The service is great and the waitresses really cared about our grandson getting a covered water cup! They are ALWAYS willing to refill the chips and awesome salsa for FREE! The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and feels like you are visiting Mexico. :) I am not sure if I like the change with the bar area being open to families eating in that area, but the hostess was accommodating in seating us in our usually area out of the bar. Maybe they should put up a wall in front of the alcohol display and it wouldn't bother me so much. The food was absolutely awesome as also with many many choices! read more

I always love the food here I've been going for 7 years and the food has never disappointed me. The costumer service is always delightful they always make sure to bring more water or chips if needed. The quiet environment makes it such a lovely place to go out to dinner but still have a conversation without feeling like everyone is listening as well as not being drowned out by the noise. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - 5. Two Chimichangas Rice and beans Two Tamales with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Ordered mole for lunch (the dinner portion so I could have the leftovers for dinner) seriously sooo insanely good! I've tried other places molè but I always come back to el gitano. Truly the best in all of Bellingham! I'm not gonna bother trying anywhere else at this point. Can you tell I almost didn't even get this picture? Lol! I was so ready to dig in but I have to give this place their props. I'm so glad they're open on Mondays now. Beyond the delicious food quality the service was excellent as well! When I called the ordering process was very straightforward and smooth. The gentleman on the phone was helpful and polite. Also I have to mention I've only lived in Bellingham a couple years now. I brought my friend who has been here for much longer and even she was beyond impressed with the quality and authenticity of this restaurant. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Take out dinner portion of Chicken Molè - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This restaurant is located in a nondescript shopping mall. From the outside, it does not look inviting, but the inside takes you back to real Mexico. The inside is just gorgeous with genuine Mexican decor, pictures, ceramic, and wood. The ambiance is a 5+. The restaurant was not packed but pretty full on a Saturday night. Service was a 4.5. Several people, not just our waitress, came by to see if we needed anything else. For entrees, I had the shrimp and crab burrito, which was listed as restaurant speciality ($20). I was impressed that there was not fishy taste or smell. It was a huge burrito and I could not finish it all. The flavors came together nicely with the combo red and green sauce. The rice and beans were tasty. I enjoyed that meal a lot and thought the sour cream was superfluous. The avocado slices, about which I am very picky, were not spoiled or brown. My one complaint was that my frozen margarita lacked flavor or kick. It basically was like drinking a glass of ice. I would not get it again or recommend. After drinking ice, I ordered the Patron margarita and it was delicious, good flavor and I could feel the tequila. It was $15 but worth it. The wife had the Seven Seas soup. On the positive side there was a ton of seafood. It was a huge bowl that costs is $27 but the amount of seafood you get makes that price seem like a deal. She got lots of big shrimp, calamari, mussels, two big crab legs and clusters, plus clams. Seven types of seafood (hence the name). On the negative side, the broth needed salt and lacked depth. The flavor was thin. The other thing is that you need to eat the shrimp and crab first or else they overcook in the hot broth. That would have been a nice tip from the waitress. Overall, we got our Mexican food fix. We enjoyed the meal I would return there. read more

See all

A great spot to Lunch! First time here and took advantage of their lunch specials. The Taco Salad and Steak rancheros were a decent price with big portions. We will definitely be back read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Steak Rancheros Lunch - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

We have been coming here for at least15 years. We come here because of the people. They are all like family to us! People we would have over for dinner. This I must say.... In the last 3 winters when we are in the dining area that used to be the bar it's cold as (hell) . Owner/ management come see and experience! Not a great dining experience! I have been in the plumbing/HVAC business for over 40 years. It's not right. P.S. fix the bar tv. It has been dis functional for most of a year and it's NFL playoffs! We will always come for the people. Please address. Thank you! read more

