The service and presentation here is unmatched! Every dish is a unique experience of deliciousness! I've been bringing as many people as possible. Can't recommend! read more

It has been 18 years since I last dined at Mojito, tucked away by an I-5 South onramp off of Lake City Way. Another lifetime ago. However, I am happy to report revisiting this evening (6/17/18), it has remained a palate pleaser. It's rare to have free, non zoned street parking, no reservations needed, totally chill and casual, personable service, amazing food and drink from an unpretentious neighborhood spot. It's the whole package. Seattle is blessed to have several Cuban and South American restaurants. I find them to be very hospitable and love the flavorful cuisine. Started with a Mojito ($10) and a refreshing Passionfruit Batido ($5), perfect for a warm evening meal. I inquired about the Sunday special, the ginormous bowl of Sancocho de Cola ($18). Sounded so good "oxtail soup cooked with chicken, beef, yucca, and other vegetables in a spice filled broth". Too bad it isn't available in a smaller quantity. More on this later. Entrees selected were the Bistec a Caballo and Lechon Asado ($16 each). The requested housemade habenero sauce was complex and added a pleasant heat, especially with the tostones and fried yucca. The owner should bottle it and sell it as a retail item...it's that good! Bistec a Caballo is "thinly cut steak, grilled with Mojito sauce and topped with a fried egg. Served with congri and tostones". Congri are the flavorful rice and beans combination. Lechon Asado is "roasted marinated pork with sauteed onions. Served with congri, fried yucca and tostones". This was a definite 'clean plate club' winner. I usually dislike pulled pork texture, but I'll make an exception with this presentation. So tender and succulent! My batido was perfect, so I passed on the tres leches cake. But an order of Quesillo ($6), a "Venezuelan custard dessert made with eggs and condensed milk" was requested. A generous serving of flan! The restaurant was nearly empty as the 9pm closing time crept up and I was paying the bill. It was nice to see the wait staff and line crew have smiles and friendly banter at the end of a work day. Also, the owner finally sat down with a big bowl of that Sancocho de Cola and an ice cold Modelo. Other bowls were also being arranged, presumably closing staff were going to join him. I asked if I could photograph one of the bowls, which I did. Definitely I'm ordering that next time. No, I want to order it for takeout. Instead one of the wait staff offered to give me some. She even refused my cash payment. Wow, that's amazing generosity! I sampled a bit when I later got home...I'm having an epic lunch tomorrow at work! And then technically the restaurant was closing for the evening and a family of four showed up wanting to be seated at 2058. Personally, I wouldn't do that because having worked in the industry, I know how tiring it is and all you want to do is clean up and go home after your shift. Our waitperson seated them nevertheless. I hope that family realizes how lucky they are and won't dither through their meal. Amazing! I've seen other places stop walk-ins half an hour before closing. I thanked our wait person and promised it won't be another 18 years when I return. I also thanked the owner/chef who had been with the establishment since the beginning. He started as the humble dishwasher. I like success stories like that. Work hard, stay consistent, and enjoy what you do. The love and care spoke volumes through their food and service. Highly recommended! read more

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Comforting fresh food. Nice cocktails. A mojito is a must. Jovial service. Fun atmosphere.

Update. Loved the place so much so I returned again on the same week! Lol. We didn't get a complementary appetizer platter this time. Maybe because we arrived at beginning of the dinner dining service vs at the end as last time. But the food and service was as good as before. Ordered 2 kinds of empanada (beef and chicken), 2 entrees (Vaca frita and pescado en guiso), and the punch. We loved the empanada that was filled with very flavorful meat and a corn wrapping that you can taste the corn and the crunchy fried taste afterwards. It was served with guacamole and a spicy creamy sauce. The punch definitely is strong and yummy with a big punch. Will still return again! Lol read more

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The food is incredible! There is something in the beans, in the sauce, in the walls of this place. Chef you had us at the empanada appetizer. Thank you! read more

Delicious food, great service all the time. Oh, did I mention, the drinks are amazing!! Good job Luam. Keep up the good work.

