El Puerco Lloron

It was New Year's Day so places without long waits were slim pickings. We stumbled upon this place on the Pike Hill Climb and it looked SO CUTE with the little license plate lanterns and colorful tables. Plus, the aroma of fresh corn tortillas seemed too good to resist. The menu is fairly simple, 10 dishes to choose from written on a chalk board...most (maybe all) under $10. I ordered the carne asada and proceeded to the apparent "salsa bar" to get napkins, water, forks, and salsa. There were three types of salsa - one looked like pickled veggies, another a pureed tomato mixture with seeds, and the third a chunky salsa. I took the latter two. Unfortunately, half of the salsa dishes had residual, baked on food from not being properly cleaned so I had to choose dishes carefully. We paid extra for tortilla chips, that I expected to be fresh but they were pretty stale. The pureed salsa tasted like it was heavily ketchup-based and the chunky salsa had pieces of onion in it that were larger than three pencil erasers put together - that's a lot of onion) but it was decent if I just picked out the tomatos and ate them. My carne asada was ready so I went to the counter to pick it up. When I returned to the table and looked at the masterpiece, the smell was just overwhelming. Not only had she slightly burned the fatty, thinly sliced steak, but it gave off an odor that I can't explain - but it almost gagged me. The smell was kind of like the game-iest meat but spoiled (think super gamey venison that has been left out too long and then cooked). I vowed to try it in case it tasted better than it smelled (as many stinky cheeses do) but alas, it tasted exactly like it smelled. I can honestly say that it was the worst meat I have ever had at a restaurant. The accompanying rice and beans were nothing to write home about - not a lot of flavor, but mostly edible. I wanted so much to love this place but it was awful. I vote to rename it: el llanto humano or el llanto de estomago.

Pros: great location, fun atmosphere, cheap

Cons: really gross food, dirty dishes, hard to communicate with the people serving the food

Posted 01/02/09

it's true, the tortillas here are awesome! el puerco lloron is an amazing, casual mexican joint right near the pike place market. some might say it's tricky to find, but not really. it's on the hillclimb beneath the market. basically, just go down the stairs right by the golden pig in the market and keep going down (cross western). it's worth the search! el puerco is not open late - come before 7 sun-thur, 8 on fri & sat. ps - all dishes are under $8 - what a steal!

Pros: homemade tortillas!

Posted 11/16/08

If your idea of Mexican food is something smothered in cheese, don't bother with El Puerco Lloron, you will be disappointed. However if you've eaten at that little locals' place in somewhere Mexico, and loved it, then step right in. This is simple good food, and traditional. This is the closest I've found to my Sister-in-Law's cooking (my brother married into a Mexican family). It's nothing fancy, there are no waiters, the staff with the exception of the cashier generally speaks only Spanish. In a word it's GREAT!

Pros: As close to true south-of-the-border eating as you can get.

Cons: Crowded at lunch

Posted 04/23/07

I love this place - the food is simple, flavorful and inexpensive. The ambience is great and the staff is friendly - just the kind of unpretentious place I like to go to have a quick and tasty meal. If you are into the yuppie places along 1st in Belltown, this is not for you. Only downside was that it seemed like every couple who walked in the door had a screaming small child with them, but I've only been in once and I'm hoping that was just bad luck. Even so, it didn't bother me as much as it would in other places. I had the bistec chicken, which came with some of the best corn soft corn tortillas I've ever eaten.

Pros: simple and tasty, ambience, great value, closest to authentic I've had in Seattle

Cons: lots of kids the one time I was in

Posted 12/14/06

I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. RUDE service, gross chicken, and dirty tables. My family was in from out of town and they thought it looked like a cute little place to check out. My brother-in-law ordered a dish and went to pick it up off the counter when one of the ladies grabbed his plate from him, yelled at another server and scooped off the guacomolie right off his plate. He didn't pay for it so he was NOT going to get it. It was awful!

Oh and we had to pay $.77 for stale chips....

Pros: Location

Cons: service, food, cleanliness... did I mention SERVICE!

Posted 08/17/06

Downtown Lunch goers, this mexican cafateria style eatery hits the spot. Grab 3 taquitos (small soft corn tortilla) filled with beef,chicken, or pork w/ side of yellow rice and beans. hit it all up with the Salsa bar for 6 bucks. Plus you can sit outside!

Pros: Friendly, fast, deliscious

Posted 04/17/06

This place is OUTSTANDING. One of the very few places in Seattle to get REAL mexican food. The carnitas are great, the Rellenos are great...I love the food here. If you think Azteca serves mexican food, you need to come here and educate your palate.

Pros: cheap, great , fast

Cons: none

Posted 05/24/05

My wife and I love to dine out and are always looking for a new place to try. A friend recommended that we try El Puerco Lloron. I have never before been treated with such utter contempt and absolute disrespect. Having worked in food service for 6 years I understand having a bad day but this was absurd.

Posted 12/13/04

El Puerco is a great place to go if you are sick of Taco Time. The ingredients are fresh, the corn tortillas home-made on the spot, and the cost won't dent you wallet so you can still eat at Canlis later in the week!
I was scared when I saw they only used parmesan cheese but now, I prefer it.
The pork taquitos are the best!

Posted 09/03/02

I've tryed many mexican restaurant around the world, and this one is one of the worst honestly. Not only the food was tasteless and cheap, my wife and I got sick with their beans. If you have been to mexico you'll never make the mistake of giving these a good rating. The place though is nice and very typical of a side restaurant in a road, but if you want real mexican food this is not the place, I have yet to find a good place in Seattle that serve REAL mexican food, not Taco Bell style dishes with plenty of rice, beans and melted cheddar which seems to be the standard around.

Pros: Cool place

Cons: Food

Posted 09/01/02

This is the single most authentic Mexican restaurant in the city limits. Woo!

Posted 07/18/02