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Little Water Cantina

3.0 (624 reviews)
ModerateMexican, Bars
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Little Water Cantina Photos

Business Info

LITTLE WATER CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Little Water Cantina

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Charley B.

Fun spot on a nice day to sit outside. The service is all online now, which is interesting, but the food is always really fresh and the margs are delicious!! Good vibes for a sunny Seattle day.

Erik H.

Great place to hang out overlooking the lake on a nice day with a few cervezas and margaritas. Came her after a UW graduation before flying out of town. Meal took an hour which was perfect. Ordering is done via toast tab. Had quesadillas, nachos burritos tacos, salads, etc and everyone was pleased.

Bonnie G.

The food was fresh, though I wanted the salsas to be spicier. Loved sitting on the back deck. Great view. Especially on a sunny day. Odd menu/ordering system: You scan the qr code to see the menu and order. No one appears that you can ask questions. We ordered the chips and salsa. Enjoyed the mixed corn and flour chips, obviously house made. The salsa was nice, but very mild. Id lije ut spicier. You get a nice sized portion of chips, without enough salsa to eat them with. We flagged someone down to get more salsa, and were advised we'd need to buy more salsa. So for $7, you get chips and salsa, but if you want more salsa, you gotta pay. We tried the elote corn and appreciated the knife to cut it off the cob. It was ok, but would probably not order again. Very mayo heavy. The grilled fish tacos were tasty but very messy to eat. The green salsa it came with had little flavor and no heat at all. The rice and beans were great! Loved those flavorful beans. I'm sorry I paid online when I ordered. I would have tipped less after the meal. The service was barely there.

Fresh watermelon margaritas - very tasty.
Natasha R.

I just got back from Tulum and was still craving tacos - when I walked outside and saw they were serving fresh watermelon margaritas I decided to stop. I came in for a late lunch (3pm) and there were about 5 tables taken. A friendly waiter greeted me - I was able to seat myself on the patio and enjoy the view. I learned while I sat here that they have a free parking garage - I walked so I didn't require it, but that's great information to give my friends who drive down (I'll be back). The watermelon margarita was so fresh - the refreshing cocktail I was hoping for on this sunny day. The fish tacos hit the spot - great flavor and appropriately sized. Unfortunately - I found a few bones in one taco. I was fully intending to make this a 5 star review before those unfortunate few bites. Stuff happens - it didn't ruin my experience.

Chips with Salsa and Guacamole
Candace W.

This place has pretty decent Mexican food for prices that are a little high, but makes sense for the location. Definitely ask for an outdoor seat here because the view is amazing, you can even see Gas Works Park from their patio! The service was decent, you get your menu from a QR code and order on your phone so you're not personally tended to. The chips with salsa and guacamole was a great starter. They had 2 different types of chips which I liked. The salsa is very spicy though (and I like spice)!!! The tacos were good with not much meat on them but enough to satisfy me. The quesadillas were thin and plain, so probably wouldn't order those again. Overall: AMAZING location because of its clear waterfront view. The food was average for a Mexican spot, and the service was mainly through a device which didn't bother me.

... it's time to ditch the single use plastic cups
Stacy S.

5 stars for ambiance and food... service and sustainability make this a 4 star review. If you're lucky enough to get an outside table in the summer, grab it. And then try a spicy margarita which is delicious and served in an actual glass. (For some reason, water comes in a single use plastic glass, despite this being the 2020s.) Tacos and elote corn are very good.. sharing food is easy but requires a lot of coordination through their ordering system (especially if you want separate bills). Maybe just have one person order everything and then use venmo.

$18 chicken burrito. Cold, bland and full of rice.  No bueno.
Lisa S.

$18 burrito. It was cold, super bland and full of rice. The food has been mediocre the last few years. Drinks are always good and they have a great deck.

Grilled fish tacos.  Where is the fish?
Jason H.

I couldn't imagine a Mexican restaurant being worse. To start with the good, patio seating and homemade tortillas. It ends there. You order from a QR code and food is delivered. Hate this. No interaction. No human connection. We ordered tacos, grilled fish and chicken tinga. They were stingier with their meat than Chipotle...on a bad day. There was plenty of cabbage and crema. So much that you could not close the tortilla to eat the taco. The tortilla was so thin, everything fell through the bottom. This was not a taco. I ordered corn tortillas and received flour. Not a big deal but one of the little things that made this experience one I would not want to repeat or recommend. As a visitor to Seattle, this might be the best Mexican restaurant available. If so, I'm so sorry. Don't eat here. Don't waste your money. Pass on Little Water Cantina.

