Fonda La Catrina Reviews

We walked in and they told us we could sit in one area where we could only get tacos and drinks, but if we wanted the full menu we would have to wait for a table. She told me it would be 30 minutes at the most, but should be much quicker. At about 35 minutes I was about to go ask about it when we finally got the text that our table was ready. Even then we had to wait for a little while for them to clean off the table. Our server was helpful and pleasant. The only glitch we had was that we had discussed ordering the Mexican street corn, but had decided not to. He brought it anyway, but I can see how he may have thought that we wanted it. I did tell him that we didn't actually order it, and he said he was sorry but still charged us for it. The food we had was really good. We didn't have any drinks there as we had gone to the brewery across the street while we were waiting. It's a cute neighborhood too. Good food, just be prepared to wait.

I've had tacos, soup, big plates of chicken, pork, beef and veggie dishes here. I work nearby and walk over here for lunch. BEST tortilla soup ever, offered as a cup or bowl. Get the huge bowl and take leftovers home. You can watch your tortillas being made a the bar. Not a Tex Mex place, instead - excellent, wonderful flavors and seasoning, and no thick layers of cheddar or monterey jack here. You can't go wrong. Nightly specials and happy hour. Highly recommended, wonderful!

Love it, Love it, Love it. Did I say I love it? Yeah Baby, this is a great place to get more authentic Mexican food. Its loud but the food makes up for it. The service matched the food and we were happy campers again! Don't miss this place, cause you'll be sorry! Hey and the prices are decent. Wow again.

This is a very traditional style Mexican place. Good, but only amazing if you love traditional Mexican. Queso- melted cheese, not American queso Guacamole- very good. Fresh! Gone! Chips- very good. Homemade.

Excellent food, beverages and professional staff. I had the Camarones prepared "A la Diabla" - very spicy and a generous amount of shrimp. My wife enjoyed the Carne Asada tacos - plenty of food and great atmosphere! Highly recommended. Only issue is with parking - get there a bit early as there is quite a bit of construction in the surrounding area.

Our daughter took us here for lunch on our trip to visit her in Seattle. Great chips, salsa, & guacamole. Definitely made in house. We all had tacos - chicken, beef, lengua. All were delicious. Sadly my tortillas (the beef tacos) completely disintegrated, probably because of the juice included with the beef. I had to eat most of them with a knife and fork. The server was attentive and No doubt she would have given me additional tortillas if I had asked. A cute place in an interesting neighborhood with very good tacos.

Had lunch on the patio in the back. Tacos were good. I wish I had tried their chips and dips. Great service.

With family visiting Seattle and met friends in the Georgetown neighborhood. This is a close to eating in Mexico as I have experienced including California and Texas restaurants. It's small inside, has a delightful but small patio out back (where we choose to eat) and the food is consistently outstanding. (I try to go here each time I visit) Drinks are excellent, good beer selections and friendly, helpful and cheerful wait staff. You may have to wait to get in but it is well worth the wait.

If you like your mole to taste like candy, your enchilada fillings to be raw, your chiles rellenos to have no flavor, this is the place for you. Oh, yeah, and the place is SUPER loud. On the upside it's cheap!

Its packed, its loud, and its AWESOME. We love the authentic alternative to the tex-mex glue served up at most Mexi joints. From chips to the flan, it all tastes made in house. Some might wonder where the standard combo plates are... not here!! The happy hour is good for deals on drinks and smaller plates and the prices are all quite reasonable, even though we have seen a noticeable rise in prices since this place opened. Prepare for a wait anytime you arrive for dinner, but its oh so worth it. A jewel in G Town!!!

We find the food to be very good. So many offerings of enchiladas and the taco offering is a long list. The tamales and rellenos are superb. It is always busy, so a wait is normal but well worth it. Service is great, but you can't be in a hurry.

Georgetown is a good area with a few choices all lined up down airport way. When I arrived to eat the place had about 10 people and by the time I left the place was packed. They have outdoor seating that doesn’t have a good view but has great atmosphere. Service is friendly and frequent and everyone gets ID’d for drinks. The bar area is really small so it’s a kid friendly place. The menu items are not the traditional Mexican flare you get a most places and I didn’t see this as a Tex Mex place either. Besides the traditional beans and rice they had some other good and interesting items to try. The serve the food with a three tray choice of hot salsa, green Chile and limes. I ordered the CHILAQUILES and it was delicious.

Stopped in here prior to Billy Joel concert. Love the fresh salsa and guacamole. Nothing fancy about this place but the food is the best. Don't go to late on Friday or you'll be in line for a bit. Love the Georgetown atmosphere.

We heard of Fonda La Catrina (on some TripAdvisor reviews it is known simply as "La Catrina") from friends and decided to go spur-of-the-moment on a Saturday night. Located in a gentrifying area of Georgetown just south of downtown Seattle, this hip, informal, youthful, fun (and somewhat loud) Mexican restaurant is everything you can hope for in this town. Reservations taken only for parties of 6 or more, so you take your chances on getting in. The inside portion of the restaurant isn't that large, but there's a heated porch as well, which was full on a cold night, and must be delightful during the summer, when they can open up a garage door leading outside. We were lucky. Found parking right on the street in front, and were immediately seated (truly a miracle). Our brilliant, friendly and fun server Julie took our drinks order immediately, and homemade chips and salsa were delivered as well. Wine/beer choices are very reasonably priced, although the wine list isn't very extensive. This place is most well known for an expansive choice of specialty tequilas, lots of different margaritas and designer drinks. My spouse ordered a standard margarita and it was delicious. I had a Washington Merlot wine which was also very nice. We also ordered guacamole as an appetizer, which was very quickly delivered, homemade, chunky and wonderful. I loved the Alambre Con Queso full plate ($3 extra for rice and beans -- your choice of pinto or black). The beef was finely chopped, very flavorful and a good sized portion, sitting atop four small flour taco tortillas. It comes garnished with slices of avocado, and you can add spicy green or red salsa (plus limes) on the side, if you wish. I decided to pour some of the regular chips salsa into my tacos, and was highly satisfied with the flavor. My spouse ordered a chicken enchiladas plate with green salsa, which was also a sizable portion, along with rice and pinto beans (extra $3). The dish was very well prepared and quite tasty. What I liked most about the restaurant is that it is reasonably priced (unless you order lots of the specialty tequila shots, of course) and you won't break the bank going here. Service throughout was exceptional. Even on a Saturday night, you'll avoid the crowds by going at 8 p.m. or after. If you are put off by a noisy, upbeat environment with lots of young professionals, then maybe this isn't your place. We found it to be energizing and not that difficult to have a conversation. They are planning a short renovation in early January 2015, closing for a week, and were told that some sound absorbing treatments will be installed. Based upon this first visit, I am sure that we will return to Fonda La Catrina again many times, I'm sure.