UPDATE 10/16/22: THIS PLACE IS STILL AWESOME! The staff and owner is always friendly and professional the food is next level and it never disappoints. Will continue to come back! read more

Mojito - Vaca Frita - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If we could give Mojitos a 10 star review, we would! Absolutely amazing "experience". Remember, it's not always about the food at a restaurant, it's about the entire experience. Hearing the stories from the owner Luam left our hearts full of gratitude for what we have and what life truly is about. He is an amazing human!! Simple as that!! As far as the food is concerned, incredible!! Most people have no idea how difficult it is to create amazing, healthy and delicious food! Mojitos nailed it!! So many delicious and different meals/items to choose from. Each and every one is outstanding After you leave Mojitos, you will always refer others to visit. Just a wonderful experience overall and highly recommend! We love Mojitos! Luam (Family) read more

Does Mojito really need review #1006? Probably not. And yet, I feel compelled to single this place out for both the food and the atmosphere. *lovely rum selection (although could add Flor de Caña) * a mojito that seems simple at first but which unfolds * super lechón! * fantastic pescado guisado! * just the happiest place. Full house, every table smiling and laughing and eating with joy! read more

This place felt like home. The wait staff was so personable and they handled the crowded place with ease. The music and atmosphere definitely made it a vibe. What it lacks in space and seating, it makes up for in taste and flavor. The mojitos will give you quite a punch to start and then it's on to the entrees. We had the Camarones Carmen Miranda and the Parilla Mojito. It's definitely worth it to give them a try! read more

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(Original) Lo recomiendo sin pensarlo ;... Pero fuera de eso, todo bien, y se entiende. (Original) Lo recomiendo sin pensarlo;... pero recomiendo que bailen en tres semanas, porque los fines de semana son más concurridos y la calidad de la comida no es muy buena... , Todo está bien, y tiene sentido. read more

Yummy yummy and available on GrubHub during the pandemic! Dinner wait time is about an hour so decide what you want ahead of time and then put your order in an hour before you want to eat! I was so excited to see Guava batidos on the menu - guava my heart! It was well worth the extra $5 impulse buy at the end of my order. I get annoyed when fruit shakes are overly sweet so was pleased to find this one was blended perfectly and not too sweet. I had the cheese empanada (yessss!!)and the shrimp Carmen Miranda plate - a generous portion of shrimp in mango pineapple sauce with tostones on rice, with tomato slices, avocado, and salad on the side. The flavors were sweet and savory and everything I could have hoped for and more. The carryout box weighed probably 4 lbs, contributing to my fattening of the curve during this pandemic and flattening the covid-19 curve! It was worth every bite! El hombre had the carne Milanese on fries and was jealous of my shrimp dish. The fries were soggy (just how I like em! No, I'm being serious) and the breading was kind of soggy in the time it took to get the GrubHub order home. I don't eat carne so I didn't try it but he said it wasn't the best he ever had but also not the worst. I'll definitely order from here again and hopefully eat in once they are allowed to be open for indoor and patio eating again! read more

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If every item were as good as the empanadas and the Vaca Frita, then this would be a6 star review, but I like to try different things and everything else on the menu has been a relative disappointment - not bad, just a big step down from those two. It's the only restaurant in Seattle I return to regularly and never deviate in my order anymore. I guess that's not a bad thing, you should definitely eat these foods too, just don't blame me when your dinner partner has the better smelling dish because you decided to branch out. read more

We had not been here since pre-Covid and man, we will not wait this long again. The tostones are fabulous, the empanadas were devoured by our 4 and 6 year olds, pork was so tender and delicious my wife almost didn't share, and I loved my citrus marinated steak. The music had my kids happy-dancing as they ate, and the owner who was also serving tables, makes you feel like your old buddies. Lines were starting to form as we left, and I know why...so good! read more

Amazing food!! Honestly doesnt get better. If you eat inside, get ready for a good time, everyone is warm and funny and will want to give you some good rum. I order to go too and I think the portions are a little smaller than in person but totally understandable. Go in and have a great time! read more

