I have a soft spot for a family run restaurant and was shocked to read some of these reviews because this place is awesome. Delicious and unpretentious food, amazing people, and they cultivate a comfortable environment. I'm new to the neighborhood and I couldn't ask for anything more. Ignore the 3.5 and give this place a shot and see why they have been in business for over 40 years and 25 with the current owners. If you don't like it, shots on me! read more

La Cocina and cantina is a lovely family restaurant that has bus Capitol Hill for decades.

¡Burrito Bliss with a Side of Speed! Listen, some days you just need a no-nonsense burrito, a stiff drink, and zero complications. This spot gets it. I walked in, ordered a chicken, rice, and sauce burrito (because that's all my soul could handle), plus a margarita that i have named "It's Been One of Those Days." And let me tell you--this drink did not disappoint. It was in my hand so fast, I almost wondered if they had a sixth sense for customer stress levels. Then, before I could even finish my first sip, boom--there's my burrito. Four minutes. I've waited longer for a stoplight to change. And it wasn't just fast--it was exactly what I needed: hot, flavorful, and not drowning in unnecessary extras. Beans? Frijoles? Whatever you call them, they were solid. Service? Impeccable. They're efficient, friendly, and clearly know their audience (aka hungry people with no patience). I've been back mucho, mucho times, and I'll keep coming back. If you want a burrito and a drink without your day getting any worse--this is the place. Whomever is giving three stars you should just not come back, this place has is a small family joint who serves simple food. They have probably been here on Broadway in CapHill since 1802 and I will continue to come back. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Great food - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I always get great service when I come here. A lot of times I mostly come for drinks, but on the rare occasions I do eat here I'm pleased both with service and my food. There's nothing more pleasant than sipping a raspberry daiquiri on their patio on a hot sunny day. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Half 1. 1/2 Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I stopped in today for chips and guacamole. The owner was friendly and even included a few salsas with my order, which I appreciated. The bill came to $10, and I tipped $5 for a total of $15. When I got home, I was shocked at how little guacamole I received -- barely 3-4 bites -- next to a container overflowing with chips. What made it worse is that the owner looked right at my order before handing it to me. If I had been dining in, I'm sure the portion would have been more reasonable. For the price I paid, this was really disappointing and felt careless. Not impressed, and I wouldn't order guacamole here again unless the portions are made fair. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Guacamole and chips. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped by here after an event nearby at a wine bar. Needing some dinner, my friend and I saw this place and thought Mexican sounded perfect. They do have happy hour and a large regular menu to choose from. I really liked the ambiance here, with lots of art and fun decor. It felt very low-key and family style. Prices are pretty good too. I ended up with 3 tacos with pork. It was seasoned really well and had a good amount of filling. We also received complimentary chips and salsa! The service was very friendly although we were indecisive so she had to return a couple times until we were ready to order. The waitress was pleasant about it though! read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Pork tacos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Arrived on a Sunday night around 7pm. Street parking- didn't take long to find though not many spots. Love the vibes- neighborhood establishment. Was seated immediately, wait staff was super friendly and food was fantastic- reminiscent of SoCal Mexican food. I had fish tacos, hubby had chile Colorado, and kid had the 3 item combo. $75 without drinks (& before tip). All were happy. Good spot- will be back! read more

I've been coming here since 1996. I've had everything on their menu at least 10 times and it's easily my favorite Mexican Restaurant in Seattle. Came here today for lunch. Had the shrimp tacos. Spot on as usual. The staff knows me well and always greets me with a huge smile. I will continue to frequent this establishment until I can't make it up to the hill any more. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Shrimp tacos with beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Family run and you can tell! Everyone is incredibly nice. I don't know how many times I've been and the owner brings us a free drink or app to try. They have the BEST happy hour in Capitol Hill you cannot beat it. Great location with indoor and outdoor seating. Every person who works there is kind and friendly I can't stress this enough. The food is so so good. I can't recommend the carne asada street tacos enough. I would eat them every day if I could. Between happy hour and their weekly specials there is always an amazing deal going on. The vibes inside are perfect. 10/10 I would go every week if I could! read more