This place is a veritable corner of old Mexico in an industrial area undergoing gentrification, with airplanes flying into SeaTac descending pratically overhead. I wasn't in the best condition to have dinner here, as I had already dined a few hours before and wasn't hungry, but that said the experience was positive. Pros: Funky Seattle-style locale, tortillas made as you watch, fresh ingredients, really good guacamole and salsas, great Margaritas (try the one with the jalapeno) Cons: Funky Seattle-style locale (if you're not into that), confusing menu and pricing, a bit crowded and noisy, terrible bathroom conditions. Since I didn't get to order any of their touted entré specialities (just had tacos, pretty good) I will go back to try them out.

I went to Fonda La Catrina for lunch after seeing a review on Seattle Magazine. I called to make sure there was no lard in the tamales and decided to give it a try. The place was busy. Really great latin art painted on the walls. I was offered a counter seat at the bar. Good bartender/server. I ordered 2 of the veggie tamales. Everything was okay until I bit into something that had the taste and texture of chicken. I wasn't happy about it, but let it slide until it happened again. The bartender offered to order me a replacement saying it was no big deal. The other tamale seemed okay until the last bite, but it happened on that one too. The new one came and I was cautious, cutting into it. The explanation the manager and or cooks gave to that white stuff in my tamales is that it was tomatoes and that they lost their color when cooked. Definitely NOT tomatoes. Either way, whether chicken or really nasty cheese, I didn't eat the replacement tamale, and the bartender only charged me for the one tamale. So, it may be an okay place to eat if you eat meat, and a good place if you drink, but if vegetarian, not so much.

La Catrina never disappoints. It’s my favorite place for a night out in town or to bring friends when visiting Seattle. The food is the real deal, authentic home made Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere is cozy and cool at the same time. My friends visiting from San Francisco sent me a note thanking me for the best Mexican food they had in a long long time. I didn’t cook but surely they are k them to the best next thing.

Enjoyed lunch at La Catrina. Thankful we arrived early as the place was quite crowded by 11:30. Food was delivered hot and tasty and we had excellent service by Ariel. Need a little cheaper lunch menu prices ... thought the Chips, Salsa & Guacamole was listed as $5 NOT $9!; Also adding a small plate of Black Beans & Rice was $4. Our lunch was $43.84 for 2 of us ...

Had the 3 carne asada tacos only that was enough for me. You can have rice and beans with entree. My husband had enchilada with rice and beans and loved it. Had a great time. Sat at the bar and our woman bartender was very good .

We were so excited but unfortunately can’t leave a glowing review. The guacamole tasted mass produced and not avocado-like (somehow?), the queso was alright, and the chicken tacos were bland as can be. Margarita was good though. Sad to say!

We found this place after hearing from a Taste of Pikes Market guide, it is in Georgetown on the way to the airport. It is in an industrial area that is turning trendy with beer pubs and food. Fonda has great food . We hit the happy hour,had 2 drinks,1 beer, great chips and guacamole, the best Pozole,and Tacos for $33. Don't let the location scare you, we had to park by the railroad tracks.

Stopped here on the way from the airport, got the special - tacos de carnitas. Amazing fresh tortillas, great taste! Packed place, loud but highly recommended.

This was not my first time at La Catrina. It's definitely worth revisiting. Happy Hour Margaritas are great and the food is simply excellent. The mole' is one of the best, but everything is delicious. Portions are generous. It was a warm evening, so chose the outdoor seating -- perfect.

Finding good Mexican food in Seattle has been harder than we thought. This place was recommended by a friend, and everything we've tried has been excellent. My favorite is the carne asada tacos with chorizo, while my wife likes the tamales with salsa verde. Their mole is very flavorful and not too sweet. If you get the chips (they're very fresh) don't forget the guac. Finally, the Tamarind margarita goes down very easy, so think about getting a cab home if you get too wild with these. The only downsides are parking (some in a lot toward the back, some on the street - but a hassle almost always) and BIG waits after about 6:30 pm, virtually every night; also, very busy at lunch time. They'll pack you into the bar, which is okay, but you have to almost sidle in. Despite that, meal service at the bar is still pretty good. Recommended.

Our group of six had dinner here and had good service, good food, and a good time. We ate outside, in the back, which was a very pleasant space. We got there around 5 pm so Happy Hour was in force and we got good prices on our Margaritas and draft beer. It's Mexican food and very good. I had the Carne Asada and my husband had the Chorizo Mole, which he said was the best food he'd had in a long time. It's a laid back place, where you can just enjoy your dinner or drinks with friends.

Food is the highlight here, even if it doesn't look like it, but this is my favorite Mexican Restaurant because it is authentic. Watch for their specials too, as they tend to be pretty good. It can get quite busy and there might be a wait. Service is hit or miss, but the food makes it worth it. Forget about mixed drinks, my favorite part is their selection of tequilas and mezcals, so if you want something authentic, order something good to sip with your meal!

I've been here a couple times, both with friends and with coworkers. I've always LOOOOOVED the food (and it's also really hard to find good Mexican food in Seattle). Parking is just street parking, which can be annoying in this area. I usually end up parking farther back on a side street.

Come early to get a seat, because this place is usually packed. Fantastic & authentic. One of the few places in Seattle that gets it right. And did I mention great drinks? If you are a true lover of real Mexican food--you will love this place.

This is the real thing. Great food, great atmosphere, great location. If good service is important to you, visit off hours or don't go at all-minus one star. I've had lunches(yes plural) that have taken an hour and a half or longer and the restaurant was not even full. The food though is incredible. Tacos alambre, tortilla soup, cochinita pibil, chilaquiles with eggs. I've had them all and would compare them favorably to any restaurant here or in Mexico. If you are a fan of big Mexican flavors, you should give it a try.

Outdoor patio was a great atmosphere. Food is good (not over the top amazing) and service above average. If you’re looking for a place to try in this neighborhood is worth a shot.

