Food was okay. Margarita was okay. The waiter was okay. It's a Mexican restaurant in a mall, I was not expecting mind-blowing quality. BUT: After I signed and paid the bill, the waiter came back with a $4 higher bill because he said he made a mistake. Now $4 is not a big deal, but I thought it was rather tactless and rude of them. To pay a little extra for a meal that was already well overpriced (considering the quality) was insulting. I will never return to this place. When you feel a craving for Mexican food at the mall, just stick to Taco Bell.
(2)
Ravish R.
Good food. Very courteous service. You can try Lamb Shank. The fried ice-cream is great too. I often visit this place to try mexican food.
(5)
Sheri F.
I've been here a couple times. The overall experience is 3 stars. The service is decent. None of the staff has been memorable. The food is super Americanized and average. The portions are big on most entrees. The lunch menu is cheap. I've had to wait for the hostess a few times as they appear to not be with the program. The decor is just OK. Nothing memorable, with simple tile, inexpensive furniture and loud Latin music. I've been to other Azteca locations that have much better service and ambiance, but the food is always the same. Other locations have been really fast, sometimes lightning fast at seating, taking orders and bringing out the food. This location is either a bit slow or average. There is a lot of parking at this mall, but it's generally full on the weekends when I'm there. Finding a spot close to Azteca usually doesn't happen. Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Parking: 2
(3)
kurt w.
I haven't eaten in the restaurant for a couple of years, but the happy hour in the bar is a great deal, which I do frequently! Big macho margaritas, and a good assortment of appetizers that are all reasonably priced. I give them a 4 star just because it isn't the best mexican place I've eaten at, but the food is always good, and you can't beat the price!
(4)
Jan B.
I love the food here. The chicken burrito is the best among the menus. It is huge portion so you can almost share it with your friend and you will still be full. The one thing that really bothers me whenever I go to this place is that the waiter and the waitress check if we are doing okay almost once in every 5 minutes. Sometimes one person asks and another person comes right away and ask! It makes me really uncomfortable and wonder if they want us to leave.
(4)
Lachandra R.
Haven't seen the manager because he is on the phone at the bar with the homie! I sat here for a hour no management no hospitality food sucked as well..... Don't bother!
(1)
Andrea Marie B.
The food was good and service was ok I felt like it could have been better. They were not busy and I asked for no whip cream and they brought whip cream out on my piña colada and deep fried ice cream. I felt the portion was very small on my ceviche and not worth the $10. I also notice they don't list prices of sides on their menu.
(3)
Rob P.
I love love love Azteca. Sundays are the best! This location has a far better happy hour menu than any of the other locations we have visited!
(5)
Bobbie M.
I am definitely a sucker for the cheese enchiladas and the beans...YUMMM! Went there (again) tonight...we decided on takeout and it was still wonderful as can be. Also eaten and enjoyed were a chili relleno, beef enhilada and beef taco. Everyone full and happy! Thank you for being a restaurant we can always count on!
(4)
Jay V.
Meh. Just good enough to fulfill an appetite. Large plates with plenty of food, reminds me of food portion sizes in the Midwest. Great, friendly staff
(3)
Amy H.
Sadly, Azteca no longer lives up to my childhood expectations. I grew up eating at this chain with my family and I remember it being so much better than what it is now. This is not my first time eating at an Azteca in my adult life, but my first time reviewing. I think I keep waiting for it to be an isolated incident. Last week I met a friend here for lunch and was disappointed by the quality of.. well.. everything we ate (including the basket of chips!). Even the salsa tasted like it came from a jar. My tostada was a big pile of lettuce with a thin layer of refried beans and a few bites of chicken on top of a corn tortilla that was the same bland shell they must use for their table chips. We also ordered a side of guacamole, which I'm pretty sure is what made my stomach sick for the rest of the day. The staff here is so nice, and Hispanic! I only mention the latter because I feel like the food they cook at home and the food they serve here are not the same. Maybe next time I'll bring my own chips (and stick to margaritas).
(2)
Alex B.
Went here yesterday for lunch and the food was good and so was the service with a smile. I had the chicken carnitas. I still think that Las Margaritias is the best Mexican. But Azteca is the second best.
(5)
gretchen m.
I'm writing a good review for Azteca's bar. I would never go into the restaurant. It's dark, dreary and worn looking, with small children screaming. BUT the bar is okay. We have been twice recently as its a good place for a quiet weeknight dinner and catching a game on TV over a margarita. The bartenders are fast, polite and thoughtful. The bean dip in addition to the salsa is a nice treat and very tasty with chips. We've enjoyed ordering the large carne asada platter and splitting it and thinking, this is decent food for gringo-mex style stuff. It's not nearly as good food as our fave mex food trucks, but we can sit with drinks watch football. So, overall the experience in the bar was a positive one. Just don't look at the carpet too closely.
(3)
Jacki R.
Tasteless and overpriced, it's that simple. I will never return and don't recommend coming here.
(1)
Jennifer N.
This place was OK. Ok bordering on bad. I will definitely never be back but it wasn't so horrible that I feel like no one should ever go. I had the chicken fajita quesadilla. ALL of the cheese, chicken, etc was put right in the middle of the quesadilla, so there was 2-3 inches of edges that were just burrito and had no filling. It was also really strange because I ordered first, and then my fiance and mom ordered the same thing as me, saying "I'll have the chicken quesadilla too". But since they didn't say fajita, they got the other kind of chicken quesadilla. Just make sure you are specific when ordering cause apparently a chicken quesadilla and a chicken fajita quesadilla are very different.
(2)
Michelangelo S.
Very First Mexican Restaurant I Hit In Seattle SITREP I guess I have BOTH my mammasita and her brother, my Uncle Gary, to thank for this. This is one of those group-think decisions that everyone can lukewarmly agree upon. And so when I first came to Seattle, this was my first Mexican restaurant experience here. SETUP & CAVEATS To be crystal, Azteca is not really my first choice - or even my second choice - for Mexican cuisine. For the price I'd rather hit POQUITOS on Capitol Hill. For quality I might as well just go to Taco Del Mar just a few blocks away. But then you have to factor in the "ambiance", and when you are dealing with your elders, they like the comfy comfy booth or table seats, the dark semi-intimate semi-romantic environment. And this is probably as good as any place in my history of reviewing to mention first (and I will have to remember it again) that certain demographics truly have conflicting priorities. I have discovered with the "older demographic" relatives in my family: * that the quality of the food sometimes is not NEAR as important as the level of service, * that the touchy-feely nature of the staff, the mood & vibe of the place, etc. etc., can cover up a lot of sins, * and that sometimes the older patrons don't really care if the food is very pricey for the "food-and-drink-products" that are gotten if the server does a dam fine (dare I say fantastic?) job of remembering EVERYONE's name, laugh uproariously at your uncle's jokes, and personally sings to the birthday girl or boy a RESOUNDING SONG! In fact, really, 2 stars alone are fully for the excellent servers and staff at this place. That being said, let's move on.... THE MENU Very good chips and Salsa. Very good cheese enchiladas though the Chili Relleno was a lot more soggy than I would have hoped for (and I'm not being picky when I say "soggy" just so we understand each other - the relleno had no "crispness" in it's entire infrastructure of pepperness). QUESTO DIP! MUY BUENO!!! I do have to rave about the Azteca Queso dip here (full star for this!). It is one of the best. [You ever have those moments when you wish you could build your own Mexican (or whatever general overall cuisine-themed establishment) by taking the better "pieces" of each restaurant and putting them all together to make an outstanding restaurant? Azteca Queso dip would be the one item I would definitely extract from here.] THE LOWDOWN I see this establishment as 3.5 Star rating, but I'm feeling generous because I'm drinking a DAM GOOD MOCHA at the moment and I feel good, so I will round up to 4 STARS. I know I will be back at Azteca for another family get-together and that's okay - just not something I will rave about.
(4)
Christine R.
I love that they bring you chips and salsa the nanosecond you sit down. I love that when I ordered a margarita, they IDed me. I love that when my drivers licence was lodged in my wallet, the server waited and waited for me to take it out, then studied it like she was going to be quizzed on it. It's fun to be IDed when you're 3- (never mind)! I love that I ordered a "small" margarita and when they brought it, it was the size of a small bucket! "What does a large look like?" I asked the server. I love that I ordered Tacos El Pastor from the "Lite Menu" and got a serving-tray size of food that looked like it might feed a small Mexican town: three big tacos piled with porky goodness, refried beans, rice, and more fresh salsa. Did I mention it was fun getting IDed? Heck, I tipped them extra! I love you America, even if I worry about your portion sizes.
(4)
Yah Babo D.
The service was good. The waiter came and got our large beers within minutes of arriving at the table and being seated. Food was pretty good. I had the deluxe taco salad while the other guys had mixed plates of numerous items. All in all we were stuffed and happy with the service, food amount, and taste.
(4)
Chase L.
I grew up going to Azteca with my family and for a while they lost their way but being back after about 5 years I have noticed much improvements. I mean they have lamb shank and scallops on their menu, which is impressive for a chain restaurant. I will be going back very soon, this Azteca throws down in the kitchen and stands up to any other Mexican place around here. Enough said!
(4)
Sonya L.
This Azteca is fine. I prefer the Mountlake Terrace location, just for the friendlier waiters, but this place is okay. And yes, I think Azteca food is just fine, thank you. It's not some sort of fancy regional Mexican food, obviously, but it is standard Americanized Mexican food that is pretty darn tasty if you ask me. I usually get a chicken tostada, which is super good and covered in lots of cheese, lettuce, and guacamole (if you request it - costs a bit more). The Arroz con Pollo is also a good choice. Prices are high for some items, but the portion size is huge. It's easy to walk away with a day or two worth of leftovers. I love their salsa here and I can easily eat the entire bowl of chips myself.
