It's sad that I have to write this review but I am too disappointed in this place not to. This used to be my absolute favorite place to get tacos, their Carnitas tacos were literally heaven and I would regularly (once every 1-2 weeks) make the 2+ hour round-trip drive just to get these tacos. Then, about four visits ago, I ordered six carnitas tacos to-go (they're so good I want leftovers). I picked them up, brought them in my car, opened the box, and wanted to cry. There was literally no meat in the tacos, and the tiny amount that was there was completely black pretty much from being burnt. You literally couldn't see any white of the meat. I wish I had taken a picture, it was so bad. I tooo them back inside and they remade them, but they still sucked. I thought maybe it was just a fluke or a new cook, so I came back a few more times, because they used to be so good. Today was the fourth time my tacos have royally SUCKED. You guys. I don't know wtf happened but you guys used to literally make heaven on a tortilla, and now your carnitas meat is so burnt every time that honestly if I was blindfolded and given a bite of that and a bite of bark, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The only reason I gave two stars is because you guys used to be so awesome. Your current quality of tacos doesn't even deserve one star read more

The Yard Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I won't return. The dink I ordered was weak and flavorless, the seating is uncomfortable and the service is rushed and makes me feel unwelcome. The prices were unusually high too. $12 for a simple cocktail, and it tasted watered down. read more

Feel in love here. Food is great. You can bring your dog and sit outside of its a nice day.

Taco's on the average are overpriced by $2.00 each. The restaurant is located in the Greenwood Neighborhood of Seattle. There is an outside dining patio as you enter the establishment. Inside, you will find three different locations with tables for dining and a small beer & cocktail bar with stools. We tried an array of 4" diameter (small) soft tacos. ASADA ($5.00), FISH ($5.50), POLLO ($4.00), CARNITAS ($4.00). Chips & Salsa are not complimentary ($6.00) and Guacamole for the chips cost ($4.00). I also thought the TORTA with chips ($15.00) was "spendy". But what the heck this Seattle not Pasco, WA. read more

I haven't had a bad meal here. The food is flavorful, the bartender is flexible and provides the drink you explain even if it's not on the menu, and the music overhead is fun. We've been here many times and have not been disappointed. read more

I really want to like this place, but the employees don't make it easy. Aesthetic: amazing Beer selection/rotation: amazing. Food: mostly great, especially the pork verde tacos. Service: apathetic at best. During my last visit (one of dozens since they've opened), after the bartender stopped chatting for several minutes with the off-the-clock employees at the bar and decided it was time to take our order, I decided to stray outside my normal taco order and get a quesadilla. I did not care for it. I tried to put away a few bites and politely pushed it away and had a delicious beer for dinner. When a different bartender came to collect the plates he asked, "do you want a box for that?" I said no thanks expecting some questioning on my enjoyment of the dish. Nope, dude rolled his eyes and rage-scrapped it into the trash can directly in front of me. I'm rooting for this place, but management needs to get a handle on the service which ranges from lazy to hostile. read more

I think this place would be great for happy hour. My Yard Margarita was tasty and a torta was the perfect accompaniment. My husband got the empanadas which left him a little hungry after. I wish they had served the plate with 3 empanadas instead of just 2. In any case, I can see this being a great place to visit on a beautiful summer day. There's self seating here, so grab a chair. read more

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I recently moved back to Seattle, and while the Ensalada Quesadilla from Yard Cafe was not the only reason I came back to the city, it was higher on the list than I'll admit. I came in tonight, grabbed a seat and proceeded to order my usual (Chili Verde Ensalada Quesadilla, with grilled jalepeno) but tragedy! The Yard's taken this dish, which my friends and I regularly tell people about as the Best Single Item in Seattle (BSIIS,) off the menu! Luckily, our server Brandon was able to help us cook up a homemade alternative, complete with grilled jalepenos, and saved the day. Even without the BSIIS on the menu, the Yard is still a go to spot for great food, a great beer list, and incredible people who have creative solutions for delicious DIY Ensalada Quesadillas. read more