Great, authentic Mexican food. A hidden gem. Home made tamales, chips and tortillas. Try the strawberry jalapeño margaritas!

We love this area of Seattle and went to happy hour at this restaurant for a light dinner. The staff is all friendly and amazing. The food was the best Mexican I have had in ages. The food was very reasonable Everything was the best and we would recommend this restaurant and will be back often

In a very industrial area of Seattle this little gem serves up some good dish. We came on a saturday late morning and were offered the full menu and the breakfast menu. The cocktails were wonderful, between the five of us we sampled about 7 different cocktails. They were all good. A real standout was the tamarind margarita. We had their guacamole and a salad to start. Both great. Some went for breakfast items, some for lunch. Again, all were great. The meat had the flavor that can only come from slow cooking the right way.

Really good Mexican cooking. My tamales were perfect. I chose chicken filling with a light mole sauce (that was my requested addition.) I also had a stew with hominy and slow-roasted pork that was served with tortillas for dipping. Excellent. Sherry had chicken enchiladas under a thicker mole sauce and was equally thrilled. 2/3 of the cost of our meal came from the 3 margaritas we had between us. We each had the house margarita, and we shared a jalapeno margarita to see what it was like. None were spectacular, but at least the alcohol was low enough to not overwhelm the meal. Go for the food, not the drinks. Just have a beer. The food is worth it.

Not a fan after our lunch time visit. We Sat at the bar and got offered with their home made chips and salsa, keep in mind that its not free $4!! even if you order a meal! (unlike most mexican places) not just that whatever you order extra has extra $$$ -YUP welcome to Seattle! Anyways I ordered green enchiladas asada $12 add beans&rice +$4 Hubby ordered Torta Conchinita and got ask if he wants cheese, hmm? ok isn’t it suppose to have the cheese already?? anyways he said yes (+$1.50). My enchilada was BLAND, my hubbys Torta was almost like a pulled pork sandwich in this toasted hard bread. He was craving for more authentic kind of Torta with tasty pork and soft bun but this one was MEHH. Also i had my glass of water replaced twice cuz both have smudges ended up using just one glass for both of us. The place is cool and aesthetically appealing but that is it. Food is ok but they’re definitely not worth the price. Next time I’ll just find a good ole mexican food truck!

This was a great hidden gem. The food was excellent, atmosphere casual, waitstaff friendly. I was a little concerned about the decor not being okay for the kids (mexican skull/skeleton drawings on the wall), but it was high enough on the wall, they didn't seem to notice it. There are enough vegetarian options to make it a worthwhile dinner. The tamales are sold separately, so I was able to order a few to get just the right size portions for the kids. Chilaquiles were interesting... like nacho strips drenched in sauce. The Enfrijoladas were great! The best part about the queso fondido is the pickled onions.

I decided to stop in one day for lunch with me and my boyfriend he’s Spanish, so we were looking for some really good Spanish food. As we walked in, we didn’t see any person of color around anywhere, and there were seating there was being held for people, not around, we were told that we couldn’t sit and that we can get our food to go so because I was on my lunch break I decide to just order because I already taken the time to come to this place. as we received our food, I was very disappointed because the food was so bland. It had absolutely no seasoning on it all matter fact, they just boiled the chicken and put cheese on my quesadilla and that was it no taste it was totally disgusting I will never be back. My boyfriend ordered the chili Verde and it was bland and had no taste and Merovech. The sauces were sweet instead of spicy don’t waste your money go somewhere else. Also, this place does not serve children.

Just had lunch here & it was great! Pork tamales with an awesome green sauce, and the carnitas tacos were a hit. Decent beer selection too. And the house-made chips are a must. Will definitely return.

I went with friends to this restaurant after a wine tasting and I was blown away by their tacos. Some of the best I have had in Seattle.

Not sure why this place is always packed. The ambience is good but the food and service are average. Certainly given the prices. Even though i am not a Mexican food expert I do know that the dishes i had were not even close as I had them in Mexico.

We visited Fonda La Cantina for dinner with friends. Even on a Tuesday night, the place was packed, and very loud. We were offered chips, salsa and guacamole ($9) with our margaritas. The chips were solid and not the best I’ve ever had and the guacamole was very good. The house margaritas are normally $10 but offered at $7 during happy hour. We enjoyed the Tacos Cochinita Pibil ($12) which were very good. The Tacos Asada were quite chewy in the meat. The Tacos Tinga were good. Heard the Enchiladas Chicken with Mole were good. Bill for 4 with 2 drinks each came to $122. Would recommend!

When this first opened it was a favorite spot however now the food is sub-par, the service is hit and miss but the bartender's always manage to save the day by mixing great drinks. My last visit was on 12/5/15 and we were seated on the patio under heat lamps. Everything was going pretty average for this place until we went to leave, the bench I was sitting on splintered into my pants and skin. The pain so was horrible that I could not sit down in the car. I have pictures of the 1/2 splinters removed from my legs and butt. It took the restaurant 5 days to respond and the co-owner named Carrie sent a quick and completely insincere email not even bothering to read enough of my email to figure out which restaurant this happened at. Sorry Fonda La Catrina but your food, service, drinks and care for your clientele are seriously lacking. As a former bar owner myself, I could never imagine being so careless. They do not deserve your money.

Chile Verde, tacquitos, and tamales all excellent. Good beer on tap. Only downside is that it is very noisy but if you're ok with that you will get a great meal and a good value.

Fonda la Catrina is clearly the place to go if you're craving Mexican food as we had to wait for a table at noon on a Wednesday! The place was buzzing, fun and quirky...in a Georgetown street reminiscent of the Wild West. Water arrived in a magnum sized bottle and the Coca-Cola is the Mexican version. The food was outstanding, very reasonably priced and thoroughly authentic...so much so that I didn't recognise half the things on the menu! It's certainly not your standard fayre. I'm already lining up my next visit but this time I'm going in the evening as I bet their margaritas are to die for!

Dropped in for lunch on my Sweetness' birthday. Great way to start her day. We tried the Carne Asada tacos, and the Pork and Chicken Tamales. Both were delectable. I had and Old Cuban cocktail and she had their super House Margarita. Excellent!

