I have had Bad Chancla bookmarked due to various awards and accolades mentioned in magazines, blogs, and IG. Good thing I happen to see via IG that they were having a neighborhood celebration for their 2nd year in business (6/7/26). After circling, I did manage to snag a parking spot at the end of the block. This popular hole in the wall is located on E Olive Way between a cannabis shop and a hair salon. Folks were already queued up or seated at the array of sidewalk tables and chairs. The vibe was festive and upbeat. I was mesmerized with the culinary dance that had three, including chef/owner Jose Garzon, cooking all the incoming orders for onsite eating or takeout in such a tight space. Reminded me of an efficiently laid out galley. I tried half of the Tio Dan Cono Glizzy. A grilled hot dog with cream cheese, caramelized onion, and picadillo beef. I also took home a can of Yonder cider for The Homie. I overheard that each hour there's other featured food. Fried rice was next up after the hot dogs. While waiting for my takeout order, it was great to just take in the vibe of the front counter and cooking area. No seating available, so I just walked back down Olive and savored the grilled Fake Ass Cuban. Think of a cubano using a trio of Hawaiian rolls generously filled with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. The grill press, makeshift plancha, created a flavorful, cheesy end result. Omg, that was delicious! Another Capitol Hill culinary gem. Wishing everyone at Bad Chancla continued success! read more

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[inglés] admittedly, i've been a garzón enjoyer for awhile. i first tried the latinx street food on ubereats a few months after i moved to seattle in 2022 and i was hooked. i even went on to try it irl at the black cat. at first, i was devastated when it was announced the black cat kitchen was closing... but then i was overjoyed when bad chancla was announced to be opening in capitol hill! a small counter service spot with big windows on olive way. easy to find as the outside is painted a bright hot pink to contrast with the cool colours of the reef -- the building it's attached to. big letters in the window read "not your abuela's cooking," accurate to chefs jose garzón's and stefanie hieber's modern takes on staple latin dishes. i initially tried bad chancla during the soft opening back in the spring of 2024, and i thought it was good then, but i was even more impressed during the grand opening later that year. i think the menu was tweaked a bit, going from great to amazing. i've been back multiple times since; during normal hours and even special events. one of the coolest events was topless tapas, where the restaurant created a fixed-course meal in collaboration with other local chefs. the tickets were extremely limited and the menus were all different every time. i was lucky to get into one of them and had a blast. the "fake ass" cuban sandwich, while again non-traditional, is close enough to remind me of my roots in miami. the picadillo bowl sends me every time. some dishes are swapped out seasonally; my favourite so far is the encocado de camarón. and, of course, i always can go for their fresh aguafrescas, which rotate weekly. bad chancla just hits. if you know, you know. --- [español] lo admito, llevo un tiempo siendo fan de garzón. probé latinx street food por primera vez en ubereats, unos meses después de mudarme a seattle en 2022, ¡y quedé enganchado! llegué a probarla en persona en el black cat. a la primera, estaba muy triste cuando se anunció que la cocina de black cat cerraría... pero luego estaba feliz cuando se anunció que bad chancla abriría en capitol hill. un pequeño local de servicio en mostrador y grandes ventanales, situado en olive way. es fácil de ver, porque su exterior está pintada de vibrante rosa fuerte contrastar con los colores fríos de the reef, el edificio al adjunto. unas letras grandes en el ventana lean "not your abuela's cooking" (esp: "no es la cocinada de tu abuela"), una afirmación que hace honor a las interpretaciones modernas de platos latinos tradicionales que son creados por los chefs josé garzón y stefanie hieber. probé bad chancla por primera vez durante la marcha blanca en la primavera de 2024; ya entonces me gustaba mucho, pero estaba más impresionado durante la gran inauguración más adelante ese mismo año. creo que cambiaban el menú un poquito, pasando de bueno a increíble. he regresado veces varias, tanto durante las horas normal o en eventos especiales. uno de los eventos más geniales fue "topless tapas" (esp: "tapas sin camisa" ... más o menos), cuando el restaurante creó un menú de pasos fijos en colaboración con otros chefs locales. las entradas eran sumamente limitadas y los menús cambiaban por completo en cada ocasión. tuve la suerte ir a solo vez y me lo pasé de maravilla. el cubano "fake-ass" (esp: "falso," pero... muy despectivo) -- otra vez, no es tradicional-- me recuerda a miami. el bowl de picadillo es perfecto. algunos platos cambian según la temporada; mi favorito hasta ahora es el encocado de camarón. y, por supuesto, siempre me encantan sus aguasfrescas, están rotando semanalmente. bad chancla es el uno. ya tu sabes. read more

