What a great dining experience after a very disappointing experience at another local Mexican Restaurant. We popped in here late on Mother's Day Eve. Got seated immediately, and greeted very shortly thereafter. Tony / Antonio was not only our server but also our mixologist. The place was buzzing but not out of control, a good mellow vibe of people. We had the Chicken Tacos and the chicken enchiladas (with Beans & Rice). Wow, what great flavor and volume of food. We really enjoyed our meals, and plan to avoid the other place, and spend more time here. Thank you! read more

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We had chicken cheese quesadilla, chips, salsa, and guacamole, 3 different kind of tacos. The chips and salsa were Meh (4/10) Quesadilla 7/10 Chicken tacos 5/10 Beef and pork tacos 8/10 Service 3/10 took us 30 minutes to order food. We asked if they had any recommendations. "Everything's good" was not helpful at all. Most likely not coming back again. read more

I usually just get takeout from here but tonight I dined in with some family. The food was fantastic but unfortunately the service was absolutely awful. Our waitress (who did not give her name) was not very friendly or attentive. She even interrupted and skipped my family member as they were beginning to order and asked someone else for their order next. It made no sense and was strange. On top of that she just kind of gave a "I don't want to be here and I'm annoyed" vibe. After we got our bill we noticed that some of the charges were incorrect. A kids meal order was rung up wrong, charging extra money for meat even though it was included, and a kids drink was charged as an adult. We kindly tried to explain that she charged us incorrectly and if she could please fix it. She started explaining that we had ordered the kids burrito not taco, even though we definitely ordered, she definitely inputted, and we were most certainly delivered a kids taco. She then said that we needed to clearly specify that it was a kids lemonade even though it was clearly implied that the lemonade was for a child. I guess that's on us cause we didn't say "kids lemonade"? Like come on... She was not kind or helpful about the issue at all and refused to fix the bill. We left frustrated and discouraged to go back. Be ware of the bad service if you're looking to dine in. read more

Good food - I'd come back for the Al pastor tacos (I was surprised by the addition of bacon, hadn't had that combo before but I enjoyed it). They have a long cocktail menu but literally no alcohol free options/mocktails, so I got a tall orange juice for $4.50. The guac and chips were good but at $13 a little steeper than I'd usually be willing to pay, but we had a mystery gift card as part of a promotion, so we thought we'd splurge in case it was a large gift card - in other words, the marketing campaign worked on me! PS - the servers did their best but were SO understaffed on a rainy Sunday evening, so we tipped 20% even though everything was slow and we hardly saw any employees. read more

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It is rare I give one star. My wife and I were celebrating my nephew's recent 21st birthday with tacos and beers. We sat. We sat and waited. A couple got seated next to us 10 minutes later and ordered. I checked to see if the waiter would come to our table. As he takes two steps the other way I flag him down. We order food and drinks. I order tacos. He asked "do you want rice and beans?" It's probably something they ask often. I said yes. We wait.... We get our food and start to eat. After a while he asks if everything is ok. I said we are still waiting on our margarita, and beers for my nephew and me. He realized we didn't have drinks and calmly played it off and we got them. I finished my tacos and realized I'm still hungry. Oh. I DID NOT get my rice and beans. I told my wife I will just tell him to pack it up. This is where it got worse. I changed my mind, I didn't want to get charged for rice and beans because that would probably take another 15 minutes. I mentioned that HE asked me if I wanted rice and beans, I said YES and now just don't charge me. His response "I thought you said you didn't want them". I looked my wife and nephew and said, i don't thinks so. He says ok. I ask for the check and he immediately gives me the device. It says "Add rice and beans....". So either he doesn't take accountability and is the wrong profession OR he was hoping I didn't see. I hope he didn't expect 22% for my time, my hunger, and insulting me. -place had dirty tables at 6-8 PM on a Wednesday. - service is slow - Food is good, but not worth it - I used to love the place. I remember not going there for a while. Now I know why. - Caveat emptor read more

El 42 Cantina - My tacos with no rice and beans - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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Was very loud. The menu was limited did not expect it at all we had the avocado roll ups. I had the pork I did not realize that I would be street taco they just fell apart very hard to eat. The beans and rice was ok. No combo plates all the enchiladas were seafood? Very different won't be going back. They have a huge bar. Was way to loud for us we couldn't even hear each other read more

