El Borracho Ballard
5465 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107
El Borracho Ballard Menu
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Address :
5465 Leary Ave NW
Seattle, WA, 98107 - Phone (206) 582-1974
- Website https://www.elborrachoseattle.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Natalie B.
Love the vegan nachos here. Good place for a Mexican inspired cocktail
(5)Deanna S.
Chorizo con Paps with green rice and El House Margarita... fabulous!
(5)Eva C.
Aiyiyiyi! This is a great happy hour spot in the heart of Ballard. Food: Carnitas- These tacos were finger licking good. The coca cola marination is outstanding. The meat has a lot of flavor packed into it. Very moist and tender. My favorite taco here thus far. Al Pastor: This taco has a red sauce/marination which gave me the impression that it would be spicy. It was actually more bland than the carnitas. All I really tasted were the pineapples. It wasn't a bad taco overall but I'd prefer to just get carnitas. Sauces: Lots of sauces to choose from! There were at least 3 that were mild. 2 green ones and 1 red chipotle one. I really liked the chipotle sauce. The green ones were a bit sweet for my taste, but they would have been good with chips. Price: THE PRICE IS RIGHT!! The tacos I got were $1 each for Happy Hour. How can you beat that? The most expensive taco is $2 during Happy Hour!! I think the price might have made these tacos taste better. ;) Dranks: I ordered the Hibiscus Margarita, which was sweet, refreshing, with a nice tequila kick. Just how a perfect margarita should be. It looks small, but it's not! It comes with a cinnamon sugar rim that gave the drink a nice contrast. Everyone was eying our drinks and getting super jelly. (I pick good drinks, always) Next time I am getting the $3 guac and chips. I held off because I was on a food adventure and didn't want to get full too quick. FYI you must purchase a drink for HH and you can't have separate checks but they will take multiple payments! We sat outside on the patio which was nice, but it was a bit chilly that day for our liking. I think when it's 73 degrees + it would be perfecto!
(4)Patrick H.
I almost didn't write this review, because I don't want other people to know how good it is and thereby lose the awesome patio space. Honestly, one of the best happy hours in the city. Killer service and tacos.
(5)Ashlex M.
Rice and beans were extremely extremely bland and nachos and tacos also had little flavor. Not a fan of the food but service was great! Update : the owner contacted me and said that the cook wasn't there to season the food properly. So I'll change from 1 to 3 stars
(3)D N.
Can't go wrong with tacos and cheap beer. They are not your average taco. Good prices and friendly staff.
(5)Thomas M.
This is a decent Taco place although, IMHO, there are better options in Ballard. It seems to be one of those restaurants that draw crowds mostly during happy hour. Normal price for a taco is around 3$, which is similar to other places around here.
(3)Ninja S.
If you can handle spice, you should get the habanero resposado margarita. This is a great place for happy hour, not available on weekends. Their tacos, when a dollar or two, are good value. Besides that, it's another place where you can spend $50 for a couple drinks and a plate for a couple people whenever they feel like taking a break from their personal conversations to serve you. The only worthwhile staff on my last visit was the guy wiping up tables. Everyone else had spoiled bartender syndrome and were extremely annoying. I left and went to eat somewhere else. El Borracho is hh or gtfo.
(3)Sarah R.
While planning a double date night with some friends to see a show at the Tractor (Dry The River in case you're wondering) we knew we wanted to get down on some Mexican food (as a group it's our collective favorite type of cuisine...) so enter El Borracho. It fit the bill - close to the venue, Mexican food, and cheap margaritas. I am SO HAPPY we decided to give it a try. Food: BOMB street tacos. They have something for everyone; vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, meat eaters - I tried the carnitas (delicious) and the soyrizo & potato, the better half tried a couple other meat tacos, and our friends went the vegetarian route. All were met with rave reviews. The side (rice and beans) are a $3 add on - these weren't as flavorful as I was wanting them to be and I may just skip these next time. The chips (extra $) - these tasted like Juanitas you can buy at the store, which I really like, don't get me wrong but they don't have that fresh out of the warmer feel you typically get at a Mexican restaurant. The salsa / salsa bar: Yes please! The salsa has a great kick and the have a wide variety of choices at the salsa bar. Hint; they have multiple of each flavor in squeeze bottles, so we would just bring a couple back to our table though I did see people filling up small cups so I am not 100% positive on the protocol here... Extras: Guac - Really, really good - worth that $ The hot peppers ($1) were good too - they're cold (temp) though which we were not expecting. They pack a really good punch though so if you like hot stuff, might I suggest you add some to your order. Service: Seriously, some of the best service we've had. Our server could NOT have been nicer and everyone seemed to pitched in to help. Glasses did not go empty and dirty plates did not stay on our table. Drinks - $4 El Cheapo margaritas - YES PLEASE! Be careful - these go down really easily Decor: Fun, funky, laid back, casual I cannot wait to come back - El Cheapo Margaritas, I'm coming for you!
(4)Meghan W.
They always apologize but 4th strike on finding chicken in my Vegan burrito- shame on me? Too bad because the staff is friendly and the food & drinks are good- other than the kitchen not being able to understand that vegans don't consume animal. I hope this place can truly become more friendly towards the vegan/vegetarian crowd.
(3)B H.
Food is decent. Staff is rude.
(2)Sarah W.
The night I flew in from St. Louis, this place was my first stop. I had heard about the taco happy hour and the vegan options available and I knew I had to stop by the Ballard location because they were open late. On my first visit I got 5 tacos, the potato and soyrizo and the potato and poblano tacos. I was also very excited about the salsa bar available. My favorite I tried was the salsa roja frita. Everything was delicious, although the tacos were a little bit smaller than what I had expected, but for a dollar I ain't mad at all. One of the rules for the dollar tacos is that you have to purchase a drink, so I got a coconut margarita, and because I liked that so much I got the spicy pineapple margarita as well. Seattle pours are much more heavy than those in St. Louis so I ended up drunk and crying to my boyfriend about how amazing tacos are. Second visit, I got a vegan mission burrito and a Mezcal mule. Both were tasty and the burrito was the size of my head. The staff's awesome. Super friendly and interested in their customers. Cool decor, I especially loved the chandelier made out of antlers. I seriously can't get over how cheap the food is here for how good it is!
(5)Sean C.
It was fun! I went here with a couple friends and we sat outside at one of their three outside tables around 9pm on Autumn Equinox, so it was a tad cool but it's never too cool so close to the water in Ballard. El Borracho was pretty divey and pretty fabulous. It's hard to ask for more if you're looking for young and dirty Ballard. Our waitress was very conversational and friendly with that fun borderline unprofessionalism you expect in Ballard with her face piercing and her polka dots and her excitement. She was able to make recommendations on point and encouraged me to add an extra sauce to my tinga de pollo burrito, so by all accounts she was a quite good waitress. She closed out with us even though we were still drinking because it was a Monday night at 10pm and she was getting off her shift and it is totally understandable. So we continued drinking outside with another late night staff person, a slightly frantic looking girl with a light brown ponytail, who checked on us every once in a while and caused one of my friends to go find her once so we could reorder. The food was good. The beer was good. The service was friendly. I'd go again if I could sit outside again!
(4)Adrian L.
I like this bar, a lot.. sweet setup on a sunny day with skylights above bar. Happy hour tacos and drinks.. man, fuggetaboutit... Beer is cold, service is great and they have a good salsa bar with lots of variety. I wish they had a punch my face hot sauce... But I'm Korean, and nothing is really hot to us. Chorizo tacos are bomb.com
(5)Mallory M.
three stars because the service is usually great. The food however is a different story. You have to pay for chips and salsa (refills but not on guac) and they pretty much get you by making everything a la carte so rice & beans etc is all extra. Fish taco is a no because it has absolutely NO flavor! Come on people blacken the fish with flavor! Carnitas is good but could be more flavorful in my opinion. Prices are steep for the amount of food you get. Will only return for service.
(3)Deborah J.