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We stumbled across this place looking for gay bars and I'm so glad we did! The man behind the counter was super friendly and the shop felt very welcoming; overall just good vibes. We got the vegan picadillo with vegan chimichurri aioli and it was SO GOOD. Not spicy, lots of sauce and flavor, salsa criolla was excellent, and the food tasted very fresh and clean. 10/10, would eat again. read more

Bad Chancla - Picadillo - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped by right when they opened. Was a short walk from the lightrail. Was excited to see there was a place to lock my bike right outside. FYI- parking is very limited in the area. Staff were super friendly. There was limited indoor and outdoor seating. I would recommend taking your lunch to-go to Cal Anderson Park. Excited to see the excellent cleanliness rating. The sandwich was super tasty and flavorful. Also ordered a side of rice and beans. Would totally come back to try more things. read more

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A cute hole in the wall Latin restaurant in Cap hill! Not a lot of seating so I got food as takeout. Owner/chef was really friendly and super nice to talk to. I got the picadillo bowl and it was delicious! Super hearty meal and you can tell it was made with love. They do use a lot of MSG which will make you thirsty later, FYI. I tried their aqua fresca which is apple cider. They make it with real apples they get from a farm in Lynnwood and it tasted very fresh. read more

Bad Chancla - Picadillo Bowl - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went here for a quick bite on a nice day and there was only one other person there eating, it's a pretty small shop With like 4 stools inside for eating and a couple chairs outside as well. The guy working was very very nice and friendly, he even offered to cut up our sandwhich once he saw that we were sharing food. The Cubano was really good and I really liked the Hawaiian rolls with it. The quesadilla was alright but I didn't realize they got rid of the hot dogs with it and it was just alright, probably my bad for not realizing that. Overall I would go back! Agua Fresca was really good as well read more

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Idk what the other options even are but this place probably has the best cubano in cap hill. And they don't even claim that it's a real cubano. The first time i was there, it was a huge group and they were so accommodating trying to squeeze us all in there. And we had a great chat with the woman working there. I got a rice bowl that time but I like the cubano more. This time we got it for take out and ate while movie watching. Pat on the back for me because that was a great choice. read more

Bad Chancla - Pan Con Mechada and Fake Ass Cuban - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is a little hole in the wall that I'm SO glad we didn't pass up. The woman working the counter was super friendly and the food (we got a ropa vieja bowl) was incredible. Flavorful and fresh. Definitely recommend! read more

I walked in and felt the feeling of home set in! I ended up ordering 2 bowls immediately. One simply because of lunch and the other for leftovers as I had a feeling they were fully worthy. The Ropa Vieja Bowl was full of flavor at every bite! 100% worth the purchase. I was greeted with great conversation regarding my order and turned into general interest as my food was being prepared. A true gem worth making the trip for. read more

Bad Chancla - Interior - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tonight was my 2nd visit, and it was just as amazing as the 1st. I got a rice bowl 50 ropa vieja/50 picadillo with beans and it was absolutely delicious. I couldn't hear very well, but thank you Miguel/Niguel! read more

