Alcatraz

I wanted to love Alcatraz. We live a ten minute walk away, and were really looking forward to having a non «beans-​and-​cheddar-​cheese» Mexican restaurant nearby (we’re a five minute walk from the other Mexican place on Rainier).
Unfortunately, I didn’t think the food (I had the empanadas) was very good, and the prices were a little high for what it was. I was also disappointed not to be able to order a beer with my dinner.
This place has a few strikes going against it – it’s on a crappy corner in our lovely ‘hood, across Othello from a payday loans place and a discount gas station, and kitty corner from an auto parts store. The owner is a member of a religious sect that doesn’t allow alcohol consumption, so no beer sales to help keep the food prices more reasonable (Why is wine so expensive at a restaurant? Because no one wants to pay $ 50 for chicken). And the same religious sect prohibits work on Saturdays, so they lose one of the most profitable /​busy nights of the week.
I honestly wish the owner the best of luck. This is the nicest part of a somewhat blighted corner on Rainier Ave S. But I don’t see it working out. I’m pretty sure I saw a «For Rent» sign recently while driving by, so it’s possible this experiment may not have worked out. I hope that’s not the case!

Finally remembered to give this place a try last November. A very young girl took my beef taquitos combo order and I waited in the brightly lit dining room. It was much cleaner and nicer looking than the business it replaced. About 10 minutes later my order was brought out and I went home to eat it. Unlike many Mexican restaurants, the food was fresh, light and good.
So what’s with the 3 stars? My takeout dinner was over $ 12, yet the portions were miniscule. I think there was probably 2 tablespoons each of beans and rice alongside the small taquitos (3 of them, if I remember correctly). I don’t think Mexican food — the takeout kind — should be expensive. So, as well prepared as my food was, Alcatraz is not a good value and I’ll not be going back.

Went here for dinner a while ago. Very good Mexican food. They give out freshly made hot chips with two excellent salsas. All of their tortillas are made freshly in the store by hand and are suitably delicious.
Their menu has the standard Mexican staples plus some options for adventurous eaters. They have tongue, head cheese (i.e. brains), goat, plus several other «delicacies» that don’t make it onto menus all that often.
I got the chorizzo burrito. The chorizzo was done to perfection and the burrito did not have the «gut bomb» affect that most burritos seem to have. I even took some home and heated it up for Lunch the next day and it’s tastiness held up.
All in all, it was a pretty arresting experience. Get it? Arresting. Like Alcatraz the prison in San Fran.
*awkward silence*

After waiting for eons for this place to open, I neglected to get over there until last night. And boy am I glad I did. I can’t even begin to say how wonderful it is to have a delicious and friendly place to eat just a few blocks from my house. I didn’t realize how much I had been missing that until I sat down in this warm and cheerful little place.
The food is yummy, and totally above and beyond bland Americanized Mexican food. I’ve never experienced anything quite like the homemade tortillas… I didn’t know something so thin could be fluffy! And the goat was delicious and bony and savory. I’ll definitely be making this one of my regular haunts.

I love Alcatraz so much I’m finally getting around to writing my very first Unilocal review.
Alcatraz is the bomb. It’s my go-​to place when I just can’t get it up to cook. Close to home and feels like home, damn good food, very reasonably priced. As other reviewers said, the owner Carmen is just the sweetest. She will take good care of you! Her mama is the cook, and although you probably won’t see her, she will take care of you too!
I haven’t tried everything on the menu yet, but I like everything I’ve tried. My favorites: sopes, mulitas, tacos (try the nogales on a hot day), taquitos, and empanadas (very very greasy, but so yum).
It’s my 4 year old’s favorite place too, he asks to go there and loves the quesadilla kids meal. It’s extremely kid-​friendly, but also really laid-​back, so kidless people should be equally happy, altho there is no alcohol.
Carmen told me she is really trying to do something positive for the neighborhood (she grew up in the area) by bringing an independent business and a safe place for local families to hang out. True that we have too few of those outside the gentrified zone. So help a sister out!
Note, they are closed on Saturday.

I had dinner here and really enjoyed it. I had the fish tacos, against my better judgement because fish tacos are never as good as this one taco stand in SIlverlake in LA. I was pleasantly surprised! The fish tacos were delicious. The fish was perfectly grilled and flavorful and the tacos were just perfect. I talked to the owner after dinner and she was really nice. I will definitely be back, maybe for breakfast next time.
Edit: Unfortunately I had to knock this place down a star. We went there for breakfast yesterday. We both ordered Huevos Rancheros. There was only one other two-​top in the place but it took over half an hour for our food to get there. It was really only «eh» when it got there. Not nearly as good as dinner. When we got the check, for two people it was $ 24! That’s pretty pricey for breakfast in my opinion. I think I’ll stick to this place for dinner.

It’s a really family place and the owner is a doll. I’d go there everyday but they can’t serve alcohol yet. Area is still a little dodgy so probably in a year or so they’ll be able to since they’re brand new.
I’m a fan :)

Simply Fabulous! A great new spot, the nopales (cactus) tacos are fabulous, steak fajitas were a hit and home made lemonade, — pleasant atmosphere – . Best thing of all– handmade tortillas! Cant wait for the liquor license to come through, but besides that no complaints.

aka the Burrito Revuelto was fabulous! I was a little concerned about the surcharge on food-​to go, but the quality, flavor and serving size will bring me back.
Finally a REAL breakfast place on Rainier Ave. with food to-​go that’s not just muffins.

May 2007
«Coming Soon! Alcatraz Family Mexican Restaurant!»
Yay! So close to our new house!
May 2008
«Coming Soon! Alcatraz Family Mexican Restaurant!»
LIARS!!! Coming soon MY ASS!!! When are they going to open already?
In June, just steps from my lovely gated community in the ghetto, Alcatraz finally opened it’s doors. Cooking up homemade tortillas (corn and flour), tortas, mulitas, huaraches, birria de chivo (goat!), empanadas, pambazos, sopes, tacos nopales AND tripas (I’m not having any tripe, but you go right ahead), and the tacos, enchiladas, burritos that you’re all comfy with– BUT! If you want them made with head cheese or tongue — it’s no problemo.
The owner is a young lady of 23 — yes. I said that. Sheeeeit — when I was 23 I was… I don’t remember. I don’t remember 23. Needless to say I wasn’t about to open a restaurant and NEITHER WERE YOU. Or ARE YOU. Or WILL YOU BE. As the case may be.
At any rate — I may never cook again.
NOTE: The owners are 7^th Day Adventists. What this means to you: No pork.

Alcatraz is a nice family-​run taqueria with good menu although I’ve not tried anything but a chicken fajita salad (great flavor, great homemade shell) and bean sopes which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’ll definitely go back to try lots of other things!