but both lacked flavor. The guacamole needed salt and lime--I had to ask for both--and even after adjusting, it still didn't come together. If you're plant-based or avoiding dairy, options are very limited. Beyond the guacamole, there wasn't much I could eat. That's a challenge for a restaurant that attracts groups--when one person has few options, it often changes where everyone goes. I'd encourage them to take a cue from places like Cactus and add a few thoughtful, clearly executed plant-based or dairy-free dishes. It doesn't take much, but it makes a difference. Service may have just been an off day--they seemed short-staffed. The busser was warm and attentive--Shay and I appreciate his effort. I'll check back in at the end of May to see if the menu has evolved and give it one more try. Remember not open for lunch read more

El Encanto - View at an outside table. - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

This is a great spot for date night or to have a few cocktails with friends. The view was incredible and the outside seating was great especially on the sunny evening it was. The food portions aren't massive so it's a nice place to go if you want to share food with a group or your date. Service was very attentive and accommodating which was nice. The only complain I'd have is an uncomfortable moment I had with one of the hosts here. I came here with my girlfriend and we got sat inside, however I went up to the host counter and asked what seemed like the manager, who was a man, if there was any outdoor seating available. A few minutes later a younger girl host came up to our table and payed 0 attention to my girlfriend, and leaned pretty closely towards me to inform me about availability outside. As a server myself, I never close my body off to anyone at a table and always acknowledge everyone at my tables, so it was uncomfortable that she felt it was ok to do that. Otherwise this place was fantastic and everything else was great. read more

El Encanto - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Great views and service! Not much else thought, food was rough, just missed on execution. Guacamole had zero cilantro or cumin and cracker tasted burned. Chile de nogado walnut sauce was gritty. Queso fundido base was broken, undercooked flour. Mahi tacos were okay but messy (shells too small and dissolved). But, we ordered the "flourless cake" and we got a mediocre ( better to go to Safeway instead), boring standard floured layer cake. -1 star for that. If they were sold out, it would been better to just say it than sub this in. read more

El Encanto - Cake - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I had a business happy hour here and it was perfect! Sunny patio with a beautiful view, attentive service that double checked everything for gluten allergy, and delicious food. We mostly just sampled the appetizers and many of the cocktails which were all delicious. Love the spot and the views and plan to return on another sunny day. read more

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Had a great time and especially enjoyed the ribeye! The amount of food you get for the price is great, and also really like trying the different mocktails. Highly recommend the Horchata and Haley's comet! We got Haley as our server and she was amazing, had the best recommendations and friendly. The ice cream sandwich is a must! The interior was elegant and modern, lots of seating and would be great for a nice sunset. read more

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Very nice warm place of business! Friendly and inviting! Definitely worth a trip to come Experience for yourself. Tell them PC sent you! read more

Great location, beautiful ambiance and unique Mexican flair offerings. Sometimes you need a new kind of Mexican food, where creativity and ethnicity find each other in a harmonious bliss. read more

Me and my friends recently had a birthday celebration on Saturday March 28 2026 at 7:30 pm at El Encanto and unfortunately had a disappointing experience . We had reserved a private room ahead of time, expecting a smooth and enjoyable evening. While I will say the food was great overall, there were still some issues--our tacos were extremely spicy without any warning, and we even found fish bones in them, which was unexpected and concerning. Unfortunately, the biggest issue was the host's behavior. At one point, he approached us abruptly and very rudely told us to put our camera away, saying "this is not a studio for you guys," and implied it was because of nearby guests. However, the guests at the next table actually reassured us that they did not mind at all and even offered to take pictures for us, which made the situation even more confusing and unnecessary. What made it even more frustrating is that there was no prior notice or policy communicated about not using a camera or flash. The restaurant is already quite dim, and at no point were we informed that taking pictures would be an issue. After the incident, I asked a server for the host's name and who was in charge. I was able to speak with Sergio, the manager on duty, who did apologize for the experience. He also mentioned that as a gesture for the inconvenience, desserts would be on the house if we decide to return. While the apology was appreciated, it doesn't take away from how rude and unprofessional the initial interaction was. Overall, the way the situation was handled by the host really took away from what should have been a special night. I hope management takes this seriously and improves both communication and professionalism moving forward, especially for guests celebrating important occasions. read more

El Encanto - mahi mahi tacos , (okay but way too spicy and wasn't mentioned) - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