This food at this modern Mexican restaurant in Georgetown is based on great ingredients. OMG - the salsas are so delicious that you can eat them alone. You can really taste the corn in the corn tortillas. The roja and verde sauces on the enchiladas are fresh and so flavorful (you can request one of each). The chicken tortilla soup is filling - a meal in itself - and great on a chilly Seattle day. But we love the Sangria! Then tonight, we ordered the Sangria and were disappointed with the overly-citrus flavor. After a couple of returns to the bartenders, we found out that we prefer the more wine-flavored Sangria which is the recipe of bartender, Ricardo. Highly recommend that you ask for that one! Really - everything is delicious here. We always have a meal here when we're in Seattle. Four suggestions for the restaurant: 1) Please add carnitas. As good as your kitchen is, I'll bet they could make a killer carnitas. 2) Please offer your Sangria by the pitcher :) 3) That back patio is very cold in the winter. Please either add more heat lamps...or keep the door closed! 4) La Catrina charges for the freshly made chips & homemade salsa. OK, that's fine. But you should at least offer one free refill. Come on!

Went to eat there a couple of times over the past month, when in Seattle. The food is amazing, as proven by the line ups outside the place I experienced every time. Very reasonable price, even with the exchange Can$ vs U$. The flan/créme brûlée based on goat milk alone is worth the trip.

Any Mexican restaurant that makes hand made corn tortillas automatically gets my vote. Having lived in Mexico, I know what I'm taking about. Great venue for breakfasts, blunch or lunch. Sauces are tasty and fresh including habanero and chile de Arbol. Wait staff is attentive and understanding about food allergies. Don't see chicken tacos on the menu, ask. Chicken mole is also pretty good too. The best comes from my friend's kitchen in Oaxaca!

It has a fun atmosphere, with a good menu of breakfast, brunch, and lunch options (it probably does dinner, but I wasn't paying attention). We enjoyed the enchiladas and chile relleno. Good service.

Lunch at Fonda La Catrina is perfect - you can expect fresh handmade chips and tortillas (and can even watch the lady making the tortillas!) I had a set of tacos that were on special and they were fantastic. Pozole was also great.

This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences ever. We spotted this place during the day, like the look of it's courtyard dining area and decided to host a dinner for a small group of family and friends that night. They gave us their business cards and suggested we call back to book a table when we had confirmed numbers. We tried a few times to call from around 5pm but the phone never answered. So 6 of us rolled up around 7pm and were told it would be 30 - 45 mins for a courtyard table and they would call us when ready. Fair enough. We went to a nearby bar and waited for a call that never came. I went back to the restaurant and was told it would be another 15 mins. Getting unhappy. We came back in 15 mins and were seated at a 'temporary' table while we waited even longer for our courtyard table. No service (not even water) at the temporary table. Finally got our real table but still no drinks service for over 10 mins. Getting even unhappier. As to be expected, meals took forever. I think we ended up getting some good around 9 to 9:15 after arriving at 7. This is the sort of food and service that gives Mexican restaurants such a poor reputation. Some of our party didn't get a meal at all!! And the ones who did get fed got bland average Mexican stodgy food with no zest and freshness or creativity. Could have had the same at Taco Bell. What more can I say?

We were just picked up from the airport in a Sprinter Mercedes Van and brought to this restaurant for lunch. There were some tasty Margaritas to try. Guacamole con Totopos which were tortilla chips and guacamole. Superb. I ordered the chicken enchilada and it was delicious. We shared a salad with fresh greens, jicama, fresh cut papaya in our papaya vinaigrette. Chicken Tacos Dorado with chicken was wonderful. Please don't miss out on this great place to eat. There is a lovely brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

The food I would rate 4 or 5 stars, the service nearly killed the experience for me. Can restaurant hosts PLEASE stop looking at solo diners as if we are the plague? I really hate when I get a look that says "no one else is with you?" But mostly I was really frustrated with my server, who was at best inattentive. After he took my order, he never stopped at my table again despite me trying to catch his attention. I had to ask another employee for my check. That took an inordinately long amount of time, I even saw someone (the manager?) clearly gesture toward me to my server, obviously reminding him to bring the check. So - if the server is reading this, now you know why your tip was 15% and nothing more. You actually deserved much less. But the food? Oh the food. Fantastic. I do not care for Mexican food or anything resembling Mexican. I'll eat it, but I don't seek it out. This place may have changed my mind. The enchiladas with mole sauce had a fantastic range of flavors that had me enjoying every bite. I wanted to go back the next night and have the same dish again.

I'm so mixed about this place. There are a bunch of pros/cons, although I think I would come back here. Food was, without a doubt, legit. This isn't American Mexican food - this is the REAL DEAL. Which is awesome. Typically, you can only get this kind of stuff at food trucks. This place goes one step better and set up, what amounts to, food truck items inside of a building with four walls. Prices are just okay for the size/servings. It's probably the loudest restaurant I've ever been into (and that's not even counting the fact that this location is right smack under the flight path for the airport. You could literally make out the tail numbers on the 737's. no joke - that's how close these planes were!). And - it gets really, REALLY hot inside the main restaurant when they are at full capacity (so sit out on their heated patio if you are sensitive to heat). DO NOT order the chips - unless you have very strong teeth. They are hard as a rock. But the salsa and guac are yummy. So eat that on your food instead. Georgetown is obviously trying to attract these little "hamlets of edibles" and are doing a good job. But trying to get there and finding parking on a weekend or weeknight is a test in patience. This place is not very big so if you go during rush, expect to wait quite a while. Their bar does not seat many and there's no waiting area so do yourself a favor and go early .

Our friends found this restaurant and suggested we try it. So we did. The restaurant was fun, it had an industrial feel to it. With indoor and outdoor seating. This place was packed with people lined up outside waiting to get in. The food was amazingly delicious! With that in mind, I was shocked when we got our bill; $60 for two! The dinners we ordered where only $12 & $15 each, not bad. Where this place gets you is with the side dishes: guacamole $5! Pop refills are extra, as my husband found out. I only drink water with lemon. They brought me seltzer water with lemon and charged me! If you want great authentic Mexican food, by all means try this place. Just be prepared to spend some money.

Start your walk or drive to La Catrina, and we’ll get to the review once you’re on your way. This place is the real deal. Somehow they are able to pull off totally authentic Mexican food AND a modern feel. So refreshing! I am currently eating the bacon wrapped jalapeño and the queso fundido ...awesome! The accompanying sauces are legit and the service is top notch. Go.