The problem is I ate some where previously that were better Mexican food. I did expect it. I ordered Mexican corn, the corn was old and the crema needed more flavors. The guacamole was good but green salsa was not, the red salsa was better because it has flavor and little spicy. The fried ice cream, I did not like ice cream flavor, the tortilla was okay. My friend did like her food. Inside the restaurant felt more like sport bar that served Mexican food. The service was good. There is parking behind the restaurant and street parking. read more

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Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Very busy place and small and a little loud. I sat at the bar. Seems they only have one bartender and she was focused the entire time on making drinks for tables. Bar patrons are really neglected. A bar back eventually gave me some water and asked what drink I would like. He also ended up taking my food order but clearly not a waiter. Everything I order he repeated back to completely random stuff on the menu. I little strange. I had the chicken mole tacos. Pricy for three tacos and you have order rice and beans extra for $4. Food tastes good but there is only one tortilla per taco instead of doubling up. Tortilla soaks through and falls apart. I would return on a week night to see if it was less busy. read more

El 42 Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

Crazy busy, loud and fun! The long table, where three young gentlemen were sitting, offered to share their table with us. Very sweet of them. The MUSHROOM TACOS are PHENOMINAL PEOPLE. OMG.... I am not joking. I am not a Vegan or Vegetarian! My hubby got the fabulous Chicken Tinga tacos... that were bursting with flavor and so good... but the sauce was so juicey that it made picking up the soft taco impossible. That was a bit of a disappointment. You had to eat that taco with a fork and the tortilla got mushy and soggy. The tortillas are the ONLY thing they don't make in house. I think they are delicious -- but maybe they need to be a be sturdier. I offered a mushroom taco to my husband, so I could try one of his chicken tinga tacos. He said, "No thank you." I said, "Are you sure. These will blow your mind! They are so good!" He said, "Nope. Thanks. I am happy with my Chicken!" I said, "You will regret not trying these. They are to die for. Better than steak!" He said, "No way. They are mushrooms!" I said, with my mouth stuffed with this amazing taco, "OMG, I am dying this is so good!" He caved. We traded tacos. His was very good. He said, "This is the best taco I ever had! I cannot believe this is a mushroom taco! Let's come back and I'm going to order these!" HAHAAAAAAAAA! It was a great night! The guacamole is spicy and is SO GOOD and the margaritas are simply divine. The service is no- nonsense, fast and zero fluff! It's serious deliciousness here! GO NOW! read more

I visited here on a Saturday evening on a whim. The food and drinks were great -- reasonably priced, good sizes/portions, all really delicious. I liked my enchiladas quite a bit but the prawn tacos were really excellent. The drinks were fresh, unique, and strong. The spicy guava margarita really did have some kick to it, so proceed with caution but it was really good. Kind and attentive staff, even though they were visibly slammed. Larger groups had to wait a bit for a table, but they moved through parties and cleared tables fairly quickly. I was able to snag two seats right away at the bar though. There were lots of screens around, all showing March Madness games (no Mariners for us sadly). Overall really good experience and we would come back! read more

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Best burger I've had around the Seattle area! El jefe! Great drinks as well, marg was great. Good service.

Hands down my favorite Mexican spot in Issaquah! I appreciate the full bar and the dim lighting. The Birria Tacos were delicious -- super tender, flavorful, cheesy, and addicting. I love ordering it with rice and beans. The Brownie with Horchata Ice Cream was so delightful and the perfect end to a great meal. Chocolatey, gooey, nutty, and not overwhelmingly sweet. I've always experienced great service when dining here. I highly recommend! read more

El 42 Cantina - Birria Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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Went here last Friday to have dinner with my friends and it was packed! Even though the staff was courteous and friendly. It was loud but not horrible and we were able to talk no problem. I ordered the Prime Rib Burrito, all I'm going to say is YUM!! read more

Not worth the price however, I do really like their drinks and their barría tacos. Probably the only 2 reasons I'd return! Staff could be friendlier and place was cute and clean inside. read more