Salsa & Chips
Rebecca Q.

No reservations, so we waited about 25 minutes at the bar for a seat on the beautiful outdoor patio. The watermelon margs were as fresh as advertised and the chips and salsa were bold and spicy (skip the flour chips). It was $17 for 2 largely stuffed fried fish tacos, but they were delicious and service was kind.

Bar area

Traveling through Seattle and stopped for a quick drink before my reservation. However, stopping here quickly turned into cancelling my reservation at the other place and hanging out here. Absolutely great conversation with the bartender Chris - he is so down to earth, and served prime drinks the entire time. The views are amazing. Overall, I highly recommend this place and will always make a stop when I am in Seattle!

The patio view
Greyson S.

Maybe it was a magic moment, being right at opening on New Years Day, or maybe they've taken some of the feedback left here by others to heart. Regardless, my partner and I had a great time at Little Water Cantina, which was our first time, and we'll absolutely be back. Are you paying for the view on top of the food? Absolutely! But I've paid twice as much for half as decent food at other places with views around town. Honestly, I thought their barbacoa was amazing and the salsa that came with the chips was stellar. I didnt find the staff cold at all. Granted, we were the only ones there. We were provided with all the accoutrements for the table as expected and we didnt find the QR menu experience cumbersome at all. The food came fast and was very tasty. I def will be ordering extra tortillas and splitting the tacos up next time. I scoffed at the price at first for two tacos, but they were so full that they were more like 4 tacos at other places. The experience of paying without interacting with anyone was a little disconcerting, and I could see how that part of the experience could come off feeling cold to other folks. But I appreciated the simplicity and we were well-wished warmly on the way out. I suspect some of this gets lost when they fill up, which is why I'll likely continue to try going at odd hours. Oh and for those concerned about the location, theres decent parking on site if they arent busy. A whole little parking level underneath the building.

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4 months ago

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6 months ago

Great food, great view. Perfect spot for lunch, especially with the underground parking.

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22% automatic tip but you have to order from kiosk? Then they ask you to add tip on check out?

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The Monkey Pub - Success

The Monkey Pub

4.0(70 reviews)
1.4 mi•University District
•$

Kareoke was great. Beer was cheap and cold. Kinda all you need but they got pool tables tooread more

I came here for karaoke on a Tuesday night and found the experience disappointing…read more Ambience was mediocre at best; the space was blandly decorated and slightly cramped (not sure having a pool table in the middle of that limited space is the greatest idea), with awkward positioning of the bar counter such that the entrance area was too crowded. The staff seemed distracted, but they at least did not appear to be cranky or hostile. The karaoke selection was lacking, and as a queer man I was uncomfortable seeing that all David Bowie songs were pointedly crossed out in the books. Reviews had suggested that the Monkey Pub, despite being located in the U District, had a clientele of more than just college students; this may be true on non-karaoke nights, but when I went, it had the same college-kid crowd as anywhere else in the neighborhood. Drink selection was average. Indeed, the bar itself was largely average. I found no evidence of anything particularly dramatically terrible on my visit to the Monkey Pub, but nothing to get excited about either. Only worth it for karaoke if you're desperate. Probably an okay place to get a drink, but I didn't really detect much of the character and "local flavor" that usually makes a good dive bar worth the trip.

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The Monkey Pub - Monkeys at the bar

Monkeys at the bar

The Monkey Pub - Recognize anyone?

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Mr West Coffee - Matcha cocktail

Mr West Coffee

4.0(443 reviews)
1.6 mi•University District
•$$

I have been going to the Mr West downtown for many years and finally had the chance to check out…read morethe U village location. They have so much outdoor seating, on both sides of the cafe, which I really like. Way more than downtown. Food came out super quick too. My go to order has always been the Mr Breakfast plate, it's super hearty and full of great breakfast foods. However, the price has increased exponentially and quality has definitely gone down. I used to pay around $15 for this plate and it included bacon and now it's $17 + an extra $4 to add 2 pieces of bacon. (The bacon is totally worth it though). The potatoes recipe need to be completely refined, or they need to offer a substitution option for them. They are overly soft and they don't have nearly enough seasoning. That was the only thing that remained on my plate when I was done! and the soft boiled egg tasted a little off to me, like it had been sitting for a bit long. Other than that, the Turkish eggs and chopped chicken salad were very fresh and good. Staff were super nice when ordering at the counter, coffees and pastries were good as well. Overall I will come back here, just would like to see some quality changes with the Mr Breakfast as it used to be very good.