My daughter decided to treat me to some great Mexican food and took me here to enjoy it. We ordered two margaritas one of which was jalapeño and both of which were delicious along with two platters of enchiladas that go by a slightly different name one trio of shredded beef and one trio of pork both of which were also outstanding as was the complimentary chips and salsa. Seating was indoors or outdoors and we chose outdoors as the weather was great. We highly recommend it and will go there again soon. Definitely upscale Mexican food; you won’t go wrong here!

Let me start by saying I love good authentic Mexican food and great tequila. Over the many times I have been here, I have never been disappointed. The enfrijoladas Do plan on a bit of a wait or try and eat off-peak times.

It's obvious now that we've had a great meal at this gem in the historic (gentrified?) Georgetown section of Seattle why Fonda La Catrina is ranked #2 on Yelp. Food was fresh, expertly prepared with busy, yet efficient service. Full bar service but scarce parking and waits for tables during lunch and dinner hours are the only detraction but well worth a visit. Looking forward to a return visit the next time we're anywhere near Boeing Field or the Museum of Flight.

My husband and I ate here before picking up family from the airport. The food was amazing. Chips, salsa and guac were really good. The chips were nice and thick. I had a jalapeno margarita, which was probably one of the best I have ever had. I had the carne asada enchiladas with verde sauce. A lot spicier than I had expected, but very full of flavor. There was no cheese in the enchilada's and I would have to say that was a little disappointing. My husband had the carne asada tacos and said they were the best he had ever had. We will definitely return, and I cannot wait to try something new. There is plenty to choose from!

There were four at us eating at La Catrina - our friends loved the restaurant and wanted to show us why. Once seated, the reasons for their fondness for this restaurant quickly won us over - before we had even ordered our dinners. Both the food and wait staff were so good and invited many a return visit. We each ordered a drink and then shared our entrees. Just a great night. We were seated in the front of the restaurant, but there was a cool looking rear seating section that begged to be tried next time. Hopefully before too long.

It was very hot, so it probably would have been better to eat inside. We tried several different dishes, all good. Reasonably priced

We tried to eat dinner at this place but the doorman said it is a 20 min wait. When I asked him what about the two empty tables he responded there are more people on the list who aren't showing up. He also got defensive and said something like don't tell me how to do my job, while it was obvious that he couldn't handle the situation very well. So I assume they are holding up tables for people who might or might not show up, while lining up the customers who do show up.

We took our 15 year old grandson here because it was close to the Museum of Flight which we had just left. He was famished (all that flight time and all :>) and he met his appetite's match in a good way. The food there is just the best - and everyone at the restaurant is super friendly. They pretty much guarantee return visits based on both their food and service.

To be fair, the food is good here. But the experience stops there, unfortunately. Ordering here feels like reading a cable/cell phone contract with all of the hidden fees; if you're going to ask a customer if they want rice and beans (like every Mexican restaurant provides on the side of dishes), you should let them know it costs an extra $3 for each of them. Paying for chips and salsa is fine, but when the menu says $3, don't charge $7 on the bill (with no refills of chips--or at least he never suggested offering a refill). Everything is apparently a la carte here, including the service, apparently. We never had our water replaced and he checked on both of our neighbors twice before asking us how our meals were (they were fine, except for the hairs in our limes and salsa). Overall, don't waste your time or money unless you want to pay more than you need to for good Mexican food. I suggest crossing the South Park Bridge instead and stop at one of the more affordable and traditional Mexican joints.

Oh, all ye loathers of Ameri-Mex! You know, the cheese-laden, mildly sauced concoctions heavily marketed through regional chain restaurants such as Azteca, El Torito... you know of whom I speak. It's time to come out of the out of the shadow and into the light!). I've been passing by this place in the heart of the working-class, artistic class, funky-cool piece of authentic Seattle for several years. Passing by because THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS PACKED. Note: it's a good idea to make a reservation, especially if you have to get back to work after lunch. It's important to reflect on the local artists of Georgetown, because this restaurant is where food IS the art. So is the real-ness of the place. Forget the gaudy, heavy carved wood, acrylic serapes and velvet & sequin sombreros that pass for décor in the Ameri-Mex places. This looks like what you will find in many Mexican towns. Sans la cucarachas y geckos! Your table will have a bottle of room temperature aqua, just like in Mexico. You can drink this. Unlike lesser restaurants, you will pay for chips & salsa (red and green, both excellent), and it's worth every one of those $3. But order "Guacamole con Totopos " for a few bucks more and get some of the best guacamole you'll likely ever taste. What you won't see on the appetizer menu are Mexican Pizza, Nachos or Taquitos. Because THOSE AREN'T MEXICAN. Ok, clearly, I need to take a sip of tequila. Back to the menu: these are different items than you are used to seeing. Get used to them, because after your first taste of ANYTHING, you'll want to taste EVERYTHING. These aren't your Mama's tacos. Alambre tacos? St Helens grass fed Hanger Steak, green peppers, white onions, bacon and avocado, comes with four insanely tender and moist soft tortillas so you can roll your own. Or Cochinita Pibil: Naturally farmed pork marinated in navel orange juice, habanero chiles, achiote (annatto seeds), marjoram, cumin, lime, black beans topped and pickled red onions. Most taco dishes are $8, no rice & beans (unless you want that on the side). Want meatless? Try Champiñones con queso: Grilled mushrooms with onion, tomato, cumin and monterrey jack cheese. One of my friends ordered Catrina’s Dark mole sauce made with roasted peanuts, almonds, ancho, negro and morita chiles, raisins, sesame and anis seeds, clove cumin and plantain. This incredibly elegant man was wiping the plate with his fingers to get every drop of that sauce. I could go on, but that would take away your menu exploration. Service is pretty darn perfect; servers are around when you need them, unobtrusive when you are eating, observant when you need something, and not too quick to drop off the check before everyone has finished dining (oh, how sadly rare!). So go. Please go. You'll thank me later. But remember, make reservations unless you want to wait 15-30 minutes at peak meal times

We had the house margaritas and the sangria. Both were good but not outstanding. Happy hour tacos were flautas but good. Solid place.

The restaurant had the look and feel of a great experience. However my food, the Chile Relleno had no taste at all, not spicy or flavorful. I was disappointed. The waitress was keen to bring the chips and salsa but then it was also on the bill. Just gave me an off feeling. Not really about the customer more about the dollars!

