This is not a review I particularly looked forward to writing. While I live in the neighborhood, I had only recently learned of Mojito when I was looking for a place for a planned event of some importance. The reviews looked terrific, and so today we decided to check it out for lunch. We are both huge fans of Latin American cuisine, the menu seemed friendly to a person who does not eat red meat (me), and so I was very excited and fully primed to love it. The folks who greeted us were very nice, and the place has a lovely, friendly, laid-back community vibe. I don't usually eat huge lunches, and wanted to get a feel for the menu, so we ordered the Mojito Platter (I am a monster fan of friend yucca and tostones), and my husband ordered the Pescado Frito. I decided to pick a salad, but was undecided between the Ensalada Caribeña and the Ensalada Palmito, because both sounded great. A fellow (perhaps the manager?) complimented my husband on his pronunciation of "frito." I laughed and said "he tries." My husband does not know Spanish; I do. Anyway, I asked a fellow for a recommendation between the two ensaladas, and he recommended the Ensalada Caribeña, which is advertised as containing "jícama, red pepper, mango and papaya, tossed with our house-made glaze. Served on a bed of mixed greens." I will here insert the detail that I am born and raised in Hawai'i, grew up with a huge mango tree in our back yard, and ate (and would still happily eat) papayas as often as I could. These are two of my favorite fruit, I know them well, and I was excited to see them on the menu. I took the fellow's recommendation. I then excitedly texted a good friend, "have you ever been to Mojito?" The food arrived shortly thereafter. My husband's Pescado Frito looked absolutely fantastic. The Mojito Platter also looked wonderful. The fellow who brought it over, however, cautioned us that the hot sauce (their "mojito sauce") was "really really hot" and that we should be careful to taste it first. This was, in reflection, a sign. The sauce was great and not at all too hot; the yucca and tostones were fantastic--probably the best I've had in Seattle; I generally do *not* like maduros, but these were in fact very good. Anyway, to the reason I am writing. My Ensalada Caribeña. What arrived was not a salad of jícama, red pepper, mango, and papaya on a bed of mixed greens. What arrived was a plate of jícama and HUGE CHUNKS OF CANTALOUPE and--curiously--a few tostones drizzled with a sweet glaze. There were no red peppers; it looked as though perhaps the chef had sprinkled it with Tajín (which, to be fair, I *do* like). I was stunned. First, of course, cantaloupe is most definitely *not* either mango or papaya; the only attribute they slightly share is that they are all more or less shades of orange. Second, it is a fact that I absolutely cannot stand cantaloupe. I can barely gag it down, I detest it, I avoid it by all possible measures. It makes me ill (it's not an allergy--I just can't stand it). Third--and most importantly--this was absolutely not the salad described on the menu. It was not even a close miss. It was nothing like what was described, and I would not have ordered it. I tried valiantly, but a few bites in and I realized that I was not going to be able to eat this. I did not order this. I cannot stand cantaloupe. I set my plate to the side, tasted my husband's pescado frito (it was very good), and snacked on the yucca and tostones (again, also very good). The server who had brought out food then assiduously avoided our table, keeping his back to the restaurant and to us. He checked on the only other table in the place (they raved), but he not once checked in on us to see how things were going. The fellow who had recommend the Ensalada Caribeña was nowhere to be seen. At one point the server came to fill my husband's water glass, weirdly avoiding mine (not a bit deal, but rather weird) and my uneaten salad. We waited another five or so minutes to see if *anyone* was going to address what happened, and no one did. If someone *had* inquired about the problem (though I am quite sure they knew what the problem was), I would have politely explained that this was not in fact the salad I had ordered, and I WOULD HAVE ORDERED SOMETHING ELSE. I would not have made a fuss. I know that restaurants fall short on ingredients and occasionally need to substitute. But... you tell the customer that you don't have the ingredients. You don't serve them food they did not order and then ignore them. I don't love making assumptions about what went down today, but my assumption is that someone assumed that we don't know Latin American food (hence "be careful with the hot sauce") and that I do not know the difference between mangos and papayas, and cantaloupe. Very wrong assumption to have made. Not cool. Texted my friend and told him not to go here. I left hungry and sad. read more

Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Cute and casual Cuban restaurant up in Maple Leaf! Nice island vibe and friendly staff on hand. Stuff tried: Lechon Asado: delicious roasted pork! I think its pork shoulder? Just enough vinegar to help cut through the heavy flavor. So good! Bistek a caballo: i like the thin cut steak and the fried egg on top is a nice touch Vaca frita: shredded beef with nice citrus lime taste! Yuca frita: love love fried yuca! Like a tastier more substantial cousin to the potato french fry All the entrees come with rice with black beans. Make sure you order extra hot sauce which is amazing drizzled on everything! read more

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We had read about Mojito in a Seattle Times article and after trying arepas once before in Montreal, were excited to see that they offer the same dish and other delicious Latin dishes. We decided to try a variety of dishes to celebrate a birthday and were so impressed! Our favorites were the arepas, empanadas, oxtail soup, Pescado En Guiso (a delightful fish dish with olives and tomatoes), and chicken en guiso. The rice was so delicious--it reminded me of a hybrid of sticky rice and basmati rice combined. I wish I could determine what the spices were in the oxtail soup, so flavorful! We will quite look forward to making this a regular stop for dinner take out. Delicious food and a sweet staff/owner.... read more

Mojito - A delicious plate of flavors - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

this was my first visit. I don't know why i hadn't come before. Just a short way from Downtown it instantly has become a must go place while visiting Seattle. My wife who lived near use to go all the time, but hasn't been in years. Luam (the Owner) remembered her when we walked in and greeted her with a hug and welcome back. It felt like were being invited into his home. His passion for the food is contagious. The food was amazing. Some of the best rice and beans I have ever had anywhere. The Lechon was amazing as well. Orange Chipote salsa was perfect blend of flavor and heat. By far the best Beef Empanada I have ever had. Even the Ensalada was incredible. Just an amazing place that will see us during every trip to Seattle. read more

Mojito - Lechon - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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No reason to think twice - go here! Lived down the road from this place for over a year and finally visited today. Wish I would've done so sooner! HUGE portions and DELICIOUS food for reasonable prices. I ordered the Guisa de Pollo and when Luam set down my food, he said "Happy Thanksgiving!" and that wasn't a stretch! I have plenty of leftovers to bring home. Friendly staff and delicious drinks to boot! Will definitely be back! read more

Every visit to Mojito has been more fun than the last. We love this restaurant so much I almost don't want to review it and risk it getting busier! We are anxiously awaiting the opening of their Maple Leaf location as it's closer to us but we still regularly dine at this location. The mojitos are fantastic, the food is delicious, and the service is lovely! read more

If there was a sixth star, I'd slap it in there. It's small, so get cozy if you're sitting inside. Nice outdoor area, too. Amazing Caribbean food and cocktails. It's all good, so don't worry about ordering the wrong thing. Street parking only. read more

DELICIOUS food. The informal vibe is a part of the attraction. Welcoming and friendly staff. And the mojitos--!

Service was fast and efficient. I picked up food 30 mins late and got to my sisters place 30 mins after. Food was still fresh warm and tasty. Definitely hooked and planning to go again this weekend. read more

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Great food, service, ambiance, and bang for your buck! Funny location but easy to get to again as a repeat customer. read more

I threw a back yard part for 85 ppl of mixed Nicaraguan, Cuban and Mexican descent. EVERYONE raved about the quality of the food from mojitos. Truly the star of the show. The people who helped me set it up were incredible and so friendly. I would do it again. And again. . read more

Mojito - The back yard party in action. - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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So my husband had to try some new foods for a college class so we decided to try lunch here. My husband ordered two meat dishes and that was really good!! But I ordered a vegetarian dish ( was not good) cause I don't eat a lot of meat It was a dish with a coconut sauce it was so so thick and odd taste And had carrots, mushroom ,squash and eggplant the eggplant was watery. I grew up vegetarian so I LOVE vegetables I tried to eat cause I was hungry but only could eat a little left a lot of it The nice guy asked how I liked it I wish I asked for something else but I was shy $14.50 was a lot for a lunch I couldn't eat But my husband dish and appetizer was so good!!! So I recommend this restaurant not for my eggplant dish Also when we got there my family of 4 was the only people and the music was so so loud I couldn't hear my kids so I had to ask them to turn it down two lunch dishes and an appetizer and two beers it was $49 read more