I've been coming to this UVillage cafe every summer when I visit Seattle. The vibe is so fun and…read moreclassy. The food and coffee always so yummy. So I'm sad to see the decline in this establishment. Upon entering I immediately noticed the worn upholstery in the booths. A serious makeover is needed. So trashy. But I get it times are hard. My food arrived on a chipped plate - time to throw it away folks. The counter server was very friendly as normal so that's a definite plus. However the BLT I ordered looked like they threw all the ingredients on the toast with no real prep. The tomato jam was not jam but pieces huge chunks too big to eat. While I'm glad they aren't skimping on the ingredients it was piled so high that it was challenging to eat. I ended up eating it in pieces with my fork and as such lost the tastiness of a combination of the flavors as it quickly became a deconstructed mess. A huge plus - the Seattle Fog was probably the best "London" fog I've ever had !!! Bravo. Not sure I'll come back again this visit. Maybe I'll check it next summer to see if improvements have been made.

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Mr West Coffee - Fig toast

Fig toast

Mr West Coffee - Restaurant interior

Restaurant interior

Mr West Coffee - Coconut cream latte

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Blue Moon Tavern - Lack of Respect 2/2/24

Blue Moon Tavern

3.8(108 reviews)
1.0 mi•University District
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20 MAY 2026 -- I performed poetry from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name -- Letters from Me to…read moreHer at the historic and legendary Blue Moon Tavern in Seattle. Originally opened in 1934, the Blue Moon carries the kind of atmosphere you cannot recreate -- walls covered in decades of music, art, stickers, photographs, and stories. A dimly lit room packed with musicians, writers, artists, and people who genuinely appreciate creativity in its raw form. Throughout the night, the stage moved between live music, poetry, and performances from local artists while the crowd filled the tavern from the bar to the stage floor. Places like this remind me why independent art still matters. As an author traveling all over the United States -- and as someone who lived in the Seattle area for 2 1/2 years -- standing on that stage reading poetry from Purple Rose in a venue with this much history behind it was really something special. What I loved most was how welcoming the environment was. This is a very LGBTQ-friendly, art-friendly space where people genuinely support one another. If you are brand new to open mics or nervous about sharing your work for the first time, this is the kind of place where you will absolutely be shown kindness and encouragement. There were so many talented musicians, poets, and performers there, and you could really feel the appreciation for creativity throughout the room. The setup of the tavern itself is awesome. The stage and seating area wrap around the bar in almost a U-shape, so you can really choose your own vibe for the night. If you want to stay close to the performances and music, there is a dance floor and table area near the stage. If you want something more relaxed, you can hang back near the bar, have a drink, and still enjoy the atmosphere without being directly in the middle of everything. They also have a full bar, arcade games, board games, books to read, and even a small library on the shelves throughout the tavern. Somewhere inside, you may even find a signed copy of Purple Rose that I left hidden and dedicated to the historic Blue Moon itself. Beautiful evening with wonderful people. If you are ever in the area and have a skill you would love to share, go share your art. Find your copy of Purple Rose at JamesVThePoet.com

service! band!…read moreatmosphere! location! interior design! drink specials! package liquor! woo hoo!

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Blue Moon Tavern
Blue Moon Tavern
Blue Moon Tavern

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Ba Bar - Crispy Imperial Rolls ($11.50) - pure country pork, white prawn, mushroom, fresh mint, nước chấm

Ba Bar

3.4(552 reviews)
1.6 mi•University District
•$$

The best bún I've ever had, Bún Chả Cá Lã Vọng $22; Wild Washington Coast rockfish, crispy imperial…read moreroll, dill, shrimp sauce, turmeric. Amazing cocktails! Goji Getter $16.5 Green Tea infused vodka, Goji berries, sweet vermouth, lemon, salt and aperitivo. Mary Morter $15.95 The Botanist Gin, fresh lime, fresh celery juice, simple gomme syrup, served up.