We were passing through around dinner time and stopped here because it seemed to have decent reviews. I ordered the small shredded beef enchilada and shredded beef taco combo plate. My husband for the chimichanga combo plate. The food took a bit to come out but we didn't think it was a big deal....until I got my plate. First, my taco was in a premade shell which was so soggy, it broke. Yuck, premade shell, really? Second, my enchilada didn't have sauce. Third, the rice had no flavor at all. My husband said his chimichanga was ok. The waiter offered to "fix it", with what? Another store bought shell? More flavorless rice? I guess the shredded beef was ok. Thankfully I don't live around here. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Combo enchilada and taco plate - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

Tasty Mexican place in Sunset Square. Parking is plentiful in the strip mall lot, close to Panda Express but on the opposite side. They really did a good job with the Tex-Mex theme on the inside. Other than the weather it felt like I was close to the border. Staff were friendly and helpful. Special mention. The place serves complimentary nachos and salsa. Chips are nice and crunchy. Salsa container is a bit on the small side, but they gladly gave refills. The staff recommended the chile verde. Stewed pork with rice, refried beans, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Quite tasty. Friend and I left happy and stuffed. Recommended. read more

See all

This is a nice place tucked away in a strip mall just off I-5. We stopped here late in the evening very hungry after two days of climbing in the north cascades. The service was good but a bit slow. Perhaps we caught them at the end of their day. The food was very good and the portions plentiful. The ambiance was fine but the numerous televisions are a bit distracting. In all. we were grateful for the hospitality. read more

We came here for a super late lunch or early dinner. We got here at 4+ pm and it was not super busy. There was a table celebrating a birthday and the staff came out with a Mexican hat to put on the birthday person and burst into song. That was quite cute. The dining area is quite big and can seat many. Wifi is also available. Ask staff for password. The place is quite hidden as it is away from the main turn in. Make a left turn when you see JoAnn Fabric and Crafts. I ordered the small combination plate of 2 enchiladas. It came with rice and refried beans. I chose pork verde and beef for the fillings. The meat was very tender. The dish had a home style cooking taste to it. Good but not wow. The complimentary chips and salsa were nice though the salsa was not spicy at all. A decent place to have Mexican food if you are in the mall. I think there are other places with better Mexican food in the area, so it is not a place I will specially make a trip for. read more

See all

I have been a regular customer of EG in Bellingham for more than 10+ years. I moved to AZ 5 years ago and came back today and was so excited to go to EG. The Cadillac margaritas were horrible not even close to what they used to be. The El Gitano burrito had about 4 pieces of pork in it. The absolute ONLY part of the experience that was positive was our fabulous server Cecilia! She is the only reason I will ever come back to EG....If I come back that is! read more

Really, really inauthentic and bland American-style Mexican food served up slathered in congealed glaciers of cheese goo. The tequila is watered down. Get beer, if you need a drink. Good service, though. Quite warm and friendly. That's the extra star. This is everything that's wrong with Mexican food in America. It's boss-level bad, and the stomach cramps have only just begun. If you need me, you know where I'll be. Please excuse the cursing... Just don't. For the sake of your intestinal biome. There are barely average food trucks nearby serving bites infinitely more satisfying and safe. Oh, man. It's going to be a long night. Nope. No. Newp. Not. Nada. read more

The food was NOTHING like it used to be. My friend ordered the tacos and got "store-bought" tortilla shells. I got the bean burrito that was so bland. So, I asked for some guac. That guac looked/tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. I remembered that they had really good flan before, so I ordered 1 to go. That was THE WORST flan I ever had. I also ordered churros to go, as well. When I got them home, they were covered with a watery chocolate sauce, which made the churro soggy. I asked if they were under new management and was told they were. I am NEVER going there ever again and I'm NOT going to recommend them, either. read more

I've been going here for years. The service is always amazing, everyone is so friendly. The fajitas burrito is the absolute best. So delicious and huge portion. read more

Is it just me or have the portion sizes been diminished? The last 2 times I have ordered take out, the portion size of the rice & beans seems to be at least 1/2 of what they used to be. I mean the cost simply can't be the issue. After all it's beans & rice. Paying over $17.00 for two chicken enchiladas and rice & beans doesn't seem like a good value to me. The quality is ok just seems a bit pricy based on portion size. read more

