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    El Lugar

    4.7 (25 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    El Lugar Photos

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    EL LUGAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - El Lugar

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    Mangoneada
    Victoria C.

    What can I say? If I could I would live here! The amount of times I've considered moving to the apartments above just for this little tiendita! They have a great selection of snacks and quick drinks- I enjoy their seasonal slushies like the mangona paired with a bag of chips imported straight for Mexico! The service is always prompt and the vibes are immaculate. Special S/O to Nina for always taking good care of us!

    Dining area
    Fabrice F.

    Colorful Mexican restaurant meets bar, meets bodega. The cutest. Incredibly friendly staff. Delicious food. We tried the shredded pork crunch wrap and the steak quesadilla.

    Horchata latte (hot and cold)
    Diana C.

    Food - incredibly reasonable prices despite the location and quality of food. Everything was fresh and tasty and there was a decent selection. The portion sizing makes it easy to share or have a snack or order more and make a meal. Several vegetarian options! Love it! Try the horchata latte because it's magical. Service - everything is fresh made and they were super speedy! She was also great at answering questions and making recommendations! There's also fresh bakery and a mini Mexican grocery store area. Ambiance - Super cute little restaurant area with pretty tables and decor and good music. They have lots of hot sauce to choose from too! I think they probably get a little more bar scene at night? I would call this one of the most underrated Mexican food spots in the area. Def would go back!

    Slushy Paloma and mangonada
    Kaelin H.

    We ordered the slushy Paloma and a mangonada with tequila and when I tell you I dream of the mangonada, I dream about the mangonada!! Also the vibes here are casual and easy-going with a little market to buy some authentic Mexican snacks, ingredients, and more. I can see myself coming back here for another drink for sure, especially that mangonada!

    Loaded nachos and boozy mangonada.
    Britt H.

    Food portions are small however the food is tasty nonetheless. The drinks are very good too and the customer service is friendly. I'd recommend this place if you want a light meal and good drinks. I'd come back here again for happy hour.

    Mangonada! Sooo good
    Andii S.

    Stopped into this Mexican grocery and bar bc extremely intrigued by very cute, very colorful, very aesthetic decor. Love how they chose to display all the cultural knick knacks on the wall. Couldn't resist trying something on their menu and ended up getting the mangonada. It's Jumex mango nectar and chamoy topped with mango chunks and tamarind candy. Soooo good, refreshing, sweet, and sour (when you get one of the yummy tamarind candies). Excited to come back and try one of the alcoholic beverages.

    Chicken Salad Tostadas (front) and Tamales
    CJ G.

    El Lugar is my happy place and I would recommend it to anyone. It's truly a hidden gem, perfect for a quick snack. Or if you're like me who doesn't mind music while working on the laptop, this is a great spot for that as well. The chicken salad tostadas I had were amazing: it's so refreshing and not too heavy. They also make delicious tamales from scratch so make sure to try it out. I'm about to go back and get a bag so I can have them at home! There's also a bar and a little store featuring fun goodies from Mexico. Fair price and great vibes!

    Interior
    Gus M.

    El Lugar is a very quaint and unique spot. I came here with my girlfriend today & I noticed the Jalapeño Cilantro Marg on the board and knew we had to try it. We each got the margarita, one with a cinnamon sugar rim and one with a lavender salt rim. The cinnamon sugar rim has a stronger taste than the lavender rim. but they were super good! We recommend squeezing the lime in the margaritas bc it adds this sweet & tart flavor, which is what we were personally looking for! The aesthetic is what you would expect, it's colorful, fluorescent, and full of mexican culture. They sell mexican candies, drinks, even pottery!! We tried the Jell-o shots as well, they were good not as strong as the margs but tasted good! definitely would recommend this spot!

    Mangonada
    Stephanie B.