My husband and I came here very last minute on a Sunday, just planning to enjoy a couple of drinks. We were fortunate to have Pedro as our server, and he completely exceeded our expectations. When we initially asked for an extra shot in our drinks, Pedro took the time to genuinely explain why that would actually do the cocktails a disservice. He shared how much thought and craftsmanship went into creating each drink, almost like explaining the science behind the experience. After hearing his reasoning, we trusted his recommendation, and we're so glad we did. He was absolutely right--an extra shot would have taken away from the masterpiece the bartender had carefully created. Pedro also guided us through our next drink choices and gave thoughtful recommendations based on what we liked rather than simply trying to upsell us. That's how service should be--genuine, heartfelt, and focused on giving guests the best possible experience. He made us feel like friends rather than customers. It truly felt like he was looking out for us, not just trying to make a sale. As someone who works in sales, I especially appreciated the authenticity and care he brought to every interaction. My husband and I both agreed that this is what great service is supposed to feel like. We actually chased Pedro down just to make sure we could leave him the tip he deserved. We'd come back just to have him as our server again. read more

A refreshing new approach led to a great experience tonight. After years of giving this restaurant a break, we tried it again. The shrimp tacos were phenomenal. Perfectly balanced flavors! read more

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Pedro was an excellent server. He gave spot on advice for the table on what to order for appetizers and then individual meals. We had ceviche and guacamole. And the mahi mahi and barbacoa tacos were both beyond amazing. And you can't turn down the ice cream sandwich for dessert - churro and salted caramel ice cream deliciousness. The decor is beautiful and the view of the lake is incredible. It is a little loud inside but that is a vibe in itself! read more

If I could take a moment to touch on the ambiance -- I would give it THE award. From the vibe, to the lighting, to the buzzing of the restaurant, it's just a perfect restaurant. I love it. My husband and I came over after our anniversary massage and facial at Still Spa. We originally were going to walk the boardwalk, and grab a bite later but El Encanto had drawn us in with their menu. When we walked in service was ON. We were greeted by the manager and the host, both of whom were so kind. They asked if we had a reservation, we didn't - and we were in luck! We snagged a seat on the patio with stunning birds, and happy people celebrating the 2nd day of boating season. We live in the neighborhood, and it was really a great day to be out. When it comes to my husband and me, we're traditionalists - personally, if there's Huevos Rancheros on a menu, day or night, I'm getting it. My Sonoran roots crave it! My husband found a love for making Chilaquiles - and he enjoyed his brunch, it was our servers favorite too. We both got a black coffee, we each tried a juice - mine was carrot, so fresh and delicious. It really was a nice meal, one I'll remember. Our total was over $100 - and well worth it. A LITTLE NOTE: I feel the need to share that Como needs to study and adopt El Encanto's hospitality and professionalism. They too could make people feel welcome. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants, came here multiple times and always leave satisfied. Sat right on the water, the views are so incredible! Food is always a hit, the menu is constantly changing. All of the staff are super sweet and attentive. Cute place to come unwind and enjoy good bites. read more

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The restaurant itself amazing the view gorgeous everything else a complete disappointment our server had the nastiest attitude not only was she rude she was sick i think?!? Sniffing super hard right next to me had no manners it wasn't welcoming at all. my friend asked if she could do a substitution and she told her that "we don't do that here " in the rudest way possible i myself work in the costumer service industry and completely understand things like this but to an extent. As for the food mediocre flavorless and overpriced half my plate was just cheese and my friends salad was the most disappointing of all the other dishes it was just a bowl of jicama and it was 17 dollars it was my friends birthday and we wanted a her to have a good experience at this establishment and instead decided we didn't even want to stay for dessert and just get out of there as soon as possible. I have never left a restaurant still being hungry. read more

Genuinely the worst tacos I've ever had. The service is terrible, waited 20 min to be seen after we were sat. Server and host were rude. $25 for nasty tacos NO SIDES would not recommend. The only good part about it is the atmosphere. read more

My husband made a reservation here for a group of 10 of us for my 40th birthday. The food was delicious, but it took forever. I know a group of 10 is a lot to serve and it won't be as quick as usual, but none of us ordered anything elaborate and the wait was well beyond reasonable. The drinks even took forever, so we found ourselves ordering in advance just to make sure we wouldn't have to wait. I give credit to our server who was helpful with recommendations and willing to suggest different options for drinks. She was lovely. The space we had was wonderful and intimate, one large table off to the back side, and overall I enjoyed it. Just the whole experience turned into a 3 hour thing when it shouldn't have. I'll still give 5 stars because overall it was good and to give anything less based on our party size wouldn't be fair. I'll definitely try again with a smaller group, and maybe during the spring/summer to check out the view. We'll see how the service is then and I'll update if need be. read more