We just went back to Mojito for the first time in seventeen years. The place is small but cozy. It might be small but in my opinion, it doesn't feel cramped. It is not the place to bring a huge group of people, but it is perfectly fine for dinner for two. The food was just as awesome as it was seventeen years ago. We had some empanadas as a starter and they were so flavorful! There were two sauces that came with them. My favorite by far was the spicy one. For my main dish, I had the shrimp with pineapple, which was just so flavorful and delicious. My significant other had the Mojito fish and also raved about his food. The drinks were just as delicious as the food. I was happy to find caipirinhas on the menu which perfectly complimented my food. The owner is super friendly, polite and checked on us several times without being overly intrusive. The server was polite and attentive as well. I never felt rushed to finish my meal, which is nice. If you would like to visit a small yet cozy gem of a local restaurant in Mapleleaf, this is the place to go! read more

Mojito is one of tbose restaurants I've been meaning to check out every time I get home to visit my parents, but never do. Today I did & now I'm kicking myself for not coming sooner. The food was fantastic! I got one of each of the empanadas to start, followed by the vaca frita, & the flan for dessert. The place may look a bit run down & tiny, but it's charming in its nostalgic quality. Back to the food - the empanadas came out fast & were piping hot. My favourite was the chicken, but all were good. The vaca frita was great, reminded me of an aunt's. The flan was remarkably rich & is certainly the best flan I've had in a good long while. Victor, my server, attentive without being cloying & very good at his job. It may be a tiny neighbourhood spot, but I hope it is always busy...but not so busy I can't get a seat when I come back. read more

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This little restaurant has a huge personality! The food was amazing and the service impeccable. The only down side is that it's so far away from where I live. We'll be going back every opportunity we have. read more

Best dinner and dinner experience I've ever had, hands down. I had the Vaca Frita and it was amazing. We also had the Mojito Platter and tried all of the Empanadas and they were just as amazing. Amazing place. The owner Luam is unbelievably charismatic and extremely generous. His dedication to his craft and his story is in a league of his own. He's amazing, the restaurant is amazing, I highly recommend this place. I'll be coming back to this place every time I'm in Seattle. I cannot speak highly enough of this place. read more

Love this place! Vaca frita was amazing, as was the lechon asado. Also highly recommend the rum punch and tres leches for dessert. read more

Mojito - Tres Leches - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food is definitely delicious. However what really annoyed me was paying $1.50 each for some sauce and literally got the tiniest amount of it lol so weird read more

Mojito - Literally the smallest amount of sauce. - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

SUPPORT BLACK OWNED RESTAURANTS. Recently ordered take out at Mojito after seeing this restaurant listed in a few Instagram posts. We ordered up front and it took us about 50 minutes to get our food. I guess there was a confusion with the online order pick ups so only online orders were being made. About 10 people were waiting as we watched people come and pick up their food. The owner was super nice - he came out and apologized to everyone! Aside from the experience, the food was good but nothing special. Maybe it was because we togo-ed, but the food seemed to have lacked some seasoning. The sandwich was bland and the steak was missing a sauce to give it that savory flavor. The maduros was perfect though, cooked perfectly and couldn't get enough. I would give this place another chance but would come back once it's open for dine in! read more

Mojito - Maduros, Parrilla Mojito, and Pepito Sandwich Lunch - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food: 10/10 Amazing. I'm not incredibly familiar with Cuban food, but the vaca frita was so good I forgot to take a photo! For non Spanish speakers, there's a short directory of some common words used in the dish descriptions. Service/Ambiance: 9.5/10 I'm combining these two, because I believe to white American standards it might not appear as attentive - but to my preference it felt homey and genuine. For BIPOC owned restaurants, I'm used to the food being the focus and when their own community appears to interact like family with them - then it's a marker of a good restaurant. The indoors are small, so during rainy weather large parties would likely have a hard time fitting in. And often there's quite a few DoorDash orders going on in the front so it's a little crowded. I also couldn't find a bathroom but I might've not looked hard enough. That's my only reason for a negative.5 star, but it's honestly not an issue for me! read more

