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    Malena's Taco Shop

    3.9 (345 reviews)
    InexpensiveTacos
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Malena's Taco Shop Photos

    Business Info

    MALENA'S TACO SHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Asada burrito
    Giorgio P.

    Always good! Classic authentic neighborhood taco/burrito spot among residential and small neighborhood commercial street. Always busy with locals. Mostly take out but few tables for dining outside.

    Chili Chile Relleno and Mix Burrito
    Sarah S.

    Great service, this is takeout but they have a couple tables set up outside. They load it all up so be careful for take away as it could get messy. My only complaint I could have used a real knife to cut through my Chile relleno. Huge portions definitely can share.

    Tasty burrito with a view :-)
    Alejandra V.

    This is one of those reviews where 5 stars come from customer service. The staff here are very kind and friendly, and we witnessed them show empathy and kindness to an unhoused individual at a time when we often witness the opposite. This spoke volumes for us; we will happily continue eating at Malena's! We ordered pollo asado & carne asada burritos and refreshing Jarritos, which are always a treat for me in Seattle. While I typically prefer burritos without beans & rice, they offered me this option; I opted for beans and rice and probably wouldn't next time as the burrito was thick and hard to fully wrap while eating. Nonetheless, I found the burrito to be tasty, especially with the addition of their house salsa along the way (it could've been spicier, in my opinion, but I am also Mexican ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). I look forward to trying other items, as their menu offers many authentic options, and we were happy with our first visit! Gracias, Malena's, por su amabilidad.

    Pollo Tacos
    Stephen B.

    Unexpectedly found Malena's with a friend of mine from Korea and was excited to find some great Mexican food in the city! With really quick service and a little bit of seating outside, Malena's is a great place to come on a Sunny day. We ordered the Chicken Tqcos and it was tasty and the salsa was memorable.

    Hard shell Shredded Beef Taco, Carne Asada Taco, and Fish Taco
    Deanna T.

    This place is so good! It's tucked away in a cute neighborhood, and everyone here is so kind - the service was great. We came here on a Saturday afternoon, and it wasn't too busy. There are no seats indoors, but there are a few tables outside. We got the carne asada taco, the hard shell beef, the fish taco, chips & guac, and a chicken burrito. The guac was really good although the chips were a bit stale (still yummy though), and the tacos really hit the spot. The best one by far was definitely the fish one. If I came again, I would probably just get the fish and carne asada. Their salsas are all delicious, and I had a lot of fun trying them. The chicken burrito was also pretty good, although it had a lot of beans and I don't really like beans LOL. Would definitely come again, highly recommend!

    Carne Asada Taco and pork tamal

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    27 days ago

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    7 months ago

    Best tacos in Seattle. Get the Asada or the pork tacos. The Asada burrito is great too! You have to take it together there's no eating in.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food! Service is great. They do not have seating inside so we usually do take out. Huge portions for a reasonable price

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    7 months ago

    Tacos were awesome. First time here and I think I'll be returning every week. Great prices and solid asada taco combo

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    3 years ago

    Food is always awesome, call in to go orders. Takes 10 minutes!! On my way to my friends house.. we indulge..

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    Page 1 of 9

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    Situ Tacos - Brunch Chilaquiles with verde sauce and fried egg

    Situ Tacos

    3.8(114 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Ballard

    Lupe's, imo, makes the best food in Ballard, and some of the best in the city. Its fresh, its…read moreflavorful, and you can taste the care that was put into it. We have eaten there a few dozen times, bringing pals visiting the city, going literally every time we play a show on the strip-- everyone loves them. The tacos are my favorite, but the queso is dank as helllll making the nachos another fab dish. My partner loves the burritos and quesadillas, though I-- a lover of the crunch --cannot speak for them myself. Are there toothpicks in the tacos? Yes! Not only are these two, structural-support toothpicks clearly visible, there are signs all over the shop about not eating them, and whoever runs your food out mentions them to the table every time. Even the merch / tee shirts tell you to watch out for the toothpicks. Its like the toothpick in a club sandwich, or the stick in a corn dog: you kinda have to want to eat it to end up with it in your mouth, ya know? Are the tacos greasy? Also yes! They're deep fried! That is what happens when you put any pouch-style food in a deep fryer: if it is not perfectly sealed, as it will not be with a toothpick, it'll get some oil inside. If you're not into oily food, maybe deep-fried tacos just aren't for you? As for the folks bashing the service: its standard counter service. If you want table service-- someone to wait on you, come to your table for more than just a drop off, etc --this place isn't for you. I worked in kitchens for two decades. Nothing about Lupe's Situ Tacos is poorly made or lacking flavor-- all three options are unique and flavorful in their own right, but the hushwe is an aaaabsolute dream, and the cauliflower is such a fantastic meat-free choice. Prices are on par with a lot of taco-selling restaurants, so idk what folks are talking about on that front. Mayhaps worth remembering who usually writes reviews on these sites (people who go once and like to bitch vs those of us who actually eat here and don't like yelp conceptually)~

    Excellent food. Excellent service. Ambiance was delightful. Let me elaborate:…read more Upon being turned away from two (!) unnamed Japanese izakaya up the street at 8:17pm on a rainy Sunday evening, even though they are posted as open until 9pm, my little trio fell into the warm, glowing, hip-hop infused embrace of Lupe's Situ Tacos. The hushwe meat? Excellent. The carnitas are "out of this world" (ant Cowboy Bebop fans?). The guacamole felt home-made in the best way. My partner's spicy chicken tortilla soup was delicious -- spicy but not too much so, with a lovely smoky note to it. The service was quick and cheerful. They let us hang out for a few minutes and write our reviews and finish our Jarritos -- even after close. The ambiance was great: colorful, cheerful, and energetic without being overwhelming. The playlist was eclectic and very cool. We heard Lupe Fiasco, Deltron 3030, and hip hop from around the world. If you find yourself wandering around Ballard looking for a satisfying, cozy meal, you cannot go wrong with Lupe's Situ Tacos!

    Photos
    Situ Tacos - Busy kitchen? Not enough staff? We waited a while for our food.

    Busy kitchen? Not enough staff? We waited a while for our food.

    Situ Tacos - Taquitos, nachos, tacos

    Taquitos, nachos, tacos

    Situ Tacos - Hallway

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    Hallway

    La Chingona

    La Chingona

    4.6(248 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    •$$

    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.

    Photos
    La Chingona - Wall mural by Valeria Ortiz

    Wall mural by Valeria Ortiz

    La Chingona - Shrimp tacos

    Shrimp tacos

    La Chingona - Fish & shrimp tacos

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    Fish & shrimp tacos

    Malena's Taco Shop - tacos - Updated September 2026

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