We dropped in to try the Sunday brunch menu and we were glad we did. I had a house margarita and the breakfast burrito. My spouse had the chilaquiles with both red and green salsa. Both dishes were hearty (especially the potatoes!) and flavorful with a nice balance of spice and substance. We both had enough for a full meal worth of leftovers. The place must be just building their brunch crowd as there was only two tables other than us there. Nothing wrong with getting in and out quickly! read more

El 42 Cantina - Breakfast burrito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

So disappointed in 42 Cantina. Their food quality has worsened. We've been coming here for years for authentic Mexican food. Tonight was such a disappointment. Their arugula salad claimed to have roasted corn and cotiija. Corn was not roasted and what they call chimichurri steak was far from it. It appears it was brought up to the manager who simply just walked by our table to see who complained and when he realized we were Latinos (who grew up on this stuff) didn't offer to fix anything. So sad. Simply asking to serve what their menu says. We will have to find a new place for food Mexican food. Añejo Tequila Bar in Snoqualmie is growing their menu and their drinks are great! Cheers! read more

Best steak tacos that I have had in a really long time. In the future, I will come just for the tacos. (Rice and mole sauce were very sweet.) Establishment appears to be 21+ only based on sign on the door. So no kids. read more

El 42 Cantina - Chimichurri Steak Taco Plate (brunch menu) - phenomenal tacos but rice taste like it was cooked in ketchup (too sweet) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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Gosh stopped in for there burger, asked for medium and i ate half which was way over almost well done , when i mentioned it to the server he said ill let the chef know , service was poor and there was hardly anyone there yet ! kinda disappointed! read more

I really like El 42 Cantina. This is one of my favorite spots in Issaquah, as it serves delicious Mexican food, has lots and lots of options for tequila-base drinks and is 21+. What's not to like? Located in downtown Issaquah, El 41 Cantina is the same owner's as Jak's, so you know it's gonna be good. There is outdoor seating, but the space inside is pretty large, with lots of seating for groups. On Friday and Saturday nights, expect this place to be loud and lively. However, despite how busy it gets, employees always come by the table to check in and are super friendly. In my most recent visit, my friend and I grabbed dinner at El 42 Cantina on a Friday night, and we both had a great time. I ordered the taco salad with al pastor and the cilantro lime dressing, which was all fantastic! I love a good taco salad and this one was exceptional, with fresh spring mix, perfectly tender al pastor and all the usual toppings that make up a taco salad. And yes, it comes in the tortilla bowl that you can easily break off for some crunch for your salad. I would happily order this again and again. But if a taco salad isn't your thing, the menu features a lot of other dishes, with many different protein options. If you're looking to get some Mexican food and margaritas in Issaquah, look no further. El 41 Cantina is the best option. Food is fresh and delicious, drinks are plentiful and the atmosphere is adults only. Gotta love it. read more

El 42 Cantina - Taco Plate with Carne Asada and Chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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Review is for the bar only. I had already eaten so I was not hungry. But I was thirsty. On this Saturday afternoon the restaurant was quiet. I was immediately greeted with a "hello" from the super awesome friendly manager Mike. This spot has the margaritas! Nine margaritas on the menu, twelve specialty cocktails, Twenty tequilas! Wow. So many tequilas that I could not leave without trying one. The super friendly manager, Mike, offered a tasting, which is very dangerous so I chose the first choice he recommended. It was not on the menu but a tequila used for one of the various cocktails. Campo Azul, additive free organic Tequila Blanco. Super smooth. Really looking forward to coming back to try another margarita. The food coming out looked good. Enjoy life. SYOY! read more

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Great experience at this place! Love margarita and chips there . We are going there whenever we are in Issaquah read more

El 42 Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

Incredibly efficient, friendly and timely service. I order the shrimp and crab enchiladas and they were absolutely delicious.

Looked for a place to go for my birthday. El 42 looked like it fit the bill. Food was great, service was spot on, and my birthday cocktail was delicious. read more

I've been to El 42 Cantina twice and had a great experience each time. Like many of the restaurants on the street, El 42 was casual and cozy. Customer service has consistently been good. Friendly servers and timeliness of food and drinks. We got several orders of their steak nachos and quesadillas. The nachos plate was such a huge serving and had all the fixings. It took 5 of us to finish one. I tried the quesadilla with shredded beef. It was flavorful but a bit salty. The drinks were fantastic. I got a couple of cocktails including the guava margarita and habanero margarita. The habanero margarita had the perfect amount of spiciness to me, but I can see it being not for the faint of heart. I loved the guava margarita. The guava puree was sweet and well balanced. read more

Their food is fantastic! Starting with homemade chips and guacamole! All their street tacos are excellent!

