Red lighting, fast service, reasonable price, great sauces, huge but average tasting portions read more

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Mitch was incredible! He was so generous that my friend from out of town wants to come back

GREAT VIEW OF ALKI BEACH FROM THE PATIO This is a Mexican restaurant, although I think it may be more Tex-Mex than authentic Mexican. Being from Los Angeles (For most of my life anyway), I know how to rate Mexican fare. This was pretty average, although I can say the queso was exceptional, real thick hot, homemade queso. You have to eat it fast, though, because once it cools down, it turns almost solid! The Guacamole was also fresh and tasty. It was mild and not too spicy. Not so for the salsa. Watery and virtually tasteless, I am sorry to say. I had beef tacos, and my wife had fish tacos. Both were OK but not exceptional. And for those reasons, I am awarding four stars. BTW, if you enjoyed my review or found it useful, funny, or cool, please don't hesitate to click the little button to say so, or better yet, go ahead and friend me. So go on! Press that button, and never miss one of my epic reviews in the Seattle area and beyond. Excelsior! read more

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They short pour drinks. And give u low grade tequila and charge u premium prices. Sent first round back and came back with worse drinks by design. Avoid. tacos were great btw read more

We went for a walk on Alki Ave one day last week and saw this outdoor dining at this place from across the street and decided to check it out. We were in luck and got a table outdoors in about 10 mins. Each table is next to a heater which makes sitting outside comfortable in winter. We started with Poppers and a Mango Margarita. We then got Pork Carnitas Quesadilla, and Chicken Tinga Enchilada (replaced black beans with spanish rice). We loved the poppers, was a little messy to eat adding to our enjoyment of it. All our other items were good, my margarita was over too quickly. read more

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It was a little later on a Sunday so I was so thankful they where open till 11pm. Jamie the bartender was so welcoming we sat at the bar. Which was awesome, spacious and they have lots of hot sauces ready to be used. We got Carne Asada Nachos which were fantastic. The gentlemen that dropped them off, was very nice. They have vegan cheese option which is nice for dairy free friends. My friend got the enchiladas dairy free and carne asada. She loved them. I got a Al pastor small burrito, they have a large option. It was so yummy. I also got a Margarita with tahini salt loved it had to have another. read more

El Chupacabra - 2 Enchilada Plate, Carne Asada with Vegan cheese and Gluten free. My friend loved these - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It wasn't that busy. It's been interesting watching an overwhelmed bartender ignore so many customers. read more

El Chupacabra - The empty drinks have been sitting in front of 4 guests for over 10 mins. Not even an acknowledgement from the bartender. - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Such a cute fun place at alki beach! I can't wait to be back! For a small, dive bar kinda Mexican spot, this place had fantastic service! I absolutely loved our server, erin! She checked in on us several times through out our meal! We had the jalapeño margarita- delicious For appt we got chips salsa and guacamole We got the sauces and the rojo (might spell it wrong) was amazing! Spicy but hit the spot We got soft tacos and chicken chimichanga for main course We got fried jalapeños with food that was perfectly done Over all we had Sucha fabulous time that I can't wait to be back! My most favorite part about our evening was our server! The food and drinks being great was a bonus! Location is perfect and the price point on everything was incredible! Biggest bang for you buck at alki! read more

El Chupacabra - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've had takeout a few times, and it's a solid 3.5/5 stars. But I recently had the pleasure of dining in, and WOW what a difference that makes. First, the food. It's fine and good in takeout, but really delicious when it's fresh out of the kitchen. I got the vegan beef burrito with vegan cheese and vegan sour cream. Be sure to keep it wrapped in the foil because the filling will burst out of the not-quite-big-enough tortilla. SO TASTY. My partner got the vegan green chicken chimichanga with rice and beans. AHHHMAZING. Finally, we got chips and salsa which was yummy and a good level of spice. It was annoying to pay for salsa, but we're from Texas so it's a different ball game down there. They did bring out a house made trio of hot sauces which were all 3 pretty yummy. Second, the drinks. My partner got a Ranier so can't go wrong there. I got a white sangria which was adorably garnished and satisfactory. Not lip smacking delicious, but hit the spot that day. Finally, the VIEW people!!! Holy guacamole. Pics speak for themselves. I hope to go back for their upper bar sometime for even better views. The inside couldn't be more dive bar-y, but it absolutely fits the personality of the restaurant. read more

