If you've seen those pop ups on street corners around town, with the long lines and flame broiled Al Pastor on a spit, this is where they come from! This is the best Al Pastor in town! They also have a variety of other meat options like Carne Asada, Cabeza, Lengua, Tripa, Pollo, and Chorizo which are tasty, but I come here for the flame-broiled Al Pastor! Once you have decided which meat(s) you would like, you then have the option to have it prepared in the following ways: Tacos, Torta, Quesadilla, Burrito, Mulita, and Alambre. You really cannot go wrong with any of them, as they all have their own unique flavor combinations. My personal favorites are the straight-up tacos, and the mulitas. So, if you are ever on the hunt for great Al Pastor, do not hesitate! Highly recommend! read more

The first time we ate here a few months ago, the food was good. We got two al pastor tacos, an al pastor mulita (super cheesy!), and two grilled beef tacos. We took it all to go and everything was delicious when we got home. All of our tacos were generously filled with well-seasoned meat. We tried La Cuadra again last Saturday for lunch. This time we ate at the counter outside since it was a sunny day. But oh what a difference a second visit makes. My grilled beef tacos were incredibly salty. I was hungry so I still ate them. My hubs' al pastor tacos were very dry. We had the al pastor mulita again, but even with the melted cheese, it was so dry we didn't finish it. But the worst was my two brisket tacos that had an incredibly OFF taste. Hard to describe. My hubs took a bite and said the meat tasted like soap. It was disturbing. I brought the two tacos back to the counter. The staffer apologized and asked if I wanted something else instead. I ordered two chicken tacos. They were dry and meh. They didn't taste off or anything, they just didn't taste good. I ate half of one of the tacos and took the rest home. Later, I composted it because the off taste of the brisket taco made me nervous about eating any more of their food. It's really too bad because after our first visit to La Cuadra, we were happy to have found a decent, tasty, affordable taco place in Ballard. But after this week's experience, we likely won't be going back. read more

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Solid spot for some delicious tacos. Got Al Pastor and Carne Asada...$3.50 each. They load it UP with meat and they have a salsa and toppings bar where you can do the rest to your liking. Really enjoyed the outdoor seating space Didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes or so for the food. All in all a good spot with several options on the menu...saw they had margaritas but wish they also had cervesa! read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Been meaning to try this place forever! So super excited that there's a brick and mortar place to grab some tacos. They have a little parking lot which is convenient, and street parking which doesn't seem too difficult given the area. Service was quick and easy. You order at the counter and are given a buzzer to pick up the food when ready. I love the sauce/toppings bar. Unlimited salsa, unlimited limes, onions, cucumbers. Wowowow I ordered the brisket taco and an al pastor taco. Brisket taco was 10/10 so good. But I was a bit disappointed by the al pastor. I feel like there's so much hype around their Al pastor, but it wasn't very wow. And I'm usually an Al pastor girl too! Overall, super yummy. you'll see me again LOL. But just for the brisket. Took off one star bc I was disappointed by the al pastor. Anyway I've been trying to find really good tortas in the Seattle area, so excited to try that next! read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Have come here about 10 times and have given their al pastor tacos a try each time because... the trompo. Bottom line is that the food has not been consistent here sadly. We've had a few instances where the tacos have been really good- seasoned well, juicy. But the majority of the time, the meat tastes a bit under seasoned and dry. The funny thing is that we can get a plate of 4 tacos and have one of them be spectacular and the other 3 disappointing. Lol It's really odd. Im not sure if using a fattier cut of meat would help as the meat they use now looks pretty lean. Most times we've come for dinner, there's been a few people and the wait has been under 10 min. On a busy night though, we've waited 20-25 min for our food. One thing that is off menu but can be requested is a veggie burrito. You have to ask for a burrito with no meat and substitute vegetables (rather than asking for a veggie burrito) which is a mix of beans peppers onions and mushroom. I'm pretty sure they cook it on the same cook top as their other meats they grill but if you're not as concerned about segregating your food if you're vegetarian, there is an option here for you even though their menu has only meat options. read more

Brick and mortar version of the street food location. Very good salsa bar (tomatillo avo is the best) and plentiful portion. We liked the chicken burrito and the cabeza taco the best! One of the better Mexican food spots in Seattle imo read more

I stopped by after seeing a TikTok about this spot. Located across Un Bien, there's a few parking spots on site otherwise it's neighborhood parking. Tacos are $3.50 and there's a self serve condiments bar (salsa, onion, cilantro, lines). Highly recommend the al pastor meat - it's very flavorful and comes with a small slide of pineapple. I tried the asada and thought it was a little too overcooked as the meat was dry and kind of flaky. I appreciated how the tacos have a lot of meat but will definitely come back for the al pastor tacos. Also be careful when you're walking - there's a giant dip at the door. read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Nachos with asada - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is much better than the other taco spot that used to be here. Good char on the Al pastor and the pineapple was super sweet and complimented the taco perfectly. The green salsa was fantastic and I love that you can get your own cilantro and onions so you can put as much or as little as you desire. The rice and beans were okay but wouldn't get them again. My husband got the burrito and liked it but thought it was a little under-seasoned. The outside of the burrito was toasted which added a nice texture and flavor. read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Al pastor taco plate - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the best tacos in town! I absolutely love their tacos de pastor. Lots of flavor and the pineapple just adds that nice fresh note. Classic salas bar with all the fixings. They have a fridge of sweets for that after the meal treat. read more

