El Camino

El Camino had a simple, but strong menu. No mind-blowing options, but overall well flavored and balanced.

If you're looking for a simple Mex-Tex meal try them out. Try the fried plantains!

We went on a Saturday evening and it was crowded and loud. This is a great place to start the night over drinks, but not a quiet gathering place for family.

The waitstaff was friendly & courteous.

Pros: solid mexican meal

Cons: crowded & loud

Posted 06/25/09

I am from Portland and this place was a very nice local place. The food was hot and yummy! We had fish tacos, tacos, chicken and cheese enchiladas and tamales. All very good for decent price. Wait staff was great. I would say my fav. was the enchiladas.

Pros: Food

Cons: not really kid friendly (bring crayons, or something) & parking

Posted 08/20/08

Well I went here expecting a lot based on the reviews. I was sorely disappointed. First no chips and salsa - not a big deal but important to many. Second the fish tacos were over cooked and $20!!! Nothong like the amazing halibut tacos at Carte de Oxaca and ony $9!!! The margaritas were weak but tasty. Overall mediocre. Service on a Friday (early) was actually ok.

Pros: None

Cons: Expensive and mediocre

Posted 08/14/08

I went to El Camino for the second time last night and overall was not disappointed. My boyfriend and I came a little after 9pm, and were seated in a nice corner of the main dining room by a window. Unfortunately, we could hear every word of our VERY LOUD and perhaps overly intoxicated neighbor table of six. We tuned them out as best we could and didn't let it destroy our dinner so it wasn't a huge deal.

We had the same server as the last time we came to El Camino, and he was very friendly and helpful - and only a little slow at times perhaps due to the late hour. He recommended wine for us, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We started with the beet salad, which we had ordered the last time and is very delicious. I ordered the Mussels appetizer as an entree; it was served in a very tasty tomato based broth with a touch of cream, lots of flavorful garlic and some grilled bread for dipping - I loved it! My boyfriend ordered the Bistec and Cheese Enchilada entree which he enjoyed as well.

Only a couple of small things that could have been better:
1) We weren't offered pepper with our salad and had to wait a bit before our own server came by and we asked him for it (apparently it was the food runner's job to offer pepper)
2) Our salad came out, and then literally a minute and a half later our entrees came out when we had barely taken two bites of our salads - so timing was a bit off there.

Other than that we had a great dinner and will definitely be back!

Pros: Great Food and Respectable Service

Cons: A little loud and timing of service a bit off

Posted 08/08/08

Can't argue with the food reviews, the food is delicious. However, if you care at all about customer service, don't do it. Each time I've been, the service is horrible - slow and snotty. I've kicked myself after each visit - "why did I come here when there are so many great places in Seattle?"

Pros: Delicious food

Cons: Unbearably bad service

Posted 06/29/08

The best Margarias specially the bartenders one,the food is all organic and even that its more expensive than other mex rest its worth it.Try the Tacos de carne,Tacos de pescado or mejillones!!!
The crowd and the The atmosphere are beautiful and our server from Spain was very friendly,fast and attentive!!
Highly recommended!!!

Pros: great ambience,food,drinks and service

Cons: sometimes long wait for a table

Posted 06/22/08

The best attributes of El Camino are its courteous waitstaff, unique ambience and scrumptious margaritas. Since this place is very popular, however, you may have to wait for a table if you arrive after 6 pm. The plates are typically smaller and are sometimes pricey for the portion but are generally very good and add unique flavors to traditional mexican cuisine. I highly recommend the Bartender's Margarita and the Quesadillas! It is a good place whether you want to have casual conversation with friends on the back deck or people-watch at the bar. Try it and you'll love it!

Pros: service, drinks, atmosphere

Cons: small portions for the prices, parking, popularity=wait for tables

Posted 05/04/08

Even though this place is a bit pricey, it's so worth a splurge when you can afford it. I recommend the "Bistec Estilo Capitalino" and the plantain chips and guacamole. Put them together with a mojito and you've got the perfect meal! Service is always friendly and helpful, though you may wait a bit for a table. Go to El Camino during off hours or right at the start of dinner if you can. Or get food to go. It tastes just as good at home. If you're disappointed they don't give you chips and salsa, you misjudged the type of mexican food. It's not traditional mexican, I'd call it more gourmet mexican.