    I want this place to do SO WELL. I wish it were even closer to me so I could support it as much as I can. I love that you get options here too! Need some Mexican food items (like my favorite watermelon paleta con chile)? Go to El Lugar. Feeling like chilling at a low key bar? Go to El Lugar. Don't drink alcohol? Don't worry, just get the mangonada TRUST ME. ESPECIALLY on a hot day. Are you hungry? How about just looking for a bite? Don't worry, El Lugar has got you too! We got the Tinga Tostadas while we were there are the esquites to share - both were absolutely fire. The esquites were creamy and bursting with corn flavor. The tostadas were addicting and I wanted another plate of them. The tinga was tender and flavorful without disintegrating & the tostada held up really well with each bite instead of it falling into pieces like tostadas at some places. Not to mention, the service was so speedy and friendly, and I got complimented on my dress (bonus points of course). TLDR: JUST GO TO EL LUGAR. Keep this business alive despite having other Mexican places nearby. This one is a gem and won over my Latina heart.

    ‍‍

    Great food, drinks, service, vibes, decor, etc. The loaded nachos live up to the name. Michelada the best I've had in Cap Hill. Let's goooo.

    I was feeling blue from returning from a vacation in Cali and my cousin found this cute spot on tiktok! It was just the perfect pick me up for a cold fall day after being in warm sunshine almost a week. The food, drinks, and vibe were just right here and even got to talk with Nina and the staff. It's nice to have a little piece of our community here and in such a fun way! Reminded me so much of what Cali has, I'm so excited for this spot to blow up and come back regularly! Thanks for cheering me up ladies!

    Bean and cheese burrito with a michelada

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Tamales wers awesome. Tooke me back to when my friend's mom made them in my youth. Vodka Limeade was great. Will come again.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Not really Mexican . The pan dulce taste like chemicals and cafe de olla Also taste funky . Over all disappointing

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing service super chill, the overall vibe of the place is very homely a great ambiance! The food is so delicious and very authentic!

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    Koko's - Guacamole Chips & Salsa

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    4.4(203 reviews)
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    Incredible food, beautiful interiors, and extra friendly service! The prices are very reasonable,…read morethe fancy plating makes it look like high dining. Impressed with all the dishes at the table all around, can't wait to come back and try everything. Thank you!

    Overall, we had a nice experience. Our server, Jadin, was wonderful! Jadin was very kind,…read moreattentive, and especially patient with our party while we waited for one of our guests to arrive. We really appreciated the hospitality and never felt rushed. As far as the food, for the price point, I do feel we could have gone somewhere else and received better quality. The food wasn't terrible, but it didn't quite meet our expectations for what we paid. The biggest disappointment was our interaction with the bartender on 9/4 around 8:30 PM. Our group approached the bar simply trying to order a round of shots. From the beginning, her attitude came across as unnecessarily rude when she asked whether we had a table. She then looked at our group and said, "First of all, we can't have you up here." We genuinely did not know that guests seated at tables were supposed to order through their server. Had she simply explained that to us politely, we would have apologized, returned to our table, and ordered from there. The policy itself wasn't the issue. It was the way it was communicated. Aside from that interaction, we enjoyed our time and really appreciated Jadin for making our experience a positive one.

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    D' La Santa - Flan & Tiramisu

    D' La Santa

    4.5(564 reviews)
    1.8 miCapitol Hill
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    So excited to see more Mexican places open in the Seattle area! Such a cute brunch spot with…read moredelicious food. Ordered the cafe de olla and absolutely loved it. It was sweet, as expected, but not overly sweet. We got pan dulce with the coffee and both the concha and puerquito were fantastic. Both of the green and red sauces for the chilaquiles were tasty, but I think I ended up liking the red just a tad bit more. They were pretty equal in taste! My absolute favorite dish from this experience were the chicharrones. They cooked the pork amazingly and it complimented the salsas perfectly. Great spot! Can definitely see the hype behind this place and am excited to come back at some point again!