Friends have been raving about this joint and for good reason. Loved the space inside and it was bigger than I was expecting but still on the smaller side. Nobody there to seat us and no sign to seat ourselves so after standing stupidly at the front for a minute we just sat ourselves at an open booth. We weren't there for HH but will definitely need to come back based on the prices, but regular menu is pretty inexpensive too. Bottomless Chips and Salsa is fine by me. We actually ordered the Guacamole as well and it was good but it could have used some salt and there was none to be found on the tables but got over it pretty quickly. Ordered 3 taco's which ended up being way too much after a refill on chips and a couple of beers. I realllllly need to order less to begin with and then order more if I'm still hungry--this must be why I'm gaining weight. Carnitas Taco = Really good and full of flavor Al Pastor Taco = Pineapple was good but overtook the pork a bit Shrimp Taco = Shrimp was overcooked and pretty tough. The other flavors and crunch were there but was not enjoyable. Service was okay.
(4)Jeff W.
They DO have potential. The drinks are decent, the ambiance is fun and the location is outstanding but the food...well, the tacos at least are small, overpriced and terrible! If a Mexican food place does one thing right it should be tacos.
(2)Willy M.
Shooooooot!!!! Im all about a taco joint! Pretty good place to get a taco in Ballard. I got 2 lengua (beef tongue) and the rabbit taco. Both very good, I enjoyed it very much. Dang I need to eat some more rabbit, not sure why that mean isnt so popular. Its pretty good people! I guess they have that cuteness factor and people cant picture chomping down on one. Anyways, the salsa/sauce bar is a nice touch to choose from. I think they are vegan friendly too, so vegans can enjoy this place. Pricing is fine, its what I thought it would be. Nice friendly looking place, very casual. No issues with service, but I think some of the servers think they may be extra cool for working there and work a little too hard paying attention who is looking at them vs actually just working there. I dont know where I was going with that. So a definite recommend to check this place out. Full Tilt ice cream is next door if you want dessert. Happy taco'n!!!
(4)Alex K.
I've only made one late night stop over at El Borracho in Ballard but I was quite impressed. We were immediately greeted by two members of the staff who opened the door for us and invited us in. The menu is quite extensive and has lots of vegan options (I'm not vegan myself but I would appreciate the selection if I was). They also have some unique taco/burrito selections like rabbit and goat. I ordered the Al Pastor burrito which had pork and pineapple. The meat reminded me a little more of cubed steak but the flavor was great. Their green rice cooked with poblano peppers is amazing. I also got the burrito "wet" so it was smothered in sauce. If you order it "Christmas Style" then they will cover half the burrito in red sauce and half in green sauce. It's a wonderful combination! For the salsa lovers out there they have a sauce bar filled with an extensive selection of hot sauces and salsas ranging from mild to reaaally spicy. The food was tasty and the service was exceptional. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Molika T.
First time trying this place! It was good! Every piece tasted very gourmet. I ordered the duck tacos. It was delicious! Although I wish I woulda asked for some extra sauce it would had been even better! Overall the duck was tasteful and I enjoyed my first duck tacos! Customer service was great as well!
(5)Angela F.
Great for vegans and vegetarians - multiple kinds of taco toppings and burrito fillings, and they have full on, near heart attack, vegan nachos! Vegan cheese, sour cream, refried beans, and, for a little extra $, soyrizo and mushrooms. My personal rule is that I can only order the nachos if someone is splitting them with me. Note, my best friend is the actual vegan, I'm just lactose intolerant, so I've had the meat tacos as well. I thought they were super tasty! I get torn between the taco sampler and nachos... My super appreciation of the food itself aside, the service has been hit or miss. Some nights it's spot on, sometimes it takes a while to get anyone's attention and once my nachos had to be sent back because they weren't hot and some daiya cheese was not melted. They are knowledgeable and friendly, just weird timing. If the service steps up, total five star for me.
(4)Hong C.
Amazing happy hour prices! Although I wish the tacos came in pairs since we wanted to share and try all of them, I'm not complaining about the price or the portion of one taco. The waitress was really nice, she switched my drink when I told her my first one was too strong! We ordered 6 tacos but I barely remembered what we order because they were all so good lol Service was fast as well even though we came in at 11pm and the place was packed. One of my favorite tacos to-go place now!
(5)Je G.
I've been waiting for a place like El Borracho to settle in to my neighborhood and bring some joy back to the game (sorry, hipster hotshots). *Disclaimer* My nights out are rare because I'm so busy (new Moms, you know what I'm saying), so I have only been here a handful of times since they opened. *But* b/c of how little free time I have, I am also super picky about service and atmosphere. With that in mind, I can confidently say the staff is phenomenal (friendly, helpful, welcoming). Managers do table touches regularly and servers always have a smile and are happy to suggest menu items. That might sound like a "so what?" detail, but I've been to plenty of places with impatient and unhelpful staff so their willingness to spend a few extra minutes at the table and act like they actually *care* if I have a positive experience is huge. The food is always yummy as are the margaritas (the Tamarind & Hibiscus margs are ridiculous!) Their happy hour gets crowded, so get there early and tip well- these girls and guys do a solid job.
(5)Julie L.
OH. MY. Had a rare date night with the hubs and went to Boracho this past Friday night. It was a lot more crowded that we expected at 6pm, but quickly found out why - their happy hour is, in a word, amazeballs. We were lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar and were quickly hooked up with drink by the terrific bartender. We didn't have the cheapie drinks so I can't comment on them, but the signature ones we had were delicious (a cucumber something that was superb and a spicy one - mescal mule? - that almost knocked me off the stool in a so-peculiar-it's-good way). Food-wise let me be clear - this is NOT authentic Mexican by any stretch. So what is it? It's A lot of adorable animals you don't often see on a Mexican food menu, turned into the tastiest tacos and burritos we've ever had. I grew up in San Diego and the hubs in Arizona, so this says a lot. I had the pato (duck) burrito-style - it was tender, flavorful, rich, decadent, and perfectly offset with pickled red onion. He had the conejo (rabbit), borrego (lamb), pastor and pescado tacos. The Happy Hour tacos were great, but it was the cute animal ones that were knock-our-socks-off good and made this gem really stand out. Ambiance-wise the host (I think may be the owner?) was charming, the bartenders terrific, service fast and efficient. It's Ballard so the usual crowd, but didn't feel pretentious. The place is 21 and up, but before 4pm you can bring your kiddos.
(5)Anthony B.
$4 margaritas, great nachos, AMAZING house salsas. I was going to give them 3 stars for the drinks and nachos I had. But their Frito(SP?) or fried salsas (made with fried peppers) were so amazing they alone warrant another star. Seriously if you start bottling and selling this stuff I will be first in line! I had 2 of the $4 "El Cheapo" margaritas. They tended toward the sweet side and didn't taste like the cheap tequila I''m sure there was less than 1oz of. 5 of us split the nacho's which at $9 were a stretch. But they were well topped and they were super cheesy and delicious. Covering them in the Frito Salsa takes them to the next level. The tastiest drink was the Horchata Borraho, a delicious combo of horchata and fireball. The decor was fine, sort of an interesting modern taco shack. They have TV's playing the game and a fairly large bar. Our server came by about a dozen times, which was great since our group arrived in waves, but about 7 of those times were after we had our food and were trying to eat. But I guess that trumps being ignored!
(4)CM P.
Been here before and they have great food and drinks. Unfortunately, on a busy night Friday 3/27 we experienced very RUDE service from the wait staff. Needless to say, we left and we won't be back anytime soon.
(2)J H.
Loved the tacos. Great salsa flavor. Love the cucumber margarita drink.
(5)Dan C.
I really like the atmosphere. The taco fillings and sauces are fantastic. The staff are great. Great selection of beer and liquor. I've eaten there several times now and really enjoy going in. I highly recommend it. And in the men's room you've gotta love the poster of "Debbie Does Dallas"!
(4)Angela G.
Stopped in for a bit since we missed our 10:30 fairy had to catch the 12:50 one Nd decided to get some drinks. Staff was fun and helpful, the cucumber honeydew margarita was great! I had 2!! It was mostly people in their 20s If I lived in Seattle I'd frequent here!
(5)Kate F.
Watching the Sunday morning crew do their thing is like being in a waking work nightmare. Please, ladies: TAKE SECTIONS. Don't let the bartender take tables when she's the only one who makes drinks because what happens is that the bar patrons get NO SERVICE. And that sucks. People generally sit at the bar for a reason and it isn't to be ignored by the tender. What was most curious and frustrating to me was how the bartender moved through her space without actually doing anything. Literally, it was like watching a work nightmare where you feel like you're running underwater and putting out all this effort and getting no results... Please, boracchos, train her. I'm sure she's a competent, work-willing individual who could be trained to be a real bartender one day.