El Encanto - Our semi-private seating for a group of 10 - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Made our way to Kirkland today and found ourselves at El Encanto. Food was yummy, and the service was top notch! We opted to sit outside and found ourselves sitting with another random couple. They were really nice so it worked out haha. The view you get setting outside is amazing but don't forget your sun glasses especially now that the weather is getting nicer! I wish they had some fans outside to specially for hot days like today! I'd come back again for the food alone but the view and service was a nice bonus! read more

El Encanto - Mahi mahi tacos - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Cute place with a beautiful view of the water! I ordered carne asada and it was a much thicker cut than usual and though I asked for it medium, it looked more like well done and tasted a bit dry. I order carne asada basically everywhere and since this one was $36 was kind of hoping for it to be better. Additionally, service was not as on point as I would expect. We weren't really asked for refills and again it was okay, but with prices and scenery was hoping for better. read more

El Encanto - Carne asada - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

The portion size for the price is ridiculous. It was SUPER expensive with very small portions. The camarones tacos were decent, but they were not worth the price tag. The carne was not authentic and full of fat - about half of the steak was edible. Service was mediocre - the waitress couldn't even talk with us because it was so LOUD in the restaurant. The restaurant is trying to be high end, but it is too loud to hold a conversation at your own table, the portions were tiny (even the water was basically a tall shot glass), and service was just ok. Would NOT recommend. read more

From California-We enjoyed the northern Mexican flavors of the food at El Encanto . Ordered Deshebrada Tacos, Verdura Asada very tasty ordered 2 orders Ribeye. Will go back again when we return to Kirkland WA Lovely location read more

Came here for lunch with a group of 6 on a nice summer day. They have a cool modern vibe with outdoor seating overlooking the Kirkland waterfront. We ordered a variety of items but most common across our group was definitely the Mahi Mahi tacos. They had good flavor and were cooked well, still juicy. I'd definitely get them again. Although the serving size is relatively small and the sides were pretty standard with both the rice and the beans slightly bland. Service was great and the waiter had good recommendations on food and drink. Forgot to mention the margaritas here are definitely strong :) If you have time for dessert I'd recommend the churros with chocolate sauce. They were fire! Overall I'd say decent upscale Mexican food that was overpriced with small portions. I might come back for lunch if in the area. read more

El Encanto - Churros - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Always a great time at el Encanto! We got a patio spot for sunset, views are spectacular. The drinks are great, and food is even better! We split a bottle of their house white which was divine. We ordered the pomegranate guacamole, red snapper ceviche, Dungeness crab tostada. read more

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Worst restaurant I've been to in the last 12 months! Service ok. Drinks really bad. Food really bland. Menu limited & disappointing. Where's Mexico? Environmental impact totally offensive--super noisy, nasty lighting, bad signing to get there in an architectural labyrinth, outrageous parking expense. A cheap fast food place with high rent and prices to match. If ya think this sounds good, go there and then shoot yourself. Super yuk and sucky-do-do. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for so long and this weekend was the perfect time to do it. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It was definitely very busy so reservations is a must. Thankfully we were able to be seated despite that and was put outside right by the water. The sun was setting so the view was breathtaking! 10/10 for location. Food on the other hand was definitely a disappointment. We originally only wanted to order drinks and enjoy the view but was decided to order some appetizers. We got the trio salsa and the roasted corn guacamole. The portion was not enough for two let alone one. Both were also on the bland side and desperately needed some salt. Drinks were good but it was really nothing special. Prices are def more on the steeper side. Service was also very slow and waiter barely checked in on us. Not sure if it was because we didn't order actual food or not. We waisted almost half an hour for just appetizers. Table next to us ordered after and got their food before us. Hopefully it was because we came on a bad day. read more

El Encanto - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Even though there's a parking lot, be warned - it's a nightmare. There are a lot of one ways and weird turns to navigate and if it's a sunny day, good luck finding a spot. The location on the waterfront is beautiful and there is a patio area, as well as indoor dining. Our table ordered guacamole to share and I ordered the short rib tacos (deshebrada). The food came out fairly quickly, and everything was delicious. I will say, it felt a little overpriced for the portion size but everything was cooked/prepared really well, including the refried beans which I don't typically care for. This wouldn't be my go to place for Mexican food, but the restaurant is super cute and the location on a sunny day is stunning! read more

