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    El Taco Loco

    4.7 (101 reviews)
    Open 10:45 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    El Taco Loco Photos

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    Mole and red enchiladas with mango agua Fresca
    Alejandro H.

    This spot is located inside the liquor store. It's very clean inside! Food is really tasty (pretty big portion). The workers are so sweet and hard working. Please check this place out!

    New restaurant style seating
    Laura B.

    So excited for this new location. Great food! Worried there's going to be a line this summer.

    Chicken quesadilla with veggies - so good
    Mira B.

    Having lived in California for a long time, I really missed good Mexican food once I moved to Seattle. I am SO HAPPY I found this place. Probably the best quesadilla I've had in Seattle hands down. So so so good. And everyone was so nice. Definitely coming back. I got the chicken quesadilla and added veggies.

    Chicken, steak, and barbacoa tacos - a la carte
    Nadia M.

    I cannot believe I found legitimate street tacos in this neighborhood. Service was also so great and I love that it's in a random liquor store. Because of course it is. 10/10.

    9. Taquitos

    fast, friendly and damn delish! who knew the taco joint in the liquor store would be some of the best mole i have ever had! barbacoa taquitos and mole carnitas. nom nom!

    Alex C.

    Nice local spot, located in a convenient store (there's a window so you can also order from outside). Very friendly staff; they seem to be a family business. Tried a few of their tacos m. Carnitas, carne asada and al pastor were all solid, with good taste and texture. The al pastor hit the spot with all the right flavors, only wish they used a trompo, but still delicious! Their salsa was great too, good heat and thick (I feel like a lot of places in Seattle use watery salsa). Will definitely be back.

    Salsas
    Jacques I.

    El Taco Loco is a hidden gem. Located in the Ballard Liquor Store, there are signs in front of the store with pictures of tacos, indicating that this liquor store has Mexican food. What? Sounds a little odd, but it's true and it's oh-so good. El Taco Loco is one of those authentic taco places that you just know it's made with a lot of TLC the moment you meet the owner and watch how its prepared. It's definitely worth seeking the next time you're in Ballard. I visited El Taco Loco for lunch on a Thursday after visiting the nearby Nordic Museum. I only knew about El Taco Loco, thanks to the wonderful Yelpers on here! I wanted to find a place near the museum for a cheap lunch and Yelp did not steer me wrong. There's a small counter in the liquor store, with a huge menu of the items El Taco Loco offers. In addition to tacos are traditional meals like quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, etc... On Tuesdays you can get four tacos for seven bucks. But all the meals are less than 13 bucks, with tax and tip. I ordered four tacos, two carnitas and two al pastor, which didn't take long to get. Inside the store is a small eating area, as well as the counter's bar space. They also have two different salsas, which are both worth trying. The heat was definitely there! I enjoyed my tacos; both meats were very good. Buuutttt if I had to pick a favorite I would say the al pastor was the way to go! I loved the pineapple addition and the seasoned spice on it was fantastic. Both meats were super tender and flavorful, and truly what make the tacos worth seeking! I'm glad I found El Taco Loco. They serve fantastic authentic Mexican favorites, and the owner is the nicest person. She seemed to genuinely care about all the customers who came in, and recognized repeat customers. Love the wonderful customer service and the delicious food! Make your way here when you're in Ballard...or if you need liquor. Whatevs.

    El Taco Loco new location
    Clayton H.

    Just a quick note to say this amazing restaurant has moved down the street, and is now a taco truck in the liquor store parking lot. Same great food and great service!

    7. Quesadilla (Carnitas)

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    1 year ago

    Do not eat here. It's absolutely not worth the money. There are so many better options. Terrible service!

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    Veronica C.

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    1 year ago

    I thought the food was just OK, but I didn't think it was terribly clean on the inside. I'm reluctant to go back.

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Barbados tacos amazing. Tamarind drink so good. The rice here is worth getting by itself! Highly recommend!

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    4 years ago

    The BEST Mexican food around with some of the nicest staff, thank you to all of you legends!

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    Koko's - Guacamole Chips & Salsa

    Koko's

    4.4(188 reviews)
    5.2 miFirst Hill

    I had an amazing experience for my 25th birthday here at Koko's; I flew in from California and…read morewanted a cute birthday dinner, Koko's did not disappoint! Special shout out to Alex, we arrived early to our reservation and he provided 10/10 service. Right of the bat, they greeted us with excellent hospitality and kindness! They made our visit an amazing experience and provided us with the best seats in the house! Thank you Alex, you're the best The drinks were delicious! I got the Jamaica Martini 10/10 recommend! For dinner I ordered the Poblano Cashew Enchiladas, honestly one of the best meals I've had in a long time Thank you so much for the best experience!

