El Quetzal

Reviews

• Lissa L.

  star star star star star 12 June 2026

  I went to this restaurant last night to celebrate my birthday and I have so many good things to say about it!
  
  This is a family owned restaurant and you can totally feel the family vibes when you go in there. There was a teenager that was waiting on us and you could tell he's been around this business his whole life. He never missed a beat, checking up on us, making sure we didn't need anything, and not to mention his sweet smile and demeanor.
  
  The owner was super sweet and smiling and when she found out it was my birthday, she surprised me with some amazing coffee ice cream cake and a shot of tequila! I couldn't stop smiling, I thought that was so sweet!
  
  I was so sad to see the restaurant half empty on a Saturday night. More people need to come by and enjoy the amazing food and tight family environment that this restaurant offers. I can't wait to come back!
  
  If you're considering this place, give it a chance, you won't be disappointed!!
  
  Ps- I need to add that this place is super affordable. It was about $50 for 3 of us to eat and have a drink.

• Justine D.

  star star star star star_border 12 June 2026

  This is more of a 3.5 star place. Great service and atmosphere and really pretty plating of the food. Also, the first basket of chips and salsa was free (not always the norm in Seattle). The salsa had a really strange flavor though and my husband said it was inedible. It wasn't like it had "gone bad" or anything, just not the greatest flavor. Maybe it is some regional thing that we just couldn't appreciate and may be someone else's jam?
  I got the chimichangas with chicken (one of the daily specials) that came out to $17. The chimi was good with juicy chicken. The rice was pretty plain with only a couple of veggies and not much flavor. It did come with guac and pico though.
  The disappointing dish was my husband's huarache with the skirt steak. They put a nice tomatillo sauce that had a kick to it, but the actual steak was completely dry and flavorless. I guess if I lived in the area it would be a decent enough place, but I wouldn't necessarily come back for the food.

• Amy L.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 6 June 2026

  Got 2 orders, fajitas platter and the carne asada platter. Was very, very disappointed. My steak meat was extremely dry, over cooked and so bland. The veggies in it had a little bit of seasoning, well just the mushrooms really. The beans were mediocre but even that had more seasoning than the meat. The rice was perfect!
  The carne asada was at its thinnest and also over cooked, most of it was burnt. Sooooo dry and chewy. The lettuce that came with it was old and I barely got any tomatoes. The gauc was slight seasoned, still not very good. Now for the sauce, red sauce.....no flavor, sour cream, very good.
  Only reason why this place got 2 stars was cause the fish tacos we got from once before was excellent and the rice and beans are good enough. Will never come back for more since our 2 orders were over priced and no good. 40$ for 2 platter

• Christen G.

  star star star star star_border 3 June 2026

  I'd agree with the previous yelper on a 3.5 star. But I really love Mexican food and have really struggled to find anything decent in Seattle.
  They have great, friendly service, free chips and salsa, good vibes all around. A nice bar, drink specials and a small TV for watching soccer. There were a host of regulars there for lunch when I went - always a good sign. the Guacamole is fresh and great. The pork tacos were pretty ok. The tortillas could have been fresher. I'd be back if I was in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there.

• Alison P.

  star star star star star_border 25 May 2026

  Not your typical Mexican restaurant. It's pretty authentic. Not that Tex-Amex kind of place. Good and tasty without being greasy. It's healthy without being Americanized health nut gross. The food is not smothered in greasy cheddar.
  
  I ordered the mushroom quesadilla gigantes. It's huge! A home made corn tortilla with Mexican cheese, lettuce, and of course a ton of mushrooms. The length was the size of the entire platter! Sautéed mushrooms were cooked to perfection!
  
  I have to also put a plug in for the fish tacos. When I lived in the neighborhood I used to order this every Friday during lent. Not your typical fish tacos! Yup, these tacos not only have fried fish but also garnished apples. Yes, apples and a sauce to die for!
  
  Wait staff are friendly and accommodating. I always come back for more.