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It's not the best vegan food i've ever had, but something about it keeps me coming back. My wife tried the vegan enchiladas and was obsessed. Over a year later and she's bringing it up, haha. I very much enjoy the tacos. The vegan meat isn't house made which is disappointing, but I suppose that is bc they are not actually a vegan restaurant. The vibe is very dive bar and I love that aspect. Affordable and a good beer selection. Just wish they were more dog friendly. Service is good. read more

We get take out from El Chupacabra often but decided to do Mother's Day dinner on the sun down on Alki. New server, Amanda, was fantastic with our group of nine and the drinks and food were delicious. Such a gem in West Seattle! read more

Tasty, dive-y, nice staff. It would be helpful if there were signage letting customers know that there is food available in the bar with a select menu, and that you need to be added to the hostess' list for a table downstairs if you want to move down. (asking waitstaff to let you know when a table opens up doesn't fit into their workflow and the guy checking IDs doesn't seem to be tasked with sharing any information.) Y'all are often super busy and the staff handles it great, there's just some additional info that would have been appreciated. read more

The service was so bad, I understand that it's hard to serve people outside, but no matter what the waiter or servant should not give people attitude. It was hard to hear each others and instead he was getting mad and yelling at us. They were so rude and not willing to help at all. I had guest from California and I was so embarrassed to bring them over all the way from Bellevue where I could get a much better service and respect. For sure my last time as well. read more

El Chupacabra - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

El Chupacabra is a cool spot to enjoy great Mexican cuisine. The servers are very friendly and I love the location!

The atmosphere okay, and food was edible. It wasn't as we expected, but stayed to order anyway. Service, from what we recall was good. We had a good banter with the server. Overall, it was just an okay experience for us. I don't know that we'd seek it out to go back. read more

Went to Alki beach for the day and this was a perfect spot to watch the sunset. We got the house margs with chips and guac. Pretty standard stuff for a mexican restaurant, nothing out of this world. I ordered a wet burrito with al pastor and red sauce and it hit the spot. I got a small and this size was plenty of food. Inside has a super cool grungy, dive bar feel. They have some outdoor seating but do not allow dogs on the patio. Service was great. Overall, the location was great and we loved sitting outside watching the water. read more

El Chupacabra - al pastor wet burrito with red sauce - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friend has been talking up El Chupacabra, so I was stoked to finally go with her. I was impressed by the ability to make almost the entire menu vegetarian or vegan, with four different meat options. You can also pay a little extra to get vegan cheese. If you aren't familiar, the vegan cheese is very obviously not real cheese, but a good substitute for sure. The meat, though, you probably wouldn't know if you didn't know. I was very happy with the enchiladas. I got one with mock green chicken and one with mock steak, and I honestly couldn't decide which was better. The rice was also surprisingly tasty, as were the chips & salsa. I'd definitely go back to try out some of the rest of the menu. (Sorry about the poor photo. The lighting is set much more for the mood than for photos.) read more

El Chupacabra - 2 Enchilada Plate - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We have loved their Greenwood location so it was great to see them at Alki. The nachos with carne asada were delicious. We also had a cheese enchilada and a few plates of tacos. Friendly, fast service and a beautiful sunset, perfect vibes read more

We were here for dinner on a Friday. They have seating outside and are careful maintaining distance and cleaning. Outside seating is heated. We ordered the chicken enchiladas and the tachos. It was good. Overall, Safety: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 read more

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The colder weather is upon us so I couldn't recommend Pozole soup more. You can add hot sauce and a squeeze of lime (which is provided) It's really delicious! I'm yet to try other things from the menu but the pozole soup seems to be the one thing I crave from here. read more

El Chupacabra - Posole Soup - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The good: it's cheap, the drinks are good, the view is great, staff are friendly. The bad: I am sensitive to mold, and Chupacabra reeks of mold, even out on the patio. We went there twice a week apart, and both times the mold smell was so bad, so it wasn't a one-time anomaly. As far as I could tell, the mold smell was mostly from our water glasses and our waitress (We had the same waitress both times, and both times an intense mold smell. Maybe because she washes her hands or uniform in their moldy water? I don't think she's, like, a dirty person). The food didn't smell or taste like mold but the general moldy atmosphere is unbearable. They need a serious look at their pipes/dishwasher and maybe a good bleaching of the space. Unfortunately, not planning to go back, which is sad because it's got a lot going for it if it wasn't so mold-smelling. Sorry Chupacabra! read more

3 stars because decor and ambiance is great, as well as service. But food-wise I was a bit disappointed. The salsa for the chips was not what I expected. Being a Mexican restaurant I would think they have bomb salsa, but the salsa seemed like the store bought ones. I had the shrimp tacos and they were ok. My husband got al pastor burrito which tasted bland. read more