Yippee! I found my new back "Yard"! I love this spot and am quite confused by the poor reviews. Yes, this is a bar, not a cafe. A bar with excellent food, awesome staff, cool decor, and fantastic outdoor communal style seating on giant picnic tables. I love the rotating beer taps including at least one cider for the gluten intolerant. They also have a great selection of spirts and tall boys. The mexican street food style menu is awesome. I love the adobada tacos and the sopes chile verde. I went to watch a Sounders match there last weekend and the service was excellent. I barely finished my glass before she was there to pour another. One of the bartenders (Mark you are awesome) remembered me from the week before and went out of his way to say hi. He even remembered my name. :) This place gets packed every night so clearly they are doing something right. I highly suggest you stop by.....unless you are high maintenance like some others. *wink* Cheers! read more

I went to The Yard Cafe to celebrate my friend birthday and we felt really bad ! The waitress was really rude with us. The place is amazing, I really liked there, but I would like to ask for someone talk to her to be better/more professional next (all) time. Thank you . read more

Just discovered that The Yard is also owned by the same people who own The Dray and I visited these two places back to back. What a coincidence! This will probably be my new go to hang out spot when the weather is nice. The Yard has this beautiful outdoor seating area with large picnic tables. I was again greeted by a chocolate lab just like at The Dray! :) Again made me very happy. We sat inside since it was getting late and kind of cold out. I order another cider. It was called Crispen Cider and it came in a can. This cider wasn't very sweet and it was more dry. My friends ordered tacos. The Adobada (pork) tacos smelt amazing!! Each taco is about $3.50, it's a bit higher than what I'm willing to pay for since I can get great tacos for about $1.50-$2 somewhere else. They have other menu items, but I didn't take a good look at them since I was there to eat. My friends also ordered a pitcher of beer, which seemed reasonably priced. They also have a list of cocktail drinks, so if you're not a beer drinker they've got you covered. This place has a cozy ambiance, very laid back. The lighting was dim. Apparently the bathrooms aren't labeled so don't be alarmed, just pick one. The place wasn't very loud when we were there. It's a great place to hang out, chat, and grab a bite to eat. I think it will be very popular in the summer. read more

I love the yard. If you just want to relax, have a beer, eat some really great Mexican-inspired food (Baja style), and aren't in a hurry, you've found your place. I live nearby, like talking with the wait staff about the weather or their beverage recommendations, and The Yard is quickly becoming my neighborhood spot, along with a whole lot of other folks. I like the decor, heat lamps (on damp Seattle days) and great, fresh food. Am recommending it to all my friends. read more

This is walking distance from our house so we *really* wanted to love it. The service was horrible, though. Horrible. When we walked in it was unlcear if we should seat ourselves or wait to be seated. After standing there awkwardly for a few minutes as wait staff passed us by over and over and bartenders just looked past us, we finally asked someone if we could take a table. He grumbled yes and hurried past us. We were seated for quite awhile before having to ask for a menu. When one menu was brought to us to share it came with a big scowl from our server. We then noticed that EVERY wait staff in the restaurant wore the same scowl. None of them wanted to be there working. Not one smile or overt effort at customer service the the whole time we were there. Additionally, it was really slow. I could have excused the slow service if it was a least friendly, but it wasn't at all. The table next to us got up and left after they were seated by a particularly grumpy/no personality server and then had to wait for menus and drinks for too long. Food and drinks were decent, but the tone of the place was just so lame - and clearly set by those working. We will try this place once more - hoping we just hit it on a bad night when they were short handed. Not that that's any excuse for lame customer service, but we would really like to support this place right in our hood. Fingers crossed next time is a totally different experience. read more