(2)John B.
Had a great experience here on a Tuesday night. Drinks were prompt and service much better than 80% of Seattle eateries. I did the tacos and had some vegan chorizo that was good but not the best. The duck taco's were very yummy but the fish taco was just not as great as I was hoping. The vibe is great and the people watching good. We will be back.
(4)K M.
Great food and atmosphere, but had to knock a couple stars off for the occasionally offensive service. One of my favorite happy hour spots though! I've been multiple times now and the $1 (excuse me...$1.03) tacos are always fresh, and are just enough to fill me up without being afraid to check my bank account the next day. I'm sure the rest of their menu is fantastic as well but I've yet to come in aside from happy hour. Their salsa bar is a great touch too, it really goes with the casual vibe of the place. You'll find a very laid back dining experience here. The drinks are great here. The Coconut Margarita is my go-to. One time that I ordered it the bartender had clearly poured the measurements wrong, but the waitress was happy to correct the drink for me. The honeydew margarita is phenomenal as well, as is the hibiscus. The only drink I wasn't fond of was one of the Horchata cocktails a friend ordered; the alcohol overpowered the drink and it felt very heavy. The service is usually very friendly and attentive but there is one server in particular who is lucky to be employed considering her shockingly bad attitude. A couple of girlfriends and I had our first off-putting experience with her during a recent visit; we'd brought my boyfriend along to DD because we were planning to have drinks. This waitress was visibly upset that we were sharing our happy hour chips & salsa with him when he hadn't ordered a drink. We explained that he was there only to drive us and she responded by lecturing us on the establishment's rule that happy hour food could only be ordered if a drink was ordered. We reiterated that one of us girls would be paying for the chips and that we were just sharing with him, but she would not let up. She probably lectured us, while staring at us with a clearly irritated facial expression, for close to a full minute before we finally just stopped responding to her and she walked away. She was argumentative, condescending, and adamant about us 'not understanding the rules' - it was bizarre. Her tune completely changed to full blown suck-up when she either overheard my friend say she wasn't getting a tip (which she didn't) or just observed how put-off we were. I've been waited on by her one other time since and she had a bad attitude with me again until 3 of my guy friends arrived - then she changed her tune from snotty to flirty. Sorry, my early-20's guy friends don't want anything you're serving up other than our food...Annoying, off-putting, and totally unwelcoming, but ultimately worth dealing with for the food. Overall, if you haven't stopped in here yet, go! The food is worth having to deal with bizarre customer service every now and then.
(3)Michelle Y.
Reliable and cheep eats. Not all the tacos are good. I have found I real like the adobe chicken taco and for me I just stick to that. If you are looking for the best taco ever... Maybe don't go here. If you are looking for quick, reliable and tasty you won't regret it. The Margaritas are really good here as well. The have a couple unique flavors that I really enjoy.
(3)Rob G.
I eat here all the time. I have loved every single thing I have ordered here. However my typical order is an 'el cheapo' margarita and the nachos with carnitas. I love these so much it is hard to order anything else even though it is all great. I love that they use Juanitas tortilla chips because it creates consistently crunchy and never greasy or chewy chips. Dani is often our server and is probably the nicest and most attentive server we've ever had in Ballard. She works in the afternoons and gets very busy when she's solo and its never reflected in how she treats people.
(5)Landon N.
Location wise in Ballard it's tough to find a lot of parking. The feel of the restaurant was tasteful and a great comfortable bar set up. Can't really for a lot of people but if you're going out for happy hour this might be your spot. I hadnt quite enjoyed their chips and dip. Their carne asada burrito had a great presentation but I wasn't impressed very much with the taste. Tasted more cheese and tortilla than I did meat. The service was enjoyable and the waiters were prompt and delight. Very good service!
(3)Ken D.
I love El Borracho! Not only because the food is amazing, but we love to support local businesses. My wife and I eat at el Barracho Del Norte in Freelard at least once a week, and now Ballard is added to the list. All three spots have top notch food and the best prices. Even with the smaller happy hour tacos you fill up for under $5!!! Next time you are in downtown Ballard, skip the chain Mexican places and come here instead.
(5)Ted W.
We went for Saturday lunch and found the staff very nice and welcoming and the service was good. However the food was not good. I had enchiladas which were just soft tacos with some sauce put over them. The sauce was not good and I did not like the carne guisada. We also had 3 different tacos and none of them were any good. The one bright spot were the nachos.... but its hard to screw up nachos... So this place might be good for nachos and drinks, but dont count on a good meal.
(2)Beverly B.
First off, the people here are super nice. Sometimes it takes a bit for them to come back to you but that's because they actually talk to their patrons like they're human or something. ;) The food is terrific. Yes, the happy hour tacos are smallish but at $1/ $2 are still a great deal. Their "El Cheapo" margaritas are tasty and usually heavy on the alcohol, they are without a doubt the best $4 margaritas I've ever had. The tacos are all so good, the guacamole is super good. Honestly I'm surprised by the negative reviews. I've been there plenty and each time was great.
(4)George I.
Went there on a sunny day. It was nice there because they had tables outside, so we could enjoy the sun. Overall, the place is nothing fancy or upscale, for sure. They do have a good selection of drinks - margaritas, mojitos. I've got a local beer. Their tacos were great - we ordered few of them. I also had a burrito which was awesome as well!
(3)Camille S.
One word: carnitas. SO GOOD. Coca cola braised? Oh yessssssss. Went for a fun, casual dinner with friends last night and it was the most enjoyable experience I've had there yet (been for dinner and Happy Hour before a few times). Apart from the carnitas that I'd put in basically every burrito or taco my future self eats, everything else is pretty darn good too. The margaritas are just the right balance of sweet and tart and the service was fast and friendly -- she even offered to split the check for us, something I always hate asking wait staff to do. Overall: great. -1 star for room-temp, non-fresh, out-of-the-bag tortilla chips (though I've heard they're Juanita's brand...which is not too shabby!) and -1 star for so-so happy hour (weak margs and tiiiinnnyyyyyyy tacos).
(3)Meghann R.
$1-2 tacos during happy hour, small but a good snack. Regular taco wasn't much bigger, so stick with the happy hour menu for a better deal. Carnitas was my favorite, fish didn't really hit the spot. We meant to order the cheap happy hour margaritas and they asked us if we wanted "house", but these are twice as much. We should have paid more attention, but I felt duped and don't want to return. Well played El Borracho, well played.
(2)Benny L.
This place had a great late night happy hour. The taco's here are great. Some are $1 and some are $2, they are small but delicious! Everything here seemed to be made in house, and you could taste it. The sauces they have were great, the guacamole was perfect (chunky and so fresh). As good as the food was the service was 10X better. I honestly think it might have been the best service I has had in Seattle. The waitress was fun and interactive with us. The place was packed full of well lubricated patrons and she took the time to explains everything on the menu. When we accidentally spilled our beer we didn't get any attitude at all, instead our waitress said don't worry about it and brought us over another beer at no extra charge. We left picking our jaws up off the floor, and will be back soon and often.
(5)Carlos D.
I love this place. Good margaritas, good nachos, good enchies... All good! And friendly too.
(5)Sara D.
Tacos tacos tacos! Salsa bar and more. Fantastic people too. Came here for late lunch on the holiday weekend. My boyfriend ordered a gin and tonic and he is super picky about his gin. When the bartender asked how it was he was honest. They bought that drink for him and gave him a better one on top of it. Very accommodating and nice people. Food is fantastic. Had the fish tacos and cachete tacos. So good!
(5)Shelbey L.
Food was great, service was friendly. Awesome atmosphere. I recommend the al pastor burrito and margaritas. Good happy hour as well.
(4)Krista H.
OMG I wish I lived in Seattle because I love this place! My husband brought me here because he wanted vegan tacos. The menu looked interesting so I ordered a few meat tacos. I tried the beef cheeks, the rabbit and the goat. They were all tasty, but my hands down favorite was the goat. I had never had it before, but from now on I will seek it out. Next time we come to Seattle we will be heading straight to Borracho's!
(5)James W.