    such a cute spot for delicious mexican food and tasty cocktails in seattle. the vibes are…read moredefinitely more upscale and moody, so this is one of those places that i'd say is good for a girls night out, date night, or just showing visitors around. service is great, our waiter was super sweet and helpful. the staff also cleared our table pretty swiftly and even offered us new plates at one point, which i really appreciated. one of my friends also came here for her birthday and she got a little something on the house, so i can definitely say service is top-notch! foodwise, even though koko's is more expensive than your average mexican spot (you're totally paying for ambiance and service too though), the portions are heaping. i barely finished my enchiladas and all of my friends took their meals to-go. (those burritos are massive omg.) the mole enchiladas were SOOO good, as were the cashew poblano enchiladas. their sauces are so yummy and the presentation was on-point for both enchiladas. i also had a bite of my friend's carne en morita which is a slow cooked pork dish, and i was obsessed. the only thing i'd say to pass on would be the tacos. drinks were also great and had amazing presentation. i was very satisfied with my carajillo and my friend's passion fruit mojito was also very tasty (you could NOT taste the alc in it i swear) overall, koko's is a great spot if you're looking to dress up for a cute night out but also craving some tasty mexican food.

    Photos
    Koko's - Mocktail Marg

    Mocktail Marg

    Koko's - Chorizo Guacamole Burger

    Chorizo Guacamole Burger

    Koko's - Happy Hour Koko Margarita

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    Happy Hour Koko Margarita

    Asadero Ballard

    Asadero Ballard

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    0.6 miBallard
    $$

    Everything was top notch, delicious and excellent. Perhaps one of the best steak dinners I have had…read morein any restaurant anywhere.

    Immediately upon being seated we were greeted with a platter of fresh fruit, cucumber and mint to…read moreadd to our water glasses. SUCH an incredible and unique touch/experience. The table also has two glass bottles of water for refilling as needed which I always appreciate. We started with the Bone Marrow and Queso Fundido and both were delicious. 10/10, no notes. I typically don't like Queso Fundido because it gets so greasy and the cheese hardens fast but this was flavorful, spreadable and the chorizo was a nice compliment not the main event. The Bone Marrow was exactly what you'd expect! So yummy. For our mains we got the Buenos Aires Torta (actually the reason we came to try Asadero) and the shrimp tacos. The bread for the Torta was flavorful and perfectly toasted. The steak was delicious and the chimichurri was so good I just wish there was more! My husband got the tacos and he said they were also very good! After we finished eating we were offered peppermint tea (complimentary) which was another really unexpected and unique touch/experience! The service from everyone was great. Very friendly. Quick service. The establishment was clean and so cozy but also upscale in a very chill way. Bathrooms were clean and smelled good with cute decor. It's not a huge place but I think that's what allows for such an attentive experience. From start to finish we really enjoyed ourselves and will absolutely be back with friends or family!

    Photos
    Asadero Ballard - Interior

    Interior

    Asadero Ballard - Cheese Cake

    Cheese Cake

    Asadero Ballard - Bone Marrow

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    Bone Marrow

    Pancita - Beef brisket suadero tacos

    Pancita

    4.5(91 reviews)
    4.6 miRavenna

    Excellent! The food, service and ambiance were all top notch. I love how cozy the corner restaurant…read moreis. The food was delicious- we started with the sourdough, then the Caesar, brisket tacos and finally the chorizo-stuffed trout. All of the ingredients were high quality and prepared perfectly. We loved every bite and will absolutely be back.

    I really, really wanted to like this place. We'd heard through word of mouth that they were serving…read moredishes straight out of Mexico City, so on a whim one Friday night, my partner and I grabbed a 7:45 reservation--which, honestly, might've been the first sign. I'm usually a fan of a smaller, curated menu because it suggests care in sourcing and execution. But for us, the execution just didn't land. Everything is served family-style, but the portion sizes didn't justify the price point. We started with the sourdough and butter spread, and it was a letdown right away. The bread was hard as a rock, and the butter--while sounding interesting--came slightly burnt and didn't feel worth $11 for two pieces. Next was the albacore tuna tostada. As someone who travels to Mexico City often, I was genuinely excited for this. But it leaned heavily on avocado, with barely any tuna to balance it out. For $25 and only two tostadas, it felt pretty stingy. The rapini quesadilla sounded promising but ended up tasting mostly like broccolini and mushrooms--nothing that really stood out or justified the dish. We finished with the 21-day dry-aged steak, which, at $59, felt like it should've been a highlight. Unfortunately, it missed the mark. It came out essentially raw, which I didn't mind in theory, but it was incredibly chewy and lacked flavor. It was difficult to cut and even harder to enjoy. The tortillas were nice, and the demi-glaze had potential, but overall it just didn't come together. Even the refried beans on the side were underwhelming--something you could easily find done better at a casual spot. On the bright side, the mezcal margarita with a tajín rim was excellent--well-balanced and probably the highlight of the night. And the service was warm and attentive, which I appreciated. But overall, for the prices and the hype, this place just didn't do it for me. Maybe we ordered wrong, but I've had much better elsewhere. I hate to say it, but I probably won't be back.