Dark and brooding, Natural woods and low lighting. Soccer on the two screens above the bar. This space is small inside, but features a large outdoor seating area, apparently they do a little bonfire thingy in the summer. They have a wheelchair ramp out front. This space would go down in history as the first time I ever consumed an Old Fashioned (fruit not muddled). I'm not a bourbon drinker, but this drink was definitely perfectly balanced, and actually, it was fabulous. I also had a really good whiskey sour. The Dark and Stormy my date ordered wasn't so good, so we sent it back in favor of another Old Fashioned. They apologized and brought us what we asked for, no problem. I am NOT a whiskey drinker. NOTNOTNOT. And due to the influence of these very strong cocktails, I was talked into trying what I was told was one of the most vile tasting liquors out there. I thought it was called cyanide, and it coulda been named that for sure. The bartender was more than happy to provide me a tiny tiny amount of Cynar to try, apparently it is a sweet Italian liqueur that's infused with herbs-and artichokes. I guess they mix it with Coca Cola. It was pretty nasty. This is a really good spot for a date. I browsed the rotating beer taps and menu- They have a lot of awesome beer choices for such a small bar, and the Yard features mexi-fare type dishes. I'll be back to try them again in the near future. read more

First things first--bless the poor waitress that had to spend 2 hours serving 40 plus customers on her own because her employer doesn't know how to staff properly during a lunch rush. I'm sure she loves that she's making as much in tips serving 40 people poorly as she would if she served 10 people extremely well with a full staff of servers on-hand to take care of everyone else. Please please please consider adding another server during lunch, especially when it's beautiful outside. There is no reason for a customer to wait 15 minutes to receive a greeting and a menu. Service will always take precedence over anything else, especially good food. read more

Attended part of the soft opening at the yard. Love the space, just wish it was warmer so I could enjoy being outside a bit more. I hope they add more heat lamps. There is a cute little outdoor firepit but it wasnt warm enough to keep me toasty. Sampled some of the food. Did enjoy the chips and salsa, my friend enjoyed her carne asada taco. Other food items we viewed as they went by appeared tasty. Didnt love my jicama salad though, but perhaps with a little more flavor I could learn to love it. I did however appreciate that they had jicama on the menu. Happy to have nice new bar in the neighborhood, particularly one with a great outdoor area and a nice indoor area as well. Cant wait to go back after the official opening and see how things continue to come together. read more

I really like the idea of this place but not so much the execution. I like that there is a lot of outside seating (Fairly limited inside seating hence "The Yard"). Their happy hour food menu was fabulous at all about $5. It struck me as odd that the menu was Mexican. We ordered some foods & my friends LOVED it but I thought it was incredibly bland (needed salt, chiles, lime -anything!!). Drinks were good if a little over-priced for the amount (about $8-$10). Also, staff was really pushy about tips. I also felt like they were trying to get us to leave when we showed up at about 11pm on a Saturday night. I thought it was a bar but it appears to be more of a restaurant. Finally, there are rats in the yard & I'm pretty sure drunk people feed them. And by drunk people, I mean me. read more

Won't becoming here again. I felt so bad for the servers. I should have seen it in their eyes to duck and run and find somewhere else for dinner. There wasn't an ounce of happiness, or excitement for their job. When I came in and stood near the entrance for a while and had a couple people walk around me (that later I was able to determine that they worked there). Until I finally figured out who worked there and asked if it was open seating. They just replied with "Yes" and walked away. I found my way to a seat, waited for a friend and observed. The fact that my Chicken Sandwich was dry and cold when I got it was just the beginning. Everything was so over priced. My friend got tacos and at $3.50 EACH she got dry pork and pico and the tortillas were not even cooked. Almost straight out of the bag. When I asked why I didn't get any salsa with my tortilla chips, the server gave me a selection and based on their impression I knew I had to ask if it cost extra. Turns out for generic salso it cost $1 for an ounce. When I asked why it cost he said there was nothing he could do. It sounds like this place is a tight ship at the expense of the people working. I felt so bad for the servers having to serve horrible food on an over priced menu. There's better patios, better food, better drinks, better everything just down the road. So many great places in Greenwood and the Yard won't be able to compete if it drowns their employees and treats their customers like the experience I got. read more

