Yes, I'm going to say it... El Taco Loco may just be the BEST taco spot in North Seattle, perhaps even the best in all of Seattle! I came in for the first time earlier today, greeted with a friendly welcome and staff happily ready to serve us. I've been searching for a "good" taco in North Seattle, and to be honest - the search has been tough. But I think I may have landed on a juicy gold mine. El Taco Loco serves amazing tacos and other great Mexican bites. Earlier I ordered 2 Al Pastor Tacos and 2 Carnitas. AY! That first bite of the Al Pastor was HEAVENLY. Never have I ever tasted such a delectable juicy taco in this city until now. I think I fell in love with that taco, it was flavourful, and the small bits of pineapple added a nice acidity with the meats. The carnitas were also prepared nicely, shredded up and cooked to perfection. I added the green sauce to it just to add a bigger kick. If I only had to chose one meat, it would be the Al Pastor. I also tried a bite of the burrito wrap with steak, which was also very good, but I much prefer the tacos. Watch out [redacted], there is some serious ta-competition in town. Only downside was pricing can be a little high for a single taco like most other popular taco spots in the city, so if you're looking for an affordable taco, your best bet is to go somewhere south like Burien or White Center. But when you're stuck up north, El Taco Loco is the place to go. read more

El Taco Loco - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ordered enchiladas verdes for pickup and it was missing the guacamole and chopped salsa/cilantro... very little meat inside the tortilla Not worth it for $21 total :( Tacos are great though! read more

El Taco Loco - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

El Taco Loco was a long time bookmark. However, a recent Yelp post from Ashley where ETL catered her baby shower was so compelling I finally stopped by Saturday afternoon (10/5/24). There is no shortage of taco trucks or brick & mortars, but my fave up in Edmonds had changed ownership. I was in search of another taco spot. Since I was in the Ballard/Sunset Hill vicinity and haven't had breakfast or lunch yet, coming up on 2pm. Perfect timing! El Taco Loco has fairly spacious food prep and indoor dining areas in a shared space with the Ballard Liquor Store. There's also some outdoor seating. Because of two parties ahead of me, I was able to consider my menu choices. Counter person was very welcoming. I decided on the #1 four tacos with choice of meat (steak/carne asada) and a soda (Sprite). Dining onsite, this was served on an actual plate. I was also handed napkins and a chilled squeeze bottle of salsa verde. Flavorful with the minced onion and cilantro with the first taco. Then the second, third, and fourth. I was checked upon which was appreciated. But it was evident with my clean plate except for used lime wedges, all was good. Just an fyi, there's a taco platter available for $80. Great for sharing, party potluck, picnic idea. I returned the salsa container as I bussed my table. It's very efficient to have the trash, recycle, compost containers and dish tub by the exit. I thanked the counter person. Props to the gentleman who prepped my taco order. Thanks again to Ashley for her well written review. Patted my happy stomach walking to my car. All ready for the UW-Michigan game. Go Huskies! read more

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Finally figured out there was a taco joint INSIDE the liquor store!! Ordered the tacos de carnitas, they were worthy. Rojo salsa was as thin as water, which I found odd & a little messy, but it was really good!! Will definitely be back, the staff was super friendly & inviting! read more

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! read more

El Taco Loco - Mole and red enchiladas with mango agua Fresca - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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

El Taco Loco - New restaurant style seating - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food was delicious and not overpriced. Many people get Carrie out, but we sat at the tables inside. It was very informal and if it's strange to be eating in a liquor store. The two men I was with who were from the East Coast said it reminded them of New Jersey. Anyway, what was great about the ambience was that it wasn't loud, unlike so many popular restaurants today. We were able to sit and easily hear one another and have great conversation. Even after we finished eating, we didn't feel rushed to clear the table for the next party who was waiting. You order at the counter and the woman was very helpful in describing dishes and picking favorites! We will definitely be eating here again. Nice to be at the venue that's relaxing!!! read more

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. read more

El Taco Loco - Chicken quesadilla with veggies - so good - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The only baby shower I have ever enjoyed had tacos and margaritas. Flash forward a few years, and I was planning a baby shower of my own, and I knew I wanted to replicate the joy of tacos and margaritas for my guests. As an Arizona gal who grew up eating delicious Mexican food, my bar was high, and El Taco Loco did not disappoint. Despite not officially offering catering or large orders when I first inquired, the owners were more than happy to make arrangements to prepare food for my 45-person event. We had carnitas, chicken, vegetarian taco options, and the most delicious red rice and beans. The food came with copious onion, cilantro on the side, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. The portions were generous, and a week later, we are still enjoying leftovers from our event. The cost was extremely reasonable given the quality and the quantity of the food, and we were even given a portable, insulated cooler/warmer to transport the food to the event (you DO have to return this after ;) ). I have family from Chihuahua, Mexico, and they raved about the carnitas and red rice. We have continued to hear from guests how much they enjoyed the shower - especially the food. If I had it to do all over again, I would not hesitate to order from El Taco Loco again. You can taste the care that this family-owned establishment pours into their food, and I am so grateful they made it possible for me to host the baby shower of my dreams. read more

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. read more

El Taco Loco - Chicken, steak, and barbacoa tacos - a la carte - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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

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! read more

El Taco Loco - 9. Taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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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.

