Greater Seattle’s sizable—and growing—Latino/a/x population manifests itself in many ways, from cultural festivals to family-owned shops. It’s also a big reason that the city has so many incredible Latino/a/x restaurants.
Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar courtesy Amber Fouts
You’ll find establishments specializing in Mexican food in virtually every neighborhood. Ballard’s stylish meat-focused Asadero (5405 Leary Ave NW) is known for Wagyu steak tacos and filet mignon burritos, and adjacent Valentina’s specializes in Mexican-style mochas and tres leches cake. In Queen Anne, tuck into a plate of tamales with pork and tomatillo sauce at El Mezcalito (2123 Queen Anne Ave N) and in Capitol Hill check out trendy Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar (1420 12th Ave) and hip Fogón Cocina Mexicana (600 E Pine St) for first-rate ceviche and crab enchiladas. Georgetown’s Fonda La Catrina (5905 Airport Way S) offers up flavorful tacos and enchiladas in a funky storefront space.
Seattle also has dozens of casual taquerias and food trucks specializing in street food. Among the latter, Taqueria La Fondita (10050 15th Ave SW) in White Center serves mouthwatering shrimp tostadas; there’s an additional location in Greenwood. Check out Carmelo’s Tacos (110 Summit Ave E) when you’re in the mood for vegan nopal tortas, and Tacos Chukis (219 Broadway E) for carne asada tacos.
Central American baked goods are the stars at Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW Roxbury St), which has been serving hearty pupusas, tamales, and tamarindo aguas frescas since 1996. Cafe Con Leche (2901 First Ave S) in SoDo is a great option for Cuban sandwiches and tender ropa vieja, and Paparepas Venezuelan Food (1620 Broadway) and Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen (1405 NE 50th St) present authentic versions of their namesake dishes along with plantain chips and empanadas.
Moving south on the map, feast on flame-grilled fare like parmesan pork loin and garlic shrimp at the Brazilian steak house Grill from Ipanema (2313 First Ave), and on flavorful causas stuffed with shrimp and tuna ceviche at the folk-art-filled Peruvian restaurant Señor Carbón (625 First Ave). Some restaurants feature dishes from across Latin America, such as Mojito (7545 Lake City Way NE) in Lake City, which serves everything from roasted marinated pork with fried yucca to Venezuelan-style pabellón (shredded beef with a tomato-pepper sauce and rice and black beans), and White Center’s MexiCuban (1622 SW Roxbury St), where you can sample everything from Yucatán-inspired cochinita pibil bowls to Havana-style Cubano sandwiches and plantain croquetas. And at Garzón (2132 First Ave), located inside Belltown’s inviting Black Cat Bar, enjoy superb street food like Colombian-style hot dogs and chicken Milanesa sandwiches.
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