(3)
Anthony S.
Been here three separate times, each time disappointed... The tacoma location puts this place to shame! When ever I order something on the cheaper side in the bar (when not happy hour) the asian man whos taking my order, looked at me crazy like he didnt hear me right and suggested that I ordered one of the premium drinks. Mulitple times I had to correct him then just ordered water... He understood that
(1)
Alice C.
American Mexican is a guilty pleasure food. It's comforting, I know what to expect, and I'm a sucker for chips and salsa. Azteca is god for groups and is good for little kids. I also recently found out they do take out, and quickly. I called last night, placed an order, and by the time I got to Northgate Mall and parked, it was ready and waiting (chips and salsa complimentary with the meal, droooooool). Kinda pricey for all the rice and beans, but going out to anywhere but McDonalds nowadays is going to be a decent chunk of change. The teenage hostess looked at me a little strangely until I explained the reason I had stoner eyes was because of an optometrists appointment where my pupils had been dilated. And my food was still warm by the time I made it home.
(4)
Michael G.
It's attached to Northgate Mall; that should tell you what you need to know. The service was fair, my server was unable to really speak English, so that caused some problems. Beer choices are few and typico Mexican beers. Prices seem high for what you get. The bathrooms are large and clean. Good job.
(2)
Nick E.
Meh, it's kinda nice to have this type of Mexican restaurant close by my apartment, but it's really nothing to write home about. Pretty bland.
(3)
Tres B.
Its not authentic, but is a reasonable facsimile. I had a combinacion, a beef enchilada, a beef taco and chicken tamale. All were average and a bit under spiced, the rice and beans were deeply sub par. Listless and bland. My 1+ had scallops and mushrooms which she enjoyed but were drenched in butter. She raved, however, over the raspberry margarita. The highlight of the food might be the red and (if you ask) green salsa, fresh and with plenty of cilantro.. The service was outstanding, from the warm greeting to the punctuality and friendly smiles...the attentive check backs. While overall I find the food too touristy and sedate, the service is so great it makes the experience worthwhile.
(3)
Flora C.
Good food Great service Nice environment
(3)
Amy M.
Azteca is mediocre mexican food. I'm not a huge fan but my husband loves Azteca so I support him with his poor food choices and we visit this location often. And thank goodness we ALWAYS have coupons so it definitely softens the blow. I like the decor and music they play. We're always greeted with chips & salsa as soon as we sit down and the food comes out quickly. Though I have never encountered any problems with the wait staff, they aren't very warm and inviting. No chit chat there just work! One thing I have noticed over my last few trips there is the manager is a huge slacker. It's the younger, good looking gentleman with slacks and a dress shirt. We sat in the bar one time and he was in there almost the whole time we were there sitting at the bar with two young ladies and after they left he stood in there and watched soccer on the TVs. Now the last time we we're there he kept popping his head in and out of the kitchen. Then walked over to a table, sat down and started playing on his phone. After a few minutes went back into the kitchen then came out with a straw hanging out of his mouth, chewing on it. And then sat back down at the table and got back on his phone. This guy really bothers me. Maybe that's why the employees are so blah. They have a manager that doesn't work (at least every time I'm there).
(3)
Vinny B.
This place sucks! The chips were stale and the salsa definately came from a jar. I ordered the lamb shank and it was absolutely tasteless. I was hoping for a sweet ending to a terrible meal and ordered the deep fried ice cream. The flyer on the table states that the deep fried ice cream was crunchy - but because it was premade and placed in the freezer - the crust was soggy and gross. This is an item that should be made to order. I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone1
(1)
Craig M.
Azteca at Northgate is fine. Not great and not bad, either, but a little better than most "Mexican" food places of its ilk--you know, the Americanized Mexican food chains. This is better than most of those places but nothing spectacular. It's the kind of place that if I'm in the Northgate area and have a hankering for Mexican food, that's where I'll go because I know that I'll get decent food and decent service consistently. But I surely would not drive out of my way to get there and have found a couple of other, more authentic, Mexican food places that are a bit more of a drive from my home but have better food. I do like the food portions because my wife and I will get two plates, share with the 8 and 5 year old kids, and it all works out great. But I don't recommend the margaritas unless you like them syrupy sweet.
(3)
Dean L.
Not too bad! It tastes more authentic than I think most people are used to. The robust flavors of Tex-Mex aren't here. Having said that, it's a great place to go for good, real Mexican food. I'd go back.
(4)
Joe C.
Girl, that bean dip is spicy!
(3)
Stephanie G.
You get lots of food here and it's not too pricey. Our waitress was very nice. She messed up my drink order by bringing out the larger margarita, but comped it since I asked for the regular size. At the end of the meal we felt forgot about, but it seemed to have gotten busy. At one point she took my water and never replaced it...but I did have that margarita to drink. They bring out free chips and salsa, yum! My friend ate quite a few of them and they had no problem bringing out more. I would go again, but I would hope that the service was more on top of things.
(4)
Jodi D.
We had a meal at the restaurant tonight. The bean dip was yummy, the chips warm/delicious, and my taco salad, so big I couldn't finish. We were fully satisfied with our meal and with the servers. We have to give a special commendation to the two servers who helped us when our 1.5 year old son decided to humiliate me beyond anything I've ever dealt with and have a massive accident in his high chair, then got it on me and the booth seat. I had to wrap him in a blanket and make a mad dash to the changing room, wash him off, and try to salvage the situation. I can't explain how sorry I am for this happening, and I want to thank the waitress who was so incredibly gracious. I also apologize to any other customers who may have complained because of us and the smell. There are no words for how utterly sorry and embarassed I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the two waiters who continued to serve us when we were oblivious to what our son was doing (my husband has no sense of smell whatsoever due to a surgery accident years ago, and I didn't even catch a whiff). May I repeat that I am very embarassed to have caused that awful situation and I wish there were a way I could personally express my apology to the servers who helped us and to any other customers who were very inconvenienced because of us. Thank you to the servers for handling it very professionally and not adding to my abject humiliation.
(5)
Allie S.
I end up here once a year. My grandma's birthday is December 26th and a few years ago I started the tradition of reserving a table for an all family birthday party at one of her favorite restaurants, good ol' Azteca. They've always been incredibly accommodating to deal with our party of 15 - 25 [depending on the year!] and the food is generally tolerable. I mostly give them props for putting up with us, as they handle large groups well so if you're looking for somewhat generic non-offensive food that requires a bit more spice [aka, something the geriatric crowd will be content with] Azteca is awesome. If you want something with more flavor... well, you may want to keep looking. Extra love for the fact they make my grandma wear a ridiculous sombrero as they sing happy birthday -- that's worth a star or two alone!
(3)
Ashley L.
When I moved to Seattle, this was mistakenly the first Mexican restaurant I tried. I have never been more disappointed by Mexican food. I ordered the chicken mole. The chicken was way dried out and the mole was pretty clearly some crap from a jar. Also, I was upset that they didn't have a spicier salsa available. The service was the only saving grace. If you want a cheap and easy restaurant experience without a lot of love in your food, give it a shot, but, if you're looking for Mexican food, stay away.
(1)
Aria D.
Food was just okay and the service was okay as well. The server never once checked on us to make sure we were doing alright and we had to wait forever to pay. Definitely will not be going back
(2)
Kellie C.
Realiably good food, large portions, good service, awesome drinks.
(4)
Shari d.
So is this gourmet Mexican food...absolutely not. It is pretty darn generic if you ask me...but I am OK with that. Sometimes I just want some generic Mexican food - so we go to Azteca. I ordered a 2 item combo so I could have left overs for lunch the next day. Rice and beans were your normal fare, tamale and Chile relleno were decent. All in all I think the price was a little over $12 and I had enough food for 2 - 3 meals. My dining counterparts also experienced the same thing...your average food with a decent price. One thing that I did notice is that the portion size seems to have gotten bigger. My boyfriend ordered the carnitas burrito and the thing came on what looked like a pizza platter. If you want gourmet go somewhere else...if you just want to get your rice and bean fix then come here.
(3)
Gavin N.
The last time I came here was with some friends after a nice long run around Green Lake. We figured what better way to celebrate a good exercise than shovel down some fatty Mexican food shortly after. Anyway, service at Azteca has always been pretty good, and this Azteca location is no exception. The food is also standard, all your basic American-ized Mexican Cuisine...although I feel Azteca makes their food a bit more greasy/cheesy than other joints, and definitely more salty. It just might be that their food is a bit more processed/pre-prepared than the other Mexican restaurants around the area. That and I'm sure it sells beer and margaritas pretty well. Azteca is definitely not one of my favorite Mexican places to visit (personally I like the mom-pop run places), but they are in the entertainment book, and still a decent option. ~G
(3)
Melissa S.
Hubs and I just moved to Northgate and really wanted to like this place - local, inexpensive mexican food. However, first impressions are lasting impressions and we have not and will not spend a dime here. We attempted to come here on Cinco de Mayo, with a great understanding that they were busy and didn't have much expectations. The bar was full, but the hostess said they had happy hour in the whole restaurant. Score! However, after the first waitress stopped by I asked to look over the happy hour menu. She replied "ugh..hmm...hold on..". She never came back. The second waiter came by ten minutes later and asked if we needed anything. I said I just want to look at the happy hour menu. He gave me the same reply. He came back after 5 minutes and said they don't serve happy hour food in the restaurant. I explained the the hostess had told me otherwise, and he offered that I spoke with a manager. Hoping to have success with getting a happy hour menu, I agreed. Ten minutes later the manager came by and asked if we need anything. I said I just want to look at the happy hour menu. He said they don't serve happy hour food in the restaurant. I explained how the hostess had told me otherwise and that the bar was full anyway. He said he could find us a spot in the bar - hello - it was full! I said it's been 30 minutes already, we don't want to wait any longer. And he said ok. Bye. It seems like they don't have an appreciation for impressions or customers. Therefore, we will never come back to waste our time again. We had no problem at Jalisco's at Lake City!