Really nice people, the food is super good, & the service is quick! They have a couple tables inside & outside or take it to go. When i feel like some Mexican food this is my go to spot. Plus I would rather support a local business than a corporate one read more

The only taco spot I go in Seattle!! Finding a good street taco on this side of the state was a journey, I'm lucky enough to live close to this place, and let me tell you this is the best Mexican food I've had in this city, by far! Good, quick service, and ran by an awesome family. I've been going for years and they've never let me down, I love El Taco Loco read more

When we first 'discovered' El Taco Loco my hubs and I stopped in a little liquor store for a little premixed margarita. The smells of deliciousness hits you right away and you realize there is a little taqueria inside the liquor store. We were intrigued. We looked at the menu and immediately ordered some street tacos. We got steak, veggie, carnitas and barbacoa and they were all four delicious. This began our love affair with this place and when we visit Seattle twice a year this is our go to. We are typically here 2-3 weeks and we go minimum of 2x each week. Try it. It's fabulous!!! And we are from Texas, the land of TexMex. read more

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. read more

El Taco Loco - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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. read more

El Taco Loco - Salsas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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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! read more

El Taco Loco - El Taco Loco new location - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The service is great they have a full menu and they're super friendly! It's a great place to go for alcohol though I didn't buy any today and the decor is nice! You can dine in and out... I devoured my entire plate on my 30 min lunch break!!! I love it read more

Their food is quite good, but their staff have been super rude about their recent coupons (and are now not accepting them at all). Not really sure why they decided to offer coupons and then get annoyed when people use the coupons. read more

I go here a fair amount - food is always excellent and the folks working three are super nice too! Recently got a new order, the quesadilla with carnitas. So so good - also would recommend getting both hot sauces, the red in particular is the bomb! read more

El Taco Loco - 7. Quesadilla (Carnitas) - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The place is located inside a liquor store. We ordered two burritos and they're okay. It wasn't as flavorful as I wanted. It felt like it was missing something for it to be a good quality burrito. The spices and ratio of ingredients just wasn't there. It didn't fall apart which was nice. read more

Color me impressed! Theses were pretty damn good tacos for a spot inside a liquor store. I had 2 carnitas and 1 pork marinade. One star off for no crispy bits on the carnitas and store bought (not homemade) tortillas. The service is super friendly - they seem to have a lot of friends and regulars - always a great sign. This place is for sure with visiting if you're in the 'hood and need a bite. read more

El Taco Loco - Today's tacos offerings - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Taco restaurant inside of a liquor store - HECK YEAH! Due to covid, they don't have the lunch set deals anymore. Updated menu below, still it is so worth because it is really good. Highly recommend their Al Pastor tacos! read more

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This place hit the spot - the exterior of the liquor store's a little sketchy looking but the interior is nice and the staff of El Taco Loco are SUPER friendly. Probably one of the best burritos I've had since moving to Seattle. Really good flavors, solidly wrapped and held together throughout (unusual for a Seattle burrito). Would definitely recommend to friends, and this place is going to be a lunch staple for me from now on. read more

This place is a perfect example of the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover". A small counter and window within a liquor store, this place is a hidden gem. Cheap yet fantastic food! Loved the carnitas tacos and the wet burrito. The tamale was good too! read more

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

I'm a foodie and I'm so glad I found this gem of a spot! The people that work there are also really friendly! Can't wait to try everything on the menu! read more

El Taco Loco - a hand holding a burrito - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Delicious meat filled with juicy flavors, but the tortilla could have been better. Fairly priced and very filling. The service was good and had hand sanitizer available for customers read more

El Taco Loco - IG: @foodsbysachi - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Easy, inexpensive. Complex flavors. Satisfying. Torta is really good. Tacos, especially the carnitas, are on the salty side. Spicy pickled carrots are the perfect ending! read more

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

So, this is nothing fancy - it's a walk up counter within a liquor store after all. Order from the menu up on the wall, food is made to order and out promptly. You can get extra sauce/hot sauce, etc. I ordered 4 tacos ($2.50/ taco plus tax) - two veggie and two steak. Veggie came with generous helping of guacamole, steak were also good! I think the time, money, convenience of this place make it great. As I was eating another patron mentioned "it smells legit" hahaha. read more