Did not even know this place existed until Antonio the Giraffe went there with his lady friend one night while I was at Naked City with Stuart and Peanut. I'm impressed with the selection of beer they have, but moreover, the fantastic mexifood dishes that hit me like a ton of nostalgic bricks, hurling me back in time to one magical summer spent in Aspen. I know that really doesn't make any sense, but just trust me. The queso fundido is an indulgent foodgasm waiting to happen, and when coupled with a cheese crisp - well just prepare yourself for a death by melted cheese that anyone could appreciate. The guacamole was pretty good as well, although I may ask them to spice it up a bit the next time I venture in. All in all, the Yard is a pretty awesome spot, and I appreciate having a Candle to light my way through Greenwood, even if she purposely stands us up as part of a 7th grader's revenge plot. read more

Three and a half stars here. In summer it deserves four (oh, that patio!), but in winter I'm guessing it's a solid A-OK three. Something's slightly odd about the Mexican/beer combination that makes up The Yard....Why Mexican food exactly? There's nothing about the decor, or the environs, that carries on the theme. And then there's the relatively extensive beer list, which doesn't necessarily require any particular type of food other than good-enough. Which the food here is, but then we're back to why Mexican? Anyway, once you get past that oddity, The Yard is a nice Greenwood spot, especially if you want great outdoor seating. There's a sunny patio with big communal picnic tables, and if you don't want direct sun you can sit under the shaded patio (but not quite inside). It's as close to an outdoor bar as I've seen in Seattle, and pretty much perfect in terms of maximum advantage of summer weather. I ordered three different tacos - adobada, chile verde, and chorizo - listed in order of excellence. The first two were impressively tasty, with tender pork chunks in their various sauces and spices, but I'd probably skip the chorizo next time (not that flavorful compared to the other two). There are some more straightforward sandwiches on the menu, along with a burger, but the tacos are more where it's at (I saw lots of people ordering them). They're sizable too; I ordered three but probably could have gotten by with two. Guacamole was good, and a nice addition to the rest of my meal. But again, I'm not sure this would be a destination for Mexican food per se, given the more authentic (or better-executed) options in the area. Eating here was fine, but this isn't exactly a place I'd come specifically to dine. Why I'd come here would be the beer! The tap list is about fifteen or so deep, definitely heavy on West Coast brews but with others like Dogfish Head or various Belgians scattered into the mix. Many pints were only $5, and I was able to order schooners of everything I wanted (my preferred size for maximizing variety). They list what's coming up for each tap, which is a nice little teaser and a feature I like to see at bars. I don't mind planning a near-future visit when I know something cool will be waiting for me. Our server was very friendly, prompt, and attentive, and it made for a nice relaxed lunch at just the right pace. Food is definitely a back seat to the beer (though not too far back - it's perfectly fine!), but with a great tap list and a lovely patio for summer, that's A-OK by me. read more

This place is going to be a hit. 12 tap handles, bottle selections, liquor and Mexican eats. Its got a nice warm interior feel with great wood work, a heated deck and a great lil patio. This is the first place in Seattle with that Portland outdoor patio vibe IMO. Sunny days at The Yard will be a hit. read more

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A strange combination of Mexican cafe and pseudo-Belgian beer bar, the Yard provides a needed outdoor patio to Northern Seattle. The beer selection is deep (as in stuff you might not find anywhere else, but only 10 or so selections), but not terribly varies (think: IPAs). The Mexican food is quite good (yes to the chips, yes if you like the tortas, stay away from Mexican salads, but I could probably say that about ALL Mexican restaurants). It can get dark and dreary on the inside, but it's cozy and tight, not the worst thing in a beer bar. PROs: Outdoor patio (thought why, WHY east-facing when you could have put it on the east side and protected it from street traffic too?) Beer obscure-ness Mexican food (chips are great) CONS: Breadth of beer selection (go to Naked City a block away if you want more choice) A little pricey read more

This has become one of our go-to spots this summer. Their gorgeous outdoor patio blooms with flowers and plants, the drinks are cool and yummy, the food is fresh and delicious. They make the chips fresh, and they aren't those sissy little crumbly tortilla chips. They come out hot and they are thick cut and delicious. Their guac and salsas are good too. We appreciate that dogs are allowed on the patio and that they have a vegan option (veggie tacos- but really good ones)! I've seen this place grow and improve and blossom. Looking forward to visiting this neighborhood haunt again soon. read more