Similar to Mi Mexico but doesn't have the great chips and salsa we have come to love the last 6 years. Good quality food with great service always, as I best I've taken 4 business lunches there in the last 3 months. Very nice and quiet ambiance compared to Mi Mexico which is clearly much louder. Nice work! read more

We popped in randomly on Saturday night feeling not in the mood to deal with downtown and the hustle and bustle of the weekend. El Gitano is right by our house and we thought we'd give it a try! It did not dissapoint, the service was 10/10. Friendly, efficient, quick, no complaints. Yummy complimentary chips and fresh salsa, and a large menu to choose from depending on what you're in the mood for! I had the crab and shrimp chimichanga and it was made with fresh crab ! We're going to definitely make this a reoccurring spot for us! read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Crab and shrimp chimichanga! - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Absolutely FANTASTIC food, great service, and the Margaritas were soooooo good! We tried the fajita burritos and Tacos Al Carbon and cleaned our entire plates. Even the chips and salsa was incredible: fresh ingredients with a strong hint of spiciness. Strongly recommend checking this place out! read more

One of our favorite Mexican restaurants in town! They are fast and super on top of the menu. I got the carne asada baked potato which I've never had before and it was amazing! I broght the rest home and ate it for breakfast. We had a group of 11 and nobody's drinks were empty or tummys not full we had a great time and our server was Cecelia she's fantastic read more

Been there 4 times and quality food along with good service!! Love the beans with the chips, I will be coming back again soon!!

Yummy Mexican food and fabulous service and GREAT Cadillac margaritas! We would always go back to this great place!

It was underwhelming. I really wanted to like this place since it's so close to my house. I ordered a mixed drink and it was so watered down it was just a slushie with barely any flavor and I could not taste any alcohol. Pretty lightweight and I didn't feel anything. On top of that there's a reason why the drinks have no prices...that drink I ordered came out to 16$ alone. I probably would have been ok with the price if the drink had alcohol and flavor.The servers are attentive. The food was just ok, but I wouldn't go back. I don't recommend if you're looking for authentic tbh. read more

This place always amazes me. It is tucked away in a strip mall in an odd part of town. It is for sure a diamond in the rough. I have never had anything that wasn't super amazing from here. I grew up close to Mexico, so my standards are very high. I always start my judgement by the chips and salsa. This place does not disappoint. The salsa is the perfect amount of chunky and spicy and the chips are always warm. The service is prompt and honestly it doesn't take long to get anything. Drinks or food (as it should be in a Mexican restaurant). If you wanted to you could get in and out on a lunch break. I personally like to hang out a bit and make myself miserable from eating too much! I enjoy ordering whatever the server likes to eat and do that almost every time. (Tricks of the trade. The people who work at a place have the secret codes. Always.) this time I opted for just basic. Taco and enchilada. I did order a beef taco and get a chicken taco, but it was so good I think it was meant to be. My wife is suuuuuper picky about her enchiladas and she was mad at herself for not getting more than one. The sauce was indescribably good. Have you ever had a grilled jalapeno??? I ordered one and then 4 more. I am not sure how they season them but I could bathe in the spices. They are that good. ***They are doing all the covid precautions. Their new patio is awesome with very spread out tables and lots of shade or sun for everyones liking. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Small combo plates, grilled jalapeño, and 1 side of sour cream/guac - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Overall, good and average American Mexican restaurant in Bellingham. Lunch specials are decent sized and the food is good. Pick de gallo was a bit of a disappointment ( not super fresh), salsa was good and the chips were hot. read more

The food was so much better than other Mexican restaurants in Whatcom county. The wait was FOREVER though. We think they had some large parties and we definitely got forgotten. The salsa made up for the potential frustration though. read more

Every time I've come here, I always get great food with exceptional service. I typically order the menudo and it tastes clean and just like the menudo from Mexico city. My wife orders the tortilla soup and it tastes delicious too, and it's hardy and warms her up during to cool rainy days. Have eaten Mexican food all over the midwest and west coast, this place holds up with most of the mom and pop places I have found. read more