It doesn't get better than this. Tacos that are no nonsense and straight up packed with flavor. You can find it at El Taco Loco. I was craving a small bite for lunch. Nothing too big or fancy just a simple meal and I came across El Taco Loco on yelp. I decided to give it a shot and it did not disappoint. It's located inside a liquor store in Ballard and you just walk up and place your order. I felt so sorry for the liquor store employee..dude probably is tempted every time he gets to work. There was a lady at the cashier and two men working the kitchen. She was very helpful with lots of energy. I ordered four tacos -- 2 carnitas and 2 al pastor. If you want a drink, get the meal. It pretty much comes with a free drink. Anyways, i took my meal home and told my partner "anytime you get tacos on a plate covered with foil packed in a no name plastic bag you know the food is gonna be bomb". After squeezing the lime on the tacos, i took a bite of the carnitas and wow they were amazing. I didn't think it could get any better but next up the al pastor. That taco was the best taco I have had in a while. It was the perfect balance of flavors and the meat was perfectly marinaded. If you're looking for a pretty taco filled with unnecessary filling to put on your instagram story, don't bother coming here. But if you're looking to expand your taste buds and appreciate the simple yet complex flavors of a true taco, this is the place. corn tortilla filled with meat, onions, cilantro, salsa and a little bit of lime juice. That's all you need. read more

A go to food truck for my family. The food is on point, and the service is friendly. Prices are reasonable. I would highly recommend giving El Taco Loco a try. read more

As a Southern Californian, I'm so disappointed by the Mexican food in Seattle/Ballard. I got excited when I found this place and saw all the good reviews. It does seem legit, but unfortunately, it was kind of another letdown. The salsa wasn't good at all and actually tasted bitter. Pricing is too expensive for what it is and the fact that this is a takeout place from inside a liquor store...didn't love paying $4 for a dollop of guacamole and would rather pay $2 to buy an avocado at QFC. I'm giving 3 stars because the proprietors are friendly and it's nice to support small mom & pop businesses. And the food really is decent (minus the salsa). This may be "Ballard good" or "Seattle good" but it still doesn't compare to Mexican food in California and actual Mexico. read more

If you read enough of my reviews, you'll see how much of a snob about Mexican food I am. I grew up in LA, spent a lot of time in Arizona, and a bit in Texas and New Mexico, so I've been around the block on Mexican food, and I'm pretty picky not just about the flavour but also the prices (you can see my last review about Senor Moose). I also very rarely give 5-star reviews, and most of them have been pet stores, so hopefully that gives a little background on this review. Like others have commented, this is a very unassuming taco corner in a liquor store; especially during COVID, the parking lot on the side is usually empty, and you can find parking on a residential side street a block up if needed. You go inside to order. They have a very simple menu, befitting their taco truck origins. Particularly important for me was the price - finding tasty Mexican food isn't hard, but paying $3.50 per taco is ridiculous. They're $2.50 here, and the other food is in the $10-12 range, totally reasonable for the quality that you get. I got two carnitas tacos, two chicken tacos, and a carnitas torta. The tacos are traditional, garnished only with cilantro and onion and served up with a lime wedge. I like a lot of lime, so I wish they'd given me at least one more, but you take what you can get. The meat was really flavourful and juicy. Tortillas were still holding up well after 10 minutes of walking back to my apartment. The torta is one of the best that I've ever had. The white bread roll holds up really well to all the ingredients inside, so even if a little gets soggy, it is still very much edible. Great ratio of meat to other fillings, and everything was nicely distributed so you got it all in one bite. My one knock is their guacamole is on the thinner (more liquidy) side of things, and it kind of resembles that cheap pre-packaged store bought kind; that might be a little offputting to some people, but I get that fresh avocados will cost you a kidney or two up here. The salsas (two cups of green tomatillo, one of red) were pretty standard. The red is spicier than the green, and I prefer the green one for tortas; it just adds more depth of flavour rather than spice for the sake of it. All in all, I was really stoked to find this place and will definitely be back soon! read more

El Taco Loco - Carnitas torta - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I moved up to Seattle from Southern California for school and I found myself missing tacos. I had yelped and researched for legit taco areas near me and I was hesitant when I saw El Taco Loco had five stars! I couldn't believe it! My close friend and I drove to Ballard today and went to check El Taco Loco Out! Definitely a hole-in-the-wall, hidden inside the Ballard Liquor Store! They have a window on the side of the building where you can order from and also have picnic benches out front! I ordered their carne asada tacos and I wish I ordered more! They also have a deal for taco tuesdays (so I will be back again)! I was greeted by a friendly woman at the window and my food came out within a couple of minutes! They threw in some of their salsa (I enjoy both their red and green) and peppers and limes! 12/10 not only for their tacos and diverse menu (I was really eyeing their tamales) but also for their kind service! I will be back again very soon! (Also, I wish I took pictures but I unfortunately ate my tacos way too fast before I could snap any)!! read more

Yes, it's inside of a liquor store. Yes, it's authentic and delicious. I can't believe it took me this long to try El Taco Loco, but I'm already thinking about going back. Bonus -- the owners are incredibly friendly and kind. So rare to find quality AND kindness these days. Oh, and they cater!! read more

Incredibly delicious tacos. They are literally all amazing, outstanding, and exceptional. I have never had barbacoa and marinated pork that was this good. read more