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The food here is genuinely good, and I used to come once or twice a week. Unfortunately, my last visit completely changed my opinion. I waited 45 minutes for my order, and during that time I saw several people who arrived after me receive their food first. When I finally asked what was going on, I was told that my order had been given to someone else. There was no apology and gave the impression they just didn't really care. After already waiting that long, I wasn't willing to wait again for them to remake my food so I asked for a refund and left. Because of this experience, I won't be returning even though the food itself is good. read more

I've been to this taco joint along Rainier but appears they don't come out anymore so came to visit the restaurant in Ballard. They're know for their Al pastor but personally the slow cooked beef is my favorite!!! The beef is sooo tender and flavorful. Add all of the fun toppings and you have an amazing taco! The shop itself here is pretty small but gets the job done. Service was super quick and friendly - tacos run you about $4 a piece. Must visit if you're in the area!! read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was really excited to check out Tacos La Cuadra since I have seen people post about their amazing looking al pastor tacos online at one of their streetside locations. We decided to swing by on a Sunday a bit past dinner time at 8PM and were able to get seats inside the restaurant. The restaurant itself is located across from Un Bien, and there is limited parking around the restaurant. Do note that it may be a sharp or abrupt turn when trying to get into the lot for parking - there were a couple of spots when you try turning on NW 73rd street, maybe 4-5 spots so during busy times, you may need to park on the other side of the building or streetside. The ambiance inside is very casual - expected of authentic taco places, there are maybe 10-15 spots indoors and we had to temporarily share a seat with some other people. Ordering is done at the cashier and they will hand you a buzzer to walk up and pick your food up. There is a sauce bar right next to the cash register, but most of the mild salsa, salsa verde, and salsa roja were out and restocked when were close to finishing our meal. We wanted to try the various meats that Tacos La Cuadra had to offer, so we ordered a couple of tacos. One with their notable al pastor, and two with lengua and cabeza. To me personally, I think the true mark of a great taqueria is one that can cook Lengua and Cabeza really well. I think that unfortunately, this restaurant's lengua looked a bit dry and unappetizing and had a lot more chew than lengua that I have tried at other taco places. Same can be said with the cabeza, which even had a slightly rubbery texture that happens when you blanch and then boil your meat for a bit too long. What I expected was for both meats to be soft, tender, and have a meaty and hearty texture as you chew it. Yes, it's true that they give a decent amount of meat here, but that doesn't matter much if it doesn't taste good. I think the saving grace was the al pastor, which was delicious - tender and moist, complimented by a nice slice of pineapple. Price wise, I have had delicious tacos here in Seattle that have been in the $2-$3 range and were much tastier than the tacos that I have received here. The tres leches is $11 for a decently sized portion, but I think that texture wise, it didn't really feel like tres leches as there wasn't as much milk soaking into the cake at the bottom. It was more of a standard cake with artificial strawberry flavoring icing covered on top. Of the taco places that I have tried so far in Seattle, I think that I was a bit disappointed with the tacos that I have received here for the quantity and quality. I personally think that there are lots of good taco places to try in Seattle, and this is not the most tasty tacos that I have had in the city. Maybe the entrees are better since they looked like interesting options on the menu. I'm not sure if I would personally revisit Tacos La Cuadra, but feel free to check it out and see for yourself. read more

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The tacos here are done pretty well, but it may be surprising that they come with virtually no toppings and can taste a little dry without assistance from the salsa bar. So definitely need to lean on the toppings bar to achieve balance. They come with a decent amount of meat - we had the carnitas, al pastor, and chicken. As well as a chorizo quesadilla and churro cheesecake for dessert. The al pastor was very disappointing - it only had a single slice of pineapple, whereas I prefer the style where there are lots of bits of pineapple chopped up throughout. Or at least having some marinade, but it was a little dry and not very flavorful. That was the theme for all 3 tacos, which pretty much entirely consisted of meat with no salsa or toppings added. So if you want more flavor and texture in the taco, you'll need to load up at the salsa bar. The toppings there are great though and fresh. The quesadilla was a different story - this was quite tasty! And had some spices that gave it an extra bit of flavor that made it stand apart from the usual chorizo quesadilla. I loved eating this with the tomato salsa and green sauce from the bar. The churro cheesecake was tasty - a little too sweet, but loved the ricotta-like texture and spices. read more

Do I get my taco badge now? LOL Great service, great tacos. Fun ambience. If you're in the mood for tacos. Drop in here! What's not to like about a good taco! Cheers! read more

When they first opened the tacos de lengua were really really good - big chunks of meat, now it's cut into tiny little pieces that are overcooked and dry on a much smaller double tortilla. Not a lot of flavor in the meat, lacks seasoning. Something has changed here, can't see myself going back which is too bad I wish the food was as good as when it first opened. read more

Can't believe we got this place in our neighborhood-best delicious inexpensive breakfast around Ballard/Crown Hill. Get the Huevos Al Gusta.