Pros: Food, drinks, service, outdoor dining

Cons: They are really busy!

Posted 09/08/07

I have been a regular customer of this restaurant for as long as its been open, and it has never failed to satisfy me. The atmosphere is beautiful and interesting and the food is equally as impressive. The salads are fresh and unique and the enchiladas are my favorite on the current menu. The margarita's reputation is not hype, they are fantastic! My favorite way to begin my weekend is with brunch at El Camino. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Posted 08/29/07

We went to this place on Cinco de Mayo. It was busy, so service was a little slow. But when the food came, it was well worth the wait. We're looking forward to going back for Margharitas. My husband never get excited about Margharitas, but he flipped over these. It was a little pricey for a Mexican restaurant but again it was good. It was 't your typical greasy ricey-beany mexican food. Reportedly very authentic family recipes.

Pros: Margharitas

Cons: Pricey, but worth it. Just expect to pay a little more for very good food.

Posted 07/09/07

The sun finally came out in Seattle, and took a walk around freemont. I really don't know how I had missed El Camino, but I am glad I noticed it this round. I loved this place, and was sad that the porch area was packed, but we sat right inside from it with the windows open . I had a great house margarita for happy hour and their steak tacos happy hour special also! I liked them better than the chicken tacos, but they were good also. if you are in the area definitely stop in for a dinner or drinks...I recommend both!

Posted 06/07/07

The food and ambiance are above average. However, for me, service is very important when I dine out.
My husband and I went there for Sunday brunch on Mothers Day. Although I had made a reservation, the hostess seated us without asking. I offered to tell her so that she might cross off our names but she did not seem interested. We both enjoyed huevos rancheros and huevos mexicanas. The coffee was also quite good.I ordered a bloody Mary (a special treat for me since it was Mothers Day). I was unable to drink it because it was too spicy. Near the end of our meal the hostess reappeared and asked if everything was to our liking. We complimented the food and I told her about the bloody Mary. She mumbled that it had chipotle in it as she walked away. I felt that she did not really want to hear anything negative even though she had inquired about our experience. She might have offered me a replacement drink or to remove the charge as a symbol of good will. I would hesitate to dine here again, especially since there are an abundance of good restaurants in Seattle that not only offer fine food but good customer service as well.

Posted 05/19/07

Let me tell you!!! I had high expectations going to El Camino for the first time and I was surprised to find that my experience far exceeded the raves I had heard. It was delicious and fun and talk about an amazing margarita. I have never had a better mexican meal. The service was fast and attentive the ambience was unbeatable and the food blew my mind!!! The patio in the summer is a slice of heaven.

Pros: the eats, the drinks, the patio, the margs

Cons: nothing

Posted 04/09/07

I go to El Camino for the tacos. They are excellent, no matter the stuffing. And the margaritas. I'm not so much a tequila drinker (after the mortality-defining college experience) but these - esp the Cadillac - are awesome. It took me awhile to get used to the fact that they don't have the requisite chips n salsa like other Mexican places. But once I tried the tacos I didn't care.

Pros: Outdoor patio, margaritas, tacos

Cons: parking

Posted 01/10/07

I went to El Camino the first week it opened up about ten years ago. The reason it is still around is because it is authentic and good. I had not been back in a few years but went last week and nothings changed; it is still one of the best restaurants around. The steak with cheese enchiladas (capitilino) are to die for. This is not a corporate restaurant and you can tell. The staff is personable and the feel of the restaurant is cozy. The chef comes up with imaginative dishes while still keeping it authentic and NOT tex-mex. GO THERE.