Wonderful food, great drinks, loud atmosphere. Excellent service, fun atmosphere. Loved it. Loved the location.

While staying in Georgetown recently, My wife and I had dinner at La Catrina. The food is really delicious and the drinks are very tasty as well. I had the Enchiladas de Mole Poblano which was the best Mole I've ever had. The service was really great and when we asked if they knew of a place nearby where we could buy some water, they were very helpful. If you love authentic mexican food and are in Georgetown, you must try this place.

I love Georgetown and discovering new places (new to me), but this is one I won't come back to. From the get go, the greeter was surly, same for the bartender and the waiter. It's like they all went to the same late night party, drank too much and didn't want to be there. We were seated for about 20 minutes and no one came to take our order, the service was extremely slow for such a small place. Most of all, the quality of the food really doesn't warrant the expense. Keep in mind they do charge for chips and salsa, $4.50 for a half order-so it was $8.50 for an entire order of chips and salsa? I wished I had noticed that. Margaritas start at $14.50 and up. I ordered a carna asada and he said cheese would be extra! Um, ok. The meat was grisly, just poor quality overall.

This was my fourth trip to Fonda La Catrina. The food is always good and the atmosphere is lively. The drinks are great too. I enjoy sitting at the bar as the bartenders are friendly and do a great job when you let them be inventive. This place can be very busy so look ahead for reservations. My verde sauce was really spicy this time, much more so than I was expecting. Other than that, everything has always been really enjoyable. The guac tasty too; it has a little sweetness to it.

I have been told many times by many people that the food here is wonderful. As a result, I have tried eating there more times than I am proud to say. Every time I am consistently disappointed. It is fine but not spectacular or even good really. And the servers always seem in a hurry, concerned with themselves/other coworkers, and are just not very friendly. This last time I decided I wouldn't be returning to try anything else. On top of the food being under seasoned, the portions are also too small. There are many excellent Mexican restaurants in Seattle. Go somewhere else.

Craving Mexican, my boyfriend and I wanted to try this place. The restaurant is in a cute location in Georgetown. The restaurant is cute, but a bit loud. I liked the selection of drinks offered. We ordered the chips and guacamole, the guacamole was delicious. Why charge for chips and salsa?? My boyfriend has the chilli relleno. It was good, it was better with the corn tortillas. My dish was ok, a bit bland. I had the potatoes in creme.. didn’t taste like a Mexican dish. Overall pretty good, I’d like to come back and try breakfast!

Large and airy building, rear outside eating available.We had 9 persons in our group and Veronica was able to handle 9 bills with a smile. I had Carne Asada, came with black beans and rice and one tiny slice of avocado. My meal was okay, a tad too dry to my taste. The restaurant does not offer salsa or chips. You pay extra for those items. The water was served at room temperature ( that's the way I like it) and over all we had a pleasant lunch on a very busy sunday at 1 pm. Service is good, the food is okay. Restaurant does not play back-ground music and that was a big plus for me. So if you want to eat a classic mexican lunch, this is the place to go. None of us had alcoholic drinks so no comment on the beer or tequila,

We brought my wife's family from Virginia here for dinner. We love the food and the Georgetown community as there seems to always be something going on in Seattle's oldest neighborhood. Its not fancy but the food is great and the staff are very attentive and prompt.

Very busy and noisy on a mid week evening. Friendly staff. Interesting Mex style food. Quick service. Too noisy for us but the locals + tequilas were enjoying their outing.

Fonda La Cartina is becoming the go-to Mexican restaurant for this household. We've made three visits-a summer weekend evening (packed house), and early happy hour, and a late happy hour. Consistently excellent across the board-service, drinks, and food-for all three visits. Parking can take some work and it gets busy there quickly but all of that is easily overlooked once the drinks and food arrive. That said, parking at any worthy alternative (Ballard, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, all for Oaxacan) takes even more work and all three also get very busy. It must come with the territory when there is quality Mexican fare involved.

Mexican restaurant with original and quality food. We were pleasantly surprised by the waiting time for the food to arrive: surely the shortest I have ever seen (barely 2 minutes for 6 people). Good service. Very attentive to ensure nothing is missing. Good atmosphere. We will return.

Stopped in to grab a bite before an event at a place up on Beacon Hill. Got lucky and hit Happy Hour. Nice selection of drinks on hand. I had a Manny’s Pale Ale (local brewery, one of the best). The mixed drinks looked good and will definitely be on my list to try the next time I stop by. Had a couple of their appetizers for my meal. Tacos dorados (good but a little overcooked to my liking but an appetizer so hit the spot). My favorite was the tortita. I got pollo con mole. Yum!!! Waiter was nice and attentive. Bartender thanked me for coming in as I was leaving. Small space (quaint) and fits the Georgetown vibe. I left full (but not stuffed), happy and content. I definitely will be coming back (and bringing others). Their menu looks amazing and others in the restaurant seemed to really enjoy their food. Very popular place on a Tuesday night. Weather was just right for some of the people (larger group) to sit outside in the back of the restaurant.

The tacos were great! Highly recommend!!! My family and I had a great time. The service was awesome as well.

I can not say enough about this place. We visit here at least once a month and wish for more. Jalapeño margarita to die for and chicken Enchiladas Rojas OMG!

My wife had been there with her girlfriends, so we decided to go with another couple. The three of them had the Spicy Margarita. My wife did not have the slated rim, and our two friends did. It came with a course salt and some type of cayenne pepper mix. The two with the salt both mentioned that they could not taste any tequila, but in my wife's we all could taste the tequila. So I stuck to beer - pre-made at the brewery, the only thing to worry about is if it is flat! So a watch item on the mixed drinks. The food was all great! The shrimp dishes were great (both versions) and the fajita-type dish was also great. So to sum it up: stick with beer, and order great food.

Enjoyed a good Mexican dinner here.It was early and not crowded so they seated us outside which seemed nicer than an inside table.Had tacos de lengua which I've never had before and would order it again.Our neighbors at the next table ordered the specialty of the day which looked even better so be sure to check out the daily special.Would definitely return.

I ordered the chickern rolled tacos and chicken tostada happy hour specials and both were very delicious. The tacos had Mexican cream sprinkled on it which made it stand out. The chicken in the tostadas were very flavorful. Finally, I had the chips and salsa for an appetizer which I enjoyed as well but was a little surprised I had to pay for it. I'm used to these being free in the Mexican restaurants I've been to.