(1)
Brad A.
I think what I like about this place is that it's so roomy and there's parking (it's in the Northgate Mall). So, parking is not an issue. I live in the Green Lake area, so it's close to me and I can have a couple of margaritas and not worry about traveling too far to get home. And, the margaritas are what I love there. I could...and have...just gone there for the margaritas and have chips and salsa. Get ripped. Walk around in the mall, before I go home. I've never had trouble getting seated there, because the place is so big. And, I have gone there for lunch and dinner (while shopping before or after, at the mall). It's moderately priced, for Seattle, and there are always chips and salsa served quickly; and, I usually like to get a shredded beef chimichanga (no cheese or sour cream for me) and it always comes with rice and beans. And the service is pretty good, they appreciate my dry sense of humour (and so there are only a few places I can safely reveal that...this is one).
(4)
Kate B.
Very mediocre Mexican food. Chips that taste like they come out of a bag, and salsa out of a jar. That being said, the food is halfway decent and the lunch menu is very cheap. I had the lunch portion of fajitas and the lunch portion is very generous. I could have made three overflowing tacos but I felt full after two. My mom had the tostadas and commented that there was very little meat on them. The service was also so-so. We came in around 2 PM on a weekday and they were very empty, yet we had to wait ages to get our order in. We only visited because it was convenient to where we already were. Probably won't bother coming again.
(2)
Matt B.
After 2 online complaints to Azteca, absolutely no response from them. Hard to believe that a company would not respond to a customer after 2 complaints. What a disappointment!
(1)
David O.
This restaurant needs to get a better hostess. she is not doing her job she is always in the kitchen and all the customers waiting to be seater . Please get someone who really needs the job and with a smile, friendly .
(1)
Peter S.
Good lunch menu but too expensie for dinner. Excellent service and I love their salsa! Convenient location too outside of the mall.....
(3)
Daniel O.
I like Azteca Great and fast service, great food, authentic look to the restaurant. Overall a place I would recommend. They serve chips and salsa within 30 seconds of you sitting down and they take your orders quick. I believe the food is great! Tacos are good and also there Molcajete. I am not sure why a lot of people are saying this is a bad restaurant. I go here at least once a week with my girlfriend and we have never had a problem
(4)
Ron D.
What a disappointment. Wife's chicken fajitas tasted like a burnt grill. My burrito had very little meat in it. We are still looking for a good Mexican restaurant.
(1)
Israel M.
I had the most uncomfortable dining experience at this restaurant. My boyfriend and I as well as our friend went out to eat for happy hour upon walking in we weren't greeted by the hostess, when we asked for a menu the hostess was very rude and acted as if we had just asked her to perform a physically demanding job that required all of her energy. When we went to go and sit down the waiter answered our questions very rudely and was extremely short. When we were served our food we were extremely disappointed in our waiters lack of checking on us and replenishing our chips and water. Eventually the manager came out and took over for our waiter because he went on break. I would say we all caught a lucky break because he was decent service. All I know is we are not coming back to Azteca.
(1)
Laurie O.
Food is typical mainstream mexican, not super authentic, but A for effort! The place is big enough for large dinners and the staff is always nice. Pretty much anything you order on the menu will come out tasty--except for the lamb shank! The happy hour is really good, too! Don't expect authenticity, but its good for American taste buds without the heat.
(3)
Jenifer B.
My experience was fantastic. The food sizzles and was excellent. My server was upbeat and attentive. I Will for Sure be back with friends and family.
(5)
Michelle E.
All day happy hour on Sundays, baby. Can't beat that. My only beef with this Azteca is... it's at THE MALL (**cough) and you feel like you're sitting in the concrete parking lot.
(3)
August B.
I don't even know what to say. I ordered something off the menu and what came bore no relation at all to the name of the dish. It was as if I had ordered a ham sandwich and they brought me a carburetor. Clearly nobody in the Azteca group has dared venture anywhere near Mexico. They might as well serve Chinese food.
(1)
cher t.
i've gone here a few times with my family and they're not bad . the service is good . servers always check up on us and make us feel welcomed . i like the ambiance of feeling like you're outdoors .. and the food is delicious . no complaints here . as a matter of fact i'm going back tomorrow haha . its good eatin when you come here .
(4)
Jill S.
I've eaten at this Azteca several times. None of the meals have been particularly good. They also haven't been particularly bad. I guess that's why I keep returning. It's never on purpose--it's usually because I'm already at the mall and can't decide what to eat. The service is nice, the restaurant is clean and the menu is pretty large. The food is ho-hum, not super flavorful, but it's presented nicely. One bit of advice: don't order the rellenos. They have this heavy, greasy coating that oozes oil when you bite into it--pretty yucky,
(2)
Rob B.
Good quick place... I have been to Mexi Restaurants and some of them have been nasty, expired food tasted like. Azteca is consistent and they rotate the food
(4)
Elizabeth A.
food is ok , but i rather go to other mexican restaurants. the service is not that great and the prices are too high
(2)
Delilah R.
I hate you Northgate AZTECA!! I've been here twice and will never go again. This place puts "second chances" to shame. Long story short. The first time I came here, my food was sent back three times because the order was completely wrong and mixed up. I ended up not eating because before they could even get it right, my girl had already finished her meal. When I confronted the manager about it, he apologized and said that he hoped to see us back. Second trip was basically the same thing only this time, there was a drink involved with flat soda. Their syrup was running out and I finally gave up on having food or drink. When I asked that our bill be comped for the food I did not touch, the Manager handed me a card and said that next time I could have a free entree. I left the card on the table with the unpaid bill. When the Manager asked me why I used it this time, I told him it was because I never planned on coming back and all he said was thank you for coming in. Wow.
(1)
Elise L.
Why yes, I happen to be another one of those dragged to Azteca by a family member while doing errands in the area, despite my recommendations for other restaurants in the area. In this particular case, it was my dad who felt like having Mexican food. Knowing that it was highly unlikely to stand up to the standards of his favorite place back home, I warned him that he might be disappointed, but went along anyway. I mean, how badly could they screw it up? This is utterly bland, bland stuff dressed up to fit middle America's idea of "Mexican Food." Seriously, I wasn't expecting there to be any heat in any of the dishes, but apparently any flavor beyond "salty" is too much to ask for as well. Bizarrely, the chicken and vegetable dish I ordered was heavy on the chicken, but almost entirely lacking in vegetables. Knowing that chicken breast costs a bit more than your average onion, I'm not entirely sure what the logic there is... maybe they figure customers will feel like they're getting a better deal by skimping on the veggies in favor of meat? Joy of joys, they also will do the sombrero singing thing. As in, if you really want to humiliate your friends or relatives, you can take them here on their birthdays for dinner and the wait staff will come out, put a giant hat on them and sing. Your 8 year old might love it. Your 13 year old will look about like the boy I saw there that night, bright red and wishing he could melt into the floor and highly unlikely to speak to anyone in his immediate family for a week.
(1)
Robbie T.
Horrible experience! What's sad is that most people in Seattle refer to this place as "The Best" mexican food around. I'm from San Diego, and this place was so bad, I couldn't even finish anything. What was the biggest disapointment was the horrible fried icecream! Who screws up icecream? Seriously, it tasted like stale icecream rolled up into even staler (is that even a word??) corn flakes. Sad.
(1)
Stephanie P.
I was excited when my mom came up to visit for the weekend --- my first official houseguest since moving to Seattle. With so many great dining options, it would be hard to choose the very best local place to take her out --- would it be conveyor-belt sushi? Hot 'n' steamy pho, with cream puffs for dessert? Or something truly exotic that neither of us had ever even tried before? "Ooh, what's this Azteca place?" said my mom as we drove past Northgate Mall. "That looks good!" Sigh. Now, Mexican food is not my favorite, but I tried to give the place a fair shake anyway. After all, it's not necessarily bad that it's a chain restaurant attached to a mall, right? It could still have great service, fair prices, maybe even a specialty dish or a fancy drink with an embarrassing name. Who knows. Open mind. "Hola senoritas, como estan?" said the host when we walked in. Confused --- I could answer him in Spanish, but should I? Was this actually an authentic Mexican restaurant and I had been misinformed? --- I just gawked at him, and he switched to English. "Party of two? Follow me, please." We went through the same ritual with the waiter, who greeted us in Spanish, then after a just-long-enough-to-be-awkward pause, repeated himself in English. But why? If I'm not Hispanic and the server isn't Hispanic, why are we speaking high-school Spanish to each other in a restaurant? If this was some kind of stab at authenticity, it failed --- I just found it distracting and weird. Anyway, the food was okay but nothing special. Chips and salsa arrive at your table soon after you do, but the salsa is fairly hot and the water service is slow. My boiling-hot chicken enchilada was heavy on the cheese, and while the rice was decent, the beans were congealed and mushy and not really worth eating. My mom had the same and seemed content with hers. For dessert, I had the sweet corn tamalito, which arrived wrapped in a corn husk. It was a bit too sticky/clumpy and sort of grainy compared to others I've had, and I don't think I'd get it again. My mom's flan seemed okay, as far as flan goes --- it arrived on a plate festively splashed with different sauces, which was kind of fun. The prices seemed pretty reasonable, with dinner entrees ranging from $8-15, most around $12. Our dinner and dessert was just over $20, which seemed about right for forgettable food and not-great service. My mom was happy, so I guess it was a success, but if you're looking to wow out-of-town guests with Seattle dining, keep driving right past Azteca.
