El Moose
Mexican restaurant · Ballard
5242 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Highlights
Authentic Mexican eats, creative cocktails, and vibrant decor
Authentic Mexican eats, creative cocktails, and vibrant decor
"This Mexican restaurant in Ballard serves great food all day, but their brunch is exceptional. Floral oilcloths and papel picado brighten the space, while café de olla livens up the out-late-last-night crowd. Order the alambres topped with slices of cheese that melt on contact. Add a fried egg on top to appease the brunch gods, and swaddle it all inside tortillas. And while the horchata latte refills and warm energy may make you feel like the only customer in the entire city, they do get busy, so arrive early." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Savory breakfast folks unite at El Moose. While this Ballard restaurant serves great stuff all day long, their brunch truly stands out. Ordering the chilaquiles with carne asada is a foolproof decision, but the alambres tops them all. It's a hot plate of shredded beef, spicy chorizo, and grilled poblano peppers and onions, with sliced cheese that melts on contact. Add a fried egg to appease the brunch gods, and swaddle it all inside fresh tortillas." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Gleaming pinatas strung from the ceiling, brightly patterned oilcloth table covers, and big weekend crowds make for a jovial atmosphere at this bustling Ballard brunch destination. Just off the neighborhood’s main drag, it can be an ordeal to find parking here (especially on Sundays when the farmers market is booming a block away), so it’s worth it to bike or take public transit if you can. The chilaquiles are a sure bet here, the chips sturdy enough to stand up to a flood of smoky, slightly sweet mole or piquant salsa roja. Other standouts include the puerco con nopales in chile verde, tender chunks of pork in a bright tomatillo sauce, which you should order with a side of rice to soak up all the sauce. If you get multiple dishes that come with tortillas, throw on an extra side of them to ensure everyone has enough, and don’t sleep on the beans – whether it’s a chile-infused black bean sauce topping masa cakes or a side of refried, the bean game is strong here." - Sophie Grossman
"This Mexican restaurant serves great food all day, but their brunch stands out. Floral oilcloths and papel picado brighten the space, while café de olla livens up the out-late-last-night crowd. Order the alambres—a hot plate of shredded beef, spicy chorizo, and grilled poblano peppers and onions, topped with slices of cheese that melt on contact. Add a fried egg on top to appease the brunch gods, and swaddle it all in tortillas. While the horchata latte refills and warm energy may make you feel like the only customer in the entire city, know that they do get busy." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente
"The Deal: $20 Brunch, $35 dinner El Moose in Ballard is one of the best brunch spots in the city, and we wouldn't even mind coughing up our firstborn let alone $20 for a Mexican meal here. The deal will get you their excellent chilaquiles and a horchata, which adds up to the same price it would be on the regular menu. The $35 dinner is a slightly better investment—pollo en mole with a margarita saves you around four dollars during SRW. " - Kayla Sager Riley, Aimee Rizzo