    Photos
    Pancita - Interior

    Interior

    Pancita - Grilled pork chop with pipian verde, salsa macha, trumpet mushroom, beech mushroom, charred onion, scallion, garlic scrape and cilantro

    Grilled pork chop with pipian verde, salsa macha, trumpet mushroom, beech mushroom, charred onion, scallion, garlic scrape and cilantro

    Pancita - Earl Grey Horchata

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    Earl Grey Horchata

    Maiz Molino - Dip sampler

    Maiz Molino

    4.4(125 reviews)
    4.3 miDenny Triangle
    $$

    Went back to Maiz Molino recently on a Sunday night for dinner w/ friends. I was disappointed to…read moresee that the menu has changed a lot (and not just seasonally, but just a completely different menu) since the last time I visited (maybe a year ago or so). Before it seemed like Maiz Molino was focusing on elevated, unique Mexican dishes (shown in the pics in my prior review such as short rib, and other sort of "fusion" dishes, and more seafood focused, etc.) Now, the menu seems way more generic and casual like enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, tamales, etc. just offered w/ different proteins. They are still focusing on maiz but just a bit more generic in the preparation and offerings. Also, they had 2 separate menus which was a bit confusing. One is a generic all day menu and then another menu had brunch and dinner on it. It was around 5:30 p.m. but they were out of a particular steak dish that we were interested in. Service was friendly. We had enchiladas, a dip sampler (for appetizer) and Tlacoyos. Everything was fine but nothing really stood out, sadly. It wasn't very busy while we were there, so hoping that they are doing ok as a business. I would love to come back if they brought back the old menu w/ things that you cannot really find elsewhere, including the great cocktail menu and desserts that were offered previously.

    This place WOW-ed me. My fiance and I didn't make reservations the day before Valentine's Day and…read morethought we would just try our luck. So many of our regular spots had lines out the door, which was no surprise, but we ended up getting a table here. Figured Mexican food is hard to mess up. Started with drinks- THE BEST MARGARITA I HAVE EVER HAD. It was perfectly balanced, fresh, just perfect to me. My fiance got a horchata and loved it too. They have an option where you can try ALL of their dips for $20, which I couldn't resist. It was so fun, they had like 9 different ones! I got the shrimp tacos and they were so flavorful that I almost gasped. The creamy sauce, crunchy veggie toppers, smooth avocado, and perfectly cooked shrimp...just wow. I will be dreaming about this dish for years to come. I am a pescatarian and gluten free and there were TONS of options for me. They mostly use corn for everything, not flour. The staff was gracious and kind. They seemed a little understaffed but truly made the most of it and made every table feel attended to and special, which was so lovely. Really cool vibe- lots of art and special touches. A really cool place that I can't wait to recommend to friends.

    Photos
    Maiz Molino - Taco plate

    Taco plate

    Maiz Molino - Elote risotto at Maíz Molino in South Lake Union.

    Elote risotto at Maíz Molino in South Lake Union.

    Maiz Molino - Three Tacos plate with chicken, pork and veggies

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    Three Tacos plate with chicken, pork and veggies

    Pablo y Pablo - PORK BELLY BENEDICT

    Pablo y Pablo

    3.8(607 reviews)
    3.0 miWallingford
    $$

    Pablo y Pablo has lots of menu options and serves cozy, hearty food that fills you up really well…read more Everything tastes great and is satisfying. The only downside was that the food took a while to arrive, which slowed down the experience a bit. Still, the quality and warmth of the dishes make it worth visiting.

    I was in the city again so where did I go to eat? Pablo y Pablo...twice...because I was that…read moreserious about them. Food/drinks: Vegan nachos with carnitas -- check! Still huge portions. Still delicious. Still gluten free friendly and dairy free. Watch out for jalapeños; the seeds are definitely in. Mulled wine -- yum! Agave daiquiri -- strong, interesting, wasn't my fave (didn't finish it). Sangria -- solid! Service: A little more than fine. Friendly. Helpful-ish. Checked in at the beginning but less so by the end both times (when a check in would have been useful). Food comes out quick. Ambiance: Still cute for happy hour, friend meet ups, date nights, etc. Not hurried or rushed. Consider a reservation if you want to be safe. Why 4 stars? It's really 4.5. Honestly, service plus the menu changed in the 2 days I was there, and I missed out on the hot chocolate drink I reeeeallllly wanted. I wish there would have been a heads up that I was getting the last day of the menu. Hope it's not another 3 years before my next visit P y P!

    Photos
    Pablo y Pablo - Beer, ceviche, and vibes.

    Beer, ceviche, and vibes.

    Pablo y Pablo - Pork Carnitas Hash

    Pork Carnitas Hash

    Pablo y Pablo - Exterior

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    Exterior

    El Taco Loco - mexican - Updated May 2026

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