Comida Latina

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 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 and in Capitol Hill check out trendy Westman’s Bagel & Coffee and hip Fogón Cocina Mexicana for first-rate ceviche and crab enchiladas. Georgetown’s Fonda La Catrina 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 in White Center serves mouthwatering shrimp tostadas; there’s an additional location in Greenwood. Check out Carmelo’s Tacos when you’re in the mood for vegan nopal tortas, and Tacos Chukis for carne asada tacos.

Central American baked goods are the stars at Salvadorean Bakery, which has been serving hearty pupusas, tamales, and tamarindo aguas frescas since 1996. Cafe Con Leche in SoDo is a great option for Cuban sandwiches and tender ropa vieja, and Paparepas Venezuelan Food and Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen 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, and on flavorful causas stuffed with shrimp and tuna ceviche at the folk-art-filled Peruvian restaurant Señor Carbón. Some restaurants feature dishes from across Latin America, such as Mojito 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, where you can sample everything from Yucatán-inspired cochinita pibil bowls to Havana-style Cubano sandwiches and plantain croquetas. And at Garzón, located inside Belltown’s inviting Black Cat Bar, enjoy superb street food like Colombian-style hot dogs and chicken Milanesa sandwiches.