(3)
Sharon K.
I had the chimichanga and I thought it was okay. It wasn't too heavy or greasy imo. They served it with a huge dallop of guacamole and a another huge dallop of sour cream. Ohhh calories galore! I don't care much for the rice and beans though. Mexican food is not really one of my favorite foods so if I was to have it, I'd prefer authentic, tastier places. Although I don't crave the main dishes as much, I do love the desserts! The fried ice cream is awesome! The service was ehhh. The food came out quick and they refilled our drinks without a problem. It did take a long time to get the check though and no one noticed that we left. They didn't work very hard for the tip we left behind.
(3)
Angie K.
Yeah, it's fine. I was at the mall on a Sunday and had an hour to kill, so I stopped in for a drink and found out they have happy hour all day! score!! And the bar food was fine. I have eaten dinner there in the past and had a below average experience, but that was years ago. I mean, it's Azteca. It is what it is.
(3)
Val T.
Azteca, I blame you for my obsession/addiction to Meixcan Food. Mom, I blame you, too. As a child, I remember frequent trips to Azteca for birthdays, sport-trophy parties, graduations, random dinners when my dad was too lazy to cook (my mom doesnt go near the kitchen), or when my mom was just outright demanding that we eat Mexican food-- It made me a Happy Child everytime we came here. I would order the same thing (Two Chicken Enchiladas) until I was about 14.. But then I went through that whole "I am going to be a Vegetarian" Phase when I went on to order the Veggie Fajitas in hopes of saving the animals. Nowadays, I order the steak fajitas. Straight up. When they bring out chips and salsa, ask politley for "picadillo" salsa, its fresh and tastes better. The arroz con pollo and fajitas and their chicken tortilla soup are godsends. Its a great place for birthdays if you like getting whipped cream on your face, wearing a sombrerro and then having a poloroid taken to remember it. Azteca is classic, good Americanized Mexican food, and I love and appreciate it for being just that.
(3)
Holly L.
My family loves Azteca. It has become one of those weird family holiday traditions where my grandparents love to go to get photos in sombreros. The food here, decent. In general, I am not a fan of Azteca, but his particular location has always been good. I live very close and my son loves the place (must be the chips and salsa and free dessert with his meal). I always get the tortilla soup which is hard to do wrong, so maybe because we order easy, the visits are good. My food is always brought out incredibly fast as well. Four stars may seem high, but I am giving this Azteca four stars in comparison to the others, they all get 2.
(4)
Poppy C.
The cheese in my enchilada -- was it velveeta? A strange clump in the rice -- too afraid to go there. Surly waitress, no chipolte sauce. Will the margarita make everything better? No!
(1)
akil s.
I'm in my 30's now and have been coming here since highschool it's a comforting place to be and I feel I have always gotten good service the food is always satisfactory, and you can grab a mint on the way out.
(3)
Roxy Z.
Did not have a good experience with service. In terms of food this location and the UVill one are similar- average mexican food. But if you want a better dining experience, go to the the one by UVill! The staff who work at the Northgate location are a lot slower and definitely not nice.
(2)
Monika M.
Margaritas were good although no prices on the drink menu is slightly annoying. Mariscos Moja de Ajo are good here (tried at other restaruants). The chips and salsa were good. The waitress was good. Although "a chain" it is a WA based so sort of local...consistent... Good=4stars
(4)
Wesh W.
Reliable -if bland & hopelessly inauthentic- Mexican food. I'm convinced food like this comes out of a pipe in New Jersey and is trucked in barrels to chain Mexican restaurants all across America.
(3)
Michael L.
By no means is this what I'm used to as "authentic" Mexican food, but that doesn't stop me from coming here once or twice a month. The food is good, the wait staff friendly and can't remember ever having a problem with my order in three years. It's reached the point where many of the wait staff know me by sight and know who I am frequently there with. The only reason this place hasn't received five stars from me is because of the new law requiring them to post the nutritional information... Yowza! Make the food a little less terrible for me, and I'll be sure to upgrade it to five stars! That is also why my visits have dropped to about once every other month.
(4)
David M.
OK, I should have known better but tried it anyway. Yuk... terrible and the very nice waiter kept sneezing every time he came to the table, he is probably allergic to bad food.
(1)
Joolie T.
oh, the many times i've been here for chimichangas and enchiladas. this is not your authentic ol' Mexican cuisine. however, it's not HORRIBLE. seriously, Seattle has a lot of amazing Mexican joints in the city. we're just too lazy sometimes and "oh!!! it's right there by the mall!". the platters are huge. too huge. i love that you can order hot tortillas (probably the ones from Safeway or something... doesn't seem freshly made) and wrap up anything you order in them. that's how i roll. i order a Chicken Caesar salad and wrap it up. order rice & beans w/ extra pico de gallo and cheese... wrap that up, too.
(3)
Kaylene C.
OK so I grew up in a mostly Mexican neighborhood and was raised on REAL Mexican food so YES I know Azteca isn't considered authentic but it's still tasty food at reasonable prices. This location has friendly staff, at least when we were there, they were kind to the kiddos which is a big plus for me. We got our food in good time, everyone enjoyed it so like I said, I know it's not authentic-straight-outta-Guadalajara but hey I can cook that any time at home and any time I can get out of cooking is a-ok with me!
(4)
Brendan B.
It won't offend anyone. Service is fine, margaritas are fine, portions are fine. Food is bland, salsa's watery and bland. It's hard to mess up a burrito/taco/quesidilla, and they don't. Stick with these ameri-mexi standards and you'll be fine. Be prepared for tough asada and bland sauces if you venture out of this area.
(2)
Bonsai A.
This a great happy hour place. The food on the bar menu is great if you're not a serious mexican food connoisseur, and prices are reasonable. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, though I tend to prefer more intimate, closed settings. I like the staff there, very friendly and attentive. My rating really only applies to this restaurant as a happy hour location, I think I would rate it a "3" for casual family dining.
(4)
Pablo G.
I'm Mexican and I prefer Taco Bell...
(1)
Jean C.
Stopped there with girlfriend as we were starving after shopping. Ordered margaretta and lunch. The waiter was nice but not overly concerned to check back with us. Took over 20 minutes to get our lame drinks. Lunch came and absolutely the worst Mexican food possible - just ordered two beef tacos -shells were stale and the meat had to be the cheapest grade - couldn't eat - still cost with tip $43.67 for my girlfriend and me - the manager must be getting a kick back or pocketing some of the money when ordering subpar ingredients - DON'T GO THERE EVER!!! - would recommend Jalisco's off Lake City and 125TH - great service and delicious food every time.
(1)
Kristie L.
This place is perfect for the kind of people who go to Benihana and think they're eating Japanese food.
(1)
Ducky M.
Azteca is Azteca. Nothing new here. Everytime I visit, it's seems like the menu is looking more like a Denny's menu with all of it "flash" and corporate feel. For me, Azteca is where I go when it's super convenient, I'm near the mall and it's happy hour (which never seems to work out), or the great places are closed. This last visit things were pretty decent and the service at this location was very good.
(3)
Ass Man Z.
Mexican Friday's.
(2)
Queen B.
Best Mexican Restaurant in Seattle as far as everything @ this locale anyway, Food is always amazing so are the drinks & customer service. Gets pretty packed on weekend nights.
(5)
Pano E.
Great service and excellent food. The new menu items are a good value for the quality and quantity.
(5)
John N.
I've been to a few of the Azteca Restuarants and this is the only one that I've liked. The service is very good even though this place is always packed. Chorizo Con Huevos FTW! It's one of the few Mexican dishes I've had in Seattle that even comes close to authentic (the Tacos Guaymos in Lynwood, Jalisco's don't recall the location and a taco bus on Ranier Ave are the others). They also lose points on their chocolate mousse. It's not bad, it's just taht it used to be SO much better.
(4)
Tarewyn M.
Hmmm...pretty decent food. Slow, but amiable service. Good prices, hot salty crispy tortilla chips. For a mall chain it wasn't bad, nothing to write home about. My main issue was the childrens ghetto feel to the back of the restaurnat. All the tables up front were empty yet four families ( with small well behaved and mostly quiet children) were crammed into booths as far away from the rest of the tables as possible. Now, I realize children in restaurants can be a problem ( mine certainly can be) However, most places are a little bit more sublte about keeping families in one general area and reserving a few quieter smaller tables for couples etc... Also, if you are going to have high chairs, a children's menu and kid attracting vending machines in the restaurant it would seem that you are welcoming children. Make up your mind Azteca do you want kids and families in your restaurant or not?