El Chupacabra - Shrimp tacos - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Where do I start... first we ordered chips and salsa with queso, which were great..but that's where the good food ends. I ordered a mojito - a basic drink for a Mexican restaurant - and the drink was so bitter I could only take two sips before pushing it to the side and sticking with my water. I then ordered the carne asada wet burrito. They seemed to forget about the wet part of the burrito as I barely had any green sauce over it. To top it off the green sauce tasted extremely minty, almost as if they put the extra mint meant for my mojito in the sauce. The meat inside the burrito was unseasoned, just like the rest of the components. Overall disappointing experience saved only by our extremely friendly waitress. Customer service is 5 star...unfortunately the food and drinks brought El Chupacabra down to 2. read more

Would definitely recommend this restaurant located right across from Alki beach! Super friendly service from staff that was very knowledgeable of the menu. The ambiance was relaxed and everyone made you feel like family. I would definitely go for the fish burrito, it was absolutely delicious! Just be warned the large burrito is big enough for 2 I have discovered. They definitely like to feed you! read more

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I was so shocked to find a Mexican place with clearly labeled vegan options that still felt like the Mexican food I've always loved. They have vegan refried beans!! And cheese and sour cream! It was so nice to actually be able to eat a cheesy, delicious enchilada. The chips and salsa were also fantastic, and the beach vibes were excellent. The food came out super quickly and our server was very friendly. Can't wait to come back the next time I'm in West Seattle! read more

My friend and I enjoyed the patio and the cool breeze off of the water. The interior is dark and loud. The server was helpful, and we received our food in an ample amount of time. The salsa is one of the best I've had with chips in a while. The shrimp tacos were well balanced. We shared a pichter of mimosa, which was a carafe, not a typical beer pitcher. All in all we had a good experience. read more

I work in the Customer service industry and the service I got here tonight was insane. I WAS enjoying my meal with my man and we asked for the check he only had bigger bills and 2 20s so we paid with the 2 20s and we're sitting still eating. We got back $1 change and like I said still we're eating. The waitress named Katie M felt entitled enough to come up to us and ask with a demeaning attitude if she had done anything wrong and could have gave us better service and said normally when people only leave a $1 they've had bad service. For 1 we weren't even done with our meal. 2 I had a ton of smaller bills in my purse and was gonna put more money down before we walked away cause he always pays and I always tip. 3 she blew that opportunity for herself by throwing some sort of adult temper tantrum. We USED to come here often but if Katie's working make sure you put your tip down before you order read more

Great location to enjoy the sunset on the patio or a drink while you walk around the area. read more

El Chupacabra - House margarita by beautiful Alki Beach. - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Purely based on the food. The tacos didn't knock it put of the ball park. The server was on point about checking in though.

IFKYK-Mexican food in Seattle is dicey (why do Cali transplants get our hopes up for nothing) , vegan Mexican food even dicier. El Chubracabra is my favorite Mexican spot to take my beloved carnivore friends so we can all have options & be happy. First off the variety is amazing- each salsa is unique & fun to layer, the drinks are delightfully stiff while still being tasty, fried jalapeños offered is always a good sign, a wide variety of hot sauces are offered, and the waiters & cook staff are incredibly flexible, kindly modifying most dishes. For the vegans/ vegetarians- try the veggie steak enchiladas Christmas style (rojo & verde). You can tell everyone loves & cares about what they do here so please treat them kindly! read more

Take out is where it's out these days. So happy to see Jen, my favorite bartender! The Carne Asada tacos were as good as they've ever been!! It's been a long two months with a few more weeks in May ahead of us. But my spirits were renewed when I found their food as good as always and a chance to sit in the sun on Alki beach. Can't ask for more than that! read more

El Chupacabra - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The restaurant was really clean and had precautions in place for COVID. The tables were spaced out. We had ordered veggie tacos which had 3 tacos. The servers were attentive. read more

I'm a sad Californian as, since moving here... I haven't been able to find any good Mexican places. I've tried restaurants and trucks alike, but El Chupacabra has been the best Mexican food I've had so far. I'm from San Diego, and this is coming from a person who would visit Mexico twice a month for like ten years. I sat at the bar, as I admired the cool and interesting mix of decor. The lighting inside is all red and has a lounge feel. Everything feels very close and cozy. My bartender was very kind and got me a Midori sour and it's the best thing I've consumed, as I do not like the taste of alcohol but this drink tastes like liquid warheads or like drinking a bag of extra sour skittles, it was delicious! The food came out fast and was wonderful. The black beans were very soupy but they're just aside. I was pleasantly surprised that their Spanish rice was not dry as 95% of restaurants make it drier than a saltine cracker. The rice was good, the Chimichanga was so much better. The crispy deep-fried tortilla hit the spot. The carnitas were a little bland, but it is hard to season carnitas and pulled pork. It's easy to over or under-season pork, so I'm glad I could add salsa, salt, lime, or guac to dress it up. The guacamole is divine, there is so much flavor, I would pay money to be slathered with this guac, it's f***** phenomenal. I will be recommending this place! Finally found a little slice of home in a new city. read more