    I've always wanted to check out D'la Santa. I always heard that Fri and Sats are always busy and…read morethey do not take reservations but walk-ins only. However, I just found out you can put your self on the waitlist on their website if it's busy. Sundays are the best days to go as it's not as busy and they were able to accommodate a big party. The restaurant also has a parking lot for people to park at as well, so that is a plus! The drink menu is very limited, they don't have a full bar. I ordered the skinny margarita and it was good. The food is authentic and if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, D'La Santa is the spot. We ordered the queso and the rajitas. Both appetizers are really good, came out super hot. Highly recommend. I got the carne asada plate and added an extra mini quesadilla. The carne is very seasoned so you have to eat it with the tortilla to balance out the saltiness. The service was fast and our waiter was very attentive.

    Photos
    D' La Santa - Really cool inside, with a faux lantern tree that makes it a special place to eat. But quite noisy at peak hours.

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    Asadero Ballard

    Asadero Ballard

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    4.5 miBallard
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    Such a fun dinner at Asadero! We went all in on the steak and definitely did not leave hungry…read more We ordered both the filet mignon and New York strip, and both were fantastic--tender, juicy, beautifully seared, and served sizzling hot. The Papa Loca was also a must: basically a giant loaded baked potato topped with Wagyu carne asada, cheese, bacon, crema, and green onion. It's HUGE and ridiculously satisfying. I also loved the gorgeous purple-and-yellow butterfly cocktail--super pretty presentation and very refreshing. And somehow we still found room for the cheesecake, which was incredibly creamy and rich without being too heavy. Probably my favorite way to finish the meal. Service was great!

    I came to Asadero Ballard last weekend for the first time and had a really good experience. We…read moreordered steak and it was served on a hot stone, which kept the steak nice and hot throughout the meal. I enjoyed the experience enough that I decided to come back and celebrate my birthday here with my parents, who flew from Miami to visit me in Seattle. I specifically chose Asadero because I wanted them to have the same experience I had the week before. Unfortunately, my birthday dinner was completely different. We ordered three steaks and all three came out on regular ceramic plates instead of the hot stones we had received the previous week. The steaks were already lukewarm, and they weren't even served with the salt we had received previously--we had to ask for that separately. What made it even more frustrating was looking around the restaurant and seeing other tables receiving their steaks on hot stones while ours were served differently. When we brought this up, we were told that apparently you have to specifically ask for your steak to be served on a hot stone. This was never communicated to us. During our first visit, we never requested a hot stone; the steak was simply served that way. There was also nothing we saw on the menu explaining that it had to be requested, and our server never asked whether we preferred our steaks on regular plates or hot stones. How are customers supposed to know they need to request something that was automatically provided during a previous visit? We explained to the manager that when you're paying a premium price for steak, you expect some level of consistency. The manager did try to make it right by bringing one warm stone to the table after we complained, even though we had ordered three steaks. At that point, I'm not really sure what one stone was supposed to accomplish. Our steaks had already been served lukewarm and the experience was already ruined. The most disappointing part was that this was my birthday dinner. My parents flew from Miami to spend my birthday with me, and I chose Asadero specifically because of how much I enjoyed my first visit. Instead, I spent part of my birthday dinner frustrated and watching the tables around us receive the experience I thought I was bringing my family there for. If serving the steak on a hot stone is by request only, that needs to be clearly communicated on the menu or by the server. Customers shouldn't be expected to somehow know that, especially when the restaurant served the exact same dish differently just one week earlier without us requesting anything. Really disappointing experience and a big regret choosing Asadero for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, after tonight, I would not recommend it.

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    La Chingona

    La Chingona

    4.6(248 reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    This Goblin swears on all dark magic, that this spot has one of the best fish tacos in Seattle…read more Period. The salsa is fresh, the coating on the fish is crispy and light. The tortillas are fresh and full of corn flavor. The aguas frescas smack like my spiked club into your face. I first tried La Chingona on the road pillaging in Bellevue. I'm so glad I stepped away from the village burning for a second to try their delicious tacos. Is it more expensive than your typical Mexican Plato? Si. Does it taste better than your typical Mexican Plato in Seattle? Si. One other crucial detail. That taco will be buckling under the weight of the toppings. These are not skimpy servings. My shrimp taco was heavy enough to do curls with. Their service is friendly, and precise. To this date, I have never received the wrong order, cold food, a missing drink, etc. Expect hordes of people on the weekends, because you can count on one hand how many Mexican places taste like this in the PNW.

