El Chupacabra (restaurant)

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Coordinates: 47°40′42″N 122°21′20″W / 47.6782°N 122.3556°W / 47.6782; -122.3556
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El Chupacabra
Exterior of the restaurant in the Greenwood / Phinney Ridge area, 2015
Map
Restaurant information
Established2005 (2005)
Owner(s)Aaron Wright
Previous owner(s)James Hardy
Food type
Street address
  • 6711 Greenwood Avenue North
  • 2620 Alki Avenue Southwest
CitySeattle
StateWashington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates47°40′42″N 122°21′20″W / 47.6782°N 122.3556°W / 47.6782; -122.3556
Websiteelchupacabraseattle.com

El Chupacabra is a Mexican / Tex-Mex restaurant with two locations in Seattle, Washington. The business operates in the Greenwood / Phinney Ridge area, and along Alki Beach Park in West Seattle. Previously, a third location operated in South Lake Union, until 2018.

Description[edit]

El Chupacabra is a Day of the Dead-themed Mexican[1] / Tex-Mex[2] restaurant with two locations in Seattle: along Greenwood Avenue the Greenwood / Phinney Ridge area, and along Alki Beach Park in West Seattle. Previously, a third location operated in South Lake Union. The business is named after the legendary creature in American folklore.[3]

The Alki location, described by Eater Seattle as a "punk-themed Mexican dive bar",[4] occupies a beachfront building along Alki Avenue Southwest and has stairs to a balcony with views of Elliott Bay.[2][5] Thrillist has said the "swanky" outpost has a "million-dollar" view.[6] The interior has dark red walls,[3] a full bar, booth seating, paper lamps, and wall art depicting skeletons. A sign made from Guerrero state license plates says, "Save Water, Drink Tequila".[2] The Alki location also has a jukebox and a salsa buffet.[3]

The Greenwood and Alki restaurants have patios.[7] The Greenwood location also has outdoor seating (as did the South Lake Union location, before closing).[8][9]

Menu[edit]

El Chupacabra's menu has included burritos,[1] nachos, tacos al pastor, rice and beans, tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa, horchata,[2] and margaritas.[6] The restaurant has also served enchiladas, fried jalapeños, huevos rancheros,[8] pozole with pork, quesadillas, tortas,[1] and black-bean dip.[3] The "Texas Tacos" are soft tacos with flour tortillas.[8] Salsa varieties include chipotle pineapple, roja, and verde.[1] El Chupacabra has gluten-free as well as vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options.[4][10] The restaurant has offered a happy hour menu with food and drinks specials.[11][12]

History[edit]

El Chupacabra was established in 2005.[13] Aaron Wright is the owner.[14] Previously, James Hardy was a co-owner.[13][15] The patio of the Greenwood / Phinney Ridge restaurant was given a pergola and heaters in 2018.[16] All three locations had events or specials in conjunction with Cinco de Mayo in 2018.[17] The Greenwood / Pinney Ridge and Alki locations operated via take-out during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Outposts[edit]

The interior of the West Seattle location in 2023

The Alki location opened in April 2011.[14][19][20]

In 2015, an approximately 4,000-square-foot outpost opened in South Lake Union. The restaurant's seating capacity was 200 people and, according to Eater Seattle, had "the same festively dark decor and loud music" as the other two locations.[14][21] The restaurant operated in Chandler's Cove,[22] a development created from the Lone Star Cement site in and Henry Pier.[23] The outpost closed on September 16, 2018, as the building was slated for demolition. According to The Stranger, El Chupacabra personnel were aware of this possibility when a lease was signed.[24]

Reception[edit]

Chilaquiles at the restaurant in West Seattle, 2023

The Not for Tourists Guide to Seattle has called El Chupacabra's food and margaritas "frighteningly delicious".[25] Lonely Planet Seattle said the food "probably wouldn't be described as authentic" but is "still pretty darned good". The guide has also said of the Alki location: "On Saturday nights this place is buzzing with 20-somethings chatting over drinks and guacamole. Expect a wait, and to make friends at the bar while waiting."[26] One published walking guide of Seattle called the food "creative".[27]