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This wasn't a bad experience or horrible service the food was simply nasty. The salsa was super puréed into a liquid with nothing recognizable as a fruit or vegetable. The Refried beans were a liquid as well. The food tasted microwaved and totally lacking any authentic flavor. The veggie enchilada was simply nasty. I can't I'm good conscience recommend this place for anything other than a beverage. But we had water so I can't even say if the drinks were good. ‍ read more

El Chupacabra - Patio view - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Confession: I went here not having very high expectations. I figured the draw of the place is the Alki Beach outdoor seating water front view, and the place was probably Americanized food and weak drinks. This doesn't happen very often, but here it is in writing. I was wrong. Natalie the bartender made a fantastic scratch margarita so much so I couldn't stop ordering them. I was then pleasantly surprised with the chicken tinga tacos which had a great flavor. I was eyeing the plate of the guy at the next table who had a huge burrito covered w/red sauce that made me want to ask him for a bite, but I refrained for crossing that line and just decided I will make a return visit. Word of caution. Right on Alki Beach with outdoor seating and waterfront view is mad busy during summer weekends. Give the staff a break. They were handling the crowd very well considering how packed it was. read more

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So second time coming to this location. Have been to the Greenwood location about 6 times now. Hubby & I took our friend from LA here for lunch. He loved it & said he's bringing his girlfriend here when she comes to SEA. I arrived before the guys & scored a patio table. It was a hot day in SEA but a bit cooler here on Alki beach. Super nice waitress Meg took care of me til the guys arrived & throughout the service. I had the delicious carne asada burrito "Christmas style". (Red & green sauce). Hubby had the fish burrito same way. We both brought 1/2 of each home. Those suckers are filling. Good value for your money. Our friend got one of my favorite entrees the chimichanga with chicken tinga. He said it's the best chimi he's ever had. If I had to try to find one thing wrong it would be there was no ice in the water. But easily remedied by asking for a glass of ice. read more

El Chupacabra - Love their house made sauces. - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is the best Mexican restaurant in Seattle, hands down. Service is amazing. Will be back.

Nachos and tortilla chips is what we ate because the outside patio was full. If you are eager to get some hearing damage or enjoy the sensation of ringing ears the next morning then this is the bar for you. The drinks were a little bit of the same ok and they were delivered by polite barmaids who were all dressed up for the longest day of the year. It was a dark loud bar that was backlit by the bright summer day, so it made actual conversation near impossible which I usually want when going out with friends. The nachos came with large chunks of chicken and plenty of toppings. I'm not sure if I will be back but if I ever want to go to a loud dive bar on Alki with friends then El Chupacabra might be my choice. read more

I. Love. Mexican. Food. I went here with a friend per her recommendation, and so I already had high hopes. They have quite an array of tacos, burritos, enchiladas to choose from, as well as vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options. AND you get your choice of meat. Who doesn't love that? My burrito was gigantic, and beautifully presented (see photos). I got it smothered in sour cream, cheese, and verde sauce; something the restaurant refers to as "wet." This is a $2 up-charge but so worth it. Both outdoor patio seating and bar seating are available, or you can settle for a classic booth or table. Great drink menu with an extensive tequila inventory, available depending on what's in house. Waiter was friendly but had a slightly awkward demeanor about him, and came across as mildly standoffish. If you order a soda, it only comes with a single refill, and they're priced at $3.50. This seems to be pretty standard Seattle pricing, but I wish the refills were unlimited. read more

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Even though we aren't far from Seattle, we just don't go that often because of traffic. Thank goodness everything was clear for Mother's Day, so we headed up to one of my favorite places! El Chupacabra on Alki is awesome. I love the vegetarian and vegan options-faux chicken and steak, as well as vegan cheese and sour cream. I always get the wet burrito with half and half sauce. The bean dip and chips are delicious and I love the variety of hot sauces. I think pineapple may be my favorite. We were seated quickly and our server was super accommodating, friendly, prompt, and exceptional. Thanks for the best Mother's Day! read more

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