I can not possibly recommend this restaurant more. They are the absolute best people and a neighborhood staple. The food has always been great. It has been my son's favorite restaurant, since he was a toddler. He's 13 now and is still always asking to go. So many things have changed on Capitol Hill, I'm happy that La Cocina hasn't. One of the few remaining great spots. read more

This place is AMAZING!!! Their drinks are HUGE and the services are the BEST. I have been to this place a couple times and always get to feel tipsy! I got a super mango daiquiri! That drink gave me a brain freeze! Haha so make sure it warmed up a bit (the slushy melt) then drink it! I also love their beer! It's in a huge mug too! I ordered half chicken and I did not expect it was actually half chicken! Haha I was expected it chop into pieces for me. But anyways it was really fun to rip the chicken and enjoy this juicy chicken! They also offer hats and special hat for my special girl! She got a free dessert! I highly recommend this place if you want cheap food and cheap drinks! I love their happy hours! read more

See all

Yummy drinks and food but they totally failed me on my street tacos! Got them to go and didn't know until we arrived at home that they didn't include anything but meat and tortilla. Sadness read more

La Cocina & Cantina - "Street tacos" - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Absolutely reliable and delicious Mexican food located pretty central on Broadway. I've gone here several times with friends and it's absolutely perfect to satiate a really good thirst with some delicious food. My favorite has got to be the chicken fajitas. It's humbly presented on the classic sizzling skillet, and it comes out so quick! I'm a fan of spicy food and I do wish there was a bit more heat to the choices, but it's still delicious and I'm rarely disappointed when I go here. The staff is super helpful and quick to get your order in and out the table. There's no difference in speed on the "cantina" side, and sometimes that's the better vibe than the normal restaurant. I've enjoyed some events on that side as well and it's a good experience. There's quite a bit I would like to explore on the menu, it's huge in the normal tradition of Mexican restaurants. Can recommend for really good Mexican food on Cap Hill! read more

We visited La Cocina & Cantina Santiago on a very rainy early December afternoon. Everything about this restaurant was excellent. The "must" order is any tamale dish. The tamales are homemade by Senora Santiago! (She used to be my neighbor.) The tamales are exquisite. (Well, all the food is great.) The atmosphere perfect and we were glad to see that the Cocina has been expanded to include a delightful Cantina. Amazing service by owner Victor's sisters -- Norma and Mona(?). Great prices. Large portions. Take the bus or park a little north in the neighborhood. read more

Great food, friendly service! Great margaritas for a good price! Love coming here on a sunny day or for their taco Tuesday deals

Stopped by for late night happy hour. Fun cantina-like vibes, reminded me if the cantina bars in SD :) Complimentary Salsa and chips are always welcome note: *happy hour prices listed below* House margarita ($8.95) was okay very sweet and clearly from the mix. The wings ($6.95) were a nice snack Guacamole (menu lists seasonal price and I forgot what the receipt said) was fine The staff member helping us out seemed slightly confused. Don't like how the house marg was pushed on us when there was a better margarita available read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Happy Hour Wings ($6.95), Chips & Salsa, Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Updating my review to 4 star because the staff has been very friendly and inclusive to everyone who visits. I also do love coming here for drinks before going out. Get one of the Beeritas yum. read more

