This is for sure the spot in west Seattle for some authentic Mexican tacos! Great atmosphere and wonderful service.

Good Mexican restaurant in West Seattle Ordered carne asada specialty platter. Definitely big enough for two if you aren't crazy hungry Very authentic. Wife loved it Definitely expected more affordable pricing for location but the actual dish itself was nicely done. Would recommend if you are in the neighborhood and will go back again for another dish in the future to try more of their food. read more

El Catrin - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

El Catrin has become a favorite Mexican restaurant of ours for this part of Seattle. What grabbed our attention with it was that they serve Huitlacoche which I'd a corn fungus which is a delicacy in Mexico and Central America. It's something that is pretty rare to find with all of the Mexican restaurants I have been to El Catrin is the only one where it has been found. We had it on the side with rice, lettuce and tomato. The flavor for it is mushroom like with a sweet, savory, woody and smoky flavor that is corn like. It was very unique and delicious! In addition to that we got some totally awesome nachos which out of this world! We made a second trip back here and I got their Chile Relleno which totally blew me away! It was fabulous! The tortillas that came with it were simply marvelous! Steve got an excellent quesadilla! The wait may be a tad long but it's so worth waiting for. I really can't praise the food enough! We are located in Tacoma and El Catrin is in an unincorporated Seattle neighborhood and so the drive is at least half an hour on a good day but we wouldn't hesitate in making a trip up here just for this restaurant! I can't say that for many restaurants but I certainly would with El Catrin. Fresh, flavorful and a sheer delight we will be coming here with any opportunity we can seize! read more

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My new favorite Mexican restaurant! We ordered a bit of everything with the tacos, burrito mojado, and mulitas. Burrito mojado is literally the biggest and tastiest burrito I've had. We got the green sauce which was mild and not too spicy but great flavor. For meat the asada is the best choice and is flavorful and not grissly. Mulitas are like a quesadilla but with 2 small tortillas with carne asada, cheese, avocado inside. With nicely grilled tortilla and melted cheese mulitas are a must get. Tacos had great flavor, salsa and the tortillas had a nice chewy texture. The tacos come loaded with meat and toppings and 2-3 tacos are definitely sufficient. Only downside on the tacos were the al pastor tacos. Al pastor meat was dry and a bit chewy and we were happier with the other meat options. Overall though this place is my new favorite and I'm excited to go back and try many of the other options. Service was friendly and we ordered ahead online and took it home. Location was packed so we were happy that we did that ahead of time! Check it out read more

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I ordered the carne asada plate. It was incredible! The meat was juicy and tender with perfect seasoning. The grilled onions and jalepeno perfect. It was enough food thati dit it for a second meal. The have beer too, and a very nice atmosphere, and decor. A wall of leather couches made me very happy after a yoga class. read more

El Catrin - Carne Asada Plate - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Outstanding, glad I gave El Catrin a visit. Quesadillas con Carne - spot on. Arriba El Norte - didn't like this one as much, the Carne Asada meat was too tough and chewy. Quesabirria Combo - my favorite. Tender and juicy birria meat combined with melted cheese double wrapped in fried tortillas, served in a rich and savory broth. Is it a taco? Or a quesadilla? Who cares, I'll have another! Even talking about it now makes me want to go back for more! El Catrin has indoor and some outdoor seating, and plenty of street parking around. Nice and friendly staff (there were lots of dish names I hadn't heard of, but they were patient with describing each one). Overall just a great experience, definitely check them out! read more

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Very good Mexican spot in White Center. I have come here on 2 different occasions and have tried the enchilada huastecas, puerco en salsa verde, and various taco and sope options with lengua and carnitas. My favorite thing I have tried here is the enchilada huastecas and the skirt steak accompanying the rolled tortillas and salsa is just so flavorful. The puerco en salsa verde is also a solid option. Definitely want to come back in the near future! Plus the servers were really friendly and answered my questions very kindly. read more

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Hidden is the area of White Center is a small little cozy restaurant called El Catrin. You might drive by this place many times and never even thought twice about stopping in for dinner or lunch. The food reminds me of the flavors from the Mom and Pop places in So Cal. It is not a fancy place but I was here to eat and eat, I did. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. With an inviting dining room, homemade flavors, and friendly service this a definite find. read more

