El Chupacabra
Seattle, WA 98103-5225
Phone: (206) 706-4889
- Best of Citysearch:
- Margarita 2007
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat-Sun 2pm-2am
Editorial Review for El Chupacabra – by Don Rauf
The Scene
Named for the mythical "goat-sucker," this old house has transformed into a warm cantina, with red walls and a few Day-of-the-Dead details. With its raucous jukebox and budget prices, this yuppie-free environment attracts a younger clientele. Later at night, the free pool table gets busy as the tunes crank. In the warmer weather, the front porch opens for leisurely feasting.
The Food
Diners capture the Chupacabra spirit here by sucking down life-giving margaritas created with a zesty homemade mix. These large drinks balance the spicy Mexican standards--from fat Mission-style burritos to enchiladas, which nicely meld cheese, pork, beans, and hot sauce in a pillow-soft tortilla. Of the marinated meat fillings, the savory pork carnitas beat the chicken, and the salsas are all flavorful without going over the top. For something different, try the posole or the shrimp in tequila and lime with corn pancakes. Vegetarians with meat pangs should sample the surprising chorizo-flavored substitute.
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Insider Tips
When to GoOn Monday nights, a live DJ alternates the mix between heart-wrenching country and head-bashing punk.
What to DrinkThe fresh margaritas in pint-size glasses are a highlight, particularly the pomegranate version. The bar also serves superior tequilas and south-of-the-border beers including the rare Tonas from Nicaragua.
User Reviews for El Chupacabra
06/27/2008 Posted by OldHippieBiker
We used to love this place. But there's been a lot of turnover lately and the owner seems to be hiring anything with a pulse. We've been there when the bartender was so drunk/stoned she couldn't pour beer. We've had our orders completely mixed up (i.e. no one got what they ordered, just bits and pieces of each other's order), delivered after a lengthy wait. We've had to explain the menu to servers. Our last visit was in the late afternoon, with our eight-year-old - we'd been there as a family dozens of times. In addition to slow service (because they had yet another new, inexperienced server) the bartender-controlled music was blaring some song with the "F-word" prominently repeated in its refrain. Hey, I'm a biker and not easy to offend, but I'm also a parent: since this place bills itself as family friendly I would think they could be a bit more considerate during 'family prime time' (play what you like after, say, 8 or 9 PM). When I refer to this as our 'last visit', I mean that in all senses of the phrase. El Chupacabra has lost its groove, and I would not be surprised to see another tenant in that building by year's end.
06/25/2008 Posted by sunahall
I went here for the first time and it was terrible. We waited an hour for our food only to find out our order had been misplaced. The guacamole was more like watery avocado with tomatoes than good, chunky guacamole should be. Once our food finally came it was cold and disappointing. I will never eat here again.
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