First time there, I ordered the Oxtail Pho. It came and I thought the bowl was a medium size at…read morebest. I'm used to the larger sizes you get on the Ave in the U District, so I was disappointed. I then tried to add the sprouts then tasted it. The broth was warm at best. On the Ave it's always served steaming hot. I told the Waitress, she apologized and said the kitchen would re do it. It came back a little warmer, but no way steaming. There were two medium OX Tails and pieces of meat. The pieces were good, but the tails themselves weren't fall off the bone cooked. It took effort to separate the meat from the bone. That is very unfortunate not cooked till tender. I enjoy the meat falling off the bone, if you like it like that then don't order this menu item. Three stars because I looked at the other food being served and those dishes looked pretty good. The waitress apologized for the Pho not being hot enough. I give the dish 1.5 stars. I would return but NOT order the Oxtail Pho.

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Ba Bar - Decor

Decor

Ba Bar - Lemongrass Rockfish ($19.50) -  seared Washington Coast rockfish, lemongrass, turmeric, cabbage salad, pandan rice. Served w side soup.

Lemongrass Rockfish ($19.50) - seared Washington Coast rockfish, lemongrass, turmeric, cabbage salad, pandan rice. Served w side soup.

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JOEY Kitchen At University Village - Guacamole & Chips

JOEY Kitchen At University Village

3.9(1.4k reviews)
1.5 mi•University District
•$$$

JOEY Kitchen continues to be one of my favorite restaurants. The food was great across the board,…read moreand the service handled a long wait about as well as anyone could. Get: Miso Roasted Mushrooms, Herb Crush Salmon, Katsu Chicken Peanut Salad Skip: Nothing we ordered The Herb Crush Salmon came with truffle beurre blanc, creamy mashed potatoes, preserved tomatoes and vegetables. It was a very good, well-rounded entrée. The Katsu Chicken Peanut Salad was another winner, with crispy chicken, julienned vegetables, peanuts and miso ginger dressing. It felt substantial enough to be a full meal rather than a salad you regret ordering when everyone else's food arrives. We shared the Miso Roasted Mushrooms, made with shallots and white wine, and those were excellent too. The Individually Baked Apple Tart was worth it, but took a while to arrive. We were asking for the check instead when it arrived. The wait was long, but the complimentary champagne and mocktails were a thoughtful touch, and the service throughout was great. Overall, another excellent meal at one of my go-to restaurants in Seattle.

This was an interesting visit - Service was slow, food is mediocre, hair/not a hair in my dish,…read moredishes are overpriced, and I was sprayed by table cleaner. But they do offer lots of menu options so there's something for everyone. I ordered the tofu bowl, which seemed like it would be flavorful and perfect for my palate. -The dish was ok, not as flavorful as I hoped. - the rice was hard and clumpy but I overlooked this bc I was hungry - I noticed what looked like could have been a hair in my dish. I wasn't sure so I asked our server what he thought. "Do you think this is a hair?" He agreed and took my dish and offered to get me a fresh one. What surprised me was he soon returned with my dish and a dirty fork in his hand that looked like he had investigated my concern and explained that "they" think it's a string from the cilantro. He tried to show me with his fork while explaining "they" looked at it and are pretty sure it's cilantro, not a hair and he wanted me to know and give me the option of keeping the dish or replacing it . So, now my dish has been back to the kitchen, "they" looked at it , poked at it, and came to their own conclusion , and he carried it back to me . This felt so strange! Did I want it? No. Are we proving a point? Maybe. Was that necessary? Nope. So now that "they" have forked around my dish, and it's travelled to the kitchen and back, I didn't want it. I asked for a redo which they provided. Along the way, the table behind me was being cleaned and reset for new guests. The cleaning spray was squirted across the table, on my arm and jacket which was hanging on my chair. I obviously wasn't expecting this and when I turned around to see what was going on behind me, she seemed gracious and apologized. Along this adventure, the service was S-L-O-W. This dining experience all occurred over two hours (for 4 people who knew what we wanted to order) . I asked for a take home box and got it. My table mate also asked for a box and we had to flag down our server for a reminder. We asked again for a box and the check. 1 star is due to the hair/not a hair incident, my food traveling back and forth, the cleansing spray incident , and the slow service. This dish was $36! Sorry, Joey- I have zero desire to return.

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JOEY Kitchen At University Village - Interior

Interior

JOEY Kitchen At University Village - Baja Fish Tacos

Baja Fish Tacos

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Little Water Cantina - mexican - Updated October 2026

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