This restaurant is a real crowd pleaser. El Quetzal is a Seattle must if visiting and a dietary staple if you live in the Seattle metropolitan area.
I have lived in five cities, four states, and two countries; these are easily the best fish tacos I have ever had. EVER. I'm convinced the kitchen staff is comprised entirely of immigrants from the Harry Potter universe because they have to be cooking with magic for the menu to be this good.
The drinks are beyond exceptional. After my first sip of my margarita I closed my eyes, and for a second, I swear I felt the warm shining Puerto Escondido sun. If you've never enjoyed a margarita so much that you were teleported through space and time to a beach in Mexico then you've clearly never been to El Quetzal.
First off, let me point out this establishment sets the standard for Mexican food in Seattle. Family operated. Authentic. Neighborhood feel. Service and quality above reproach. The bartenders are absolutely amazing in designing exotic drinks that simply describing them is palpable. Very few restaurants can serve a quality Mole sauce, however, El Quetzal delivers time and time again. Check out their happy hour and special events too. All in all, if you're looking for an amazing and dynamic experience, EQ is the place to go.
I’ve been twice so far and always receive a prompt greeting and prompt service. Charming, warm, and cozy inside. The food comes quickly and always very fresh and hot. Staff is kind and attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommend. The Camarones a la Diabla is incredibly delicious and the corona rita was great.
Amazing food and the service is great. Im from Arizona and this spot makes me feel like I'm back home. Authentic Mexican Food!
We were waiting for our table at another restaurant and went here to grab a quick bite. The vibe was so cozy in here. It’s a family run place. Our server was so energetic and sweet. We ordered chips and salsa, fried tortilla with pork and mango agua fresca. The service was quick. The mango drink was yummy and refreshing. It was a great respite on a hot day. The salsa was fresh and tangy. The tortilla was excellent. Will visit again for a full meal.
This place is awesome! The food is delicious and plated gorgeously, and the staff were super accommodating to our large group at lunch!
Seriously, the food was SO good! I was recently in Baja and didn't think I'd find food like what I'd enjoyed there in Seattle but I was wrong. I enjoyed the Huaraches with chorizo and noodles and a mango mojito. Both were fantastic choices! Will definitely try to come again!
Tasty food, laid back but great atmosphere. Live music (Friday) wasn’t too loud and could still have a conversation so it was purely additive. Would return and recommend if looking for a simple spot to grab casual drinks and some food with friends.
My husband and I found this place randomly, once we decided on what to have for dinner. Admittedly, I lived in Arizona for 18 years and never had Pozole. The Bartender helped with advice automatically, after noticing I was hesitating (and not knowing where to start). The food was all really great, service was perfect, and we loved all the unique choices and funny dish names! I noticed they never bugged us about another drink (I didn't want one) or more chips, which was a refreshing change from an americanized Mexican/Latino restaurant. Everyone was definitely working as a team, and I was able to re-appreciate the authenticity of everything, from how they all communicated in Spanish, to the (possibly manager?)'s delightfully thick accent. He was extremely knowledgeable about food, and also told us about the menu specials, hence my Pozole. The churros were FRESH BAKED, absolutely perfect for the hankerin I've been having for them. Definitely will come back!
Family managed restaurant. One feels welcomed and well taken care of. The food is good. On Friday's and Saturday's they got live music.
A modest interior, which gives you a clue that the food has got to be super good in order to keep drawing the crowds. This legit, Mexican has authentic food and a great selection of beer.
I enjoyed lunch here! My torta was a little dry for my liking but the staff was happy to accommodate my request for a chicken torta even though it isn't on the menu. It is a little odd that it didn't come with a side of any kind. I was quite happy with the chipotle salsa that came with chips to start, usually not a fan of chipotle but this one was tasty! The children's enchilada plate was the right portion for maybe 3-5 year olds. I think it's tacky to charge extra for things like more chips or a side of sour cream. On a more positive note, my mango agua fresca was delicious (a rare flavor to find) really refreshing and not overly sweet. Loved the chunks of mango inside. The service was friendly but sporadic.
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