Im really sorry to say this, but the food just wasn't for me. The presentation in the pictures…read morelooked great, which got my hopes up, but unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. I ordered the chicken--something I usually enjoy but I couldn't even finish a single piece. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it.

This spot serves Puerto Rican fusion food in Capitol Hill. We tried the Pollo Guisado, Ropa Vieja,…read moreand Empanadillas de Picadillo. Everything was absolutely delicious. They use a commercial kitchen along with other food vendors inside Cap Hill Kitchens, so they only offer takeout. You order on the kiosk when you walk through the door and when your food is ready, you will be notified and then you grab your food from the locker assigned to it. They call it a digital food court. Definitely recommend trying this place out! Especially the pollo guisado!

I really enjoyed the Desi Plate from Bongos. The pork was flavorful and tender, the plantain was…read moresweat and soft, the coleslaw was fresh and not too creamy and the pickled veg was great sourness to combat the rounded beans flavor. 10/10 would order again. Good spot for the summer since it's an order and pickup at the counter spot (with ringers) and a good post-Greenlake hearty meal. The service was quick and standard, no complaints and limited conversations so not too fussy

cant believe i havent had bongos yet! but wow it really lived up to the hype!…read more i got the bart sandwich which has both the fixins on the desi and the 1am. boy was it JUICY. it was packed with meat and all the toppings blended together in a symphony of wonderful flavors. the bread was fluffy, but definitely doesnt sit well. i reheated the other half for dinner and it disintegrated. i also tried the ropa vieja bowl. again, packed with a generous helping of meat, over rice, some slaw, and a maduro. very tender. i loved the beans. the slaw was ok, not the most flavorful but it was a nice crunchy addition. my friend ordered the tostones which i loved! fried to perfection and dusted with salt. it came with a dip/aioli which was wonderful! definitely want to come back and try their drinks and get that sandwich again!!!

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

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

Excellent vibe. You feel cool just hanging out here. I heard they have over 700 types of rum - the…read morebartender seemed to know all of them. True professional - his arms were a blur - you'd think he was part octopus! The Japanese Snow Monkey was tart, bitter, and chilled perfectly -- dangerously !delicious! The snacks are terrific. The beef brisket taco seemed small, but turned out to be just the right size. Solid corn tortilla, with an unctuous beef filling just oozing with flavor. The empanadas stole the show. Incredible pastry crust - flaky, chewy, and loaded with flavor by itself. They were stuffed to the seams with the respective filling, and the side slaw was a great palate cleanser. Kale and mushroom was delicate seasoned, each bite just melted. The Jamaican beef, though, was even better . The spice ratio was perfect. These are almost addictive. Note: don't know all the details, but two patrons next to me at the bar had little treasure maps and on the "hunt" to try all of the varieties by answering a bunch of questions. Check it out!

We had a really fun experience at Rumba. Stepping into Rumba you feel like you've walked into…read morequaint and charming rum bar in Barbados! The cocktails menu was full of crowd pleasers, but we both loved the riff on the old fashioned with the toasted marshmallows, and Rhum with a Vieux was probably just as good! We split the Ropa Vieja, and were glad we tried something different. The beef was tender and flavorful. It's not necessarily enough for two people with an appetite, but we were just hopping places and noshing. The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly, often talking to us about the food and drinks, as well as sharing foodie experiences and plans for the weekend. This was a memorable visit and I can't recommend Rumba enough!

I've been a frequent customer of El Mercado Latino since I returned home to Seattle in 1999…read more.. Best hot sauce selection in the market by far! Thanque all!

Omg I saw empanadas and I was immediately hooked! I had the mushroom and cheese and it was warm,…read morefresh, ooey-gooey goodness! I loved it so much I went back again and ordered the same thing! Lol. If you're an empanada lover, this little hidden gem is a must-visit. It's tucked inside Pike Place Market and doubles as a small Latin grocery, stocked with sauces, spices, and other goodies from all over Latin America. Service is fast and friendly, and everything feels super authentic and homey. Just a little FYI: the yellow sauce isn't free, they charge $2 for it, so plan accordingly if you love dipping like I do! Perfect for a quick bite while exploring the market or grabbing a few specialty ingredients to take home.

Last time I visited the Mi Patria food truck was back on 7/25/24 when it was in North Seattle in…read morethe Olympic Hills/Jackson Park area. Via an IG post & a Plate of Nations showcase, I was able to locate them again. Currently, their food truck is located in South Seattle in Hillman City right off of S Brandon & Rainier Ave S. Earlier this morning I saw a post that the pernil was ready. Pernil is marinated and slow roasted pork shoulder which results in tender, succulent meat. Omg, I'm so there! Traffic on I-5, I-90, and Rainier Ave S was merciful and I found a parking spot diagonal from their food truck. I ventured over after 12noon and was greeted by one of the owners. She was putting finishing touches on the specials whiteboard. There's their usual menu, as well as, today's featured specials. I ordered a pair of pernil empanadillas. With my order, I was given a sauce cup with cilantro aioli, which was recommended by one of the owners. I kept the takeout box open so the empanadillas would remain crisp. The tantalizing scent permeated my car. I was good and did not feast on one while driving. Once home, a brief nuke, cut it in half, first tasted the pernil on its own (amazing!), then the crust (thin & crispy), finally another bite altogether with the recommended dipping sauce. On point flavorful savory special! Look forward to coming back to try other menu items: appetizers, sandwiches, hearty entree plates, and mofongo bowls. Plus their dessert flan!

Good Puerto Rican food! The lady was very nice. She was friendly and welcoming. The rice tasted…read moregood and the meat was flavorful. The portion was big -- we shared one plate and still had leftovers. The quality of the food was good overall. They also have a place to sit and eat, but the seating area is a little small. Overall a good spot if you want tasty Puerto Rican food and good portions.