I really enjoyed my tacos here. Sadly my group got there after happy hour so we didn't get the $1.00/taco deal. Regardless, the food was reasonably priced and my margarita was very tasty. Given I have numerous friends who live in the Ballard area, I will be going back again. Now if we can only convince them to extend the 4-7 happy 7 days a week....
(4)Opal D.
Stopped in with my husband for a quick casual bite. Their menu was not slow carb, gluten-free, or paleo friendly (it seemed like everything was designed to be served on tortillas). My husband ordered some happy hour tacos and without me asking, offered up that "the food isn't very good."
(3)Nolan H.
I'm a big fan of El Borracho. I think they have the best servers in Ballard. They are extremely attentive and have an amazing energy that is infectious. The food is really good as well! I'm a big fan of their guacamole and their wet burritos. Top notch stuff.
(4)James G.
There's just no reason to go to this place with The Matador, La Carta de Oaxaca, and La Isla within a stone's throw. The "el cheapo" margarita is clever enough, but the food is laughable. There seems to be no ventilation of any kind in the kitchen, which would eliminate the chance that any real cooking takes place here (real equipment requires hoods). My guess is that they're reheating food that is cooked off-site, and that's exactly how it tastes. Stop by if you want a beer or a cheap margarita, but go elsewhere if you want to enjoy your food.
(1)Tess A.
Everyone who works here is so nice and welcoming and the food is surprisingly delicious!
(5)Geoff H.
Guacamole is amazing.....lemonade-limade is all the great stuff a margarita ( of course minus the best stuff lol ) but great refreshing drink....tacos or ok 9 ive had better but ive definitely had worse too. And dont let the small door fool you this place is roomy!
(5)Danny L.
We stopped by El Borracho at 3pm on a Wednesday. I'll admit it wasn't our first choice but I'm glad we stumbled on it. We intended on going to Ocho down the street but they were closed and preparing for their night service. We are from out of town so we had to turn to yelp. I love the atmosphere of El Borracho, it has a cantina relaxed vibe. I got a taco de conejo(rabbit taco) and a lingua(beef tongue) taco. The rabbit was new for me, it was similar to chicken but more greasy. Not gamey at all, which was a nice surprise. The lingua taco was savory and right on point. The salsa that came with the chips was salty but tasty. More mild for my liking. However, they do have an extensive salsa bar. I washed my food down with some horchata, which was wonderful. Just the right amount of cinnamon. My gf ordered the vegan burrito, it was delicious. It was large, next time I will have to try a burrito. The food was good and the experience was great. Service was outstanding. Definitely will return.
(5)Bryan H.
Cool atmosphere, great place for drinks and mexican food. Candidly, service was a little slow at time. Still a very cool place to go though.
(4)Matt V.
Had the Vegan Burrito here and it was killer. They were short staffed that day, but I wasn't in a hurry. Unfortunately because of that the service was poor, but I could tell it was due to factors that forced them to roll with the punches. The manager gave us free guac due to the wait, so that was great. The 21+ rule is pretty annoying because if you have a minor with you, then you are pretty much screwed for getting a table quickly.
(4)ShmoHaw K.
Tiny portions, adequate food, defensive management. Will not return to this location. --------- I have eaten at another El Borracho location and loved it. I have never eaten during Happy Hour at any location. During Happy Hour I ordered three tacos. Dining partner ordered two. We also had chips and guacamole. The tacos arrived and were silver dollar-sized. There was no indication on the happy hour menu that the tacos were smaller than the regular menu tacos. She ordered her tacos with no onions. There were onions on both of them. The potatoes on mine were undercooked. Overall, they still tasted ok. The chips and guacamole were small for $3, and you could visibly see the store bought bags of chips in the kitchen. The guacamole was good. When the waitress asked how everything was, I answered honestly, describing to her what I wrote above about my general disappointment. When the manager came by, he was incredibly defensive and said "you are always welcome to order off the regular menu. The tacos are small because they are half priced happy hour." But there is no mention of the small portions on the happy hour menu and the prices are not actually "half" the regular prices, they are 1/3rd cheaper, at least for the tacos we ordered. These were tiny tacos for $2. THEY WERE NOT WORTH IT. I would have left one star, but the bill was adjusted to comp one of the drinks. My only concern now is that the waitress still receives her full tip that we left. She did everything right. The management, on the other hand, was rude and defensive. I will not return to this location.
(2)Adrienne R.
We got in the door early enough, that we got the last table in the back and it was terrible. We ordered drinks and waited... waited... waited.... waited some more. The waiter finally came back and asked if we had ordered anything from the bar to which we replied, yes, we did. He took off and ten minutes later we finally got our drink order. He disappeared again and it was another 15 minutes or so before he finally came back and got our food order. We ordered guacamole, salsa, and a mix of tacos from the happy hour and full menu to get a good sampling of the food. Then he disappeared again. We drank our tiny, not so great margaritas. We drank our water (of which we only had two glasses between the three of us). We waited... waited.... waited. We never got our chips, salsa, or guacamole. Tacos arrived 20 minutes later and were cold. The tortillas were already hardening and tasteless. We never got a refill of our two glasses of water or asked if we wanted another round of drinks. We were never even offered napkins. My roommate finally went to the restroom and got paper towels for us. What we did get was a delightful show of the tables around us getting plenty of service while we were just passed by. We finally got our bill and there was a margarita we never ordered, nor had the chance to since the waiter blew off our table, so we had to get that taken off. Then he comes back with the bill "all fixed" and an apology and there's a taco we didn't order on there. I finally had enough and got the manager. The extra star is for the manager who was receptive to our issues. It is also for the lady who was nice enough to turn off that awful television hung low enough on the wall to be right in your face for the entire meal. Thank you for that at least. Think I'll stick to my usual happy hour spots and release this one back into the wild.
(2)Brian V.
service is chaotic, but it opening night. still overly chaotic but the chips and salsa were good. that's the only food we had a chance to order. try to sit in the front, its forgotten no mans land in the back section. Update: same chaotic nature, had to send a margarita back, only had sour in it, they forgot the sweetener. The "muddled" margarita is actually terrible, mine had 7 over-squeezed lime rinds, that actually looked dried out, so this drink really is just codeword for lazy ass bartending to accommodate high volume. Fuck trying to drink the juice of 7 lime rinds and pith. Same with the "salsa" bar. Having some ketchup bottles filled with only a few options does not a salsa bar make. This place is blazay and full of cut corners, from the service, to the food. I'll just as easily cut the Ballard corner and go to one of the many nearby establishments.
(2)Trishann C.
Yummy, good variety in margaritas and tacos. Good prices and easy to get to location!
(5)Jonathan S.
I tried El Borracho last night for the first time and I will definitely be going back. My wife and I both got the green enchilada, mine with chicken (pollo), and hers with pork (carnitas). Both tasted great! The green sauce was smooth consistent and creamy instead of the usual runny chunky and runny tomatillo sauce. The chicken was moist with a good chipotle flavor and the pork was tender, lean and had a hint of what tasted like cinnamon & nutmeg. The green rice I had used poblano which gave it good flavor and a mild spice combined with a butteriness that rivaled that of el camion. I would say give this place a shot. The food is good, the prices are great, and the servers are friendly.
(5)Jordan B.
I'm a fan of their $1 happy hour tacos, and they've got a decent selection along with nice outside seating on a sunny day. Great location near the center of Ballard. I'll be back for happy hour.
(4)Matt M.
Went here a couple weeks ago with my wife and some friends that were in town. My wife and I had been to the location downtown a month or two earlier and loved it; we couldn't wait for a Ballard location to open. I gave a quick read through the reviews a moment ago and am sad to surmise management really doesn't care much about first impressions with this location. Our service was poor. At times, I was getting up and grabbing chips and salsa for our table because no server would pay attention to us. Drinks were slow to come and the general air of indifference and lack of excitement by the staff was noticeable. I'm not usually one to pick on service, either because I'm pretty optimistic and give people benefit of the doubt, or because I usually use Yelp before choosing a dining location and make sure the place is reputable. Because this location was so new, I didn't have the benefit of others' experiences. Ultimately, will I be back? Sure, I imagine at some point, I will. I'm disappointed because I was eager to make this "my spot" and come here regularly, what with the cheap tacos, ritas and beers. The environment didn't have much energy and the staff indifference isn't particularly attractive when I think about alternative options in Ballard.