Bad Chancla - Rice bowl 50 picadillo/50 ropa vieja with beans - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We pass by this place all the time when trekking up and down Cap Hill, so we were excited to finally try. Incredibly warm and welcoming hospitality. It's a small little shop w/ very cute decor and a couple window seats. We ordered: Riki Taki - A relatively small sandwich that packs a great punch. I like the bread and how saucy the overall sandwich is. Rice Bowl w/ Ropa Vieja - The stewed beef roast was so juicy (you literally can see it glistening in the picture in all its glory). The bell peppers and onion topping added a great freshness to the bowl. I also couldn't get enough of the kidney beans. Wait for me rice bowl, I will be ordering you very soon! read more

Bad Chancla - Riki Taki - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Really cute vibes! There's a indoor/outdoor counter to sit at, but there were lots of people there for takeout. I got the ropa vieja bowl ($16), which came with rice and beans. It was really tasty. I also tried the Cuban sandwich ($13), which is made with 3 Hawaiian rolls. I wasn't as much of a fan of the Cuban sandwich - it was a little too sweet for my preference. read more

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Amazing food! Amazing energy! Amazing staff! Best Mom and Pop Mexican breakfast I know of on The Hill!

wow yes!!!! a hidden gem for real! finally got to try out bad chancla and it was awesome! the guy who took my order and im assuming the owner was so friendly, i told him it was my first time here and he kindly gave me a run down of the menu and recommendations! i had my sights set on the rice bowl with ropa vieja and picadillo ground beef! it was $16 but $2 extra to try both, but im glad i got to try both and even though it was nearly $20 it was A LOT of food.... definitely enough for 2 meals. the ropa vieja was kind of sweet and tangy with a bit of a kick, and ground beef was savory and not too salty! both were so saucy and the rice tasted so good drenched in the sauces. the beans were flavorful and the pickled (?) red onions and tomatoes added a nice fresh touch to the rice bowl. i particularly enjoyed the chimichurri aioli drizzled on top, it was so refreshing and just such a pleasant surprise on top of the already flavorful dish. i cant stop thinking about that aioli, im gonna order extra next time! a wonderful meal, it really is like a party in each bite. i will have to come back and try the sandwiches for sure! a few seats inside, and some stools/tables outside, definitely is more of a take out type vibe. read more

Bad Chancla - rice bowl with 50/50 ropa vieja and picadillo ground beef - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I appreciate that they have two different vegetarian entree options (though I wouldn't complain about more lol). The veggie riki taki was very tasty! We tried the agua fresca too, which was melon flavor. I've never had a melon agua fresca, so that was fun! My partner liked his quesadilla too. Really easy to just stop by and grab some take out! It's where the crepe/coffee place used to be under the big Cannabis shop. Very friendly servers too! read more

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This space is free of ego, classism and prejudice and makes you feel as welcome and at home as if you were a member of the family. I've been twice and both occasions, the food was impeccable but the service was even that much better. read more

Bad Chancla was great! It's a small restaurant with not a ton of seating (literally like maybe 6 seats), but that was fine with us since there was no one else in there. My partner ordered the fake ass cuban, and I got one of the breakfast bowl - can't remember the exact name but it was like Stef's breakfast bowl or something like that. I loved my bowl although I am a sucker for rice bowls! It had egg, saucy ground meat, and some additional sauce on top. It was definitely hefty, so I had half and saved the other half for breakfast the next day. My partner really liked the cuban! The only thing is he wished it was a tiny bit bigger. The one person working there (who I think was Stef) was super sweet and friendly! Overall, a great casual spot in cap hill! read more

Bad Chancla - Stef's breakfast bowl - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The worker was so sweet. Chairs are limited if you plan to eat inside on a busy day. I like the tang in the beans and there's a very very slight kick of spice. As for the sandwich it was pretty salty and one note. I do enjoy the bread they use though. Heard the fake ass Cuban is a popular sandwich so maybe try that one instead. And they have all day breakfast if you are in the mood. The stuffed Omelette-like menu item and spam bowl were their suggestions for breakfast read more

Was walking by and noticed this new spot in Capitol Hill. Grabbed a sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. I'm excited to try their rice bowl. Service was super nice and am really glad there is another grab and go spot so close to me. Parking can be a bit tricky on the street but super walkable in the neighborhood. They also serve brunch on weekends and all their offerings look great. read more

Bad Chancla - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Incredible! My partner and I split the rice bowl and the pan con mechada. Such an incredible flavor bomb!!! Thank you!!!