Mojito - The vegetarian eggplant dish - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Incredible! I have driven by this bright yellow restaurant so many times but never stopped in ! We had delicious drinks and three entrees ( two steak one shrimp) and all loved our meals! Plantains were so yummy as well as a appetizer and the staff was incredible! I will be back such a delightful evening in love with this restaurant! read more

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Mojito is the BEST Latin American restaurant in Seattle. Having had almost the entire menu, I can say that the food is consistently incredible and you really don't feel like you're in Seattle anymore. My favorites are the empanadas, lechón asado, and the vaca frita. Had the Cuban for the first time today and it was so delicious and mustardy. Seriously everything on the menu is awesome, just make sure to get extra habanero and cilantro garlic sauces!! The mojitos are great and live up to the name of the restaurant. The patio is super cute and perfect for a sunny day, but they have space inside as well. The owner, Lu, completes the experience! He is the most friendly person ever and talks to each and every table. He has a million almost unbelievable stories and you'll have to stop by to hear one! One of my favorites restaurant in Washington read more

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I've been wanting to try Mojito for a long time and was so happy with my decision to finally try it! Got the lechón asado and it was incredible, the meat was so juicy and flavorful. It paired together really nicely with the rice pilaf, which I ordered separately. Loved the maduros and tres leches as well. Wasn't a huge fan of the arepa, but that was just a preference, I think most people would enjoy it. Such good food and can't wait to return! read more

Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here NYE for some comfort food with a dear friend, can't tell you how many times I've been here (has to be almost 100 by now) and still Can't say enough good things. I have two go-To meals, the Pescado Frito and the Lechon Asado. This was a Pescado kind of evening, mostly because I was craving their amazing salad dressing. The Pescado Frito is a large portion of perfectly fried white fish, light and flaky inside its crispy coating. It comes with a nice scoop of rice but the highlight is the Ensalada Mojito on this plate. Greens, tomato, avocado, and white onion drizzled with some kind of magical mango citrus dressing that leaves your tastebuds screaming hooray! Plus, you get two perfectly cooked maduros (fresh ripe plantains) as a sweet treat. Drizzle your whole plate with lemon and mix it all together, this dish is flavors that all work together beautifully. I also had two million dollar mojitos - do not miss this drink. And then watch out because they're stiff and sneaky full of fresh lime and muddled mint with a wonderful float of dark rum, This is a cocktail that packs a punch! Victor is always amazing, so friendly and kind, and like the rest of the staff, he REALLY makes you feel like you're important and wanted. This is a place where even first timers feel like family. Come prepared to wait. Have a mojito. Watch the cars go by. Listen to people laugh inside. Smell all the smells. Enjoy read more

Mojito - Pictured: the edge of my Pescado Frito and Berenjena de coco - eggplant and vegetables in coconut milk, with tostones and rice - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

MOJITO = INCREDIBLE & UNFORGETTABLE. I'm already dreaming of the next time I come back... this family Latin American & Cuban restaurant will change your life! The owner is so friendly and fun, he treats you like family the moment you put your name down on the waitlist. Here is what we ordered and a lot of these entrees come with congri (rice + black beans) and fried plaintains: -Empanadas -LECHÓN ASADO: which is the roasted marinated pork -CAMARONES CARMEN MIRANDA: shrimp with with grilled pineapples/mango and bell peppers -BISTEC A CABALLO: thinly cut steak topped with a fried egg -VACA FRITA: traditional Cuban shredded, lime-marinated beef For dessert we got their Quesillo (Venezuelan custard dessert) and the Tres Leches which were both SO AMAZING as well. Everything here was super delicious and wonderful portion size! Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with anything they offer here :) And you can tell that everything is made with love and passion! ***Oh! And don't forget to order 1 (or maybe 2-3) of their mojito drink - seriously the best mojitos in Seattle! read more

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A hidden gem of a restaurant. The food is outstanding and the hospitality is amazing. I felt like I was a guest at Luam's home. Luam, it was so good to see you after close to 25 years. I hope that there can be continued support for this amazing business. Highly recommend the ceviche and empanadas. read more

Amazing! This is the most authentic Cuban/Latin Caribbean food I have had! I traveled extensively through the Caribbean. Wonderful service and just the most delicious food! They make amazing drinks! Mojitos are my favorite! Order the empanadas (one of each), Parrilla (steak) Mojito, and Pescado (fish) Mojito - you won't be disappointed! read more