(2)Sung P.
Love this place. Just tried it recently and have been back about 3-4 times since. I'm not going to go too much into the details here as this place is really all about the tacos, but I am definitely a fan. My favorites are the carnitas and chorizo y papas. Reasonable prices, and they accommodated a group of 7 with not much notice on my birthday which was awesome. Service is great - all the bartenders and servers I've had while I've been there have been super nice and attentive. Place has great staples, a well laid out bar area, and good service. Is it the best Mexican food I've ever had? Prob not, but when I'm out with friends and looking for a good place to eat, having a place with a nice ambiance, great service and solid food makes it a 4 star for me.
(4)kim h.
El gut rot cho. Every time I feel queasy after eating here. The food tastes alright nothing special. The drinks are ok. Not worth the couple times it made me and everyone I was with feel like crap. And the atmosphere is horribly cheesy. I wish a better restaurant had opened in Ballard. Add it to the list of restaurants that are show and no substance. I'd rather go to el camion. There's no trendy music but the food is actually good.
(2)Cecilia B.
I dream of El Borracho's tacos. Anything pork is divine, constantly craving their handmade tortillas. Can't go wrong on their menu!
(5)Erin D.
My first visit to an El Borracho establishment (6:00 on a weekday evening), and I was very impressed. The service was great and very frequent - we even had the manager come over and check on us, which is a service I'm only used to in upscale restraunts. I've heard complaints about the happy hour tacos. Well, sure. But it's a high quality meat taco for $1. The regular sized tacos are a decent street taco size portion of excellent ingredients for a whopping $3 or $4. And these aren't just "meat" tacos. They are beef cheek confit, duck, rabbit, or well prepared pork. Delicious! The drinks are stiff, well prepared, and appeared very quickly for us. The bartender even came by after the drinks were delivered to ask if she could add some extra coconut water to my coconut margarita - it had nagged her that she didn't feel she'd added enough. However, I do agree that it would be nice if there was some indication that the happy hour tacos were a different size than regular menu tacos. Even though the flavors were delicious, it was a little disappointing to see happy hour tacos come out side by side of regular menu tacos. (my only reason for 4 stars instead of 5) I loved my first visit to El Borracho, and left very satisfied for a surprisingly small bill. I will be back soon!
(4)Richard O.
Besides being an outdoor patio and cute girls, this food is essentially bland and absolutely the opposite on the taste scale of any type of Mexican street food. I realize I'm Hispanic and come from Texas, I don't expect good Mexican food in the PNW-- what drives me crazy is how does a margarita taste poor!? It's so freaking easy to make!
(2)Mark B.
The food was good - Tasty $1/$2 Tacos at Happy Hour Enjoyed the El Cheapo Margarita made with Fresh lime juice Our server was friedly but a bit confused - forgotten food items - never told us they had a salsa bar I know they were only open 4 days ago so I will be checking back in soon.
(3)Jeannine C.
We tried going on opening night, but as you can read from previous reviews it was packed. A nit that I'll make on that night is they didn't have a "Please seat yourself" sign, so we were waiting a while before deciding to flag down a server by the kitchen. We went back again Saturday night, and it was far less packed and easy to get a table. Service was friendly but not very prompt. I noticed a table that came in after us was receiving much more consistent service and even finished their drinks and meal then paid before we could flag down our server for a check. Even then it took a while for them to come back with it. The food and drinks were nothing to write home about. As another reviewer noted, chips were cheapies out of a bag as I'm positive the bland salsa and watery refrained beans were canned as well. Tried one of their nicer margaritas but didn't find anything remarkable about it. Definitely hard to pay $9 for it knowing that you can get a far superior house made margarita on the next block at La Carta. Enchiladas with red sauce were OK, but again tasted like a canned sauce. Chorizo in the chorizo/potato burrito tasted like bland ground meat (if you could find it.) Unfortunately the majority of the burrito was black beans that were half cooked. Bottom line: nothing special that would inspire us to return.
(2)Sadie G.
Pretty good. Good amount of veggie and vegan options. I don't love that you have to pay for chips and salsa, bit at least they were pretty good. Our tacos were tasty. The service was good. I didn't find this place that impressive, and I probably wouldn't come back when there are so many other places to try, but I really appreciate the options and the quality of the ingredients.
(4)Zi Y.
Food was not good. Waitress was slow, and didn't check on us. Our water was empty for half an hour. I ordered the Nachos, and it was a mistake! Will not go back again!
(2)nikki g.
Smells awful! Only good experience was with the bartender Lisa, who I heard doesn't work there anymore. The food was sub par. Cool-ish space. The staff just seems miserable and the management is defensive.
(1)Megan J.
Any place with reverse happy hour serving decent food until 1am that plays C.R.E.A.M., Bombs Over Baghdad and several Roots songs deserves 5 stars, plain and simple.
(5)Katie T.
Decent tacos, by no means on the better end of the spectrum. Good late night happy hour.
(3)Jorge G.
If you're vegan or vegetarian... this is not the place for you. Soyrizo taco didn't have much chorizo flavor... service was friendly but slow, great chips and guac
(1)Lindsay K.
While they say kid friendly on the door, they do not have child seats/high chairs. Avoid this place if you planned on eating with your kids.
(1)Dane H.
This place is amazing. Food is delicious - just as good as the other locations. Drinks are cheap and stiff, and the service is outstanding. Can't recommend this place enough - I'll be the guy at the bar stuffing his face.
(5)Andrea N.
Awesome happy hour tacos. More burrito than you're expecting for the dollars. Cheap yet tasty drinks. Great atmosphere. Friendly service who doesn't judge you for getting a drink called "El Cheapo". Go there. Do it.
(5)Charles B.
As a native Californian and new to Seattle, I found myself hunting for great Mexican food and sadly had to resign myself to gorging myself only on trips home as I'd found every Mexican restaurant here lacking. To the point I started looking for a Chevy's restaurant. And then we saw El Borrocho open here in Ballard and decided to give it a try. I mean, it couldn't be worse than everything else we'd tried... We were greeted warmly by 3 different staff and made to feel as if we were regulars. Ordered a michelada and the el cheapo margarita and couldn't be more pleased. Then the assortment of tacos we ordered arrived and we dug in. Who knew the gates to culinary heaven were in Ballard!!!!! Unbelievably great food. Your doing yourself a great disservice if you pass this place up. The staff is amazingly friendly. We love Chelsea!! The sad part is that anyone would think think to give this place anything but 5 stars. Seriously...
(5)C L.
The food I had was Just ok. I had Chips and Salsa and a stake taco. May come back for drinks tho. Love the atmosphere. I may give it another go next time.
(3)Kris H.
Getting mugged by an alligator stinks. Especially when it's in Ballard where you expect to be able to safely cross the gosh-darned street without a prehistoric reptile trying to take your stuff... FOR FREE! I'm not carrying around frozen chickens to give them away. They are for throwing into the locks. Now is not the time to judge me about what I choose to do, or not to do, with frozen chickens, okay? If I want to throw frozen chickens into the locks--or dress them up as Don Johnson and Cheech Marin--that's my business. Regardless, I am sans frozen chickens and there's some overly-entitled hipster alligator AVEC frozen chickens. Where's the justice? Justice resides at El Borracho in Ballard. See what I did there? It's called a "smooth transition." The staff is nice, the tacos are tasty, and while the beer is a bit on the soft side (I like my beer to slap me in the face), it's still beer. Beer! The highlights on the menu are the lengua (beef tongue) and borrego (lamb) tacos. I am in no way fluent in Spanish. I am happy to report that, once I was certain it wasn't my tongue in the taco (I sometimes zone out and end up with zanily missing body parts), my taste buds was quite satisfied with the beef tongue. Wait, does that mean I abstractly French-kissed a cow? My goodness. Anyway, the lamb is tender and spicy--just like Danny Trejo. Sold! As for the aforementioned staff, they're all very friendly, even to a maladjusted weirdo like Crispin Glover. Ha! You thought I was going to say me! I'm more of a maladjusted shy weirdo, thank you very much. I don't even know Crispin Glover...
(4)Max Z.
Tasty food and a great HH, but their mixed drinks are pretty inconsistent. If you order the same drink there three times in one night, it might be completely different each time.
(4)Heidi T.