What an absolute Cuban Gem. This place feels authentic interior wise and its food is amazing it really blew me away. I Just went this afternoon, and I was feeling Cuban food and I thought that Seattle wouldn't have any Cuban restaurant(s) or any good ones at all. Ohhhhh boy was I wrong. I came to this place ordering its Vaca Frita and its Bistec A Caballo, and it blew me away how good it is. The Vaca Frita is something else, the taste is so good, the rice blew me away having that black bean rice, recomended to try the Vaca Frita 100%, but its plantains as its side was a bit off tasting for me. The Bistec A Caballo was not bad, but a bit hard for me but taste wise was quite good. I asked for their hot sauce knowing ill probably get like tabasco or tapatio turns out I was wrong. They have a homemade hot sauce that blew me away spiciness wise and has that authentic feel. Recommended to get the hot sauce. Ambience is lively and its place looks traditional. The location and how its placed in the neighborhood gives that authentic feel. Service was amazing and the waiter was super nice and attentive, too bad I didn't catch his name or I would've gave him a shout out here. Overall this place is a really good and authentic looking cuban Restaurant. Made me miss Miami's Cuban food such as Versailles, Puerto Sagua, and Old's Havanas. This place is a gem that I should've known a long time ago, too bad that i just knew it today. read more

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We stumbled upon Mojito while searching for Gluten Free friendly restaurants and we thought it looked delicious. We were right. We went there on a Saturday night, to celebrate a birthday, with a party of 9. While Mojito is a "cozy" (small) restaurant, it easily accommodated our party. The restaurant, nestled on a street corner, has a neighborhood restaurant vibe - and that's good. Its away from the hustle and bustle of strip malls, main roads, etc. and it's located on a quiet corner in a neighborhood. I love the location. The staff was friendly friendly and patient with us. Many people in our group had never tried Caribbean food, so they had a lot of questions. The staff was eager to answer our questions and wait while we discussed our order. The food that I tried, from what we ordered, we as follows: Parrilla Mojito (citrus-marinated steak), Guiso de Pollo (half-chicken in a tomato-based sauce), Lechón Asado (slow-roasted pork), Bistec a Caballo (grilled steak), Camarones Carmen Miranda (shrimp), Maduros (slow-roasted sweet plantains), Tostones and Yuca Fries. Just a few things... Obviously you can't go wrong with yuca fries and tostones. For those who haven't tried either, I'm sorry. You need to try them ASAP. Yuca Fries are like super-thick cut, and subtly sweet, steak fries - but a bit more dense. How can you hate potato starch? Tostones are fried, smashed plantains, which are like thick-cut potato chips, that are also subtly sweet. Both are delicious with salt and garlic. I could snack on these only and be happy. Maduros are honestly like a dessert. They're basically caramelized bananas... so good. Basically, if you have an appetite, order the Mojito Platter, or... if you're wanting small bites and cold drinks, order that and share it with a friend. It's great. As far as entrees go... All (that we ordered), came with a generous portion or white rice and black beans, mixed, and two tostones. All delicious. All perfect complements to the proteins. Can't go wrong wiry rice and beans. Parrilla Mojito (citrus-marinated steak) was probably my favorite of all the entrees. Probably... I just loved the citrus and sour notes that paired with the fattiness of the beef. That with rice and beans was the perfect bite of food. Bistec a Caballo (grilled steak) was what I ordered. Honestly, can't go wrong with it. Steak with an egg is always great. The steak didn't have quite the grill flavor that you'd get with a Carne asada, but was really tender. Lechón Asado (slow-roasted pork) was really good. It was super tender/fall-off-the-bone good (there was no bone though - lol). Makes me hungry thinking about it. Guiso de Pollo (half-chicken in a tomato-based sauce) is as super tender - like everything else. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of it. The meat was all super flavorful, really tender, and you get a generous portion of each with your meal. You will not leave hungry. In fact, you'll probably leave with leftovers. read more

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As a Costa Rican, this place hits the nail on the head for authentic central/latin american dishes. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed dinner on a weekday. Limited seating so get there early to beat the dinner rush, especially through the fall/winter. Outdoor seating in the spring/summer. They had plenty of takeout orders as well during our dinner date so definitely a great local spot in the neighborhood! read more