See all

I had the pescado frito, and it was SMALL for the price. The rice didn't have much flavor. And the booth seats are too small. I felt so cramped while trying to relax and eat. read more

Tucked into a strip mall between Goodwill and Joann's Fabrics, this restaurant is easy to locate and has lots of free parking available. Once inside, you have a choice to hide away in a booth in the family restaurant or grab a seat in front of one of the many flat screen televisions in the bar/lounge. They televised both the World Cup and the Super Bowl. On both occasions, I was able to find a good seat with a great view of the game, get quick, efficient and friendly service, and enjoy margaritas and combo plates at bargain prices The quality is decent and the quantity always requires a doggie bag or at the very least splitting the meal with a friend. Just don't forget to take your goodies home with you. Supposedly karaoke takes place on the weekend nights, but I've never been at that time to join in the butchery of popular music. I do like coming during the weedays for the lunch express menu. It is cheap and quick. I'm certain I'll be back. Hasta en el futuro. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Burrito from the Express Menu - your choice of filling, but I asked for black beans both inside and outside. - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

El Gitano is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Bellingham. Their staff are always friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant (and restrooms) are very clean. Some of my favorite dishes there are the Arroz Con Pollo, the El Gitano Special Burrito, and the Papa Loca. read more

We'd been meaning to try El Gitano for some time. Aside from pizza, all of our usual places we've had during the Covid quarantine have been far below par. So I was a bit hesitant to try a new place when so many places were underwhelming. If this is El Gitano at their worst, I'd love to try them at their best! We ordered 4 different combo meals so we got a decent sampling of their food. No complaints with anything. We had beans and rice, enchiladas, burritos, chalupas, tacos. Everything was great! Our usual Mexican dive has been declining in quality and increasing in price. This may be our new go-to. read more

We gave this place a try about 10 years ago, and didn't like it. Yesterday, we decided we ought to try it again. Bad decision. I have no idea of why so many people seem to think that this is a good Mexican restaurant and give it 4 or 5 stars. There are a lot of better spots in Bellingham to pick up some good Mexican food. My chile relleno was bland, bland, bland. Made from an Anaheim chile, either canned or if fresh, way overcooked, was terrible. No taste whatsoever. My wife's huevos rancheros were equally bland. Mexican food does not need to be hot, but it does need to have a little spice. You'll get much better food at Tadeos, Lillia's and El Patron. For the real deal, head over to Gloria's, where you'll get authentic Mexican fare. For that matter, I can think of several taco trucks in Bellingham that serve up better food. read more

This is my favorite Mx food in Bellingham. The food is great, the servers are always friendly and the restaurant is very clean.

First time here and I've got to say I am impressed. Located in a very accessible location off of Interstate 5 with tons of parking, it's centrally located and convenient. It's fairly nondescript exterior opens to an exceptionally clean interior. Always a plus for me. We were seated promptly and ordered margaritas. Unfortunately this is where the experience took a turn for the worse- our drinks had been watered down. They were awful. (I know that many mexican restaurants premix their margaritas and I figure they put ice in the pitcher and it melted) We got them removed from the check and ordered beers. Now on to the good stuff- The Food! The menu is really big and full of unique dishes. I had the Crab and Shrimp Relleno- it's a sweet roasted poblano pepper filled with delicious bay shrimp and succulent crab meat, dipped in egg, fried and covered with cheese. So good! Hubby had the Pollo Relleno, which was more like the mexican version of Chicken Cordon Bleu. Boneless chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese and wrapped in bacon. It was ridiculously good! We also ordered the house made queso dip to go with our tortilla chips...I could have made a meal out of that stuff, but then I am an unrepentant cheese glutton . The service was very good and the ambience was pleasant. This place is a definite hit in my book. read more