Tasty tacos! Yep, nice to have this place nearby, and it's a step up from the gringo food place across the street. What is different? - more authentic tacos with higher quality ingredients and richer, more flavorful salsa - top shelf margarita and tequila offerings - gourmet appetizers and entrees The price tag is commensurate with the quality with dinner for two plus a drink each and an appetizer running $65 plus tip. Service was a tad delayed but not exceptionally so and the portions were excellent. For cheaper eats try El Riconsito but for a jazzed up dinner and attitude, it works. read more

El 42 Cantina - COCHINITA PIBIL tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

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I'm giving it three stars because I thought that the food was pretty darn good and the drinks were good. Service was good also. What I don't like is how I ordered guacamole for $13 and also got charged for chips and salsa for another seven dollars plus an extra salsa when I asked for one so my guacamole with chips ended up being $22 plus tax and tip. That's not right, what were they gonna serve the guac with if they weren't giving me chips to begin with? Also, if you read the bottom of the receipt, it says the tip percentages are based on the check prices AFTER tax. Tips are not supposed to be based on the price after tax. They are based on the price of the meal itself. And of course, I would've caught all of this had they printed out the receipt and delivered it to me instead of putting that little computer in front of my face with a total and a tip amount that you put your credit card in and then they print off your receipt afterwards. Hate those things. Not liking this at all, which means I would be very hesitant to go back. read more

El 42 Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

Best Mexican restaurant in Issaquah, hands down. Consistent with great food/drink. Quick and friendly service every time.

Always a favorite in Issaquah. Great food and drinks, good atmosphere and friendly staff!

We got seated quickly and was greeted at the Table by Zoey. Her positive energy and vibe was noticeable right away. The nachos for starter was amazing since it was huge which worked out for the 4 of us. Didn't get a chance to take pictures of the rest of the food but it was great. The steak was over cooked but they removed it from the bill which is always amazing when it comes to the service aspect. I have tons of respect for any restaurant when there is a genuine mistake and they own it. Great service and food! 5 stars! read more

El 42 Cantina - Huge nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington

THEY'RE BACK !!! Brought back their short rib burrito, burgers & taquitos !!! So happy they listened to their fans .. Service was always spot on, happy for them too.. Immediately back to one our top spots in Issaquah :-) read more

I want to start by saying each and every person I encountered here was really nice. I dealt with 3 separate employees, and they were genuinely kind. That said, the overall experience could have been much better, so let's chop it up! Some of the issues may appear minor to you, but they are all issues that bother me. It was a cold and rainy night, and we sat near the door. The draft was an absolute killer. I'd recommend limiting seating there to avoid this or to have some form of forced heat to compensate. The noise was off the chart, the women next to us were literally yelling, not because there were nut jobs, but because they had to in order to be heard over the roaring interior noise. This place needs to consider some form of noise dampening on the wall, ceiling of floor to limit reverberation, because it was borderline debilitating. Last was the slow service. When it takes 5 minutes for you to get water. Its clear people are not efficient. It also prevented us from ordering drinks, because why order drinks if you know getting a refill is going to be a hassle. We placed our order and since this was our first time here, we didn't know what to expect. Our server wasn't really a help, when we asked questions about items, he basically repeated what the menu said. We read, but we wanted more detail on preparation and seasoning. For anyone that has been to Mexico, you know food is a flavor explosion, I wouldn't assume the same is the case in Issaquah. We saw what appeared to be our meal about 10 minutes later on the kitchen ledge and we saw 3 employees shuffle it around grabbing and serving other meals. About 10 minutes later, ours was served and it was the same meal that had been sitting on the ledge for 10 minutes. It wasn't hot, it wasn't fresh and it wasn't appetizing. We were hungry, so we ate, but I'll be honest, It was an overpriced attempt of nouveau Mexican food. This is not a place that is going to attract Mexicans or Hispanics, because it's not authentic. It takes like Suburban white bread Mexican food. My guess is this place is a bar first, restaurant second. Also doesn't help that most people here are afraid of salt and spice. Had the food been hot, it would have been a different experience, but I saw and tasted enough to know my instincts about the overall flavor of this place was correct. I'll close by saying, I'm happy I didn't post this review last night, because I had a feeling I should wait and I'm glad I did. Food Poisoning is no joke and we got it. Either food was not handled well, or leaving it out and not serving it hot cause up to contamination. We tag teamed the restroom all night long. I can only speak for myself. But that was the only food I had yesterday outside of a Reeces cup and that Peanut Butter Goodness ain't ever turned my guts inside out. I should have paid more attention to reviews, many claim the quality of this place has declined and I can concur, it can only get better. read more