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: A family enterprise that began in Burien, where I once dined, at the suggestion of friends, over a decade ago. This visit, too, my first to the Northgate Azteca, was at the suggestion - and craving - of our house guest. Type of cuisine: "Marketed as a family restaurant, Azteca Restaurant Enterprises, Inc. features a wide selection of authentic Mexican fare including a variety of Mexican salads, soups, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, and a "Little Amigo™ " menu, specifically designed for children, all served in a warm Hacienda-style atmosphere. Responding to changing lifestyles, Azteca features a broad range of non-alcoholic beverages, and entrees available for those watching calories, featuring Broiled Chicken Breasts served with Rancho (colesterol-free) beans." Ambiance: True to it's heritage, the spanish-tiled floors and brightly colored walls welcome patrons to the grand, expansive space. Red and green chairs are set beside red-trimmed tables, booths also available for window dining. A true family-friendly establishment with an extensive menu, it's ease and simplicity are sure to draw many through its doors. What I ordered: On this visit, after our chips and salsa, I enjoyed the Mariscos Mojo de Ajo ($17.99): shrimp sautéed with mushrooms in Azteca's slightly spicy garlic chile butter. My husband and our house-guest each selected the Carne Asada ($16.99 each): thinly sliced, seasoned skirt steak, "carefully charbroiled to perfection" and garnished with whole green onions, fried jalapeño pepper and guacamole. Each entrée was served with Mexican (or white) rice, refried beans (or black or rancho), with the customer's choice of flour or corn tortillas. What I loved: Shrimp and mushrooms in that garlic buttery chile sauce. Oh yeah. Why I loved it: Large portions, extensive menu, vibrant setting. Cost: Average ($11.99 - $17.99 per entrée)
(3)Baron M.
Food was okay. Margarita was okay. The waiter was okay. It's a Mexican restaurant in a mall, I was not expecting mind-blowing quality. BUT: After I signed and paid the bill, the waiter came back with a $4 higher bill because he said he made a mistake. Now $4 is not a big deal, but I thought it was rather tactless and rude of them. To pay a little extra for a meal that was already well overpriced (considering the quality) was insulting. I will never return to this place. When you feel a craving for Mexican food at the mall, just stick to Taco Bell.
(2)Ravish R.
Good food. Very courteous service. You can try Lamb Shank. The fried ice-cream is great too. I often visit this place to try mexican food.
(5)Sheri F.
I've been here a couple times. The overall experience is 3 stars. The service is decent. None of the staff has been memorable. The food is super Americanized and average. The portions are big on most entrees. The lunch menu is cheap. I've had to wait for the hostess a few times as they appear to not be with the program. The decor is just OK. Nothing memorable, with simple tile, inexpensive furniture and loud Latin music. I've been to other Azteca locations that have much better service and ambiance, but the food is always the same. Other locations have been really fast, sometimes lightning fast at seating, taking orders and bringing out the food. This location is either a bit slow or average. There is a lot of parking at this mall, but it's generally full on the weekends when I'm there. Finding a spot close to Azteca usually doesn't happen. Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Parking: 2
(3)kurt w.
I haven't eaten in the restaurant for a couple of years, but the happy hour in the bar is a great deal, which I do frequently! Big macho margaritas, and a good assortment of appetizers that are all reasonably priced. I give them a 4 star just because it isn't the best mexican place I've eaten at, but the food is always good, and you can't beat the price!
(4)Jan B.
I love the food here. The chicken burrito is the best among the menus. It is huge portion so you can almost share it with your friend and you will still be full. The one thing that really bothers me whenever I go to this place is that the waiter and the waitress check if we are doing okay almost once in every 5 minutes. Sometimes one person asks and another person comes right away and ask! It makes me really uncomfortable and wonder if they want us to leave.
(4)Lachandra R.
Haven't seen the manager because he is on the phone at the bar with the homie! I sat here for a hour no management no hospitality food sucked as well..... Don't bother!
(1)Andrea Marie B.
The food was good and service was ok I felt like it could have been better. They were not busy and I asked for no whip cream and they brought whip cream out on my piña colada and deep fried ice cream. I felt the portion was very small on my ceviche and not worth the $10. I also notice they don't list prices of sides on their menu.
(3)Rob P.
I love love love Azteca. Sundays are the best! This location has a far better happy hour menu than any of the other locations we have visited!
(5)Bobbie M.
I am definitely a sucker for the cheese enchiladas and the beans...YUMMM! Went there (again) tonight...we decided on takeout and it was still wonderful as can be. Also eaten and enjoyed were a chili relleno, beef enhilada and beef taco. Everyone full and happy! Thank you for being a restaurant we can always count on!
(4)Jay V.
Meh. Just good enough to fulfill an appetite. Large plates with plenty of food, reminds me of food portion sizes in the Midwest. Great, friendly staff
(3)Amy H.
Sadly, Azteca no longer lives up to my childhood expectations. I grew up eating at this chain with my family and I remember it being so much better than what it is now. This is not my first time eating at an Azteca in my adult life, but my first time reviewing. I think I keep waiting for it to be an isolated incident. Last week I met a friend here for lunch and was disappointed by the quality of.. well.. everything we ate (including the basket of chips!). Even the salsa tasted like it came from a jar. My tostada was a big pile of lettuce with a thin layer of refried beans and a few bites of chicken on top of a corn tortilla that was the same bland shell they must use for their table chips. We also ordered a side of guacamole, which I'm pretty sure is what made my stomach sick for the rest of the day. The staff here is so nice, and Hispanic! I only mention the latter because I feel like the food they cook at home and the food they serve here are not the same. Maybe next time I'll bring my own chips (and stick to margaritas).
(2)Alex B.
Went here yesterday for lunch and the food was good and so was the service with a smile. I had the chicken carnitas. I still think that Las Margaritias is the best Mexican. But Azteca is the second best.
(5)gretchen m.
I'm writing a good review for Azteca's bar. I would never go into the restaurant. It's dark, dreary and worn looking, with small children screaming. BUT the bar is okay. We have been twice recently as its a good place for a quiet weeknight dinner and catching a game on TV over a margarita. The bartenders are fast, polite and thoughtful. The bean dip in addition to the salsa is a nice treat and very tasty with chips. We've enjoyed ordering the large carne asada platter and splitting it and thinking, this is decent food for gringo-mex style stuff. It's not nearly as good food as our fave mex food trucks, but we can sit with drinks watch football. So, overall the experience in the bar was a positive one. Just don't look at the carpet too closely.
(3)Jacki R.
Tasteless and overpriced, it's that simple. I will never return and don't recommend coming here.
(1)Jennifer N.
This place was OK. Ok bordering on bad. I will definitely never be back but it wasn't so horrible that I feel like no one should ever go. I had the chicken fajita quesadilla. ALL of the cheese, chicken, etc was put right in the middle of the quesadilla, so there was 2-3 inches of edges that were just burrito and had no filling. It was also really strange because I ordered first, and then my fiance and mom ordered the same thing as me, saying "I'll have the chicken quesadilla too". But since they didn't say fajita, they got the other kind of chicken quesadilla. Just make sure you are specific when ordering cause apparently a chicken quesadilla and a chicken fajita quesadilla are very different.
(2)Michelangelo S.
Very First Mexican Restaurant I Hit In Seattle SITREP I guess I have BOTH my mammasita and her brother, my Uncle Gary, to thank for this. This is one of those group-think decisions that everyone can lukewarmly agree upon. And so when I first came to Seattle, this was my first Mexican restaurant experience here. SETUP & CAVEATS To be crystal, Azteca is not really my first choice - or even my second choice - for Mexican cuisine. For the price I'd rather hit POQUITOS on Capitol Hill. For quality I might as well just go to Taco Del Mar just a few blocks away. But then you have to factor in the "ambiance", and when you are dealing with your elders, they like the comfy comfy booth or table seats, the dark semi-intimate semi-romantic environment. And this is probably as good as any place in my history of reviewing to mention first (and I will have to remember it again) that certain demographics truly have conflicting priorities. I have discovered with the "older demographic" relatives in my family: * that the quality of the food sometimes is not NEAR as important as the level of service, * that the touchy-feely nature of the staff, the mood & vibe of the place, etc. etc., can cover up a lot of sins, * and that sometimes the older patrons don't really care if the food is very pricey for the "food-and-drink-products" that are gotten if the server does a dam fine (dare I say fantastic?) job of remembering EVERYONE's name, laugh uproariously at your uncle's jokes, and personally sings to the birthday girl or boy a RESOUNDING SONG! In fact, really, 2 stars alone are fully for the excellent servers and staff at this place. That being said, let's move on.... THE MENU Very good chips and Salsa. Very good cheese enchiladas though the Chili Relleno was a lot more soggy than I would have hoped for (and I'm not being picky when I say "soggy" just so we understand each other - the relleno had no "crispness" in it's entire infrastructure of pepperness). QUESTO DIP! MUY BUENO!!! I do have to rave about the Azteca Queso dip here (full star for this!). It is one of the best. [You ever have those moments when you wish you could build your own Mexican (or whatever general overall cuisine-themed establishment) by taking the better "pieces" of each restaurant and putting them all together to make an outstanding restaurant? Azteca Queso dip would be the one item I would definitely extract from here.] THE LOWDOWN I see this establishment as 3.5 Star rating, but I'm feeling generous because I'm drinking a DAM GOOD MOCHA at the moment and I feel good, so I will round up to 4 STARS. I know I will be back at Azteca for another family get-together and that's okay - just not something I will rave about.
(4)Christine R.
I love that they bring you chips and salsa the nanosecond you sit down. I love that when I ordered a margarita, they IDed me. I love that when my drivers licence was lodged in my wallet, the server waited and waited for me to take it out, then studied it like she was going to be quizzed on it. It's fun to be IDed when you're 3- (never mind)! I love that I ordered a "small" margarita and when they brought it, it was the size of a small bucket! "What does a large look like?" I asked the server. I love that I ordered Tacos El Pastor from the "Lite Menu" and got a serving-tray size of food that looked like it might feed a small Mexican town: three big tacos piled with porky goodness, refried beans, rice, and more fresh salsa. Did I mention it was fun getting IDed? Heck, I tipped them extra! I love you America, even if I worry about your portion sizes.
(4)Yah Babo D.