El Catrin - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I come here pretty frequently but today's service was really a challenge. The guy who was working wasn't the usual owner and he wasn't familiar with the menu so I struggled to place my order and had to use a kiosk that was malfunctioning. The food was fantastic as always but I really hope they can address service gaps when the owner is away which he should be able to do. It was also a little sad that all the chairs inside were on top of the tables and not available for dine in. I still enjoy this restaurant and their dishes remain phenomenal but the service was a total miss today. read more

I have been wanting to try this place for over a year and finally made it here yesterday for breakfast. SO GLAD I DID! Finally some GREAT Mexican food in Seattle with salsa that is actually spicy AF. I had the birria chilaquiles and these things were super spicy and they sure woke me up! Absolutely wonderful smoky flavor and perfectly cooked fried eggs on top of them. These were perfect chilaquiles in the sense that the chips were still crispy which is a lot of places don't get right. Often the chips are soggy but these were fantastic. My husband had the mole chilaquiles and man they were incredible - great flavor. The woman at the register was super friendly and made some great recommendations. I love the interior of this place. Cute, thoughtful with not too much but just enough to have personality because you are coming here for the food. Cannot wait to come back and try more on the menu. Tip: be sure to check the hours - they are open for breakfast/lunch and they close for a few hours in the afternoon before dinner service. read more

El Catrin - Birria chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow. Absolutely wow. This place has ~100 reviews and 5 stars for a reason. The employee that took our order and kind and knowledgeable. Great suggestions on menu. I had the sopes with 3 kinds of filling- nepalito, chorizo and carnitas. All were soooo sooo good. Hubs had carnitas guisado. He used to live in AZ and misses the bomb food- this made him feel nostalgic The fresh chips were sooo so good. We definitely will be back. Many many times. read more

El Catrin - hubs had the Guisado Puerco Verde The sopes I had were Nepalito, Chorizo and Carnitas. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super service! Huge portions, fair prices, wide variety of options and good food. Definitely a solid spot. Plenty of seating (indoor and outdoor) too. I got the 3 sopas with pollo, asada and chorizo. Sopas were a little thick but had good flavor overall. Also had to get a taco and the brisket was super tasty. The flan is OUT of this world, thick and creamy but still has bite. Definitely tasted some coconut in there too. Absolutely delicious and an incredible way to end a meal. read more

El Catrin - Sopes brisket taco - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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In a city overrun by Mexican eateries - both local and authentic and franchise-y and lazy - El Catrin truly stands out as a spot-on South of the border eatery. The cozy place, just off the main White Center artery - is family owned and operated, and the tradition of their recipes and cooking really shows. From their home made sweet masa tortillas to the slow roasted cochinita pibil, there's a lot of care and love that goes into these next-level dishes. The portions are gigantic and newly crafted specials appear on their chalkboard every day from salmon tacos one day to shrimp diablo the next. Their pozole is a warm, rich, ruddish bowl of comfort with thick slabs of pork that melt in your mouth. There's plenty of protein choices to fill those masa rich tacos, but the lengua (beef tongue) tacos might be the best we've ever had. So succulent was the meat - which in inferior hands can tough and fibrous. The burritos are also a must-eat. The size of a nerf football, this is plenty of food for two. Our favorite without a doubt is the rich carnitas. The carnitas accomplish the perfect double-play of being both succulent in the center with crunchy fried bits on the fringes. Packed with whole beans and crispy rice, this is a no-frills burrito that doesn't gringo up the experience with cheese or sauces or superfluous creams. Just delicious meat and a couple of bedfellows with tangy pickled red onions on the side to garnish as you see fit. The house made secret sauces - one slightly creamy green and one fiery red - are also a flavor trip unto themselves. The dining area is cozy and warm with low-fi Mexican music an atmosphere enhancer. Been there a half dozen times and, up until my last visit, the only complaint about the place was the lack of beer. Well, miracle of miracles, that problem has been solved as they finally got a booze license at the beginning of 2024. So no better way to wash down their hot and homey meals than with an ice cold Modelo. Plenty of free street parking. Can't speak highly enough of El Catrin. read more