Delicious drinks, tamarind margarita and hibiscus margarita are both amazing. Had the rabbit tacos, very juicy and flavorful. Awesome addition to our neighborhood. Will definitely be going back :)
(4)Dave S.
This place really isn't very good. The food was heavy and pretty nasty. The chips came out of a bag (you can see a bunch of them sitting there), and the salsa bar was uninspired - a mockery of the salsa bar you can find a few blocks over at La Carta. The service was almost unbelievably slow. The lady was nice, but dear god she was slow. We had to wait almost 20 minutes after finishing our food for her to actually come by and drop off the check. With all the options you have in Ballard I don't really see any reason to go here. It just isn't worth it. Look elsewhere. I'm kinda blown away by the positive reviews to be honest.
(2)Liza K.
Ahhh El Borracho! The burritos are the way to go! Especially the chicken. You'll be sure to have some left over too as I am not sure how you could ever finish it. But the reason my girlfriend and I keep going is for the chips/guac/salsa. I am not sure how they make their salsa but we are always talking about it. It's not your typical chunky or spicy salsa but the flavor is fantastic! You do have to pay for your chips/salsa but seriously do it. There happy hour menu is reasonably extensive and the el cheapo margaritas are not skimpy on the alcohol! Keep in mind though, you're paying $1-$2 for a taco that on non happy hour times would be $4-$5 so you're not going to get a normal sized taco. They are pretty small and you will need multiple if you're at all hungry. They offer beans and rice as a side and they're good but the tacos and burritos are so large/good that it's not really worth the extra cost. They are usually always crowded which is a show of how good the food is. But.... sometimes the service could be a little quicker. A lot of the times the waitressing staff seems a little stretched and haphazard. Oh yeah, and no kids allowed after 4pm! We have seen babies in strollers get turned away.
(4)Manuel O.
This place is garbage. Tacos and drinks are a joke but at least they have Pacifico on draft.
(1)gordon w.
Unimpressed, felt like a tavern. Poor seating ambiance is a large flat screen sporting event. Bagged Juanita ' chips for NACHOS! I can make those myself. Reminds me of when Thai restaurants opened every week. I think Mexican is now saturated. Time to be a seller.
(1)Eric N.
Last Saturday afternoon, I came in here with a group of friends for delicious tacos. The rabbit and chicken tacos, with a spicy pineapple margarita, made my day. Wooden panels, open space, and a good variety of salsa make me anxious to try more stuff.
(4)Nicole F.
Really good food-especially the carnitas tacos. We sat at the bar, ordered the El Cheapo margarita (dangerous, although cheap, it's in a short glass, so you'll definitely end up ordering 2)--and the food was really good. Wish the bartender was a little more attentive to us (we ate at the bar)--but other than that, good place.
(4)Emily S.
Great locally owned place. Always lively, and for good reason. The food is great and as far as portions go, I think it's meant to be a la carte style and tacos cost between $1-3, so they are small but delicious. You can totally fill up on three tacos and some chips here. The staff was friendly even though they were busy. Enjoyed the ambiance and great location. Really good happy hour menu. I would suggest checking it out. We have also been to the Del Norte location and had a good experience.
(5)Brandi B.
It's nice to have a new casual spot in Ballard . The Salsaa are great and the space is beautiful .
(5)Kinda Invisible S.
Best guacamole!!! I almost wanted to ask for a spoon so I could just eat it like ice cream :) Knocked down the rating one star because the service wasn't spectacular (it's okay, just not fabulous). I chose the fish (cod) taco that was a little spicier than I would have liked but still wonderful and the duck taco which was yummy. I'm definitely coming back to work my way through the menu. My dining mates had the mushroom tacos which are excellent and a side of rice and beans which were okay. There's a station you can visit with loads of different sauces and salsas so if you think something doesn't have the flavor you're looking for, mix it up yourself. The lunch tacos are mid-sized (some might call them small) but when I return I think having guacamole with chips and one taco @ $7 will make the perfect lunch.
(4)Cameron A.
Rarely do I hop on and make comments, but we've here twice and my wife and I are thrilled they are finally in Ballard. The food, atmosphere and wait staff are great. Definitely a new "go to" spot next to home.
(4)Reverend Bettie v.
I've now been twice and let me just say, the service was awesome! The Happy Hour Tacos are a perfect size (smaller than the regular tacos and packed with flavor) to allow for trying out a variety. The Vegan Nachos were delightful and the Margaritas were well made. As I stated before, the service was awesome both times I've visited. On my first visit the gals were super sweet and helped us get a table (it was pretty busy and all the tables were full), we then had two ladies checking in on our table. On my second visit I sat at the bar and again had great service! Can you tell I'm impressed with the service? Ha! Thank you Kittie and your entire staff! You've got a customer for life!
(5)Dan J.
Came to El Borracho on a beautiful sunny day in late April. The place was PACKED, which slowed down service a little bit, but that was to be expected. $4 margaritas and $1 tacos were a huge hit, especially considering the different taco varieties they had (pork, chicken, beef, chorizo, fish, etc.). My only complaints were the slower service (again, expected and they even seemed a bit understaffed), the margaritas were a bit too sweet (and weak...), and the tacos could be a bit bigger. Then again, it's hard to complain about the size when they're only $1! Will definitely be returning when I'm able to find an outdoor seat!
(4)Ivan Z.
Probably the best street-style tacos in downtown Seattle. The quality doesn't quite measure up to the Mexican grocery store-cum-restaurant in carjack country back home, but the prices here are reasonable. The 'El Cheapo' margarita tasted like it was entirely sour mix - avoid, IMO - but it looks like others have had better luck with it. Your mileage may vary. The House margarita is consistently very good. Guacamole is fresh and delicious. They say it's made-to-order, and it tastes like it is.
(4)Costa K.
Whoa! I just noticed this place open up in Ballard and since I loved the chicken quesadilla I had at their Fremont spot, I decided to stop in. It was packed on a Thursday for Happy Hour. I had 3 Tingy Chicken tacos that were great! Excellent flavor, not too wet and plenty of chicken.. so good! The staff is very friendly and the manager is hilarious! I'll be back...
(5)Kaz H.
Saw reviewers and thought I should check it out. I ordered fish tacos, literally no flavor except spicy. Tried the vegan enchiladas as well and the flavors did not complement each other. Guacamole consisted of mostly large avocado pieces that broke every chip. Not planning on returning, would highly recommend avoiding this place.
(1)Kiran N.
Excellent food with excellent service. My wife and I recently moved to Ballard and we checked out El Borracho for happy hour. We tried the veggie tacos (both the potato and soyrizo) along with veggie burritos and margaritas. All were great. They also have a wide selection of delicious homemade salsas -definitely try them all. The staff was super nice and checked up on us frequently. We'll definitely be back on a regular basis.
(5)Artemis M.
Fantastic experience! Not only was the service absolutely amazing, but the food was delicious...and one of the best happy hours ever. The margaritas were an inventive mix of melon and cucumber for a fresh and light flavor but packed a punch. Since they actually have vegan choices on the menu we just had to order the vegan nachos which quickly disappeared since the whole table liked them so much. My personal favorite were the dollar tacos. Why not try one of each option at that price. It's a warm welcome in the town of Ballard...can't wait for summer so this can be our spot with the windows open and the breeze flowing threw the garage door like wall. Thank you kelli and Lisa, we so enjoyed your hospitality and the atmosphere!
(5)Benjamin H.
I really like this place. The tacos are amazing and their margaritas are delicious. As far as I can tell, they improved the ventilation in the place, which fixed the smell that I mentioned in the old review.
(4)Amir R.
The tacos are excellent - I particularly love the lamb and the mushroom. The drinks are delicious. The service is prompt and friendly and the price is right. I will definitely be a regular here.
(5)Lydia C.