The service was good. The waiter came and got our large beers within minutes of arriving at the table and being seated. Food was pretty good. I had the deluxe taco salad while the other guys had mixed plates of numerous items. All in all we were stuffed and happy with the service, food amount, and taste.
(4)Chase L.
I grew up going to Azteca with my family and for a while they lost their way but being back after about 5 years I have noticed much improvements. I mean they have lamb shank and scallops on their menu, which is impressive for a chain restaurant. I will be going back very soon, this Azteca throws down in the kitchen and stands up to any other Mexican place around here. Enough said!
(4)Sonya L.
This Azteca is fine. I prefer the Mountlake Terrace location, just for the friendlier waiters, but this place is okay. And yes, I think Azteca food is just fine, thank you. It's not some sort of fancy regional Mexican food, obviously, but it is standard Americanized Mexican food that is pretty darn tasty if you ask me. I usually get a chicken tostada, which is super good and covered in lots of cheese, lettuce, and guacamole (if you request it - costs a bit more). The Arroz con Pollo is also a good choice. Prices are high for some items, but the portion size is huge. It's easy to walk away with a day or two worth of leftovers. I love their salsa here and I can easily eat the entire bowl of chips myself.
(3)Anthony S.
Been here three separate times, each time disappointed... The tacoma location puts this place to shame! When ever I order something on the cheaper side in the bar (when not happy hour) the asian man whos taking my order, looked at me crazy like he didnt hear me right and suggested that I ordered one of the premium drinks. Mulitple times I had to correct him then just ordered water... He understood that
(1)Alice C.
American Mexican is a guilty pleasure food. It's comforting, I know what to expect, and I'm a sucker for chips and salsa. Azteca is god for groups and is good for little kids. I also recently found out they do take out, and quickly. I called last night, placed an order, and by the time I got to Northgate Mall and parked, it was ready and waiting (chips and salsa complimentary with the meal, droooooool). Kinda pricey for all the rice and beans, but going out to anywhere but McDonalds nowadays is going to be a decent chunk of change. The teenage hostess looked at me a little strangely until I explained the reason I had stoner eyes was because of an optometrists appointment where my pupils had been dilated. And my food was still warm by the time I made it home.
(4)Michael G.
It's attached to Northgate Mall; that should tell you what you need to know. The service was fair, my server was unable to really speak English, so that caused some problems. Beer choices are few and typico Mexican beers. Prices seem high for what you get. The bathrooms are large and clean. Good job.
(2)Nick E.
Meh, it's kinda nice to have this type of Mexican restaurant close by my apartment, but it's really nothing to write home about. Pretty bland.
(3)Tres B.
Its not authentic, but is a reasonable facsimile. I had a combinacion, a beef enchilada, a beef taco and chicken tamale. All were average and a bit under spiced, the rice and beans were deeply sub par. Listless and bland. My 1+ had scallops and mushrooms which she enjoyed but were drenched in butter. She raved, however, over the raspberry margarita. The highlight of the food might be the red and (if you ask) green salsa, fresh and with plenty of cilantro.. The service was outstanding, from the warm greeting to the punctuality and friendly smiles...the attentive check backs. While overall I find the food too touristy and sedate, the service is so great it makes the experience worthwhile.
(3)Flora C.
Good food Great service Nice environment
(3)Amy M.
Azteca is mediocre mexican food. I'm not a huge fan but my husband loves Azteca so I support him with his poor food choices and we visit this location often. And thank goodness we ALWAYS have coupons so it definitely softens the blow. I like the decor and music they play. We're always greeted with chips & salsa as soon as we sit down and the food comes out quickly. Though I have never encountered any problems with the wait staff, they aren't very warm and inviting. No chit chat there just work! One thing I have noticed over my last few trips there is the manager is a huge slacker. It's the younger, good looking gentleman with slacks and a dress shirt. We sat in the bar one time and he was in there almost the whole time we were there sitting at the bar with two young ladies and after they left he stood in there and watched soccer on the TVs. Now the last time we we're there he kept popping his head in and out of the kitchen. Then walked over to a table, sat down and started playing on his phone. After a few minutes went back into the kitchen then came out with a straw hanging out of his mouth, chewing on it. And then sat back down at the table and got back on his phone. This guy really bothers me. Maybe that's why the employees are so blah. They have a manager that doesn't work (at least every time I'm there).
(3)Vinny B.
This place sucks! The chips were stale and the salsa definately came from a jar. I ordered the lamb shank and it was absolutely tasteless. I was hoping for a sweet ending to a terrible meal and ordered the deep fried ice cream. The flyer on the table states that the deep fried ice cream was crunchy - but because it was premade and placed in the freezer - the crust was soggy and gross. This is an item that should be made to order. I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone1
(1)Craig M.
Azteca at Northgate is fine. Not great and not bad, either, but a little better than most "Mexican" food places of its ilk--you know, the Americanized Mexican food chains. This is better than most of those places but nothing spectacular. It's the kind of place that if I'm in the Northgate area and have a hankering for Mexican food, that's where I'll go because I know that I'll get decent food and decent service consistently. But I surely would not drive out of my way to get there and have found a couple of other, more authentic, Mexican food places that are a bit more of a drive from my home but have better food. I do like the food portions because my wife and I will get two plates, share with the 8 and 5 year old kids, and it all works out great. But I don't recommend the margaritas unless you like them syrupy sweet.
(3)Dean L.
Not too bad! It tastes more authentic than I think most people are used to. The robust flavors of Tex-Mex aren't here. Having said that, it's a great place to go for good, real Mexican food. I'd go back.
(4)Joe C.
Girl, that bean dip is spicy!
(3)Stephanie G.
You get lots of food here and it's not too pricey. Our waitress was very nice. She messed up my drink order by bringing out the larger margarita, but comped it since I asked for the regular size. At the end of the meal we felt forgot about, but it seemed to have gotten busy. At one point she took my water and never replaced it...but I did have that margarita to drink. They bring out free chips and salsa, yum! My friend ate quite a few of them and they had no problem bringing out more. I would go again, but I would hope that the service was more on top of things.
(4)Jodi D.
We had a meal at the restaurant tonight. The bean dip was yummy, the chips warm/delicious, and my taco salad, so big I couldn't finish. We were fully satisfied with our meal and with the servers. We have to give a special commendation to the two servers who helped us when our 1.5 year old son decided to humiliate me beyond anything I've ever dealt with and have a massive accident in his high chair, then got it on me and the booth seat. I had to wrap him in a blanket and make a mad dash to the changing room, wash him off, and try to salvage the situation. I can't explain how sorry I am for this happening, and I want to thank the waitress who was so incredibly gracious. I also apologize to any other customers who may have complained because of us and the smell. There are no words for how utterly sorry and embarassed I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the two waiters who continued to serve us when we were oblivious to what our son was doing (my husband has no sense of smell whatsoever due to a surgery accident years ago, and I didn't even catch a whiff). May I repeat that I am very embarassed to have caused that awful situation and I wish there were a way I could personally express my apology to the servers who helped us and to any other customers who were very inconvenienced because of us. Thank you to the servers for handling it very professionally and not adding to my abject humiliation.
(5)Allie S.
I end up here once a year. My grandma's birthday is December 26th and a few years ago I started the tradition of reserving a table for an all family birthday party at one of her favorite restaurants, good ol' Azteca. They've always been incredibly accommodating to deal with our party of 15 - 25 [depending on the year!] and the food is generally tolerable. I mostly give them props for putting up with us, as they handle large groups well so if you're looking for somewhat generic non-offensive food that requires a bit more spice [aka, something the geriatric crowd will be content with] Azteca is awesome. If you want something with more flavor... well, you may want to keep looking. Extra love for the fact they make my grandma wear a ridiculous sombrero as they sing happy birthday -- that's worth a star or two alone!
(3)Ashley L.
When I moved to Seattle, this was mistakenly the first Mexican restaurant I tried. I have never been more disappointed by Mexican food. I ordered the chicken mole. The chicken was way dried out and the mole was pretty clearly some crap from a jar. Also, I was upset that they didn't have a spicier salsa available. The service was the only saving grace. If you want a cheap and easy restaurant experience without a lot of love in your food, give it a shot, but, if you're looking for Mexican food, stay away.
(1)Aria D.
Food was just okay and the service was okay as well. The server never once checked on us to make sure we were doing alright and we had to wait forever to pay. Definitely will not be going back
(2)Kellie C.
Realiably good food, large portions, good service, awesome drinks.
(4)Shari d.
So is this gourmet Mexican food...absolutely not. It is pretty darn generic if you ask me...but I am OK with that. Sometimes I just want some generic Mexican food - so we go to Azteca. I ordered a 2 item combo so I could have left overs for lunch the next day. Rice and beans were your normal fare, tamale and Chile relleno were decent. All in all I think the price was a little over $12 and I had enough food for 2 - 3 meals. My dining counterparts also experienced the same thing...your average food with a decent price. One thing that I did notice is that the portion size seems to have gotten bigger. My boyfriend ordered the carnitas burrito and the thing came on what looked like a pizza platter. If you want gourmet go somewhere else...if you just want to get your rice and bean fix then come here.
(3)Gavin N.
The last time I came here was with some friends after a nice long run around Green Lake. We figured what better way to celebrate a good exercise than shovel down some fatty Mexican food shortly after. Anyway, service at Azteca has always been pretty good, and this Azteca location is no exception. The food is also standard, all your basic American-ized Mexican Cuisine...although I feel Azteca makes their food a bit more greasy/cheesy than other joints, and definitely more salty. It just might be that their food is a bit more processed/pre-prepared than the other Mexican restaurants around the area. That and I'm sure it sells beer and margaritas pretty well. Azteca is definitely not one of my favorite Mexican places to visit (personally I like the mom-pop run places), but they are in the entertainment book, and still a decent option. ~G
(3)Melissa S.