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I don't know what took me so long to come to El Catrin- it's crazy delicious. Everything tastes fresh and has great flavor. The employees are kind and the service is consistent. What an excellent neighborhood spot! read more

First time eating here, I never write reviews and I don't know if I came at an off night but the food was poorly prepared, it took more than 30 mins for my food to come out (and other patrons too). The service was poor, they gave the wrong order to other people and myself, and didn't even put up or offered salsas, and it's a shame cause I'm Mexican and was looking for some good tacos and I thought this place was higher rated than other taco spots in the area. For the $33 bucks that I paid, I guess I expected a bit more than food truck quality food. read more

This was an amazing find and such a treat! Was one of the best meals I had in Seattle and better than most Mexican restaurants in California. The service was friendly and helpful, and the food was drool inducing. We had tacos de asada, enchiladas huastecas, and militias. One friend loved the tacos de asada and said that the meat was cooked perfectly with the right amount of caramelized fat on the meat. The other had the militias. She said it was good: she found the corn tortilla too thick, but cooked well. I had the enchiladas. I was so sad I did not have enough room for all the tortillas. Everything was cooked perfectly and seasoned beautifully. I inhaled this meal, along with horchata. The horchata came in a large soda cup, so unfortunately couldn't finish that either, but it was perfectly seasoned. An amazing find and will be back next time I'm in Seattle. read more

El Catrin - Enchiladas Huastecas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food has some heart and love at El Catrin! We came in the late afternoon and they were having a brisk business were we got the last table as they were at 50% occupancy during the COVID-19 restrictions. The ambiance is a bit cold and during the colder months as it is today you need to be jacketed up. But, the staff is warm and hospitable really striving to make you have a great experience. Everything is ordered at the order counter where you can look over a chalk blackboard wall at the entrees. They have soft drinks, water; but no beer or margaritas. I found the prices to be on the higher side of my expectations and there's no free chips and salsa. I got the chili rellenos that came with black beans, Spanish rice and a small salad. My wife got the plato de cecina that was similar to carne asada with a more tougher cut of meat not grilled outside. It came with pinto beans & sliced hot dog, salad + guac, grilled jalapeno and Spanish rice. Also, came with some corn tortillas. All the food was authentic home cooked Mexican meal & tasted fantastic. We cleaned our plates and carried home a bit of the steak my wife didn't finish. read more

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Okay, this is first impressions but my oh my, this is goooood food. Had the Mojado burrito with carnitas. The carnitas was oh so juicy with that little bit of fried crunchy texture that makes it such a wonder. The rice was cooked to perfection, not the soggy excuse that some burritos have. And the verde sauce is top notch. Doesn't overpower the other flavors although there's plenty on the plate if you'd like it to do so. Ordered takeout since I live close by. Interior appeared clean, plenty of seating. Service was great! We'll be back to try a lot more soon, I'm sure. read more

I have been a fan of the burritos here but after being disappointed several times, I'm throwing in the towel. I got 2 types of meat and hardly found any meat in my burrito. It was more of a vegan burrito with rice and beans. The last time the meat seemed old and crunchy. Time to find a new place. Farewell and Goodluck read more

Another gem in the White Center neighborhood. You cannot go wrong with this menu! I typically come here for brunch and love their chilaquiles, mulitas, tacos, diablo shrimp, yum. The staff here is also so nice and the owners truly put their heart into the food they put out. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving Mexican food and want a place to sit in! read more

Best torts in Seattle that I've found. Food is always ready in a reasonable amount of time. Friendly service.

Randomly stumbled upon this gem and so glad we did! Their food is the best Mexican food I've had in the states. We ordered the birria plate, sopes (chicken, chorizo & nopales) as well as the buñuelos for dessert. The sopes were perfect just like the way they cook their nopalitos: tender but still have a little crunch. Every bite was absolutely delicious! Definitely adding this place to the list of local favorites! read more