I've have some friends tell me numerous times how much that liked La Catrina. So I finally made for my first visit this evening. The food was very good. The salsa and chips were delicious. I had the Chili Relleno, again delicious. The only thing that could have been better was the flan.

Their enchiladas chorizo w/mole sauce is addictive...go for the atmosphere, the wide menu selection, fairly priced.

The food was awesome. I loved the homemade guacamole!!! The value was incredible. Good atmosphere. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.

A friend who works in Georgetown took me to lunch here today. Just a short walk from his office. Was jam-packed for lunch, so we needed to wait probably 15 minutes, but well worth the wait. The chips and salsa (complementary) were great starters and I loved the pork enchiladas with green sauce. Highly recommended. Wait staff was excellent as well. On a side note, there is a lot of cool stuff happening in this neighborhood with restaurants and specialty shops, etc.

5 of us went to La Catrina for dinner and everything was terrific! Ambiance, food, service, bar, everything. And prices were super reasonable. Expect to wait but it is worth it!

La Catrina is a very nice Mexican restaurant in Georgetown that has creative dishes. Everything is very tasty. I have been several times and always had excellent meals. Also they have a good happy hour.

Very cute restaurant with outdoor patio. Popular for lunch with a short wait. Chips and salsa not included with meal and fair flavor. Carne asada seasoned with salt alone. Chicken with similar seasoning but clearly freezer burnt and boiled. Mole was overly sweet. No one finished their meals. It was unfortunately one of the most disappointing meals I have ever had. Staff was polite and service was fair.

Authentic and real with South American flavor with spices coupled with trendy, hit drinks and a funky vibe. Really, really, really good. The pace was hopping! A simple but wonderfully done appetizer of roasted colored peppers, a slice of Mexican cheese, sliced tomatoes and abaca does was special. The chorizo was special, as was the green sauce. Wow!

Ate there last night about 5 o’clock. Was given dinner menus and was never pointed to the Happy Hour menus. Truly two of the worst margaritas I’ve ever had (very sour) for $12 (tried two different ones). Quesadilla and chips ($8!) severely over-priced, though they did provide a decent amount of guacamole. My advice: order from happy hour menu, stick with beer. Food is really nothing special and you’ll pay through the nose for it otherwise. Service decent but $40 with 1 margarita and one flan dessert seems way too much for what I received.

The restaurant has some very creative dishes. For what you get it’s pricey. The place is very noisy. There are better Mexican places in Seattle.

It's noisy. It's busy. But the food was quite good. I love the Georgetown area for the culture. I recommend this place.

Maybe not for everyone - noisy, crowded and a bit rough around the edges, but La Catrina provides very tasty western US, Mexican style food at good value. This is not a fajitas place - try something different on the menu!

Georgetown is a fun, funky neighborhood and this is one of its most happening eateries. It's noisy, crowded and once you eat there, it's easy to see why. I had the pork enfrijoladas (grilled, filled tortillas, dipped in pinto bean sauce) and thoroughly enjoyed them. My wife had a chicken tomale, which was large and satisfying. Fonda la Catrina is as much a bar as it is a restaurant and it has some outside-the-box cocktails, such as the spicy, tart Fresca, sort of a mexican take on a mojito, but think chile and cilantro in place of the lime and mint.

Amazing dinner! This place gets packed and is well known by the locals! There can be line, so get there early if you can. I was new to Georgetown and was told this was a #1 restaurant to try if I liked true Mexican food. It did not disappoint! The mole I had on my homemade tamales was delicious! They have wonderful homemade chips, salsa, and guacamole too! We sat up at the bar to enjoy the excitement of cocktail making and had a lovely conversation with one of the bartenders. She made us a few tasty margaritas and pisco sours. Yum! Stay at the Georgetown Inn and try it out!

We were a party of six on a busy Saturday night. We were seated in a very reasonable. time Service was very attentive. The food was great. the menu was extensive.

This was my first stop in Seattle and was a great choice, had the prawn quesadillas which were packed with filling and very tasty, happy hour margarita was a little overpowering however

Have been twice now. YUM!!! So many good dishes and drinks. Very pleasant and helpful staff. Highly recommend

Great, fresh Mexican food and a fun, friendly atmosphere. Interesting and authentic dishes made with quality ingredients. The tacos were a bit small as far as portions go, but you can order sides. This place gets busy, so come early or plan to wait.

A friend of mine that is from here but is now living in New Zealand couldn't wait to go back here when he was in town. I figured I'd trust his taste and went along to see what it was all about. This place has a great vibe. And the food was outstanding. Went light this time with some guac and a chicken tostada. That little taste was enough to make want to go back asap.

Food is authentic, staff is friendly, service was fast, prices are moderate, atmosphere is fun. Perfect meal for 1.

Stopped in after a Seahawk game. Very good food, great service and a fun atmosphere. Will definitely do this again.

What a fun experience. Very fun emerging neighborhood..wide open loft setting.....electic mix of people....cozy tiered patio....hand crafted margaritas....hip fun waitstaff. And that's before the homemade Mexican. Great moles. Layers of Mexican spices in every dish. So satisfying and relaxing. Don't go unless you are prepared for a simple and friendly house party!

This is a pretty authentic Mexican restaurant. The guacamole is killer! You can't go wrong with anything, really. The tacos and tamales were excellent, good margaritas, too. Manny was a great server.

We saw this restaurant randomly after going to the Slayer factory and decided to try it. Went in for lunch at noon on a Tuesday and were immediately sat (party of five). Our server was very friendly. Do get the chips and guac. The chips are thick and crispy. The guac is fresh and chunky with onions, cilantro, tomatoes and jalapeño. The salsa is great, too. The jalapeño margarita is amazing as well. I would probably get it with Mezcal next time instead of tequila. The food was delicious. That's really all there is to say about it. I'm fairly certain you can't go wrong tl;dr try it. It's delicious.

My wife and I stopped in for a drink on a sunny Seattle day and the place was wide open from patio to street. The breeze was beautiful. Wonderful and attentive bartender. The chips and salsa were both made in house and delicious. We stopped in a couple of the other local bars next to this establishment, and they were empty. Now we know why! Highly recommended!