I will go here over and over again for the beer selection alone. It helps that the decor, styling and wood trimmings are handsome, comfortable, making it a desirable place to lounge comfortably in a handsome setting. With such a well thought out beer and liquor selection, thoroughly rustic/woody decor I still have a question: What does any of this have to do with Mexican food?! The exclusively Mexican flavored menu paired with big IPAs, Belgian sours, craft ciders etc. is super confusing. Maybe they don't want to be like the alehouse's up and down the street, but I beg them to reconsider. Especially since said alehouses food offerings are are mediocre AT BEST. I would love to find contemporary pub fare that was delicious, seasonal and in my back yard. I'm glad The Yard Cafe isnt another burger flippery but there are already just as many taco joints as Greek in this cramped section of Greenwood. What about a Greek tacos or a enchilada gyro? That might be more exciting...if not crowd pleasing. Throw in a happy hour, or a sub $7 schooner and the Yard Cafe would have a 4th or even 5th star. read more

I love this place! The outdoor seating area is lovely. The food is amazing. I get either the adobada tacos or orange chipotle salad. The other tacos are awesome too. We always order extra habanero sauce too - it's not crazy hot but oh so good. You may think there could be nothing spectacular about the tortilla chips but you would be so wrong. They are so finely ground it seems like they are made with flour but not so - it makes the texture so unusual. They have an excellent selection of booze, ciders and beer. And right now they have an exquisite Sauvignon Blanc that makes me think being limited to white wines isn't so bad. Gotta get the name of that wine. read more

I don't think this place really is a 5-star place, but 4.5 and I'm rounding up. - Super friendly people that work there. - Great selection of beers - Very kind of "home-y" feel inside. Chickenwire fencing outside? Not so much. - But bonus points for having an outdoor seating section - Food here is very, very good. - Super bonus points for FRESH (while you wait) REAL tortilla chips.. you just don't see that much up here, though fairly common in SD - All the tacos are delicious, but the adobado was the best - Want to come back and try the seafood veracruz and the adobado torta All in all, a really solid place - looking forward to coming back and enjoying again.. read more

In my opinion, the food is great. They have unique dishes and I am pretty satisfied most of the time. Their service has been a little touch and go due to some new hires lately, but it looks like they have it sorted out. There are a few people who have been there a long time who are super nice. My marg was fantastic! I recommend the tap list or cocktails over the wine. Their wine pours can sometimes be a little short in my experience. WARNING ABOUT PARKING: The pot (Herbal Choice or something like that) establishment next door are crazy about their parking spaces and they will tow you if you park in their spots!!! They are not marked well at all and use a super shady towing company. Only park in the spots directly next to the Yard or go for street parking. My friend got towed even after the place was closed! I have also heard that the "workers" will come out and yell at you if you park in those spots. read more

I want to like this place more since it's so close to my home and because I LOVE the Dray (its sister bar in Ballard), but The Yard is just OK. Pros: --Good beer selection --Outdoor patio is wonderful and a great addition to the neighborhood --Indoors the space is also nice ... great attention to detail in the design, use of wood and metal, etc. Good atmosphere. Cons: --Food is overpriced and just ok (nothing bad, but nothing remarkable either) --Service is slow and inconsistent read more

Food is decent. Not bad. But not worth $60. We had a burger a chicken sandwich. Plus a beer and cocktail. So while I would come for the patio, get ready to shell out for it. read more

On my first night in Seattle, I stumbled, starving, into this wonderful little spot. Although I'm back in LA now, I couldn't help but want to leave some kind words for Kate, Foggerty, and Christie (sorry if I botched the spelling, you guys!). Thanks for making me feel so welcome, and for all of your helpful tips on moving to the area! Stay warm! read more