El Catrin - Birria plate & sopes - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It's been a year now and we go to El Catrin almost every time we meet with family and friends to see Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery - (a really cool Chicano gallery within walking distance where my sister and I sometimes show our art). Literally every dish, drink, desert, whatever we've tried at El Catrin is incredible and presented with care. The vibe is very warm, festive and relaxed and the team is bilingual so no worries si solamente habla ingles o espanol! (El Catrin has even passed "the mom test" with my mom saying she'll bring the extended family here when they visit! I was so glad to find a place that meets her standards and that she could proudly bring the rest of our Chicano family to! (A place that everyone likes is hard to find in Seattle! Haha)) Attached are a few items from a recent visit, the nachos are crazy good, the flan is crazy good, you really can't go wrong. Even the sides, the beans and rice are really good and flavorful - come check it out! read more

El Catrin is a hidden gem for delicious and authentic Mexican food! This is a small, family owned and operated business in White Center. "El Catrin" means "The Gentleman" in Spanish and their logo is a drawing of the owner's father. The restaurant is on a side street and really easy to get to. They have a small parking lot, but there is also plenty of free street parking available. They are open during COVID-19 for dine in or takeout. I ordered three tacos (Asada - steak, Pollo - chicken, and Carnitas - pork). Each one came with cilantro, onion, and tons of meat! My husband went for the Huastecas, which is the "King of Enchiladas". It includes three cheese enchiladas with chile piquin sauce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and is served with black beans and cecina (steak). We both really enjoyed our food and would order the same thing again! To drink, I had a Topo-Chico (sparkling water) and my husband had a Horchata. I had a great experience here and would definitely recommend it. Plus, the lady at the register was extremely nice and helped us decide what to order. She also brought our food to our table when it was ready. read more

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It's a family owned restaurant. Super busy when I came in on a Saturday evening. Friendly staff. The food was decent at least for my liking of Mexican food. I prefer different flavors but that's just me. Big portions though! No photos of items on menu so look online if you're a visual person! read more

Flavors are on point. Unique items that can't be found elsewhere in greater seattle area. I'd go back. read more

El Catrin - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I LOVE this family owned and operated gem in White Center. They serve up some of the best tacos and mulitas you'll ever have. They use very fresh ingredients and the quality and presentation is always immaculate. It's located in the heart of White Center. They offer dine in and take out with free parking spots on the side of their building and plenty of free street parking directly in front. read more

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Wow! After all the glowing reviews for this place, I expected a great meal. Consistently rated 5 stars! We were the first customers to arrive and by the time our orders arrived, the place was getting full. Says a lot about its reputation. I usually really like this kind of place, small and family run. You want them to succeed. I ordered the Huasteca and enchiladas. My friend got a type of nachos with pork adobo. Both were quite large portions. The meat on his nachos, however, was cold and somewhat chewy. The totopos were soggy. My enchiladas were basically folded tortillas, cheese?, and tough as leather. The steak was okay, but tasted like it was close to its expiration date. I don't want to accuse them of anything though. Neither of us finished our meals. Nice people running the place. I wish them well, but I won't be going back. read more

First time dinning here. We ordered horchatas, the trout, and birria plate. It took about 20 minutes for our food to come out because of the trout. We didn't mind the short wait, and the food was excellent. The trout was crispy. The salad was tangy and spicy. Even the rice and bean was amazing. The birria was very tasty. Everything was delicious! The staffs were courteous and friendly. This place definitely deserves their five stars rating. First time dinning here. We ordered horchatas, the trout, and birria plate. It took about 20 minutes for our food to come out because of the trout. We didn't mind the short wait, and the food was excellent. The trout was crispy. The salad was tangy and spicy. Even the rice and bean was amazing. The birria was very tasty. Everything was delicious! The staffs were courteous and friendly. This place definitely deserves their five stars rating. read more

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Authentic Mexican food! I'd recommend any of the soups, pozole is my favorite. Carne Asada is thin, not dry and flavorful with a char grilled taste , It comes with rice and beans. I can't speak on the ambience as I've done pick up orders. It's my go to for Mexican food in West Seattle. It's not a tequila bar or one of those Lively loud places to sit in on. Highly recommend if you need your Mexican food fix. read more