See all

I have been coming here for a number of years and it has always been reliable and not very expensive for a filling lunch. While it still serves lunch, the menu is nothing exceptional and the prices are higher. The chips and salsa are good, the drinks OK, the portions on the lunch are only fair. One cocktail, a Mai Tai, seemed a bit too orange, served up late after lunch was about to be delivered. The Chile Relleno and the Carne Asada were good, but not the most memorable. Some of the taco trucks in town seem more spicy and imaginative. Service was friendly and the place is clean and welcoming. Good seating to allow for adequate spacing in the bar. Filling, but just a bit predictable and disappointing. read more

Friendly staff. Fun environment on karaoke night. Good margaritas. Amazing salsa. First time visitor to El Gitano on a Saturday night. It was very easy to get a table for four. The waitress was nice enough. She didn't speak very loud, made communication challenging in this noisy restaurant. The chips are warm and the salsa pleasantly spicy. This is probably the best salsa that I've had in a long time. I could eat a bucket's worth of salsa if given the chance. Karaoke was fun. A binder full of song options are provided, write your information on a paper, hand in, and you're added to the lineup. The karaoke lady was alright. read more

My husband had the chile relleno and enchilada combo plate with beans and rice and I had the El Gitano Special Burrito. Both very delicious! The pork in the burrito was tender and cooked perfectly. The chips and salsa were good, too. I liked that the chips were warm when they served them. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - El Gitano Special Burrito and chile relleno and echilada combo plate - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

We ate lunch here in Bellingham while in town. Overall the three star rating is a bit generous. Their chips and salsa were really good. The salsa was some of the best I've eaten in a restaurant. As an appetizer we ordered what was described at Fresh Guacamole - prepared at table side, a dish I've eaten elsewhere and always liked. I particularly like a guac that isn't pulverized into baby food consistency. The price for this item was $8.95 I believe. What we got was a small black cup with a traditional guacamole. Not made at table side. When I questioned the waitress she said it was fresh made that day, but not at table side. The price was $3.50 on the bill. Not what I wanted or expected. The wife ordered a taco salad with shredded chicken, which she liked. The shell was fresh and tasty along with being very crisp. That was a winner. I ordered Arroz con Pollo, a dish I've eaten elsewhere and like. This was pretty much like most I've eaten except that the sauce was quite a bit sweeter than I'm accustomed to. More tomato-ey, if that makes sense. I wasn't terribly put off by it, though I would've preferred it not so sweet with a more chile based sauce. For me it was a 'meh'. Where I thought they really dropped the ball was in the area of service. Getting a refill on my iced tea took far too long. I resorted to drinking some of my wife's ice water. Refills on salsa and chips are a charged item. And then when it came time to pay the bill I thought the waitress was never going to return. They didn't seem all that busy to me...... Finally, I think the waitress shouldn't have charged us for the guac as it wasn't what I ordered. And yes, I did specifically state we wanted the fresh guac made at table side. Anyway, this is one of several restaurants with the same name, and I'm assuming the same owners, in the area. I may give them a try. But for my $'S I think I'll stick with Lorenzo's. read more

The food is mediocre and the Cadillac Margarita is dangerous. Service was slow but the place was busy. read more

El Gitano Mexican Restaurant - Margaritas, friend and cards - Mexican Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This was my first time here after asking dozens of people for a recommendation for Mexican Food. I. can't believe it took me this long to find El Gitano. I ordered the Molcajete (pictured) which is a stone pot filled with carne asada, chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, onions, cheese, and a rich savory sauce. It was served with beans, rice, guacamole, and sour cream on the side. It took forever to eat it but everything stayed hot with the stone pot. Don't expect this to be spicy, it is well seasoned and flavorful. Be very careful to not touch the stone pot itself for 30 minutes. The price was $25.99 but it could easily feed 2 people. Since it was lunchtime, I didn't try any of the alcohol but I do know they have Mezcal which is hard to find around here. read more

I visited El Gitano, I believe it was a Tuesday morning. And the little hostess at the front was giving me quite an attitude, as well to the other 2 customers that were there. Maybe try better customer service. I think her name was Nia or Lea I couldn't see the name tag, but I think we would appreciate it if she could do a better job! Thank you, Elizabeth P. read more