I have no idea how this place got 4 stars. The food here is so nasty. I got a burrito, it was dry. Meat was so overcooked. My wife got a chicken quesadilla and my god, the thing looked nasty. I have no idea how one can mess up a quesadilla. It's bread, chicken, and cheese lmao. The chicken was so dry, the cheese was not even melted, and clearly processed. And the quesadilla was drowned in so much nasty red sauce. No idea what that sauce is but Jesus don't put it in a quesadilla. Never going here again. read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First tried them when they just operated on a street corner, I think that was part of the appeal. Standards get higher when you operate a brick and mortar. (You notice more when dishes are piled up, and salsa bar needs to be refilled). Observations in no particular order: -huge meat portions for tacos, but price starts at $3.50 for basic meats , but if hungry order at least 4 tacos, 3 would be if not starving. -no kids menu (or kid pricing), a cheese quesadilla priced the same as regular quesadilla..? Why. -drinks a bit pricey, $5 for med, $10 for large.. -tasty food (IMO, much better than El Camion), and will come back for the food and flavor -friends got burrito, which they said was filling and tasty. -small parking lot, but can find street parking -outdoor picnic tables, good for larger groups, kids, dogs read more

Ive eaten here a few times since they've opened. Food has been excellent each time. The Burritos are thick. Worth the price. The meat is flavorful. I've gotten steak and chicken so far and both have been top tier. Chilaquiles Rojo has been a breakfast time favorite. The flan was delicious as well. Clean dine in area and they also have a patio which is covered. It's nice. Staff are helpful and friendly. Come and practice your Spanish a little when you get here. Will be coming back again and will also be trying out more options on the menu. read more

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Solid spot for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. I love that Ballard finally has a good street taco place. While I do prefer the al pastor to be a little more greasier, the food with the salsa bar always hit. read more

Oh my gosh. FANTASTIC. best carne asada i've had in a while. Love that the building is orange, easy to spot. service was good and the portions are HUGE. 10/10. read more

Tacos La Cuadra - carne aside tacos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food was great! My friend got 2 al pastor and 2 asada tacos. She said the Al pastor was better. While the tacos come with no toppings there's a huge toppings bar and salsa bar where you can customize and load up your tacos. Their pico was particularly yummy to me. I had the Al pastor quesadilla and it was humongous I was shook. For $15 after tip and tax I got 3 meals out of just one serving. I do love getting some bang for my buck! It was also really yummy too and I would definitely recommend. We went around 4 so it wasn't busy but there's a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Tacos La Cuadra - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We got 3 burritos for dinner last night-- first time eating here-- we wanted to try a new place, other than our favorite, Loxicha. Chicken burrito was inedible-- the chicken was so dry and salty that it was impossible to eat. The other two were better, but not great-- Asada and Al Pastor. The price was good, $12 for a burrito, but other than that, would not recommend. Didn't eat at the restaurant-- just got takeout, so can't comment on the service or ambiance. read more

The food is incredible and the prices are reasonable. It's very much the kind of taco shop we need more of. Highly recommend.

Not good. Dry, unflavorfull. Had the al pastor and carne asada. Asada was a bit better but not by much. Better tacos in Seattle and it seems like this location in particular doesn't quite live up to the LA Cuadra name. read more

This place is unreal! The food is great at a great price! Their breakfast burritos are super good and they have amazing frozen mango margaritas read more

Do not come here if you enjoy salsa/condiments with your meal. We brought our own container for salsa and all the topping to not be wasteful with the tiny little sauce cups. We order a large amount of food that does require a lot of add ons. We loved this place, drove over thirty minutes to come here, order food to eat there as well as takeout, and always leave a generous tip. The chef and employee is not professional and it's straight up disrespectful to you and will lie to your face. The chef handles the food with his bare hands as well as handling his cellphone in the middle of preparing food for customers. The place is not clean and the service is ever dirtier. They will call you out and treat you like thieves if you take "too much" toppings even though they have a sign that says no rules. How funny. I'm all for supporting small family businesses who have risen to success but it seems as though the success has gotten over their heads and treats customers with disrespect. read more

i'm sorry, the food is really delicious, though a little pricey. i went in around 8pm and the majority of their alcoholic beverages were unavailable for some reason. which is strange it being in the night and all, most people want a margarita with their dinner. anyway, i do not recommend the mixed drinks. not only did it take around 25 minutes for them to make it when the place wasn't even busy, you pay $20(?!) for an 8oz virgin margarita. they legit did not put any tequila in it whatsoever. same goes for the strawberry margarita, zero alcohol. just a big bowl of koolaid for that one. it was actually insanely annoying, given how long it took and how expensive they were. yeah, avoid the mixed drinks. disappointing since it's in my neighborhood and yes the food is good but gosh read more

If you are looking for a non-meat option (e.g.,fish or shrimp tacos), you are out of luck. Seems like a miss.