El Chupacabra – Mexican Bar and Restaurant in Seattle
Ranked as one of the top locations for Mexican food in the city of Seattle, El Chupacabra is named after the legendary creature of the same name and offers family-friendly, casual dining with a laid-back attitude and a lively vibe in both of its Seattle locations.
Blending the charm and flair of a Mexican cantina with the rebellious attitude of a punk rock bar, El Chupacabra is the perfect place to enjoy great music, amazing drinks, and delicious food. If you love Mexican flavors, spices, margaritas, and more, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
The homemade hot sauces and terrific tacos stand out as some of the top options on the menu, with fruity cocktails and fun Happy Hours every single day adding a lot of life and vibrancy to these locations, giving them a unique ambience and atmosphere unlike anywhere else in all of Seattle.
The first El Chupacabra opened up back in 2005 and the citizens of Seattle have been in love with this mini Mexican chain ever since. If you’re looking for good times, friendly staff, flavorful meals, and lots of life and noise all around you, El Chupacabra is most definitely the best place to be.
“El Chupacabra has one of the most customizable Mexican menus around (with two locations in Seattle), so you can pretty much make anything work for you. Each table boasts a bevy of salsa for the spicy-lover and the more mild eater. Order a quesadilla with mock steak (seriously) and vegan cheese — trust us, it’s as good as the real stuff. El Chupacabra’s not only got a different take on food, meaning “little devil”, you’ll eat alongside strange little Mexican statues of devils and jam to loud rock music.”
“It’s Always Halloween At This One-Of-A-Kind Cantina In Washington
While there are hundreds of delicious Mexican eateries in Washington, there’s nothing quite like El Chupacabra in Seattle. This Day-of-the-Dead inspired cantina has several locations in the Emerald City, and the food and decor are both amazing.
The first El Chupacabra opened in Greenwood in 2006, followed by the Alki Beach location (pictured here) in 2011.”
I’ve decided to change things up a little bit with my Things I Love About… series. Instead of telling you all the things I love about Seattle, I’ll share 35 places I loved with you (It was supposed to be 33 places, but somehow I ended up with 35!)
# 26 El Chupacabra: Burritos &
Tacos
The best burrito I found during my time in Seattle – I loved the atmosphere in their Phinney Ridge branch (self-described ‘Mexican cantina with punk rock roots’ – to give you an idea), but the Alki Beach branch beats it with its waterfront location. No matter which El Chupacabra (the 3rd one is in South Lake Union) you head to, the food and drinks won’t disappoint.
Shout out to El Chupacabra from KEXP’s Morning show John Richards on Evening See the full feature here!“John says it’s all about menu choices and being able to go out to dinner with friends who want meat. So even though Chupacabra isn’t a vegan specific restaurant, there’s always something for him to pick.
“We come here because there are so many vegan options,” said John. “You want to get your Mexican on and you want to have margaritas. It’s not like you just hide at home and eat sticks and berries.”
“When we looked on the menu we were blown away, you know how punk rock awesome Mexican had options for us. We were just blown away,” said John.
Austin’s famous SXSW festival may have just ended its 2016 edition, but the food cravings it inspires linger year-round. Those who love Tex-Mex know that it’s more than generic gringo-fied Mexican food. Tex-Mex can mean a lot of things; at its best, it’s interior-rooted foods flecked with Creole-influenced roux and umami-packed ingredients like mature cheeses, roasted tomatoes, and smoked beef. It’s not always synonymous with margaritas and tacos, but it sure as hell can be.
Whether choosing a spot based on your personal style or rambling along and cherry-picking the best qualities of each, here are the top places to satiate your Tex-Mex needs in Seattle.
1. El Chupacabra
El Chupacabra sometimes veers toward Baja- and Mission-style Mexican, but it also offers specific Tex-style options like huevos rancheros and “TexMex Tacos,” soft tacos made with flour rather than corn. Plus, you can Michelada any beer for an extra $1.50, and there are tostadas you can actually eat like tostadas, rather than with fork and knife. The Alki location is great, but the Greenwood flagship and South Lake Union outpost get extra points for sunny outdoor seating.
“This swanky lakeside location bears the same stellar selection of affordable margaritas and classic bar nachos that made the first spot on Phinney Ridge famous — now with a million-dollar view to boot.”
“This swanky lakeside location bears the same stellar selection of affordable margaritas and classic bar nachos that made the first spot on Phinney Ridge famous — now with a million-dollar view to boot.”