Hubs and I just moved to Northgate and really wanted to like this place - local, inexpensive mexican food. However, first impressions are lasting impressions and we have not and will not spend a dime here. We attempted to come here on Cinco de Mayo, with a great understanding that they were busy and didn't have much expectations. The bar was full, but the hostess said they had happy hour in the whole restaurant. Score! However, after the first waitress stopped by I asked to look over the happy hour menu. She replied "ugh..hmm...hold on..". She never came back. The second waiter came by ten minutes later and asked if we needed anything. I said I just want to look at the happy hour menu. He gave me the same reply. He came back after 5 minutes and said they don't serve happy hour food in the restaurant. I explained the the hostess had told me otherwise, and he offered that I spoke with a manager. Hoping to have success with getting a happy hour menu, I agreed. Ten minutes later the manager came by and asked if we need anything. I said I just want to look at the happy hour menu. He said they don't serve happy hour food in the restaurant. I explained how the hostess had told me otherwise and that the bar was full anyway. He said he could find us a spot in the bar - hello - it was full! I said it's been 30 minutes already, we don't want to wait any longer. And he said ok. Bye. It seems like they don't have an appreciation for impressions or customers. Therefore, we will never come back to waste our time again. We had no problem at Jalisco's at Lake City!
(1)Brad A.
I think what I like about this place is that it's so roomy and there's parking (it's in the Northgate Mall). So, parking is not an issue. I live in the Green Lake area, so it's close to me and I can have a couple of margaritas and not worry about traveling too far to get home. And, the margaritas are what I love there. I could...and have...just gone there for the margaritas and have chips and salsa. Get ripped. Walk around in the mall, before I go home. I've never had trouble getting seated there, because the place is so big. And, I have gone there for lunch and dinner (while shopping before or after, at the mall). It's moderately priced, for Seattle, and there are always chips and salsa served quickly; and, I usually like to get a shredded beef chimichanga (no cheese or sour cream for me) and it always comes with rice and beans. And the service is pretty good, they appreciate my dry sense of humour (and so there are only a few places I can safely reveal that...this is one).
(4)Kate B.
Very mediocre Mexican food. Chips that taste like they come out of a bag, and salsa out of a jar. That being said, the food is halfway decent and the lunch menu is very cheap. I had the lunch portion of fajitas and the lunch portion is very generous. I could have made three overflowing tacos but I felt full after two. My mom had the tostadas and commented that there was very little meat on them. The service was also so-so. We came in around 2 PM on a weekday and they were very empty, yet we had to wait ages to get our order in. We only visited because it was convenient to where we already were. Probably won't bother coming again.
(2)Matt B.
After 2 online complaints to Azteca, absolutely no response from them. Hard to believe that a company would not respond to a customer after 2 complaints. What a disappointment!
(1)David O.
This restaurant needs to get a better hostess. she is not doing her job she is always in the kitchen and all the customers waiting to be seater . Please get someone who really needs the job and with a smile, friendly .
(1)Peter S.
Good lunch menu but too expensie for dinner. Excellent service and I love their salsa! Convenient location too outside of the mall.....
(3)Daniel O.
I like Azteca Great and fast service, great food, authentic look to the restaurant. Overall a place I would recommend. They serve chips and salsa within 30 seconds of you sitting down and they take your orders quick. I believe the food is great! Tacos are good and also there Molcajete. I am not sure why a lot of people are saying this is a bad restaurant. I go here at least once a week with my girlfriend and we have never had a problem
(4)Ron D.
What a disappointment. Wife's chicken fajitas tasted like a burnt grill. My burrito had very little meat in it. We are still looking for a good Mexican restaurant.
(1)Israel M.
I had the most uncomfortable dining experience at this restaurant. My boyfriend and I as well as our friend went out to eat for happy hour upon walking in we weren't greeted by the hostess, when we asked for a menu the hostess was very rude and acted as if we had just asked her to perform a physically demanding job that required all of her energy. When we went to go and sit down the waiter answered our questions very rudely and was extremely short. When we were served our food we were extremely disappointed in our waiters lack of checking on us and replenishing our chips and water. Eventually the manager came out and took over for our waiter because he went on break. I would say we all caught a lucky break because he was decent service. All I know is we are not coming back to Azteca.
(1)Laurie O.
Food is typical mainstream mexican, not super authentic, but A for effort! The place is big enough for large dinners and the staff is always nice. Pretty much anything you order on the menu will come out tasty--except for the lamb shank! The happy hour is really good, too! Don't expect authenticity, but its good for American taste buds without the heat.
(3)Jenifer B.
My experience was fantastic. The food sizzles and was excellent. My server was upbeat and attentive. I Will for Sure be back with friends and family.
(5)Michelle E.
All day happy hour on Sundays, baby. Can't beat that. My only beef with this Azteca is... it's at THE MALL (**cough) and you feel like you're sitting in the concrete parking lot.
(3)August B.
I don't even know what to say. I ordered something off the menu and what came bore no relation at all to the name of the dish. It was as if I had ordered a ham sandwich and they brought me a carburetor. Clearly nobody in the Azteca group has dared venture anywhere near Mexico. They might as well serve Chinese food.
(1)cher t.
i've gone here a few times with my family and they're not bad . the service is good . servers always check up on us and make us feel welcomed . i like the ambiance of feeling like you're outdoors .. and the food is delicious . no complaints here . as a matter of fact i'm going back tomorrow haha . its good eatin when you come here .
(4)Jill S.
I've eaten at this Azteca several times. None of the meals have been particularly good. They also haven't been particularly bad. I guess that's why I keep returning. It's never on purpose--it's usually because I'm already at the mall and can't decide what to eat. The service is nice, the restaurant is clean and the menu is pretty large. The food is ho-hum, not super flavorful, but it's presented nicely. One bit of advice: don't order the rellenos. They have this heavy, greasy coating that oozes oil when you bite into it--pretty yucky,
(2)Rob B.
Good quick place... I have been to Mexi Restaurants and some of them have been nasty, expired food tasted like. Azteca is consistent and they rotate the food
(4)Elizabeth A.
food is ok , but i rather go to other mexican restaurants. the service is not that great and the prices are too high
(2)Delilah R.
I hate you Northgate AZTECA!! I've been here twice and will never go again. This place puts "second chances" to shame. Long story short. The first time I came here, my food was sent back three times because the order was completely wrong and mixed up. I ended up not eating because before they could even get it right, my girl had already finished her meal. When I confronted the manager about it, he apologized and said that he hoped to see us back. Second trip was basically the same thing only this time, there was a drink involved with flat soda. Their syrup was running out and I finally gave up on having food or drink. When I asked that our bill be comped for the food I did not touch, the Manager handed me a card and said that next time I could have a free entree. I left the card on the table with the unpaid bill. When the Manager asked me why I used it this time, I told him it was because I never planned on coming back and all he said was thank you for coming in. Wow.
(1)Elise L.
Why yes, I happen to be another one of those dragged to Azteca by a family member while doing errands in the area, despite my recommendations for other restaurants in the area. In this particular case, it was my dad who felt like having Mexican food. Knowing that it was highly unlikely to stand up to the standards of his favorite place back home, I warned him that he might be disappointed, but went along anyway. I mean, how badly could they screw it up? This is utterly bland, bland stuff dressed up to fit middle America's idea of "Mexican Food." Seriously, I wasn't expecting there to be any heat in any of the dishes, but apparently any flavor beyond "salty" is too much to ask for as well. Bizarrely, the chicken and vegetable dish I ordered was heavy on the chicken, but almost entirely lacking in vegetables. Knowing that chicken breast costs a bit more than your average onion, I'm not entirely sure what the logic there is... maybe they figure customers will feel like they're getting a better deal by skimping on the veggies in favor of meat? Joy of joys, they also will do the sombrero singing thing. As in, if you really want to humiliate your friends or relatives, you can take them here on their birthdays for dinner and the wait staff will come out, put a giant hat on them and sing. Your 8 year old might love it. Your 13 year old will look about like the boy I saw there that night, bright red and wishing he could melt into the floor and highly unlikely to speak to anyone in his immediate family for a week.
(1)Robbie T.
Horrible experience! What's sad is that most people in Seattle refer to this place as "The Best" mexican food around. I'm from San Diego, and this place was so bad, I couldn't even finish anything. What was the biggest disapointment was the horrible fried icecream! Who screws up icecream? Seriously, it tasted like stale icecream rolled up into even staler (is that even a word??) corn flakes. Sad.
(1)Stephanie P.