El Encanto - Tacos deshebrada (short rib) - Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Yes I've lowered my prior rating. Why? Because it's been at least a year now and things should be better at this restaurant. I only went here again because my friend wanted a waterfront restaurant for her birthday meal. The views and ambiance at El Encanto cannot be beat. It was great when it was Beach Cafe and great when it was the restaurant before that. So that does not change. The staff are all so lovely and work so hard but I cannot recommend the food at this place. It's still awful. I thought maybe they were new and getting up to speed but no. The food is still awful. And the prices are really high. I think it's a great location for a restaurant of this type but honestly I'm surprised they are still open. It was a beautiful 78 degree day in Seattle with a beautiful waterfront atmosphere AND it was a holiday. This place should have had a line out the door. The restaurant across the way was packed. This place not so much. Chef Gabriel Chavez, we want you to succeed. Are you listening? read more

Best $4 happy hour tacos ever. Love this happy hour. Waterfront restaurant. So cute. Highly recommend fish tacos and margarita

Food was perfect amount and prices are actually reasonable for a restaurant on the water surrounded by millions of dollar boats and over priced hotel. Drinks were great flavorful, refreshing and interesting names as well. Staff was super nice and welcoming !!! I only wish the menu was a little more explanatory in a food way. It was like Mexican menu and I wasn't confident in what I was ordering or would get without the visualization or English in parenthesis .. so I kept it safe n simple . . The vibe and music was also refreshing , just felt like a safe n warm place to enjoy the perfect view of lake Washington. read more

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Food tasted good. Service was excellent. Nice place with a great view. Parking is easy as well.

expensive, snobbish, and small portions, and tasteless...totally opposite than their sister restaurants, this place needs to change, I hope the owner read all these comments. How can you rate this place more than one star? read more

This place is a disgrace to Mexican cuisine. I rarely leave reviews, but my experience at El Encanto was so disappointing that I feel it's worth warning others. The food was extremely bland, poorly prepared, very small in portion and honestly not worth the price. Nothing had flavor or freshness, it felt like zero care went into what was served. On top of that, the service was shockingly bad. The staff were dismissive, had attitude and rude when I raised concerns, and there was no effort made to fix the situation or even acknowledge the problem. For what I paid, I expected at least decent food and respectful service. Instead, I left frustrated, unsatisfied, and feeling like this place simply doesn't care about its customers. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area that actually value quality and hospitality, I strongly recommend going elsewhere. The only thing this restaurant leverages is its great location, ambience and Instagram worthy scenery, besides this, there is no value to the restaurant or dining experience. read more

service was good tonight. here for my birthday, the ambience is beautiful and with a dark wet November night it was still pretty. Food was good, shrimp taco, mahi mahi tacos and sopa marinera (clams, muscles, and octopus) very tasty amazing bread too. bill kinda pricey but going out to eat is pricey. read more

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El Encanto is hands down our favorite spot for every little celebration throughout the year! It never disappoints. The staff always make the experience extra special, and we've had the pleasure of being served by Joanna the last few times--she's amazing! We can't get enough of the dobladas or the carne asada, and their spicy margaritas? Absolutely the best in town. Always a five-star experience for us! read more

We checked out this establishment during Seattle Restaurant Week in Oct. 2023. Yes, I'm a few months behind and trying to catch up! We ordered from the Seattle Restaurant Week menu: - Traditional Guacamole served with a type of tortillas but it's not tortillas...it's called something else but I can't remember. The guacamole was fresh and tasty. - Ensalada de Jicama - Naranja, mint, tajin - something different, glad we tried this. I've had jicama before but not flavored like this. It's refreshing and I bet more popular in the summer. - Barbacoa Tacos - Pork shoulder, poblano, tomatillo. 2 tacos - Mole Tacos - I don't see this on their current menu. 2 tacos They were both good, but I liked the Barbacoa better. - Pescado Veracruz - I don't see this on their current menu - Carne Asada - I don't see this on their current menu Both were very good but maybe they were only for Seattle Restaurant Week - Ice cream sandwich - Tres Leches cake - if they have this on the menu still, I recommend this. Overall food was delicious and service was great! This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Most, if not all the dishes, are from Oaxaca region...or so I was told by our server. The place has that minimalist decor with the white walls and light wood furniture. Noise level was average. read more

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It's hard to find authentic Mexican cuisine around here and El encanto definitely offers authentic experience! We went to have dinner so it was already dark, but I bet the view to Lake Washington is amazing in the summer. The decoration of the place is quite simple, but harmonious. White colors with succulents everywhere. The service is excellent, friendly, and their recommendations were fantastic. We tried the jaiba tacos... OMG!! They come with white rice, such well balanced dish. We also tried the shrimp tacos but OH OH they were VERY spicy but good. We wanted to taste the FLAN but they're out of it, so we tried the churros which were a little bit soggy but the Oaxaca chocolate was worth it. read more

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