Go here if you're ever in the mood for very authentic tasty Mexican food! The food and drinks are sooo delicious. Next time you're in I recommend ordering the virgin pina colada and trying the shredded beef chimichanga or the mole chicken bursting with flavor in every bite. This family owned restaurant has amazing attentive service. The rice & beans alone take me on a journey back in time to my grandma's kitchen, I highly recommend if you're ever in the mood for drool-worthy & authentic Mexican food you can find it here in the heart of Capitol Hill. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Chimichanga Dinner & 2 Item Combo Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Worth a try. Staff is really nice, and it's a really good deal. I ordered the 3 item combo and two fish tacos, and it was way more than enough for 2 people. Just the combo would have been enough. Downside is I did get a piece of plastic in my fish taco. Not a big deal to me, but not great. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Very Disappointed. I was asked by two friends to join them for dinner here. We got there and I got a phone call from my mother, that I stayed outside to take while they were seated and placed their order, for a fajita. I came in about 5 minutes after they had placed their order, and placed my order about 5 minutes after that. We watched as several other people were seated. My order came out, and I started to take a bite, and I realized theirs hadn't, so I stopped and asked if they had ordered anything beyond the chips and salsa. They said they had, but encouraged me to eat. I watched as the people who had come in after I had, which was definitely after they had, were all served their food, many of them had ordered fajitas as well, just like my friends. The bartender commented on the fact that their food seemed to have taken a long time, and that he would ask our waitress to check on it. We watched as people that had been seated after them were finishing their meals. We asked again about the missing food. It was finally brought out, but without the tortillas, so now we are sitting there with the sizzling delicious plate and no tortillas to eat it with. Just the torturous sound of it sizzling while the savory aroma teases us. The table across from us was brought additional tortillas while my friends waited. They FINALLY got the tortillas and were able to eat. but even after all that ordeal, even after waiting and watching other people getting served, and being polite about asking where the food was. My friend's boyfriend was intentionally restraining himself remarkably given the degree of insult this was to him, as a black man, and my friend as an Alaskan Native, watching all the white people, including someone at his own table, be served and his order being lost. Then to look at the check, and not only was he charged in full for a meal that, while delicious, he had to practically get up and go in the kitchen himself for, AND they charged for the extra chips and salsa that we asked for while we were waiting for the meal that was running so incredibly late. I have been to this restaurant for years and it really hurt to see them treated so poorly, and then not even have the slightest effort to show that they felt badly about the incident. Sure there were plenty of "I'm sorry it took so long" and "I'm sorry it is taking so long i will check" and my favorite "I'm sorry, I think your server may have had a little too much fun during Pride last night" but getting charged for even the extra chips and salsa to eat while waiting was really the cherry on top. I love your food, and have always recommended you to people just because you have always treated people I take there or meet there and myself well. To try and dismiss it as the server partied a little too much the night before and still charge for the meal and the drinks? I am more than a little disappointed, and surprised that you did that. read more

This was my first time dining here. The service was excellent. It gave off family vibes. My piña colada was bomb. The combination I got was a chicken burrito and chile relleno and both were SO good. The salsa on the chile relleno and burrito was so flavorful. The music playing was on point. Bar area very relaxing and nice. Everything was wonderful and I'll be returning here for sure. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Combination - chicken burrito & Chile Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Amazing food. Alma, our server, was the best!!! So nice. We had a great time. The chips and salsa were very good. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - me n my fricken chicken - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I love La Cocina and Cantina! The huge margaritas are the best. They have so many flavors, they are always tasty, and the prices are incredible. It was happy hour and my mom got wine which was only $5 a glass! I would seriously recommend this place for the drinks. The food here is pretty tasty too. I had a 2 Item combo with a taco and burrito which came with rice and beans. I was shocked that this plate was only $13.50. Again, prices are incredible here. I also tried the fried ice cream which was good. The ice cream itself was tasty but I wasn't a fan of the strawberry sauce, it tasted artificial. Service is always great here. Everything comes out very fast and everyone is friendly. Ambiance is nice too, it's nice how they can open up the front of the store so fresh air and sunlight streams in. read more

See all

Ths establishment never fails to satisfy our Mexican food cravings. I always opt for the shrimp chimichanga and it always hits the spot. The serving is big so there always some to go for sure. The margaritas are strong and tiny at the same time. They have many flavors to pick from and all of them are good. Service is quick and they are always welcoming. read more