I was excited when my mom came up to visit for the weekend --- my first official houseguest since moving to Seattle. With so many great dining options, it would be hard to choose the very best local place to take her out --- would it be conveyor-belt sushi? Hot 'n' steamy pho, with cream puffs for dessert? Or something truly exotic that neither of us had ever even tried before? "Ooh, what's this Azteca place?" said my mom as we drove past Northgate Mall. "That looks good!" Sigh. Now, Mexican food is not my favorite, but I tried to give the place a fair shake anyway. After all, it's not necessarily bad that it's a chain restaurant attached to a mall, right? It could still have great service, fair prices, maybe even a specialty dish or a fancy drink with an embarrassing name. Who knows. Open mind. "Hola senoritas, como estan?" said the host when we walked in. Confused --- I could answer him in Spanish, but should I? Was this actually an authentic Mexican restaurant and I had been misinformed? --- I just gawked at him, and he switched to English. "Party of two? Follow me, please." We went through the same ritual with the waiter, who greeted us in Spanish, then after a just-long-enough-to-be-awkward pause, repeated himself in English. But why? If I'm not Hispanic and the server isn't Hispanic, why are we speaking high-school Spanish to each other in a restaurant? If this was some kind of stab at authenticity, it failed --- I just found it distracting and weird. Anyway, the food was okay but nothing special. Chips and salsa arrive at your table soon after you do, but the salsa is fairly hot and the water service is slow. My boiling-hot chicken enchilada was heavy on the cheese, and while the rice was decent, the beans were congealed and mushy and not really worth eating. My mom had the same and seemed content with hers. For dessert, I had the sweet corn tamalito, which arrived wrapped in a corn husk. It was a bit too sticky/clumpy and sort of grainy compared to others I've had, and I don't think I'd get it again. My mom's flan seemed okay, as far as flan goes --- it arrived on a plate festively splashed with different sauces, which was kind of fun. The prices seemed pretty reasonable, with dinner entrees ranging from $8-15, most around $12. Our dinner and dessert was just over $20, which seemed about right for forgettable food and not-great service. My mom was happy, so I guess it was a success, but if you're looking to wow out-of-town guests with Seattle dining, keep driving right past Azteca.
(3)Sharon K.
I had the chimichanga and I thought it was okay. It wasn't too heavy or greasy imo. They served it with a huge dallop of guacamole and a another huge dallop of sour cream. Ohhh calories galore! I don't care much for the rice and beans though. Mexican food is not really one of my favorite foods so if I was to have it, I'd prefer authentic, tastier places. Although I don't crave the main dishes as much, I do love the desserts! The fried ice cream is awesome! The service was ehhh. The food came out quick and they refilled our drinks without a problem. It did take a long time to get the check though and no one noticed that we left. They didn't work very hard for the tip we left behind.
(3)Angie K.
Yeah, it's fine. I was at the mall on a Sunday and had an hour to kill, so I stopped in for a drink and found out they have happy hour all day! score!! And the bar food was fine. I have eaten dinner there in the past and had a below average experience, but that was years ago. I mean, it's Azteca. It is what it is.
(3)Val T.
Azteca, I blame you for my obsession/addiction to Meixcan Food. Mom, I blame you, too. As a child, I remember frequent trips to Azteca for birthdays, sport-trophy parties, graduations, random dinners when my dad was too lazy to cook (my mom doesnt go near the kitchen), or when my mom was just outright demanding that we eat Mexican food-- It made me a Happy Child everytime we came here. I would order the same thing (Two Chicken Enchiladas) until I was about 14.. But then I went through that whole "I am going to be a Vegetarian" Phase when I went on to order the Veggie Fajitas in hopes of saving the animals. Nowadays, I order the steak fajitas. Straight up. When they bring out chips and salsa, ask politley for "picadillo" salsa, its fresh and tastes better. The arroz con pollo and fajitas and their chicken tortilla soup are godsends. Its a great place for birthdays if you like getting whipped cream on your face, wearing a sombrerro and then having a poloroid taken to remember it. Azteca is classic, good Americanized Mexican food, and I love and appreciate it for being just that.
(3)Holly L.
My family loves Azteca. It has become one of those weird family holiday traditions where my grandparents love to go to get photos in sombreros. The food here, decent. In general, I am not a fan of Azteca, but his particular location has always been good. I live very close and my son loves the place (must be the chips and salsa and free dessert with his meal). I always get the tortilla soup which is hard to do wrong, so maybe because we order easy, the visits are good. My food is always brought out incredibly fast as well. Four stars may seem high, but I am giving this Azteca four stars in comparison to the others, they all get 2.
(4)Poppy C.
The cheese in my enchilada -- was it velveeta? A strange clump in the rice -- too afraid to go there. Surly waitress, no chipolte sauce. Will the margarita make everything better? No!
(1)akil s.
I'm in my 30's now and have been coming here since highschool it's a comforting place to be and I feel I have always gotten good service the food is always satisfactory, and you can grab a mint on the way out.
(3)Roxy Z.
Did not have a good experience with service. In terms of food this location and the UVill one are similar- average mexican food. But if you want a better dining experience, go to the the one by UVill! The staff who work at the Northgate location are a lot slower and definitely not nice.
(2)Monika M.
Margaritas were good although no prices on the drink menu is slightly annoying. Mariscos Moja de Ajo are good here (tried at other restaruants). The chips and salsa were good. The waitress was good. Although "a chain" it is a WA based so sort of local...consistent... Good=4stars
(4)Wesh W.
Reliable -if bland & hopelessly inauthentic- Mexican food. I'm convinced food like this comes out of a pipe in New Jersey and is trucked in barrels to chain Mexican restaurants all across America.
(3)Michael L.
By no means is this what I'm used to as "authentic" Mexican food, but that doesn't stop me from coming here once or twice a month. The food is good, the wait staff friendly and can't remember ever having a problem with my order in three years. It's reached the point where many of the wait staff know me by sight and know who I am frequently there with. The only reason this place hasn't received five stars from me is because of the new law requiring them to post the nutritional information... Yowza! Make the food a little less terrible for me, and I'll be sure to upgrade it to five stars! That is also why my visits have dropped to about once every other month.
(4)David M.
OK, I should have known better but tried it anyway. Yuk... terrible and the very nice waiter kept sneezing every time he came to the table, he is probably allergic to bad food.
(1)Joolie T.
oh, the many times i've been here for chimichangas and enchiladas. this is not your authentic ol' Mexican cuisine. however, it's not HORRIBLE. seriously, Seattle has a lot of amazing Mexican joints in the city. we're just too lazy sometimes and "oh!!! it's right there by the mall!". the platters are huge. too huge. i love that you can order hot tortillas (probably the ones from Safeway or something... doesn't seem freshly made) and wrap up anything you order in them. that's how i roll. i order a Chicken Caesar salad and wrap it up. order rice & beans w/ extra pico de gallo and cheese... wrap that up, too.
(3)Kaylene C.
OK so I grew up in a mostly Mexican neighborhood and was raised on REAL Mexican food so YES I know Azteca isn't considered authentic but it's still tasty food at reasonable prices. This location has friendly staff, at least when we were there, they were kind to the kiddos which is a big plus for me. We got our food in good time, everyone enjoyed it so like I said, I know it's not authentic-straight-outta-Guadalajara but hey I can cook that any time at home and any time I can get out of cooking is a-ok with me!
(4)Brendan B.
It won't offend anyone. Service is fine, margaritas are fine, portions are fine. Food is bland, salsa's watery and bland. It's hard to mess up a burrito/taco/quesidilla, and they don't. Stick with these ameri-mexi standards and you'll be fine. Be prepared for tough asada and bland sauces if you venture out of this area.
(2)Bonsai A.
This a great happy hour place. The food on the bar menu is great if you're not a serious mexican food connoisseur, and prices are reasonable. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, though I tend to prefer more intimate, closed settings. I like the staff there, very friendly and attentive. My rating really only applies to this restaurant as a happy hour location, I think I would rate it a "3" for casual family dining.
(4)Pablo G.
I'm Mexican and I prefer Taco Bell...
(1)Jean C.
Stopped there with girlfriend as we were starving after shopping. Ordered margaretta and lunch. The waiter was nice but not overly concerned to check back with us. Took over 20 minutes to get our lame drinks. Lunch came and absolutely the worst Mexican food possible - just ordered two beef tacos -shells were stale and the meat had to be the cheapest grade - couldn't eat - still cost with tip $43.67 for my girlfriend and me - the manager must be getting a kick back or pocketing some of the money when ordering subpar ingredients - DON'T GO THERE EVER!!! - would recommend Jalisco's off Lake City and 125TH - great service and delicious food every time.
(1)Kristie L.
This place is perfect for the kind of people who go to Benihana and think they're eating Japanese food.
(1)Ducky M.
Azteca is Azteca. Nothing new here. Everytime I visit, it's seems like the menu is looking more like a Denny's menu with all of it "flash" and corporate feel. For me, Azteca is where I go when it's super convenient, I'm near the mall and it's happy hour (which never seems to work out), or the great places are closed. This last visit things were pretty decent and the service at this location was very good.
(3)Ass Man Z.
Mexican Friday's.
(2)Queen B.
Best Mexican Restaurant in Seattle as far as everything @ this locale anyway, Food is always amazing so are the drinks & customer service. Gets pretty packed on weekend nights.
(5)Pano E.
Great service and excellent food. The new menu items are a good value for the quality and quantity.
(5)John N.
I've been to a few of the Azteca Restuarants and this is the only one that I've liked. The service is very good even though this place is always packed. Chorizo Con Huevos FTW! It's one of the few Mexican dishes I've had in Seattle that even comes close to authentic (the Tacos Guaymos in Lynwood, Jalisco's don't recall the location and a taco bus on Ranier Ave are the others). They also lose points on their chocolate mousse. It's not bad, it's just taht it used to be SO much better.
(4)Tarewyn M.
Hmmm...pretty decent food. Slow, but amiable service. Good prices, hot salty crispy tortilla chips. For a mall chain it wasn't bad, nothing to write home about. My main issue was the childrens ghetto feel to the back of the restaurnat. All the tables up front were empty yet four families ( with small well behaved and mostly quiet children) were crammed into booths as far away from the rest of the tables as possible. Now, I realize children in restaurants can be a problem ( mine certainly can be) However, most places are a little bit more sublte about keeping families in one general area and reserving a few quieter smaller tables for couples etc... Also, if you are going to have high chairs, a children's menu and kid attracting vending machines in the restaurant it would seem that you are welcoming children. Make up your mind Azteca do you want kids and families in your restaurant or not?
(2)