We were a largish group in town for a wedding and ate here for lunch. The wait staff seated us promptly and cheerfully. The menu was surprisingly varied, and I tried the tamales with black bean and goat cheese (I think) topping. We were served with our appetizers quickly, and the main courses arrived within a very few minutes of each other, which doesn't always happen with a large group. The food was tasty, although not as spicy as I prefer. I was able to spice it up using the salsas provided, so I was happy. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their entrees as well.

Noisy and lively atmosphere. Could have been because it was Friday afternoon. Jalapeno Margarita, best chicken mole' ever, great service, colorful clientele, and all around great place to eat and spend some time.

This is a busy lively spot in Georgetown. Everything we had was delicious and well prepared and nicely priced. Well worth a wait.

My wife and I were really expecting a lot more from La Catrina, and frankly came away very disappointed. First, we came at the beginning of dinner service , when there were only a handful of other patrons. Yet it took several attempts to get the waiter to take our order. Then, The appetizer, salad, and entrees all made it to the table in a 5 minute time span. We literally had time to eat 2 chips apiece when the salad arrived. 3 bites of salad, and all of our order was on the table. While the Ensalada de Papaya was delicious, the entree's were not impressive. The verde sauce on my wife's enchiladas was overly tart and tangy...as though tomatillos were the only ingredient, rather than a base ingredient. There were no layers to the verde flavor...no onion, chiles, etc. My pork tacos were interesting.3 corn tortillas stacked like shingles, so you had to eat them with knife and fork, rather than pick them up. The pork was tender, but over seasoned, I thought. The restaurant had music playing very loud, so patrons were yelling to have conversations. My ears were ringing by the time we left. All in all, really not what we were expecting.

This is our second time here, and it was great. Both of us enjoyed the pork dishes we ordered, and our waiter was personable. Would go again.

We stopped for an early supper after work. The food is fresh and prepared well, with a wide variety of tacos, salads, and sides to choose from. The housemate tortilla chips with fresh guacamole and salsa were delicious. While we were there, the place quickly filled up. The service was friendly and efficient even though a bit too busy. The restaurant is located in an old brick building with rustic wood floors and exposed beams. Its a casual place, popular with the locals as well as people who are drawn in to this artsy neighborhood. Parking can be hard to find, but cruise the side streets or head past the main shopping area to find open spots.

We love La Catrina! We always start with fresh guacamole and have tried most of their dishes. My favorite one will always be tacos de cochinita- delicioso! Service is a tad slow but not a deal breaker because waiting is so worth it! And if they are too busy you can always visit el Sirenito next door! Pescadillas are the Best!

The food is fresh and nicely prepared. They put a new spin on enchiladas, tamales, etc. I had the Enchiladas Camarones Diabola in Mole Sauce. Spicy, flavorful and the mole had just a hint of sweetness to go with the smokiness. My wife had pork and chicken tamales and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also shared an Ensalada de Papaya. It was also good and different, though the entrees were better. The Margaritas and Frescas are also refreshing and flavorful.

Had the pork rind tacos during happy hour and wouldn't get them again. They are just kind of chewy and weren't great. Luckily the fresh tortillas and the garnish rescued them a bit. The spicy shrimp enchiladas were very good as was the fresh guacamole. The big winner of the night though was the tortilla soup, maybe the best I've ever had! Do yourself a favor, get the chips and guac and an order of the soup and you'll be happy!

Good food, especially the dishes with mole. Casual atmosphere, bright covered patio. Attentive service, even when busy.

My sister and I were excited to try La Catrina and generally loved the decor, the food and the waitstaff. But prospective diners should be aware that the acoustics are difficult if you hope to carry on a conversation at less than a full-throated roar. If you yourself or a family member are the least bit hearing impaired, you will find this place very challenging. This is no complaint, just a heads-up for planning purposes.

I went there with a coworker for lunch and I have to say their food is awesome. The waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and made good recommendations. The adobo sauce. You have to try the carne asada enciladas with verde sauce. Also, they have the best chips. This was not my 1st visit, and it definitely won't be my last.

We went to La Catrina for bruch this morning to celebrate a birthday. It was fairly quiet at 10am, so easy to get a table. The food and service are both good.

When ever I am in this pat of town, I stop here. If it is not meal time, the appetizers are just as good as the meals. There is always an interesting specialty cocktail, too. The patio behind the restaurant is very nice. Half is covered and has over-head heating.

Three of us came here for a late lunch. They had raved about this spot and I was not disappointed. Excellent, affordable food at this very popular Georgetown spot. We shared three different types of tacos including the carne Asada, chorizo and the cochinita pibil (marinated pork). The pork one was my favorite! They also have amazing homemade chips with three different salsas. I look forward to returning again in the near future.

Awesome authentic Mexican Restaurant. I stayed in George town two nights. After a recommendation from the bartender at Jellyfish Brewing (1/2 block away) I ate there and had the Carne asada Enchilada the first night and so loved their food as well as the amazing Rubin's Brew IPA they had on tap, I went back the second night and had the Chili Relleno. Both were amazing.

It's true that Seattle doesn't have the depth, breath or ubiquity of awesome Mexican food that's available in the American Southwest, but when I hear people claim that Seattle doesn't have any good Mexican food, a place like Fonda La Catrina is "exhibit A" as to why they're wrong. This Georgetown hotspot has gained such a reputation these last few years that there's almost always a wait during peak hours. So if you're able, I suggest a visit on a weekday, or before or after the rush. But even if you do wait, it's definitely worth it. The variety and flavors of their menu combined with fresh, house made ingredients are why you will keep coming back for more. Their sauces and salsas are rich and flavorful. The marinades on their pollo, asada, and carnitas are the stuff of legend, and they even pickle their own ingredients. There is something for everyone on the menu. The restaurant itself is lively and colorful, and it's loud when it's full. They bar dominates the south wall and serves up some wonderful concoctions. In addition to traditional tables, which are the most popular, they have outdoor "covered" patio seating, a few seats at the bar, and what the call "schoolhouse seating" which are the few side-by-side stools along each of their large windows. If I have any knock against this place, it's that the seating isn't very comfortable. One could argue that this is the way they make the tables rotate faster, but while I'm enjoying my meal, I would also like to be comfortable. But considering how popular this place is, I doubt my complaint will carry much weight. There's parking on the street and in back. But you may need to walk a couple blocks, so be prepared.

Really enjoyed the food here! Staff were friendly and food was excellent! Would recommend everytime!