Beef bowl was the best lunch I've had in a while Service was great, she knew her products and was able to describe everything with ease getting me exactly what I wanted read more

Yes yes & yes! Puerto Rican from NY and was desperate for some PR flavor here. The food was delicious, savory, truly a treat to have in Seattle, finally! Chef was also friendly and engaging...unlike much of Seattle as well. Definitely returning. read more

I loved this place! The food is terrific. i got a ropa vieja rice bowl, and each of the different components have their own amazing flavor. Its delicious. And the staff was so kind and welcoming when I visited. Will return! read more

Bad Chancla - Ropa Vieja Rice Bowl - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very good takeout food, owner is nice & famous. Fun vibe. Bright colors. Good location.

Been meaning to try this place for awhile & stopped in quick today. Fast friendly service and my rice bowl was full of delicious flavor. I'll be back. read more

Great food, friendly service and really cute inside. I got the Un Chin bowl and added picadillo and it was the perfect amount of food for a light lunch. I also ordered a side of tostones on impulse and I was afraid they wouldn't be crispy by the time I got back to the office, but they were perfect. The food wasn't very spicy, so I'd probably ask for extra spicy next time, but the flavor was delicious. read more

Bad Chancla for breakfast or lunch! Highly recommend the food was absolutely amazing, the staff were down to earth and very professional / friendly! Service was quick as well, food was made from scratch! If you're staying in Seattle or even live here and haven't gone to bad chancla you must goooo! read more

Hits all the spicy, acid, fatty, and rich notes for me! Tiny space but big on flavor

The owner Jose was amazing, the food was like no other and a must try. The establishment has only been open for a few months and it looks unique,clean, and very welcoming. read more

Bad Chancla - Amazing food and real unique. The owner Jose was amazing and the establishment is very extraordinary. - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am a Miami born native. Went to eat here yesterday. It brought me right back home. Picadillo was delicious! I took the leftovers home and put a banana in it. The Ropa vieja was perfect. The seasonings and spices used made me feel like I was eating back at my Cuban friends grandmas house. Come check this place out, you will love it. The people that work here are super cool and down to earth too. I felt like I was visiting old friends. read more

very kind staff, chef miguel is a fantastic person to converse with. my favorite on the menu is the agua fresca!

One of my favorite spots for a laid-back Latino bite in Cap Hill! I'm all about their omelet dishes and bowls--good portions, super tasty. If you're around, you have to try the Stef's Breakfast Bowl, Ropa Vieja, or Huevos Con Weenies. So good read more

So me and my brother were at the end of our vacation and wanted to find a breakfast place in Seattle before we left for Oregon...so glad we found Bad Chancla!! The server was very friendly, and the weenie-quesadilla was amazing and filling!! The homemade salsa-crema is to die for (I actually bought some to-go), and I love that they play chill Seattle indie music that complements the vibe. If you have time, check this place out, it's definitely worth your while!!! read more

I love the food here! It's fantastic and the price points are good. I was super impressed with how fast it was. I highly recommend the rice bowl read more

Delicious and good vegan options. Super friendly as well. Got the rice bowl with vegan picadillo--flavors were very nicely balanced.

I was homesick and stopped in to see if I could get something that reminded me of home, and this place did it! The Ropa Vieja bowl was bomb AF! read more

i ordered thru doordash. the taste was good but they skimped pretty hard on the ingredients, namely the meat. idk, not sure it was worth $14. might try again some other time and hope for better read more

Bad Chancla - riki taki with barely any meat (it was that way throughout) - Latin American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Some of the best food I've had in Seattle. A 17 dollar rice bowl that is worthy every penny. Thank god.