Would not recommend. We went in for lunch hour and figured they would be great considering they just recently opened, wrong! We walked in and the only waitress working had her back to the entry door talking to customers. Instead of giving us the ol' go-ahead-and-sit head nod she just ignored us. We waited and waited just to be told to sit anywhere. We ordered a few tacos each and the chips and salsa. For drinks we figured water would do. We went to poor a fresh glass of water from the pitcher already on our table and noticed all the tables had full pitchers on them. No wonder we had a nice layer of dust sitting on the top of the water. They have pitchers upon pitchers of water sitting in the corner full of "fresh" water just collecting dust for any good paying customer. How long does it really take to fill a glass pitcher of water and deliver it to the three tables you have for lunch hour? The chips were not fresh, more like heated up chips from a bag and the salsa was nothing I would crave. The fish tacos were simply fish chunks that were over coated with a typical cajun seasoning that masked any fresh fish flavor, covered with a few thick shreds of green and purple cabbage. The open salsa bar had three different sauces that we tried, all not good. Overall the two stars were for the location and the fun decor, so if you are hungry I wouldn't recommend.
(2)John M.
I will keep this short. This place serves a very important purpose in my life. When I am out and about in Ballard, doing some local shopping at one of the excellent stores down here, I love that I can hop in this place, be treated excellent, get a cheap drink and a couple of pineapple and pork tacos. Treat yourself. Excellent staff and great quality food! Thanks
(5)Eliana S.
I don't know why this place doesn't have more stars... Got a wet chicken burrito, it was bomb! Highly recommend!
(5)Serena S.
This is a great go-to for a cheap happy hour. most tacos are $1, and they have an "el cheapo" margarita for $4. (Splurge for the additional 50c and add the firewater bitters to the margarita to make it spicy!). I usually just have happy hour food here, but on my most recent visit I had the "ensalada de la casa" and added beef barbacoa. YUM. really filling, and quite delicious!
(4)Jay H.
I dig it! When I want tacos, chips & guacamole and margaritas this is the spot! Expect it to usually be pretty busy if you're coming during peak hours (duh) but it's definitely worth the wait. I've had numerous different tacos here; tinga, pastor, barbacoa, lamb, etc... they are all amazing. With some fresh chips and guacamole at the table and a nice cold margarita you're all set to enjoy a handful of tacos (my record so far is 10 in one sitting... I was kinda fully before arriving). Service is prompt most of the time and all of the servers are as friendly as they can be as they scurry about taking care of all their tables. It's a great place to watch the game too. Mariners, Sounders and Seahawks... just make sure they don't put on tennis instead of football. Really?! They have a pretty decent selection of tequilas as well. If you like to call your shot in your margarita or want a nice shot to sip with your table full of tacos they should have something to strike your fancy. Don't forget; make sure to try out their salsa/hot sauce bar to find the best sauce to compliment your food! I'm a huge fan!
(4)Dida L.
El Borracho is where I go when I am craving delicious street tacos and a cold margarita! I am always pleased with the service and I've always has speedy service. Their guac is just right!!!!!! Oh, and their freshly made tortillas are yummy!
(5)Brad H.
Not a bad spot. The atmosphere is great and they were accommodating with combining tables for us. The service wasn't speedy, but we were in no hurry. They were happy to refill chips and salsa (which were good, the salsa VERY good) whenever we were empty. I only had beer, so I can't speak to the mixology. My taco al pastor was lacking in execution and flavor, but wasn't bland. Overall: not a place I'd seek out, but not a place I'd avoid at all. A good experience and relaxed atmosphere.
(3)MaiLinh N.
Came here on a Thursday evening around 9 and got a table. Server offered chips and salsa and guac and any drinks- we said yes to chips and no to drinks and she wandered off. She forgot about the chips entirely and it wasn't until after we got our food and reminded her about the chips that they came out. Tacos were pretty good. Rice and beans not the greatest- rice was kind of dry. I'd say things are decently priced, but service was really bad. Our waitress forgot about us, forgot about refilling our water after we asked, stopped at numerous tables before bringing our check after we already asked. Didn't say a word to us when she finally dropped off our check. I couldn't tell if she was having a really bad night or was pissed at us for something, but service was awful. We spent most of our time here waiting for service throughout the meal. The food wasn't good enough to make up for it, and we won't be returning here.
(2)Lee A.
At 11:30 PM it's not easy to find a place that's still serving food and that is good. We sat ourselves and it took a few minutes to get service but that was okay because our server was really nice and she took time to talk to people at her tables and make sure they were happy. They have happy hour everyday from 11PM-1AM so we got chicken tacos for $1 and fish tacos for $2. Chips and salsa were .97 cents. The salsa was really good and flavorful. I loved the chicken tacos and these are some of the best I've had in Seattle. My husband got the fish tacos which I didn't think had much taste but he really liked them. I also ordered a hibiscus margarita. It was awful. I'm sure some people would really like it because it was very strong. I prefer my drinks to before flavorful and less alcohol only taste. The server took it off the bill which I appreciated. Great place to grab some food late at night.
(4)Heather K.
I think the downtown location is better but this one still has the same perks - great HH prices, great chips + salsa. Maybe we came on an off day but everything was very salty (including the service). However, the downtown location is one of my favorite bars so I'll give this one another shot.
(3)Amanda T.
One of the best happy hours in Ballard. The waitstaff is amazing (kind, attentive and personable), and the Al Pastor burrito is the best burrito I've ever had.
(5)Ali D.
Definitely one of my new favorite happy hours! Not only is it pretty tasty but it's CHEAP! That's right, they serve up a wide selection of $1 tacos and $4 "El Cheapo" margaritas. Even though they're el cheapo, they pack a mighty punch. The tacos are pretty tiny - about two bites each - but the beauty is they are just so stinkin' cheap so you can afford to order a few. Since I couldn't decide which kind from the six different varieties they offer, I ordered one of each. The coca-cola braised carnitas and shredded chicken in adobo were the favorites. I also appreciated the tasty and generous portion of chips and guac they had on the HH menu for a whopping $3! If you're looking for a killer happy hour that won't break the bank, this is your spot.
(4)Monica S.
Cinco de Mayo celebrated right!! SO DELICIOUS! I came here one evening with some friends and so glad we decided to come here, although we initially went to El Matador down the street. We walked into a very busy El Borracho and were afraid we were not going to eat tacos and margaritas for this joyous holiday! We ended up going to the other end of the bar and found 3 awesome bar seats nestled between the crowd of people! It was happy hour for another hour or so, when we got there, so it ended up working out perfectly! I got the carnitas and al pastor tacos, both very flavorful & a cute little size! We got some carnitas tacos to share, which were so jam packed with toppings and delicious coca-cola braised pork. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and the " el cheapo" margaritas were well made. Overall, don't expect a fancy meal at El Borracho, but definitely go for the awesome happy hour! $1 tacos cannot be beat! One of the better Mexican places in Seattle. Make your way over if you are in the area!
(5)Chris P.
The street tacos! Bring on the street tacos! Happy hour prices here are absolutely killer. 3 shots, 3 tacos, chips with salsa and guac, and 1 margarita for $35 bucks. Not too shabby. The staff was pretty busy, but everyone remained friendly and accommodating, even when a massive rush of folks flooded the place. Great atmosphere and very chill. It's also in a great location for grabbing a bite before, during, or after tackling the excellent pubs and bars all along Market Street.
(4)Kelsey B.
Would've given a higher rating if our waitress hadn't been the rudest I've ever experienced. She insulted a member of our table, and then continued to apologize but the damage was done. After that awkward moment we all just decided to order chips and salsa for the table and drink some el cheapos before moving on.
(2)Mo A.
After a long walk around the great entertaining Ballard area, we decided to stop by this place and try it, since it was one of the places was still open for food in the area. We walked in and we sat ourselves in a booth. The place was a little busy, so we had to wait for awhile for menus. We finally waived and got someone to come to our table. We were warmly greeted and handed the menus by the waitress. In about 5 minutes, we got the salsa and chips, which we thought was the best salsa we ever had for a long time. The menu looked so delicious and we waned to get everything on the menu. At the end, we decided to order fish tacos and chicken tacos. The fish tacos tasted amazing. Adding lemon on the top makes it even better. The chicken tacos tasted on, but not the best. Overall, the food and location is great, but service is a little slow.
(3)Kal A.
It's cheap during happy hour and you certainly get what you pay for. Tacos very unimpressive. Very strange vibe there. Can't put my finger on it right now.
(2)Matt R.
All the food and drink we had was excellent, the service was prompt and friendly- but my only beef was that the double margarita seemed like it was just a single margarita poured in a pint glass with extra ice...... I did have a tequila aged on habaneros that was awesome. I would go back for another shot of this delicious Mexican booze if for no other reasons.