Giving this place 5 stars for the food, the service, and the ambiance. My fiancé and I stopped by for a quick date after work on a Wednesday evening. The place had plenty of available seating inside. Lots of people enjoying the weather and eating outside. The music wasn't too loud, the server was great! (Wish I would of gotten his name before I left to give him some kudos). I will say, I'm a Mexican woman from California. It's difficult at times to find a good Mexican food place. I was really surprised with everything we had. I had the chicken mole street tacos, they were so good! My fiancé had a short rib burrito, which was big and delicious. We also had chips and salsa and carne asada fries. The carne asada fries have the be the best I've ever tasted! They weren't oily, soggy, or lacking flavor. They use seasoned fries that are nice and crispy, the carne asada was so good, and the sauces they use + the cheese....it's my new favorite dish! I recommend stopping by and trying it out! read more

Amazing food and equally amazing Margaritas Got breakfast here Friday (starts at 12:00) WOW!!! Some of the best breakfast tacos and smashed potato's I've ever had!!! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Had a very good lunch here with my family. All the food was fresh and tasty. Mike was very helpful with steering us in the right direction food wise and checked in to make sure all was good once we were served. We are pretty picky put were very impressed with the quality. I had a steak Burrito that was very good, and we all enjoyed our meals. We will be going back. read more

Some of the best Mexican food I've had in a long time! We loved the chorizo taquitos, so flavorful and crispy. The guac was fresh and delicious too. That said, charging $7 for chips and a tiny side of salsa felt a little steep. And the service was painfully slow, especially considering it wasn't even a busy night, which was disappointing. Still, the food mostly made up for it. I'd come back, but I'd plan on having some extra patience and time! read more

this is a bar. no children allowed. its loud. the food is bar food, and not good Mexican food. do not go here for a restaurant experience unless you are drinking. read more

Visited on Cinco de Mayo. Plenty of people around but a minimal wait. The food is always great and no disappointment this time. The service is very friendly and adds to the experience. We will be back again soon. read more

Well, poop emoji, El 42 has gone downhill. While it's been on the expensive side, the food had always been top-notch. But today's order was very mediocre. PLEASE BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL, GREAT MENU. Previously, you could order tacos "street style," which had a separate container for the tacos. The tortillas were also corn. Today, they're not corn and are jammed in a single container with the rice and beans, which scrunches them together and makes it hard to pick up. Previously, you could order whole black beans and they were gloriously topped with a touch of freshly grated cheese. Now, the default is re-fried, and they're incredibly mediocre. Fish tacos don't have the snappiness they did previously. And no option for take-out margaritas. On the plus side, their salsa roja and guacamole are still tasty. read more

Their chips and salsa's are AMAZING. The chips are warm and perfectly crisp. Every single salsa is so flavorful, perfect texture, I could almost drink it because of how tasty it is. (Pico de gallo could be a slight bit better but I still liked it) My favorite sauce is their Juan Loco sauce, I've gone back to the restaurant just to order 3 extra sides of it so I can put it on all my food. At first I was skeptical about paying 50 cents for each salsa but I quickly understood why they charge for it. It's high quality and tastes homemade. Wish I could buy their salsa's in bulk just to keep at home. I've tried their steak burrito and thought it was yummy. I have yet to try more items but so far El 42 cantina has me wanting to come back a couple times a week. The vibe always looks fun outside when I pass by, it seems to be busiest on weekend nights. Friendly service, your tastebuds will be happy here! read more

El 42 Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Issaquah, Washington