Pros: Authentic and Consistant

Cons: parking

Posted 08/27/06

My wife and I moved to Seattle two years ago and have generally been disguted with the so-called Mexican food available here. El Camino is the sole exception. This is an excellent place to eat. The El Capitan steak is an amazing dish. The person who said they would rather eat at the mall is probably more welcome there too. This is a very friendly place, with good drinks and great food. It's not cheap, but when the other restaurants you have to choose from are equivalent to buying taco bell for $15, I'm not going to argue. Go to El Camino and enjoy the food - if you don't like it... Taco Bell is open late.

Posted 08/19/06

El Camino is an amazing breakfast spot on the weekends - we are always amazed (but secretly happy) that there aren't more customers getting platefuls of tasty and authentic mexican food. We will visit El Camino every other week for our 'weekend breakfast date'. Don't think that Mexican food for breakfast means ground beef and stale tacos - quite the reverse, although they do serve incredible warm house-made flour tortillas with some of the egg and queso (cheese) dishes. Bacon is organic and meaty. Freemont's yummy lighthouse coffe doesn't hurt - and what could be more fun than dropping in real sugarcubes instead of ripping open dumb-ol-sugar packets. Try the huevos mexicanas or add carne asada to one of the other egg dishes. Tasty!

Pros: Authentic, Fresh, Breakfast

Posted 07/14/06

The El Camino has been around long before the recent insurgence of "trendy mexican."
They have consistently offered great food and service and in the last year since starting brunch,it's only gotten better. The weekend brunch and happy hour, I highly recommend. The prices are reasonable and the outside patio is a great place to be year round.

Posted 06/15/06

This restaurant is definately over-rated. It is the first time that I had a chile rellano that was not roased first making it really tough. Although I will say the sauce on the rellano was tasty. Definately not worth the money.

Pros: Drinks

Cons: Entree

Posted 06/14/06

Great happy hour menu. Awesome margaritas and mimosas. The brunch is very good, too. Bloody Mary's are my favorite in the city. While the full menu isn't the highlight, I think the brunch, happy hour and apps are well worth a trip here. When the weather is nice, the deck is outstanding. When the weather isn't nice, the happy hour that starts at 2 is the perfect place to warm up after a day of wandering around the city. Friendly staff that remember you when you return, too. Great little find in funky Fremont!

Posted 05/19/06

El Camino is one of my all-time favorite restaurants! Best margaritas in town! Favorite items on the menu: plaintains with homemade guacamole, mussels in to-die-for chili cream sauce, and the famous "Salmon con Tamarindo" - grilled salmon with tamarind sauce served over mashed sweet potatoes and cider chard. Sweet, spicy, hot and salty - excites all your tastebuds! I usually go there with adults, but my daughter loves it - and in fact has her sweet 16 birthday. Might not be so fun with lots of little ones. The staff was super friendly and made the evening special for her. THANKS!

Pros: Great food, Great ambiance, Great Service

Cons: Parking

Posted 05/18/06

Until last night, I enjoyed this place. The Mole? It's OK. The ambiance? Better. The service? Well ... when you're paying for your food you expect certain things. In short: it took us 45 minutes to leave from the time our plates were cleared. In that time, the waiter handed us the wrong bill, overcharged us on the right bill, and then told us just to pay for what we had, which was tough because I forgot to memorize the menu. In the end, he ended up passing the situation off onto another waiter who was equally busy and had no context. Shouts out to her though - she handled it. The bottom-line: Throughout the ordeal I never felt they cared. This is why it was the last money I will ever spend there.

Pros: Ambiance, Location

Cons: Heartless

Posted 04/25/06

This happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in town- casual atmosphere with character and the most excellent salmon dish in town. Last weekend our waiter, Dylan, was perfectly attentive and gave us great advice on drinks and the menu (to my parents visiting from out of town). They loved the restaurant just as much as I did, in fact they wanted to return later in the weekend! My only request to El Camino is that they serve that salmon dish year round, instead of taking if off the menu in the summer...

Posted 01/17/06

snotty waiters! Get a Life! no atmosphere! Time to change concept!
wouldn't recommend. Stay away.
Good luck.

Posted 07/28/05