Jalisco

Its still here, they just changed the name…

Jalisco is not closed. They just changed their name. As of January, they they are called El Farol. Same owners, same staff, and even same menu (mostly anyway). Just a new name.
When I ate meat, I really liked the carne asada tacos and the carne con chili with macha sauce. Now that I don’t eat meat, I like the cheese and onion enchiladas with macha sauce and the veggie fajitas. The salsa is really good. I’m a salsa snob. If a Mexican restaurant doesn’t have good salsa, I won’t eat there, even if the food is good. I like their salsa so much that instead of buying salsa at a grocery store, I buy it from them to eat at home.
They have really great sauces. My favorite is macha, but a close second is chipotle (they are a little spicy if you’re not used to spicy food, so be careful if you’re sensitive to spice). The service is really good. The staff is friendly and helpful. I only have two complaints. First, I haven’t found enough really great vegetarian options there yet. I haven’t eaten everything on the menu, but that’s because I don’t order what doesn’t sound good at the moment. My other complaint is about their pina coladas. I LOOOOOVE pina coladas. Theirs taste like fake pineapple and banana flavoring. It’s not good. At least they’re strong!

Here’s something I bet you don’t know: Jalisco’s is now being called «El Farol.» We found this out when we went there a few nights ago. Their signs now read «El Farol’ and there was a note on the door that said the name was being changed «for business reasons.» So, presumably they are still the same management as before (?). It is odd because there is no mention of this on their web site, where they are still called Jalisco’s, and I have no idea if this applies to the other Jalisco’s locations, or just the Capitol Hill one.
But, I digress…
Back in the day, when I lived on Capitol Hill, I visited Jalisco’s fairly often, so it was fun to go back after all these years even if their name has changed. They served up some decent chips with a yummy salsa and a really yummy salad of some sort. It was not quite pico de gallo, as I am familiar with it, as this contained a lot of cabbage and a lot of black pepper. But, I sure enjoyed polishing it off, whatever it is called.
I had a Pollo a la Crema, which was pretty tasty. My husband had a taco salad which he reports is something you cannot screw up and was fine. But, it was SMALL! Easily about half the size of what you see most places and what I would have expected. Fortunately (I guess), he has been trying to eat smaller portions of late so this worked out. (In fairness, the price ($ 7) was also a bit less then you’d normally pay.)
When we arrived (early, just after 5:00 PM), it was pretty empty. But, this pretty small space, started to fill up by about 5:30.
Food, service and prices were all reasonable if not outstanding. Still, I could see heading back…

I’ve been here a few times. And let me tell you its never been my idea. The service here is good and they keep the tortilla chips and salsa coming but that is not why I go out to eat at a Mexi restaurant. I go because I want good Mexi food and well the food is ok but I have had better. Seattle is very lacking in good Mexi food and this is one of the many that contributes to it. If you are looking for a place to take the grandparents who don’t like much flavor to the their food this is the place.

this is just for lunch menu Get yourself a full belly today !!
every time I have gone in here it has just been for lunch, as they have a cheap ass lunch menu, I don’t care if you are a starving student you can afford to eat here for lunch, and you will leave full Even if you have to just drink water, the Chicken Mole was kick-​in I am a huge Mole fan and I will stop going to a place if the mole is crap, let me tell you these guys do mole right I wanted to lick the plate !!!
also the pico that comes with the chips damn tasty I must say

I really want to like them but the food just always misses. Not fresh and not very flavorful.

Perhaps what lead me to Jalisco’s was the fact that I was left unsatisfied by La Puerta the other day. It’s a small restaurant with typical décor. There was a funny felt painting of a cockfight behind my table. I wasn’t impressed with the tortilla chips because I’m pretty sure they came from a bag and if it didn’t then they were served to me cold. The salsa was runny, but it was still decent.
I ordered a combo plate. one Taco, one Tamale and one Enchilada. I am one of those people who has to have sour cream and guacamole, so it sucks when Mexican restaurants get over on me by charging $ 1 or more for a small scoop of it. The food was good, much better than La Puerta. The prices are affordable and the portions are enough to fill you up.

All the food here tastes like it came right out of a can. Even the margaritas taste like the awful Safeway brand mix with a little tequila.
It’s nice to have a Mexican restaurant on the 15^th corridor — just wish it were more authentic.

the stars are only for the food.
the restaurant itself is WEIRD. fake plants hang from the ceiling, old posters adorn the walls and the booths are placed sporadically around the small dining room. i have to admit that the atmosphere detracted from my experience.
the food however was nothing to complain about. it wasn’t to die for either… just average and predictable.
with the multitude of mexican places around i can’t imagine i will return here.

Totally average, completely servicable neighborhood Mexican. This is one of those restaurants that I’d never ever go out of the way to dine at, but which hits the spot every once and a while. Cuz sometimes you crave an oversized portion of above-​mediocre but hardly magical Mexican food.
Think of it as like an independently-​run Azteca with slightly better food. Prices are cheap and portions are huge. Seriously. Plan to have dinner and then lunch left over. Great for the whole family with kids meals for the little ones, and full service booze for the big ones.

I was not so impressed with my take out meal when I was charged for ‘take out packaging’ only to find that when I opened up my bag to eat my meal, I did not have any utensils or napkins. The meal was a 3 taco combo for $ 8.50 and I was automatically charged $ 10.00 to my debit card. That was kind of appalling and I don’t think I will be returning.

Nothing special. The salsa was bland and the food was not out standing. The service was fair, and the drinks where not all that strong. Prices were good and they have a decent lunch special.
If you think this is a bland, uninspired review its the same way I felt about my meal…

If you are going to be average, be consistently and solidly average.
This Jalisco’s location does just that. No surprises, no awful experiences, nothing that makes you crave coming back, just a solid plate of Americanized Mexican food.
If you are up by 15^th on Capitol Hill I would recommend coming here for some refried beans and chicken enchiladas, if you’re not up here, I would recommend going elsewhere.

The best chimichangas and pico de gallo in town. Yumm!

I like the food and service at this off-​15^th location on Capitol Hill BUT the space is weird and uninviting. Feels a little like your basement and definitely not a Mexican joint. Better at non-​peak hours. If folks are lined up to wait, there is much waiting room and then they’re sort of on top of you. Have been there in the evening, perhaps lunch is a better bet.