(4)Lily S.
HOLY. CHIT. Why would you NOT stop in here when your car doesn't start and there are no car2go cars around? Because we did and it was sooooo worth it. Since I can't have dairy anymore (FML), I decided to order a mission style vegan burrito with soyrizo and when it came out, it was like a little slice of heaven, if there is one. Also, the burrito was the size of a small baby, chock full of rice, black beans, soyriza con papas, Daiya cheese (YESSSSS), salsa, guac, and delicious, delicious, red sauce. Needless to say, I could only eat about a third of my baby burrito, and took the rest of it for lunch the next day. The next day happens to be right now, so yes, I'm currently eating it - BEST. LEFTOVERS. EVAR. I will definitely stop by the location in the market since I work DT now! You'll find me there, trying to finish my burrito to make it back to work just in time for a food coma :)
(4)Julie G.
The taco section of the menu is almost overwhelming! My group was up to the challenge, however. Chips, salsa, and guacamole were all great. The first basket of chips were pretty broken up, our server noticed when she came back with our drinks and replaced with a fresh basket. I really enjoyed the hibiscus margarita! It's not overly sweet, and the cinnamon-sugar rim was a little touch that added a bit to the drink without overpowering the flavor entirely. My companion loved his spiked horchata drink. We all choose a variety of tacos, and had no problem polishing them off. Some of the pork flavored are pretty sweet - just ask if you're not sure you'll like something. The salsa bar offers plenty of spicier options to liven up your tacos if you feel they're too tame.
(4)Heather M.
I'd never hit up El Borracho as I tend to avoid large crowds & had heard this was a popular happy hour spot...however, the boyfriend and I were in the area last night and craving Mexican food, so we popped in for dinner; I most definitely wasn't expecting to be as blown away as I was. I started with the Hibiscus margarita, which was delicious. The cinnamon sugar rim was something I'd never had on a margarita (I am a salt girl all the way!), but it really added to the overall flavor of the drink. BF had the Taco al Camarones burrito-style with the green sauce. He couldn't finish it, it was so big (but amazing)! I went with three tacos al a carte: Taco de Borrego (lamb), Taco de Pato (duck), and Taco al Pastor (pork & pineapple...always one of my go-to's at a Mexican restaurant!). The lamb was my least favorite; as weird as it sounds, it was almost too lamb-y for my personal taste, not much to balance it out in comparison to the other two. But HOLINESS the duck and al pastor were to die for! Amazing combinations of meat, toppings, and spices. Wish I'd had room for a second round. On top of the food being awesome, our server and hostess were just unbelievably nice and gave really great service. Good service is always the cherry on top of quality food for me, so major props! I will definitely be stepping out of my comfort zone and braving the crowds for happy hour for sure!
(5)Chris C.
We stopped here on Sunday 5/3/15 "only" because we forgo that Carta de Oaxaca was closed on Sunday. We walked in and were seated at the back, out of sight out of view for service. It took 20 minutes to get chips and salsa and our drinks ordered. At the 40 minute mark we were served our food (which was basic, not wow this is so good I'll be back). The kicker was that we never got our 1st round of drinks, even at the point our meal was finished. I went over to the front and the bartender said she was too busy and that she can start working on the drinks in a minute! At that point, I was like were done already but thanks anyway. No discount on our bill, only an apology from the server as she handed me the bill hoping to resurrect some hope of a good tip. I almost didn't but gave her a tip because I know she probably depended on it, and El Borracho's management/ownership is to blame for not putting priority on basic customer service and timing of events (like get the drinks out before the food). Cheers!
(1)Peter C.
El Borracho according to Urban Dictionary means a Drunkard. Currently I am a Lightweight, Asian Blushing, Margarita Sipping, and I Only Do Girly Cocktails Kind of Guy. This is where El Borracho Steps into my life. You got Fanta Orange Mexican SodaTastic Street Food!! During Happy Hour Tacos are only $1, with the exception of Shhhfancy Pantsy Tacos being $2, Nachos, Burritos, Lamb Tacos, and QuessoDiallaz. Lately, I have been trying to be A GOOD LIL GRASSHOPPER to impress my teacher THE DRUNKEN MAStTUR, Jackie Chan in the Zui Quan Drunken Martial arts of the WU SHU. With cheap Drinks starting at $4 and a wide selection of beverages on a budget to help me master the DrunkTard Movements. I will go Super SaiYan Turn Down For What and will MASTER THE DRUNKEN FIST TECHNIQUE in no time!!! Food: Hibiscus Margarita: Total Liquid meal for the Belly. Fills you up, makes you feel Good, and the Hibiscus Flavor is on point. The Cinnamon on the Rim is a very nice touch too. Al Pastor: I usually turn to this being my all time Favorite Taco. You got Adobada Red Sauce marinated chunks of pork. Sweet goes so well lil Piggies and the Pineapple is a perfect ingredient for this. Here at El Borracho I was expecting this to be my favorite one but it was a close second. Very Juicy, well seasoned, and pork was cooked well. Not the Best Al Pastor Tacos my Favorite is at Taco Chukis. But very good and worth trying. Carnitas: Pulled Pork with Cola Cola marination this is a Flavor Bomb. I am a Soda Geek and Coke Addict. I drink at least one Coke a day just like how I eat Ice Cream every day all day. Secret to keeping slim is Meats and Sweets. The Pulled Pork is oh so tender, juicy and feels like you took a shot of Coke with it for each bite Good. This is my favorite Taco Here!!! Carne Asada: I prefer Pork Tacos over Steak simply because you have a lot more options when it comes to flavor profile, toppings, and it just pairs better with the Tortilla period. I really wanted to like this a lot since I am in the Ribeyeboyzzz Secret Society. But this taco fell short. It's also 100% more than the two listed above. For the price I'd rather double up on the two above since they are Double the Fun and Double the Deliciousness!!
(4)T P.
Tasty tasty tasty!!! A and I enjoyed happy hour here one Saturday and left full and primed for only $25. The tacos, assorted, were tasty as were the chips, salsas and guacamole. It has a quaint ambiance and some outdoor seating on the street. The place was swarming with helpful wait-staff and everyone seemed to pitch-in. Service was fast and pleasant. It's one of our new fav mexi spots!
(4)H S.
Tiny expensive mediocre tacos. I do not care for this place, no I do not.
(3)Tommy D.
Service is kind of slow. Had the tacos and they are okay. I had one fish taco that was pretty flavorless and then I had a lamb taco that was actually delightful. Decent selection of beer and cool atmosphere. Parking can be tough at times.
(3)J L.
Happy Hour has great smaller versions of their tacos from the regular menu. Excellent atmosphere, but the service is not great.
(2)Jen H.
This place is amazing! New Mexican spot in Ballard & you can tell by their wait staff that they really care about their customers. Always someone walking by to help you with anything. The food is delicious with tacos that are $3-$4 each and you can mix & match with what type of meat you want to really make an appetizing meal - lamb, pork, shrimp, cod, beef tongue to name a few. They infuse their own tequila with many different ingredients as well. The skylights in the ceiling really give it a nice open feeling & the music & energy in the room gives off a young, hip vibe. Must try!
(5)Jana P.
The service was slow and the tacos were bland but way too spicy. The only up side was that they comped our drinks & chips/guac for being so slow. The waitress was nice and you could tell she was stressed but we will not be going back.
(2)Skyler P.
I came here on a Friday evening with my two girlfriends, excited to try a new place in town. We got a table right away, ordered some chips and salsa, as well as our other food. 20 minutes later, one order of pozole arrived. 20 more minutes passed and our tacos had still not arrived. Our waitress came up to us and asked if we were wondering why our food hadn't arrived yet, and informed us that it was because she never put our order into the kitchen. Hello? What? Fine. She said that she wished we were drinking so that she could bring us apology drinks...uh, just bring us drinks anyways! Our food eventually came, and though the tacos were delicious, she did NOT COMP A SINGLE TACO for the terrible service. Ugh. Bye.
(2)Kelly N.
Our server Danielle was super nice and welcoming. They offer vegan alternatives. I got a vegan burrito that was really filling and yummy! I also loved the green rice.
(5)Edgar M.
So happy this place has re-opened. I can't wait to get "el dirtbag" or whatever it is they call their al the time $5 marguerita!
(5)