Mojito - Empanada Pescado Mojito Parrilla Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really really want to like this place as I was recommended by a co-worker to come here and also the high review... however, I left pretty disappointed... It's a cute little place right off the freeway and although it was street parking, it was fairly easy to park. We came at around 5 and got seated outside l, which has a nice breeze because the weather was so nice. We ended up ordering a mojito, the camerones Miranda (appetizer) and the pescado mojito. It wasn't busy yet, but we still waited quite long for our stuff (10 minutes for the mojito, +30 minutes for our food). Both dishes was yummy. The shrimp with pineapple went very well together and the fish has a nice spice to it. The maduros was not my favorite, it was too soft and the tostones was too hard in my opinion. However, it definitely lighten my mood because the food was worth the wait. However, the server asked if we wanted hot sauce and I immediately/excitedly said yes, but he totally forgot about it so I never got my hot sauce...so that was a let down. Also, we ordered the camerones Miranda appetizer, not knowing that there was an entree with the exact same name. We wanted the appetizer because it was light and the server never clarified with us what we wanted. So we got the entree instead and we found out by looking at the bill and saw that they charged us for the entree and looking through the menu and saw that the app and entree had exact the same name... We end up paying close to $60 for our meal. For such a laid back, homey place, the price of food doesn't fit the environment. So overall, with the miscommunication, wait time, and lack of service, I probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

Mojito - Camerones miranda - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I always drive by this restaurant and loved how colorful it was so I had to give it a go and wow what a discovery! There aren't many Latin restaurants around so these flavors are rare for me to find. They accommodated for two dogs in our party for outdoor dining. They were even sweet enough to bring the dogs a whole ball of use to play and chew while we were dining! I love a place that accommodates dogs almost more than humans read more

Mojito - Arepa, Empanada, Pollo A La Parrilla - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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

The food is always amazing. I ordered too much and ate it all. Even the couple across had empty plates. Great service! The ambiance felt like when I was an restaurant at an island. Will definitely come back. read more

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

The food was excellent, and the owner was so welcoming and friendly. Parking can be found nearby, and easy to walk to. We're coming back.

The service was great. The food just nailed it. Being able to enjoy eating outdoors made the ambiance for the meal perfect. Their habanero hot sauce was amazing with a flavor profile that made me wish I had asked for some to go. read more

Mojito gained 20 new customers last night! I had a back yard get together to celebrate grad school graduation, and called Mojito to see if they could cater the small event. Victor was very accommodating- he helped me organize the food in the best way for us (we did family style) and was incredibly flexible when I made some final changes a few hours before! Fast forward to the party and everyone was raving about the food. And everyone (including me) got seconds! We ordered Pabellon, guiso de pollo, berenja en coco, empanadas, and tres leches cake! We also got a big dish of rice and beans, tostones and maduros. Oh and the Mojito salad! Everything was delicious and perfectly warm. This just reinforced that Mojito is our favorite restaurant in Seattle. They're going to see many new patrons in their future! read more

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Let me make this quick and choppy, I waited 1:30hr for my food. (Table of 4) We didn't get much. Two sandwiches and dinner plates. The sever was actually passively aggressive. Soo do I recommend it ? It's not bad ‍ read more

Absolute gem tucked away in the Geeenlake neighborhood. Tried the Cuban sandwich for the first time, and it was perfect. So I decided to grab an arepa to go, which I'm sure will be just as good! Can't wait to try more of their menu read more

Mojito - Cuban sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was very excited to try out a Venezuelan/Colombian restaurant on a cold Seattle evening with some friends. When we walked in, the aroma of meat was mouth-salivating, which served to hype up our excitement. Unfortunately, the food didn't really live up to the hype. My wife ordered the Vaca Frita, I ordered the Lechon Asado, and I ordered the Mojito Platter for the table. Pros: The service. The owner was very playful and friendly and made sure to stop by each table to joke around and ask how the food was. He even shared with us what the sauces consisted of (and, btw, the sauces were pretty dang good). For a small quaint establishment, the owner made it feel very warm and comforting. However, we go to a restaurant to eat. And the food was mediocre at best. The Vaca Frita and Lechon Asado's meat were pretty, well, dry and not that flavorful. I had to resort to dousing my meat with the sauces to add some sort of heat/creaminess/flavor. We both thought the rice and beans portion was the star of the show, but shouldn't it be the protein? The Mojito Platter was a nice starter, but it lacked pizazz. We stared at it, a bit surprised that the dish cost $11 for some small portions of yucca, tostones, and maduros. The maduros (sweet plantains) were good, but the rest just lacked flavor. Maybe it's my cultural naivety that I don't really know how Venezuelan/Colombian food should taste. However, just as a meal, the food lacked anything special. The service was great and I'm sure this hits home for a lot of people. But just not for me. read more