Eater Seattle included El Chupacabra in a 2013 "epic guide on where to take vegetarians out to eat" in the city.[10] In 2017, the website's Leonardo David Raymundo included the Alki location in a list of "low-stakes" first date establishments in the city.[4] Chona Kasinger included El Chupacabra in Thrillist's 2014 list of Alki's eight best eateries.[7] The restaurant was given "honorable mention" in the Best Mexican category of Seattle Weekly's annual readers' poll in 2016.[28]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "The Eats: El Chupacabra, 6711 Greenwood Ave N., 706-4889. Mission style Mexican". Seattle Weekly. 2013-04-15. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sampling El Chupacabra on Alki: A Californian's informed opinion". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  3. ^ a b c d Jonjak, Marti. "Happiest Hour". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  4. ^ a b c Raymundo, Leonardo David (2017-03-20). "Low-Stakes First Date Spots in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  5. ^ "Teen injured in Alki Beach shooting". KIRO 7 News Seattle. 2015-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  6. ^ a b No, Michelle (2017-10-05). "El Chupacabra". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  7. ^ a b Kasinger, Chona (2014-06-18). "The 8 best places to eat & drink on Alki". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  8. ^ a b c Douglass, Lara (2016-03-24). "Where to Get Your Tex-Mex Fix in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  9. ^ "Seattle Restaurants With Tents, Heat Lamps, & Fire Pits - Seattle". The Infatuation. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  10. ^ a b "Hey, Carnivores! Here's an Epic Guide on Where to Take Vegetarians Out to Eat in Seattle". Eater Seattle. 2013-09-13. Archived from the original on 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  11. ^ Ausley, Christina (2019-09-20). "12 happy hours to try in Seattle's Greenwood". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  12. ^ Ausley, Christina (2019-09-06). "The ultimate guide to Alki and Admiral's happy hours". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  13. ^ a b Spangenthal-Lee, Jonah. "Bar Brawl". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  14. ^ a b c Jones, Sara (2015-07-01). "El Chupacabra Expanding to South Lake Union This Month". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  15. ^ "New kid on the block in Madison Valley: Crush". The Seattle Times. 2005-03-02. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  16. ^ Callaghan, Adam H. (2018-02-27). "Central District Classic Jackson's Catfish Corner Closes Yet Again". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  17. ^ "35 Cheap & Easy Cinco de Mayo 2018 Events in Seattle". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  18. ^ "UPDATING: Seattle-area restaurants offering takeout and/or delivery during the coronavirus pandemic". The Seattle Times. 2020-05-27. Archived from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  19. ^ "Breaking Food News for the Month of June". Seattle Magazine. 2022-07-08. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  20. ^ "Neighborhood Food News: Free Ben and Jerry's, El Chupacabra in West Seattle". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  21. ^ "Seattle Restaurant News: Ramen in Ballard, Doughnuts on Capitol Hill, New Locations for Kedai Makan, Mamnoon, Little Uncle | Seattle Restaurants". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  22. ^ Lloyd, Sarah Anne (2017-12-14). "Curbed Cup 1st round: (2) South Lake Union vs. (15) Beacon Hill". Curbed Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  23. ^ Miller, Brian (August 3, 2017). "On the Block: Fresh chowder, anyone? Chandler's Cove redo by Vulcan will create a 'world-class destination'". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.
  24. ^ "A New Piroshky Piroshky Opens, A Shake Shack Opening Date, and More Seattle Food News You Can Use: Sept 28, 2018 Edition". The Stranger. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  25. ^ Not for Tourists:
  26. ^ Lonely Planet Seattle. Lonely Planet. 2020-01-01. ISBN 978-1-78868-675-4. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  27. ^ Humphrey, Clark (2018-08-21). Walking Seattle: 35 Tours of the Jet City's Parks, Landmarks, Neighborhoods, and Scenic Views. Wilderness Press. ISBN 978-0-89997-814-7. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  28. ^ "Best Mexican: Cactus". Seattle Weekly. 2016-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.

External links[edit]

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