So happy to have discovered this gem of restaurant on Lake City/Maple Leaf neighborhood. I have been a couple times and definitely recommend it! Most recently I came here on a Fri night with my two sisters. They do not take reservations but I arrived at 6:15 and we got seated at 6:30. Between 6:15-6:30 about a dozen people, groups of 2-5+ started arriving so I'd recommend going on an off time or being willing to wait. Food was amazing, we were all impressed. We got empanadas: cheese, shredded beef, and chicken. Entrees were delicious and very generous servings. I got the pollo a la parrilla. We also got quesillo (Venezuelan custard) for dessert. Love the atmosphere and vibe! I'll have to come here for their lunch. read more

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Lovely rustic ambience, efficient service and great food! Can't believe it took us so long to get here. read more

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This is what a local restaurant should be. Authentic to their cuisine, welcoming, vibrant, and unique. I had driven by here hundreds of times before on my way somewhere else (it's Lake City Way, after all), but a kid's project on Cuba led us here. Amazing hospitality, delicious food, and a fun, raucous atmosphere with delectable rum-based drinks. Luam knows how to run a joint - give them your business. I'll certainly be back. read more

Incredible food and service! Our best meal during our recent trip to Seattle. Authentic and delicious!

Food was lovely, vibes were lovely, servers were lovely. I will definitely be back! The building was small, but that definitely added to the charm. read more

The beef arepas are good, with a slight crisp but soft texture with a light corn flavor. I also tried the pincho vegetarianos which is essentially big chunks of vegetables grilled on 2 skewers. I love their chili lime sauce and habanero sauce. I wish they gave me more sauce! so good. Very nice people and the restaurant is colorful with some outdoor seating. Would return again for the arepas y salsas! Thanks for the free drink! read more

Mojito - Pinchos Vegetarianos - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great place for arepas and empanadas. I ordered 3 cheese and 1 chicken and I gotta say the breading was different from other empanadas I've had and I think all my empanadas should be made just like these from now on! My food, my sisters food was so flavorful! I wish this place was closer to kent! read more

I would give five stars for service alone! The owner is so charismatic and friendly, while the ambience is very welcoming. The food was delectable - the Lechon Asado was particularly flavorful. Fair warning: the portions are substantial, so come hungry! read more

Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We love Mojito's! Their food, drinks and atmosphere is just awesome. We've never had a bad meal there. read more

A fun little hole in the wall location for Latin cuisine--mostly Caribbean. Decent food and good service. The fried yucca was awful. Apparently, it used to be made in the house but is now purchased in these disgusting little fish stick looking sticks. Other menu choices had better flavor and we're obviously made on site. We will be back to try some other items on the menu. read more

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Good food. Friendly staff. Great mojitos. We popped here randomly on a Friday night for dinner because we were craving many of the types of foods on their menu and were pleased. read more

absolutely delicious food and cutest ambiance. Will be here at least twice a week. Came with my daughter and husband. Loved the food and the owner is just funny and very welcoming. He even brought us a piece of their delicious cake. Highly recommend this place. read more

So delicious! Would definitely order again! Arepa with beef: 5* Well seasoned and flavorful beef just spilling out of a delectable corn cake. The corn cake was so tasty, and despite the juiciness of the beef, it wasn't soggy--what magic was this? Would definitely order again. Cuban Sandwich: 5* Comes with two tostones, which are tasty to snack on by themselves, but also just go so well with the sandwich. Perfect pairing of ham, delicious pork, sharp Swiss, dash of mustard, and pickle on a chewy roll. Sounds simple, but so hard to recreate. This could be a habit! Lechon Asada: 4.5* Really delicious! Flavorful pork, flavorful rice and beans, crispy tostones and a yucca fry. I think we were missing the mojito sauce. Everything stood on it's own, but a bit of sauce would have just elevated this dish a little more. Nonetheless, would I get it again? You betcha! All in all, Mojito's is a gem. Craving Cuban? Never had Cuban? Great food by any other name would taste as good! Highly recommend. read more

It was good,it's kind of a little bit of a hole in the wall but I had to lechon and man that was nice. my wife had the chicken and it was huge amount of food good service nice atmosphere! Kind of a hidden gem location wise read more