El Catrin - Pozole - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing food. Amazing service. Wish they had a full bar to complete the sit down experience. But sounds like they're waiting a permit though so that's exciting!! But the food here is actually good so you don't need to drink for it to be edible Discovered this place on Grubhub and SO glad I did. The best enchiladas (taste just like mi mami's), the best carnita tacos omg. Especially with their guac. Omfg. The pozole and quesabirrias have been the only items here that weren't my fave but was still fire, meat was good. Hominy in the pozole had been soaking in the hot broth too long and were a bit mushy when eating. Not enough to stop me though! Just wish they served it with Repollo (cabbage) instead of lettuce. The quesabirrias didn't have enough cheese (I had to open and check for the cheese), and too much consome added when cooking made tortillas fall apart soft and not so crunchy the way I like. And all super affordable! (Hope me saying that doesn't up the prices ) I LOVE THIS PLACE and eat here almost weekly if not more! Wish they were open a little later! Also wish they would add ALL their items and sides to the online menus (Grubhub for me) and that they served horchata (if they do, it's just missing from the online menu). read more

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This is my second pilgrimage to El Catrin. I ordered mulitas with carnitas. The carnitas had been crisped up yielding a great Maillard reaction. Crispy, tender, and so porky! The housemade salsa verde and roja were just the right topping - spicy but not too spicy. I'll be back for sure! read more

El Catrin - Mulitas - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Best Breakfast Burritos in West Seattle! Jared and team are incredibly kind and the food is tasty and reasonably priced. read more

I have been to El Catrin numerous times in the past 3 years and the experience has always been fabulous. I feel bad that I did not write this review sooner, knowing how hard it is to keep a restaurant going when it provides such high-quality food. While the location might make you think it's not a good choice, once you get inside the ambiance is great and the service is very friendly and accommodating. I have taken my son, daughter and wife there on different occasions when visiting Seattle. I am from Miami and we have a lot of Mexican restaurants but none can compare to the great food offered by El Catrin. The food is truly unique and not just cooky cutter Mexican fare. You will not be disappointed. read more

Food made me sick and the place was dirty l didn't even get to eat in peace because the waiters were screaming

I ordered uber eats from here and i am not impressed. I ordered the quesadilla de huitlacoche and the quesadilla was ok but I was not a fan of the mushroom truffle on top. Maybe that was my bad and not my thing, they were kind of sour and mushy, didn't seem to really go with the dish. I was mostly pissed by the sides, they charge you $4 a piece for rice and beans and they are tiny, maybe about 4 ounces although the guy we called insisted it was 8. Plus the frijoles aren't even the traditional kind, they are black beans which they are incredibly gross and bland and I have no idea what kind of rice they gave. It was hands down the worst Mexican rice I've ever eaten, rice a roni is much better. So $8 down the drain for the worst rice and beans I've ever eaten. I will never order from here again. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised - the price is very affordable and the food is delicious! I usually visit the taco trucks nearby but the price here (in a restaurant) is cheaper than the food trucks - like a taco for as low as $1.80?! Sign me up! I will go here for my food from now on. They have a great variety of items and cuts of beef. I enjoyed the asada and beef cheeks. The cheeks were gelatinous and crispy! We also got the rice and beans. The rice had quite more seasoning than I have had previously so it was interesting but flavorful. The salsas were a must and they gave us so many. Next time I come, I want to try the chips + salsa (every table had some when we went) and different cuts like tripas and lengua. They also had breakfast burritos! Can't wait to go again. read more

El Catrin - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love you guys and your food, but please keep your open times. Came by Saturday at 5:45pm and the place is closed. This happens so frequently I'm reluctant to drive down there anymore. I fear this will be El Catrin's undoing, which would be shame. read more

El Catrin - Alambra, and Chorizo Tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A gem in white center! I had no idea this place existed until recently, but now I'm hooked! Good food at an amazing value. My friends and I ordered everything you see in the picture for around $30. The tacos are under $2 which is so rare now a days. Highly recommend if you're trying to eat good on a budget! Going back to try the breakfast burrito soon! read more

El Catrin - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Really amazing tacos, definitely worth a stop! El Catrin serves a wide variety of mexican food, but we decided to go with the tacos which were about 4$ each. The tacos were flavorful and beautifully plated. I enjoyed the lengua and shrimp the most. The tortillas tasted homemade and it took about 10 minutes from ordering to getting the food. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. They have a water station and plenty of parking in the front (either side parking lot or front street parking). Also, note that the restaurant closes on the earlier side at 8pm. I would love to go back in the future and try their other dishes! read more