See all

Amazing food! This is clearly a family passion and the steak fajitas are to die for. We have discovered over the regular HH scene that this is the real deal Mexican family restaurant. We live in the neighborhood just blocks away and have since 2023. 100% this is our choice Happy Hour -- the steak fajitas and the tamales are some of the best you're going to find in Seattle proper at all anyways. And the margs?! Please tell your friends and folks who are visiting. This place is just a couple blocks from train station so check it out. :) read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Steak fajitas and awesomeness!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lots of big tables for large group seating! We were able to find a table for 8 on a Friday night. They have happy hour drinks in the late evening, and we all got nice big margaritas for $8. They weren't too strong though. I got the combo platter with a chimichanga and enchilada - the portion was huge and was only able to eat maybe 2/3 of it. The nachos were also big and came with a bunch of sour cream and guacamole. Overall taste wise, I'd say the food was pretty average for Mexican food. The prices are definitely a little on the pricier side but as expected for the middle of Capitol Hill. I probably won't be back anytime soon since there are tons of other restaurants on the hill to try. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Enchilada, chinichanga, combo - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I am done with this place. They have brought me the wrong order 3 times now. The last time I went, I sent it back because they gave me the wrong protein. I sat and watched all my friends finish their meals while I just sat there. I got so pissed that I grabbed my coat and left. I was talked into going back a month later. No apologies or compensation from the staff at all. The meat in my taco was bland and the margarita had little to no alcohol in it. I'm done with crappy service and food in Seattle! read more

Absolutely gas margaritas! Holy cow! The food was so good as well I smashed it before I could get a picture. The service was so lovely the waitress was beyond nice we vibed on the mezcal margarita which was also a plus. the ambiance is also absolutely authentic! Beautiful Mexican music playing the whole time at a great level and a very chill atmosphere. Will definitely be eating here multiple times while I'm in Seattle on business. read more

Is it the best food? The most authentic? No. But it is comfort food. Flavorful, cheesy, and filling. The service is consistently good and the margaritas are strong. I go here for the comfort, the drinks, and the memories. While Broadway has changed drastically these past 20 years, La Cocina has held onto their spot and they've been consistent. There's a lot to be said for comfort and consistency. Occasionally, I also have a craving for their enmormous Cocina Burrito.... read more

T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E We went here since it was the only place without an hour-long wait for a Saturday brunch. And there was a reason for it. The service was slow - there was someone who was filling the water and getting basic condiments for the table and wasn't taking orders. We had to wait for about 25 mins before someone took our order. The complimentary chips and salsa were good, but that was the only thing edible from the entire menu. We ordered the Burrito Grande and the Enchiladas, and they were highly terrible. The bean and rice were lacking flavor, salt and were stale. The burrito was only filled with meat and had not a single veggie. The chicken also was really undercooked and extremely dry. I could not finish more than 2 bites off my dish It was pricey, horrendous in taste, and had poor service. I would steer away from this as far as possible. DO NOT GO!!! read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Burrito Grande - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Absolutely love this place great bartenders and I believe owner or manager. They were amazing hospitality!!! The most amazing tequilas and prices in town. read more

This is as authentic as you can get, on capital hill. I live for their chille rellenos. Their big margaritas are a plus And I love the family that works here. read more

Such a promising opportunity for a good restaurant. Great location, plenty of space inside, very friendly servers, horrendous food. We were hanging out here and realized it was happy hour, so we decided to have some margaritas. I have no doubt in my mind that there was no alcohol in these margs at all, they tasted like if Welch's Fruit Juice made margs for kids. Our server was a really nice guy who walked us through his favorite things on the menu. Either he was lying about what he enjoyed eating, or has never had Mexican food anywhere else. He told me about an enormous burrito that they have on the menu (Cocina burrito maybe? Doesn't matter, never coming back here). I gladly obliged because an oversized burrito sounded right up my alley at the time, as I was on the verge of hangriness. This may have been the worst burrito I've ever had. I don't understand how you could possibly create a burrito that tasted so poorly, and charge $18 for it. It tasted like someone opened up a can of tomato sauce from the QFC across the street and poured it over a cold burrito. There's no way that anything in this burrito was homemade. The only redeeming quality was how large it was, I'm not sure where they bought tortillas this large (because they surely did not make it). Really not worth it to go to this place when one of the best taco spots in Seattle is across the street (Tacos Chukis). read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Tomato sauce burrito - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good Mexican food with a happy hour. Big window/doors open to make a very nice setting of open air. Staff is friendly and helpful. It's beginning to be a regular stop when I'm in the area. Just a heads up, cash & credit cards accepted, but the don't use tap technology so bring your physical card. Tapping with your phone is not an option. read more