OSJ International is the most authentic Puerto Rican food I've had on the West Coast (not just in…read moreSeattleso far. Most Caribbean spots around Washington lean Jamaican, so finding a place doing proper Puerto Rican dishes felt special. The menu and quality reminded me of what you'd find back on the island, at least pre-pandemic. They had classics like chillo frito, mofongo, and pasteles, and it tasted like homemade small business cooking. Honestly, I thought it was even better than La Isla before the fire that shut that place down. A few pain points. It's far. The restaurant is south of Tacoma near I-5, so it's a bit of a drive whether you're coming from Seattle or even from the airport. It was also cash only when I went, though you could sit inside and eat. Last time I called it sounded like they were still mostly doing the to-go model and hadn't fully gone back to the way it used to operate. I haven't made the trip again yet, but it's still on my list. Also worth saying, after the pandemic when I moved to San Diego, I couldn't find an authentic Puerto Rican spot there either. That made me appreciate this place even more. After the Benito Super Bowl performance I'm definitely craving some Puerto Rican food again. Might have to make the drive soon.

Ordered to go as a first time visiting. We have been wanting to try this place for a very long…read moretime. It appeared as though the dining room was closed off. Not sure if it was always like this or just near closing hours when we arrived to pick up our order., The lady at the cash register was most pleasant and our orders were complete, cooked to order hot and fresh. We ordered 2 orders of the chicken dinners, pollo playero and had bits of pork added to it. We also ordered a side of beans. The food was freshly cooked, so it was nice and hot. It was well seasoned. The meats were tender (with the exception of the pork bits inside the rice). The food had a beautiful presentation with onion, green and red pepper slices on top of the meats.

My first time at Island Soul and I was blown away. The food is rich and flavorful without being…read moreheavy. The servers were attentive without being overbearing - thanks Natalie and Hector! The atmosphere is a little noisy just because people were having a good time. I look forward to going back.

This place is one of a kind and so delicious for Carribean and Jamaican cuisine! If you have not…read moretried -- you must! We were celebrating my colleagues birthday the day before and were going to see a show at the Royal Room! We got drinks and I had the caprihlana and the Carribean Star! The Carribean Star is a MUST- TRY, the flavors of that drink were amazing! Both the tostones and shrimp ceviche for appetizers was out of this world! The fried catfish was breaded and crisped perfectly and their sides, especially the collard greens are tasty, a bit tangy and phenomenal! I was able to sample my coworkers dishes (they offered of course and I did too) and the goat curry -- try this too if you like curry! Such amazing flavor and tender goat! They do not take reservations but it's peak around dinner time and weekends! We got lucky with the last big table! The menu is creative and colorful. Staff is amazing! They actually had a location in Kirkland but had to close it and this location remains and is a HIT!

I love this place, it's like going to a friends house & have you stay for lunch, I'm so comfortable…read morewhen I'm there, love their food, love to shop for misc groceries, fresh meat & veggies TW Covington, WA

great to see new latino's business. the parking is amazing, the food super good. they have a fresh…read moremeat butcher shop (carniceria) i was received very warm and welcomed..I say support this business!!!

this sandwich was highly impressive as the main part of the…read moresandwich, it was pretty necessary that the pork be cooked to near-perfection, and i have to say it was here it gave off a deep, brown-ish color, which showed the extent of it's cooking and marination. It wasn't quite incredibly tender, but the marinade added an absolute ton of flavor. more importantly, it was present plentifully throughout the sandwich, so practically every bite came filled with pork I also have to mention how packed together the ingredients are between the buns. when you start eating, it's inevitable that a quarter of the ingredients will fall onto the wrap below, leaving a nice secondary meal to finish off after the sandwich is done. the sandwich is packed incredibly tight during the wrapping process, but it unravels a bit while eating. for me, the major highlights of this meal was the onions and the aioli Starting with the onions, these may be the best I've ever had on a sandwich. They're caramelized amazingly, placed onto the sandwich in astoundingly large pieces, are crunchy, and there's just a lot of them. They're just wonderful both texturally and taste-wise. This sandwich is absolutely lathered with aioli - practically dripping with it. This boosted the overall flavor so much, especially because this aioli was addictingly good. In my experience, the amount of sauce has been directly proportional to how much I enjoyed a sandwich, and when the sauce is this good - it's even on the top of the bun! - i absolutely loved it Somehow the lettuce stayed crunchy despite all the otherwise wetness going on in the sandwich. Props for that The jalapenos were great as well for that extra bit of spicy - I would've loved to have more of them while the bread was toasted well, the one downside was i thought it was pretty hard and tough, which made chewing kind of difficult. I found my jaw to be pretty tired at the end after eating this. I would've much preferred a softer roll that's easier to bite into I've had similar sandwiches from Paseo and Bongos, and in my opinion this does edge out both of those Comparing to Paseo, the sandwich there has way more oil, making it more sloppy and I do like the bread there a lot better, but the pork feels richer and better marinated here (although less fatty), and the onions are definitely caramelized better here as well. Bongos has a pretty similar level of pork with more, but onions are definitely a step down What moves this place above those two for me is the amount of aioli used here far exceeds those other places, which just makes the overall eating experience better For the price (about 14 dollars) this is a really filling meal

Overall: it was good, but nothing special…read more I got the Caribbean scallops entree with rice and beans on the recommendation of the guy at the counter, to go. The beans were passable, super watery and not especially flavorful. The scallops were cooked perfectly but there weren't that many of them. The star was the sauce the scallops were in: this was actually quite good. Overall was okay but doesn't spur me to go back. Maybe other dishes here are better.