Amazing food and lovely staff! A little too small of a space and too loud for conversations on a Thursday night, but would def come back for the summer time when we can sit in patio read more

So glad Lake City is not too far away from my neighborhood, to come eat at Mojito! Great patio dining area- come early or you'll end up having to wait, which may not be too bad if you order one of their famous mojito! We ordered the ceviche, chicken empanada, and the vaca frita. Portions are generous, easy dishes to share to save room for a slice of tres leches cake. read more

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The beef empanada and the mojito platter were delicious, excellent snacks or entree. The garlic sauce is oh so good, make sure it ask for extra sauce to dip almost any food item you order! Victor was friendly and generous giving extra sauces Dining is outside. read more

Mojito - Beef empanada - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was the best Cuban restaurant I've ever been to! Authentic, real and delicious!! I've been to a couple in the Bay Area but this place beats them all! The drinks are also amazing! They don't have a typical bar area but whoever is making them back there knows his/her stuff! Strong and packed with punch! The fruit smoothies are also made fresh with real fruit. The service is awesome! Everyone was friendly and accommodating. Not just to our party of 9, but to everyone who walked in. Everything we ordered was delicious!!! I want to come back! Lechon Asado - Roasted marinated pork with sautéed onions. Served with fried yucca, tostones and congri (black beans and rice) -- tender chunks of pork and full of flavor. The congri was yummy! Vaca Frita - Traditional Cuban. Shredded beef marinated in lime juice and sautéed with onions, garlic and sweet peppers. Served with congrí and maduros -- The beef was perfection and squeezed with lime juice? Oh wow! Bistec a Caballo - Thinly cut steak, grilled with Mojito sauce and topped with a fried egg. Served with congrí and tostones -- I didn't try this but it looked amazing! Guiso de Pollo - Half chicken simmered in a tomato-based sauce with capers, olives and white wine. Served with rice, black beans and tostones -- this also looked good but I didn't get to try it. Pescado Mojito - Grilled white fish fillet, marinated in white wine with cinnamon and paprika. Served on a plantain leaf with rice, maduros and Ensalada de Mojito -- the spices made this dish smell amazing. Light but full of flavor! I loved the white rice this came with. Milanesa de Pollo - Breaded chicken breast, fried and served with French fries and rice. Topped with tomato and avocado -- four people at our table ordered this and it was soooo good! The chicken was crispy on the outside yet tender in the inside. The fries were cooked just like grandma used to. I would order this next time I come. read more

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Fun, personable and excellent service. Great food, good value. Music some evenings when I was there pre-2020. Not sure if that still happens. read more

Had an unreal lunch here on a beautiful saturday afternoon. Great indoor and outdoor options, with shade and sunlight. Food was fantastic- authentic latin food, from brazil to cuba and everywhere in between. We had a cuban and the Vaca Frita lunch, both were delightful! We had fantastic service, our server was helpful and friendly- even dropped us a couple riddles to keep things light. I will 100% be back, if you live in the area- you need to be a regular here. Thanks!! read more

A+ ALL AROUND. Amazing service! Amazing food !! Amazing environment! I've been here a few times and they never disappoint. I've had the pleasure of having Jesus as my server a few times.... Let me telll you!!!!! If I could put him in my pocket and take him home I would! I have never been in a restaurant where I feel 100% at home. The empanadas are a MUST!!! Be prepared for that habanero salsa!! It's hot af but it's packed with flavor!!! The owner is also an angel and is so informative !!!! Ugh I could just go on about this place. Anyways go check it out!! I promise you won't be disappointed read more

Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First time here. We have the Mojito Sandwich and Pescando Guisado. We don't eat Cuban food regularly, have Cuban sandwiches occasionally. They have a few Latin's food, very authentic. This is locally owned and the owner is our server. We will be back for their Sunday Oxtail soup. read more

Mojito - Mojito Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best Latin food in the area, the steak is amazing. Gotten to go and it's just as good

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