There's not a whole heck of a lot to this place, but it's got a warm, friendly vibe. Locals kept stopping by with their dogs to say hello, and my friend and I ended up spending the evening talking to a couple who live in the area. They've got the whole Northwest indoor-outdoor thing going with an uncovered patio with picnic tables and a fire pit, a covered, heated area, and an indoor bar. Best of all, the kitchen turns out amazing Mexican food. We had the sopes chile verde and the crab and shrimp stack with chips and both were fantastic. The beer selection was relatively small, but good, and while margaritas weren't on our agenda, they were getting rave reviews. I'll definitely be back! read more

I went for Happy Hour and really enjoyed the $5 menu. The staff was prompt but also gave you space to enjoy your time. I was in a group and we never felt rushed to leave, which is always pleasant. We basically ordered the whole happy hour menu and shared amongst ourselves. The food was liberally seasoned which I loved the bean dip could have had a little more to it, though. This would have 5 stars for me except when I walked in, I stood around trying to figure out if it was a seat yourself situation or not and nobody really noticed me looking clueless until I went to the bar. Could have been a better greeting but they make up for it. read more

Good spot. Good beer selection, but no other drink lists? Food was tasty, but damn, watch out for those pickles... they should come with a warning label. My lips are still burning. Mexican food is always a good choice... I have been to several new "Mexican" restaurants lately, and this pub actually has the best food of all of them. The heat lamps are a great idea, but didn't seem to work that well. The furniture is very much like an actual yard, but not all that comfortable really. They should take out the non-functional heat lamp in the middle of the "yard" and install a real fire pit. Yeyer. i forgot to ask if they allow dogs int he "yard" and if they do... they will earn a 5 star rating. No doubt. read more

Love the outdoor area- great even in the rain to people watch. Great hood, but yes, service is not the reason to go. They could at least smile and work a tip! read more

Great food. Cool atmosphere. Outdoor seating in summer. Service is spotty. Can be slow and sometimes not super welcoming. I go there often and I always warn people that the food is worth it, but that service is unpredictable. I would recommend that staff focus on being a little more friendly and quick to acknowledge new tables. Greenwood is a small neighborhood, and having a staff that treats customers like that will help bring them back. read more

I have only been here twice and I should be here a lot more. It is a pretty cool spot with good food and great beer. The first time I was here was during the summer time and I sat outside on a bench and enjoyed an IPA. The second time was in the fall and sat inside. I had Oskar Blues Ten Fidy and a Caesar salad, which both tasted great but didn't go great together. I thought the salad was amazing. Really good dressing, bits of tortilla chips on top,and the chicken was shredded. I also tried their chips and guac which were pretty good as well. They have a really good beer list with rotating taps. I also liked the ambiance of the place. If it is cold outside, you can actually sit by a bonfire and enjoy your beer. I also liked the cozy feel inside. I should really make an effort to come here more often. For America! Zipzap Zubidy Bop! read more

I come here every time I get my truck fixed the beer here the food the atmosphere the customer service is awesome outdoor seating is the best I love the picknit tables are dope I love this place if you hate beer and talking to strangers this place isn't for you , also dogs are allowed so are kids read more

The Yard Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Favorite spot on a sunny day!!! Homemade chips, tap selection always great. Steak sandwich today is amazing (see photo) :-) read more

The Yard Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here on Wednesday night around 10 and surprisingly there was a pretty good size crowd here. We ordered the tostados which were average but the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers were pretty tasty, especially if you like hot peppers. Pros: Bean Dip- The best I've ever had! Cons: Waiter seemed flustered, irritable, & impatient. I continued to smile to cheer him up & eventually his mood did a total 360. It's a local restaurant so I will definitely be back to try some other foods with hopes my server isn't a cranky one. read more

This place is okay. It has a very small indoor dining area, a covered deck, and open air picnic tables. The service was spotty and could have been more attentive. I had a carne asada tostada that was topped with lettuce, a lot of pico de gallo, crema and cotija. It was nothing to get excited about. The side of pickled veggies was tasty and the raspberry beer hit the spot. I'd imagine that this place would appeal to some people, but I didn't see anything that would make me want to return. read more

The Yard Cafe - Libation - Tacos Near Me - Seattle, Washington