    We came here for my mom's birthday lunch and honestly couldn't have picked a better spot…read more The owner was genuinely one of the sweetest people ever. She was dressed in the most beautiful Día de los Muertos-inspired makeup and outfit, and she brought such a warm, welcoming energy to the whole experience. It really made the meal feel special from the moment we walked in. She took our order herself and surprised us with complimentary conchas on the house, which was such a thoughtful touch. As someone who loves Mexican pastries, that instantly won me over. For food, I ordered the pozole and it was incredible rich, comforting, and full of flavor. My mom and sister got the fish tacos and they couldn't stop talking about them. Fresh, well-seasoned, and just really well done overall. This place made my mom's birthday lunch feel so memorable. Between the amazing food and the hospitality, we'll definitely be coming back for both the pozole and fish tacos again.

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    Pancita - Beef brisket suadero tacos

    Pancita

    4.4(97 reviews)
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    Listen, I'm vegetarian and can't enjoy all the bites on the menu -- and I can tell you right now,…read moreI'd wait outside in the rain to eat the veggie bites, drinks, and desserts they offer. Legitimately that good. I honestly came by Pancita from an Eater article and Instagram post and jokingly suggested it to my friend when we already had dinner/drink plans. We both collectively lost our minds and decided, it was DOUBLE DINNER night and made 8:15 pm resys at Pancita. I do highly recommend reservations by the way, esp on weekend nights. We thankfully found street parking just outside and were seated promptly. Truly loved how simple and charming the interior was. I'll be honest, we were dying from 1st dinner even though we only ate a few bites but being gluttons, we got the tomato salad (my favorite bite of the entire evening), my friend got the suadero tacos for herself, and I ordered the enfrijoladas (mushroom) with a side of tortillas -- I couldn't resist! Everything I tasted was delicious and I am honestly planning my next trip back ASAP. We, of course, couldn't resist dessert cause WHEN I TELL YOU THAT CORN CAKE HAS MY ENTIRE HEART. If the capslock wasn't apparent, the dessert was incredible, giantly sized, and lives rent free in my head 5ever. Do yourself a favor and go to Pancita; it is one of the rare spots that deserves every bit of the hype being sent its way.

    I'm Chilango (México City ex-pat). While the dishes are not exactly traditional, they are for sure…read morean elevated version of them. The portions are perfect, nobody needs the giant American portions that many Mexican restaurants serve, The food is clearly prepared at high quality with beautiful plating styles. We went with a group so we ordered many dishes to share. My favorite was the tacos de suadero, Smokey tender fatty meat in blue corn tortillas, the tuna tostadas are excellent! And the mole delightful, although the meat with it was a bit chewy. Great drinks!! And for dessert I've got a delicious carajillo (Mexican espresso martini). Definitely getting back!!

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    Maiz Molino - Dip sampler

    Maiz Molino

    4.4(130 reviews)
    0.9 miDenny Triangle
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    I was lured in off the street by the beautiful mural and decor. I normally forget to take pictures…read moreof restaurant interiors but I liked this place enough that it was the first thing I did! The staff (owners? Not sure, I know there's another location in Pike's Place) were friendly and seemed like they wanted to be sure that we enjoyed our food. Definitely not the cheapest Mexican restaurant around, but you're paying for the attention to detail and carefully sourced ingredients. My food was really tasty. The way their ordering works for most menu items is you pick your antojito and then your guisado (the "vessel" and "filling," I guess). I went with gorditas with chicken. All the antojitos are made with hand-made masa (nixtamal corn dough) that uses carefully sourced heirloom maize (corn), and the gorditas were no exception. The masa was really tasty and the texture was perfect. The chicken guisado was good, and I think I'll try another type depending on what they have available the next time stop in during lunch. The refried beans were really tasty and might've been my favorite thing on the plate besides the masa. My tamarind agua fresca was also delicious, but it could've been less sweet. My friend ordered tamales with pork, which I'm told were also delicious and very tender. Both dishes were also plated very beautifully.

    Really lovely people working here! They were able to accommodate our group of 5 kind of last…read moreminute. The menu has a variety of good options and everyone cleaned their plates. The inside is really fun and has a lot of pretty mosaics and murals and nice touches like the little jars of different corns.

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    Hatch Cantina - Beautiful bar

    Hatch Cantina

    4.3(422 reviews)
    1.0 miBelltown
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Full bar

    This has been bookmarked for a while and the only regret I have is that I didn't get here sooner…read more This food is terrific, the vibe is hilarious, the servers are downright fantastic. Andrew (our server) introduced us to his sidekick, who was in training. Love that personal, hands on approach for a mew team member, and Sidekick did a great job in monitoring our table and replenishing water. Have to stop here and express my appreciation for Andrew and how he took the time to explain the philosophy and genuine team vibe of the restaurant. Oftentimes when a restaurant adds a flat 20% gratuity, you get the feeling this is not passed on to the servers. Not so here. He explained that it's shared among the servers, bar, and other staff, with only a bit retained by management, but even that finds its way into their wages. Terrific work environment and happy to see it. It definitely shows in the level of service. But we're here to eat. Didn't take a picture, but one of my dining companions ordered the burrito with red chili sauce and it was very good. Just the right amount of heat in the sauce. The Cantina celebrates Taco Tuesday, so I took advantage of this. You get the opportunity to try 5 different street tacos for the low price of $15. For another $4 you order it fully loaded which is a steal (guac, pickled onions, lettuce, giardano, crema, and another lovely sauce). Each of the tacos were really delicious and packed full of flavor. I especially enjoyed the cauliflower and the beef. Was surprised how much I liked the popcorn chicken - still juicy and not greasy in the least. Andrew treated us to a round of the hatch green chili. I was delighted because it was a dish I wanted to try. He described it perfectly: a little kick, but you can't stop eating it. He was right. A bowl of this in the winter with their cornbread (which I'm confident will be delicious) will preempt a winter cold. The sauces on the table are not to be ignored either. The green chili sauce was fruity with a little heat, the scorpion chili brings the heat, but their homemade chili oil is phenomenal. I could put this on everything. In short, the Cantina delivers. Excellent food, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun staff, and a cool vibe. I'll bet the cocktails will also be good. Definitely adding to the regular rotation!

    Had a very good meal at Hatch Cantina on their discounted Taco Tuesday special. For my first meal…read morehere I ended up getting two each of the El Pastor and beef taco's that were authentic Mexican style street taco's that were $3.50 each I believe. The El Pastor was just so so for my taste where the marinated pork was a tad bland and I was not a fan of the Cauliflower tortilla's. The Beef taco's one the other hand were exceptional and full of flavor. Of note, the house made salsa's on the table were very very good and added a lot to these taco's. Aside from the food, I also got their Happy Hour Priced Traditional Lime Margarita at $12.50. This was a well made Blanco based Margarita with a house made 5 salt medley rim that was unique and quite good in its own right. Relative to staff and the facility and contrary to some of the reviews I saw on line, I had no issue with getting seated and staff on this day was very pleasant and friendly. The facility itself is clean and bright with nicely stocked bar in the center of the restaurant providing a nice visual while you enjoy your meal. Overall a very nice dining experience where I will be returning in the future to get some more of those beef taco's.

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    Hatch Cantina - Happy hour

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    Hatch Cantina
    Hatch Cantina - Interior (4/8/23)

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    Interior (4/8/23)

    El Lugar - intlgrocery - Updated September 2026

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