The place looks outdated. The mango Margaritas were weak @ $10 Tasted like a Virgin drink. I ordered chicken mole. There is no authentic version here. They steamed the chicken and pulled it to pieces and poured the mole sauce. $20 for that it came with rice and beans and tortillas. read more

So, I've walked Broadway like a hundred plus times since living here. And I've seen La Cosina and Cantina usually packed, during the warmer month, with people and their goblets of topical like drinks. Last night we were having a mini celebration for my SO's birthday. I'm so happy we went and tried La Cosina and Cantina, not only was it happy hour (8PM- close) but food is really great! They have a lot of cocktails for under $10, and a small section for happy hour food for $6.95. They also have weekly specials FYI. The menu is extensive, but I decided to go with the two item combination ($12.95) with a beef chimichanga and cheese quesadilla. It also come with rice and beans. My dish came out smokin hot, with my chimichanga, the rice and beans and a nice section of melted cheese. My cheese quesadilla was under a pile of cheese while being stuffed with melty delicious cheese. It was amazing!! Served with a generous spoon full of guac, this meal was well worth it! The cheesy cheese quesadilla was worth it alone, I think. Also because we told our waiter that it was my SO's bday, by the end of the meal (which I fully stuffed and only ate the quesadilla while packing the rest home) we had received some very fun sombreros and a plate of deep fried ice cream! So unexpected and it really made the night. Thanks La Cosina and Cantina! read more

See all

Food was plentiful & tasty. I had the taco salad & it had more meat, sour cream & guacamole than any other taco salad I've ever had & besides lettuce there was also red cabbage & carrots. The horchata was also very good. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Taco salad w/ ground beef. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I didn't realize the restaurant was about to close when I arrived. I had planned to order an enchilada, but I was informed their kitchen was already closed. They offered to make me nachos instead, which seemed like a kind gesture at first, so I agreed. However, I was completely shocked when it came time to pay they charged me a staggering $26! Out of guilt, I paid. Later, once I opened my order, I was even more disappointed at not only the small portion size but the fact these nachos only consisted of pico de gallo, cheese, and meat. Looked up their menu and discovered that the nachos on their menu were priced at $10-13. I'm extremely disappointed in this establishment's lack of integrity toward their customers and their poor nacho craftsmanship. read more

I gave three stars for the following reasons. Slow service, a bland food. The atmosphere was nice and inviting. The prices were decent and the hostess was pleasant. Although our server was nice she wasn't very attentive until we were almost finished with our meal. The food portions were good but I had to add salsa sauce to give it some more flavor. I updated my rating from 3 to 4 stars because I did return back about a year later and tried the lunch buffet. It was yummy and filling and the chicken enchiladas were cooked to perfection. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Chicken chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Writing this review was a lot of mixed feelings for me as I like it, but I don't at the same time. I just moved to the hill recently and a lot of people kept telling me that I must try La Cocina and gave a lot of hype about it. Well, I have tried it twice now and it's not really getting any better. The first time I had a menu platter and the food was decent. I will say the Queso dip is INCREDIBLE but that's the only thing I really like about the restaurant. I also had the Mexican buffet and it was very mediocre and a lot of the food on the buffet was Luke warm. It was overall just okay. What I was really disappointed in was the service. The staff and people were nice, but you never saw them. We never had anyone come over to ask if we were okay. We had to call our server everytime we needed them and ask them for something. This was just unacceptable. They are supposed to come check on you periodically. We never got drink refills or anything. Service was a JOKE! Overall, food is decent. The family who owns the restaurant is really nice, but service is crap. I may go again because it's really close to my house, but I am not sure. Who knows? If your looking for a Mexican place with okay food or a quick lunch or dinner, this is your place. I would just come prepared for poor service. read more

La Cocina & Cantina - Inside the restaurant! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington