El Sombrero | Family Mexican Restaurant

We have been going to El Sombrero for years!!! Maria and her whole family are just the nicest, genuine, people, all the staff. Always great food, service and fun. We had Cadillac Margaritas, and Chix Taquitos for an afternoon snack and we're feeling just fine. We usually sit in the bar area and have meet lots of great folks. Have fun!!

This place always keeps me coming back! The house salsa is outstanding to start with. I get the chicken chimichanga and it is always nice and crispy. The beans and rice have the perfect amount of flavor and saltiness. I like to balance all that out with a delicious margarita. Service is amazing and you won't be disappointed. 👌

I have been here a few times in the last year or so. Each time that I have eaten here it was really good! Both times were for Birthday dinners one was mine and the other was my Mother's birthday. The service was very good each time that I was here. Its family owned and operated so it was like a Birthday with family members. Service was pretty fast and the food was hot and delicious each time. If you are in Columbia City, which has become a foodie destination in Seattle definitely check this place out. The menu is pretty large so choices are many and worth coming back for. Muy Comida!!y

Ordered the Borrego Lamb shank and was amazing, and not too spicy, was just right. Lunch special also was the enchilada chipotle and was praised by the wife too. Margirita and Mexican coffee, yums. Delicious spot in Colmbia City Seattle. Will be back again soon.

We were invited to El Sombrero for lunch, place was clean and well-maintained, colorful design, good customer service since beginning, delicious drinks, food came fast and was very delicious

Great food, had Chile rellenos. Some of the most authentic Mexican food I have had in this area. The staff was friendly, and the service was very quick. I will definitely be going back!!

Love this place all the time. Weather a dine in or take out. Everyone in very polite and hospitable

First time eating at the El Sombrero Family Mexican Restaurant for Lunch and the Food was EXCELLENT! The Chips and Salsa were great, the Wait Staff Super Friendly, and my Burrito was so BIG that it also turned into Dinner. I say 5 Stars all the way!!!

We came here after a recent Yelp experience at the Fremont Brewery nearby and a recommendation from the bartender there. We had a nice server who was very nice, attentive and helpful albeit very busy. He was only one of two visible people out front doing everything from bartending, hosting, waiting tables, refilling items and bussing. Lots to do here! They brought out some seasoned chips and warm salsa. I have never had warm salsa. Warm chips, yes but not warm salsa. They were a nice take on the normal servings of chips and salsa. Loved this! For lunch, I had Texas Brisket Tacos which came with two tacos on the larger order. It also had some rice and beans with it. They were very yummy. My son had the Burrito Divorciado which was cut in half with one side having a white sauce topping and the other having a red sauce topping (maybe in keeping with the divorce theme for this dish?). My wife had the Rajas Enchiladas con Mole Boracho which also had rice and beans on the side. The waiter said they have a relationship with Jacks BBQ (which I am very fond of) and they supply the brisket daily (possibly other meats too?). Awesome! Very good service, good food and a large seating area. Jackalope has done Tex Mex right!

I hadn't realized this place was owned by the same people as Jack's BBQ, but I like Jack's! I went here for my friends bday dinner. I ordered the brisket enchiladas with a mango mojito and my friend got the chicken enchiladas with a cucumber mint cocktail. Also got chips and salsa to share. Impressions are: -vibe reminded me of the Matador but with more lighting/brighter -a little pricier than other places. The brisket enchiladas were $25 and the chicken enchiladas were $19 I think? I didn't try the chicken ones but the brisket ones were a little smoky. The beans it came with were also so delicious and I loved dipping the chips in them -chips and salsa had free refills and were $3.5 to start. Chips had chipotle powder on them -drinks were super delicious. Didn't taste strong but was enough to feel a little tipsy. Both the drinks we got were great -service was good. We felt forgotten once or twice but it was a busy night with what didn't seem like a ton of waitstaff. When we got to go boxes and the waiter saw I was putting the remaining chips in my box, he asked if I wanted him to "top it off" with more chips so he went and got me another handful! Very nice of him to do that! -total came out to be I think $86 or so for the two entrees, 2 drinks, and chips and salsa

I was so excited to finally try this place! I love how they have unique dishes featuring Texas BBQ items fused with Tex-Mex dishes. The chips and salsa ($3.5) were warm and addictive. We split the chicken and beef combo fajitas ($26.5) for small and they were delicious! They somehow made chicken breast flavorful and tender. Steak was a bit chewy. BF enjoyed the margarita as well ($14). We weren't given a second one because I had forgotten my ID at home (?) which is understandable but was a little annoying, lol. Really cool, sophisticated but homey interior. Located in downtown Columbia city.

Amazing experience. Big fan of Jack's BBQ and this is the Tex-mex equivalent of excellence. My mole enchiladas were awesome...no meat or cheese, pablano peppers and onions filled. Wife's chicken was the most tender I've ever had--if you blind taste tested you would not guess it was chicken. Beans & rice awesome. Chips, queso, and salsa...awesome. I had two great happy hour margaritas. It was all awesome--they didn't skimp anywhere. And it's still reasonably priced. Couldn't be happier with the food & service!

I'm from Oklahoma so TexMex is hard to impress. But this was Oh.My.God.Good! The margaritas were amazing, I had passion fruit frozen marg and my husband had a regular marg on the rocks. Both were very good and not stingy on the alcohol. We got here before 5 pm so we were able to enjoy items from the happy hour menu. We got the Queso which was very good but the real treat is the salsa which had perfect smoky flavor. I got the chicken enchiladas and my husband got the mole enchiladas. I'm pretty sure he made some noises that the general public shouldn't hear but nobody paid any attention, they must get that a lot here. I don't often finish my plate but I sure did this time! The service was wonderful and this place is so cute and comfy. It's not very big, I could see it being a long wait if you have a big party so make sure you make reservations if you have one. It's a short walk from the Link so give it a try!

We came here for a late brunch on a rainy chilly Seattle Saturday in November. It was not too busy around noon (surprisingly!) and we had our pick of seats and ended up at a high top in the bar area. The server was friendly and attentive. I did the breakfast tacos with brisket - I went with two on the rec of a friend who is a regular and it was delicious and hefty. I also really liked the NA cocktail with ginger that I had, though I was tempted to try a michelada or bloody mary. We finished with the churros, which were the one disappointment of the meal. They were dry and crispy and overly sugared - next time, would skip these and stick with the savory main dishes. Looks like a great place for dinner as well and the prices were reasonable. It is a great location near lots of cute shopping.

Graham waited on us and is so friendly! We loved the food, vibe, and service. Well worth the drive from Queen Anne. We'll be back soon!

I really wanted to love this place. I've had this restaurant on my list for quite some time. The service, drinks, chips, salsa and guacamole were wonderful. I especially liked my prickly pear margarita which the bartender added spice to mine to make it to my liking. I liked the staff a lot. Everyone was really kind and went above and beyond for my group (like grabbing a vase for flowers we brought for a friend). I think we had 3 separate interactions with the staff and everyone was equally kind. The con: I ordered my asada steak medium rare and with a side of corn tortillas. My steak was well done and no tortillas in sight. It took a while for the waiter to check back in because it got busy and I didn't bother correcting the order. I really wished my steak was cooked the way I wanted :(

Such a lively yet simultaneously intimate space. The food was incredible, they do contemporary Tex-Mex and the majority of their meat products are locally sourced! Can't wait to be back:)

The carnitas here come from Jack's BBQ, the tortillas are homemade, the refried beans are actually fresh, and they're generous with the avocado. My friends and I were impressed with the prickly pear cocktail, and the carnitas (4.5 stars - docked half a star because the portions were a little small imo).

Our server, Paul, was great! And we all enjoyed our meals. It was a lovely evening. I had the El Caesar salad with chicken. It felt somewhat healthy and was delicious. My other had the chicken tacos and enjoyed all the flavors. He got whole black beans instead of refried, and I recommend you do too. They were simple but great. A friend had the mashed potato tacos and appreciated how unique they were. We finished with perfectly cooked churros served with 2 sauces. Surprisingly, the strawberry was my fav!

I've been here several times and really enjoy the enchiladas verdes. The staff is friendly and they do their best to accommodate dietary restrictions. It's also a very warm and cozy spot.

Where do I start? I'll start with the best - the food is amazing! We didn't initially set out to eat here but our original destination was closed for a private event. Fortunately, it was early and not crowded. We were seated right away. Staff was friendly and attentive. Decor was Seattle eclectic but not dark like some restaurants can be. I can see having a party here and I can't wait to come back and sit at the community table. I ordered the Carnitas and my friend ordered the Chile Relleno. When my dish came, my friend remarked that she thought Carnitas was shredded. This was a "cube o' meat." As soon as I touched it with my fork, it shredded into those beautiful strings of spicy pork that we've all come to know and love. The first bite was absolutely delectable...tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned. The Chile Relleno was probably the best I've ever had and I've had Tex Mex all over the southwest. I can't wait to go again to try more dishes. Parking in Columbia City can be challenging but there are options so give yourself time to deal with that. There are lots and plenty of street parking. I had good parking karma and found a spot up close to the restaurant.

Food: I've had a lot of tacos in the area and honestly these were some of the best I've had in Seattle. I had the potato tacos and asked for the sides to be vegetarian. It was really really good and I'd go out of my way to take the train back to have more tacos. The nachos were also really good. They were bite sized and cute so each chip had all ingredients on it. Idk why no one else does that because it was awesome. Each bite was perfect. The spicy prickly pear refresher was a lovely NA option too. Got churros to go and they were pretty good, though I tend to prefer Spanish style (and these were obviously not given its Tex Mex but I still always try them because churros). There were several veggie options on the menu which was nice too. Service: Fantastic service! My glass was never empty. They checked in regularly but didn't bother me. And she made sure all my food came out in a reasonable time to eat the nachos first. Ambiance: It's a cool and modern place. There's a bar and the location is pretty central. Good people watching.

My boyfriendand and I went here for the appetizer of chile con carne with smoked brisket. It was absolutely delicious. We look forward to returning. The atmosphere and service were top notch.

We had such a wonderful time at this restaurant to celebrate a birthday dinner. The drinks were delicious and made quickly. The chips and salsa were warm and fresh and unlimited. Our server was a delight. I got the mango chicken salad and it was fresh, huge and really good. My husband got the carnitas and loved it. We had two kids in our party and they were taken care of too. Would definitely come back and would love to try brunch someday. Beautiful bar as well.

Came in for a pork carnitas dish they took off the menu, but I got the rajas enchiladas with mole instead, and it was absolutely incredible. Four kinds of fortaleza tequila on hand (try the still strength blanco) and a good staff with cool style (especially the bartender) -- love this place. Vegetarian food from a place known for bbq... doesn't have to be this good. Server asked if I wanted vegetarian beans, which was considerate, but the bacon refried beans were stellar. Rice a little bland but maybe that's traditional.

Solid Tex-Mex restaurant, even after having lived in California most of my life and visited Texas multiple times. Lovely addition to Columbia City downtown! It's always a joy to walk here from our apartment. The chips & salsa are a great deal at only $3 for bottomless. We always get the grande fajitas (the rockfish is my favorite). They also have happy hour on weekdays 2-5pm. Relatively large cocktail menu and they're all delicious! Definitely better to go during non peak hours. They seemed very busy and slightly understaffed when we went on a Saturday night around 7:30. The staff is super friendly and nice though!

Definitely texmex with some variations of Jack's bbq incorporated. Started with drinks. The michealada and the margirita, but added mango. The drinks were good. For starters, we order the chips and salsa with the chili con queso. The chips were pretty good. The queso was our favorite dish from the entire meal. We added the salsa to it, and it was really good. We ordered the seafood enchiladas and the skirt steak petite Fajitas. The petite comes with a 5oz steak and 3 tortillas. The Fajita meat had NO flavor, and all the veggies (bell peppers and onion) were very charred. The bell peppers were so overcooked that they were mushy. My partner had the seafood enchilada, which also lacked flavor. You could taste crab and shrimp, but that's it. The service was good. The space itself was nice. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way for this place.

I'm craving this again as I write this!! I'd go just for the sopapillas (pillowy fried bread served with honey)!! Sopapillas are standard fare in New Mexico and are hard to find, so try them! I insist! Everything was remarkable, from the highly efficient service, cocktails, menu options, to our dinner. We ordered ceviche and pork rinds for appetizers. I would have gobbled up the ceviche all to myself, but I had to share. The chips and salsa were GREAT....but that seems like it might be obvious. I had the Chicken Verde Enchiladas. I would order this again and again. Great flavor, very filling, they were loaded with chicken and very saucy. Did I mention the sopapillas? They are a MUST TRY! Hot out of the fryer, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with honey and another sauce (was it a jam?). So good!

Great newish place in Columbia City from the owners of Jack's BBQ. We got seated right away on a Sunday where they were serving brunch (a combo of their lunch menu plus some breakfast items). Since we hadn't been in before, the waiter/bartender explained the menu to us and touched on a few of the highlights, which we appreciated. Service after that was generally friendly and quick. Drinks - we ordered a prickly pear and a mango margarita. Drinks were colorful and visually appealing and also a really nice flavor - you could taste the juice and the tequila and it wasn't too sweet. Food - delicious. I had the fish tacos; which we cooked perfectly with a great flavor and the right amount of slaw/sauce on top. Beans reminded me this was a Jack's offspring - super flavorful. My spouse had the migas - I can't tell you what they were like since she didn't share :) Place seemed pretty family friendly, but also had a bigger bar area with seats away from the families, should you want that. Cute decor with plenty of jackalope images. Great addition to the neighborhood!

Food is good here but restaurant is small/right. Parking was also stressful since you have to find parking on the street. While the food was tasty, I'm not sure it warrants another visit (or come out of your way to come here). The seating was tight and it felt very busy which also stressed me out a little seeing the service staff hurriedly drop off food at other tables around me. This restaurant is owned by the Jack's bbq owners.

I've been here 3 times now and have had a good experience every time except the last. The first time was just for cocktails and if there's one drink to get, it's the La Pina (if you can handle spice of course). So much flavor - spicy, sweet, savory, just everything you could want in a margarita! The Michelada was mediocre, lacking flavor. We also got the anejo old fashion and that was also delicous. The second time I came was for brunch and everything also went well, great service, good food and drinks. The breakfast tacos were a lot more filling than expected, I ordered 2 of them and could only finish 1.5. The chicharrones were also sooo good and I wish they had it all the time. Now the last and most recent time I came, we had made a reservation for 12pm. A few patrons were late and probably the last person didn't get in until 12:30pm. Our waitress kept checking in on us which was great but the way she would approach us was as if she was annoyed we weren't ready to order yet - mind you we kept an eye on the door in case it got too busy and there was a long wait. She just seemed like she did not want to be there and her body language and demeanor showed it. Food was great though, good portion sizes and lots of flavor in everything we ordered.

Came here for the first time this week and it was just lack luster. I'm not sure where are the great reviews are coming from but this was seriously just average. Chips and salsa they charge you for when usually at Mexican restaurants they don't but I guess this isn't your "typical" Mexican restaurant. The food was mediocre. I order the chicken tacos...nothing to rave about. The rice and beans were okay. Rice was not Mexican rice and just boxed rice like another review stated. I order the Mango mojito and that was really good probably the highlight of my experience here. Knowing there are so many other really good Mexican restaurants around I probably won't be back here.

Great ambiance and vibes flowing through Jackalope. Visited on a Friday with friends for happy hour. Good thing we came in early, because by the time we left...it was packed. They have snuck in one happy hour cocktail (a margarita) and it's stellar. Fresh and light, doesn't feel weighed down with artificial flavorings. We got the brisket stuffed jalapenos which were stellar. Did you know this place is owned by Jacks BBQ? Well if you like Jacks, you'll like the meats they're serving here too! I got steak fajitas for my main course and LOVED them. Would go back to order them again for sure. Service was friendly and attentive. Columbia City needed a trendy little place like this! Give it a go!

Went for brunch and got breakfast tacos, chips and (warm!) salsa, and chilaquiles. The service was amazing and we never ran out of salsa. The restaurant was 1/4 full on a saturday morning, thinking people are going to geraldine's for breakfast next door. That's okay because we had cozy service and enjoyed our brunch. -1 star because I wasn't that big of a fan of my dish but my boyfriend loved it!

I'm a fan of Jack's BBQ, so when I heard Jack had a new spot that was Tex Mex, I knew I had to try it. Jackalope Tex Mex & Cantina is a restaurant in Columbia City that reminds you that you're not in rainy Seattle. It has that Southwest vibe to it, with friendly staff and delicious brisket. I visited Jackalope for lunch on a Tuesday, and was able to be seated immediately. The place was steady with customers, but not too busy or crowded. The menu had a good amount of offerings to choose from, with some appetizers, tacos, enchiladas and a full drink menu available. I love the brisket from Jack's BBQ and my server told me that the brisket is indeed the specialty here. Therefore, I asked about the brisket taco and enchilada, and ended up going with the brisket taco as the server explained the enchilada is a lot more hearty with the sauce and cheese. It didn't take long for me to get my food. The brisket really is the real deal. I enjoyed it, and quite frankly, it's so good that it doesn't need the cheese that it comes with. I just want to taste the brisket, baby. It was tender, juicy and wish I had just a plate of the brisket alone. Get the brisket. The plate also came with rice and refried beans, and the beans were super heavy. It'll fill you up. I would like to come back for a different time of the day, to see how the food fares, such as brunch or dinner with the babe. But I can't recommend the brisket enough, which is king here, just as it is at Jack's BBQ.

Came here this past Sunday for brunch with my dad. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated as it was around 12:30 which is totally understandable they take your cell number in case you want to walk around the neighborhood instead of waiting inside. I ordered off the brunch and my dad ordered off the regular menu we stick with water but the cocktails looked hood. My dad went with the brisket enchiladas, comes with two along with rice and beans. Generous portion, brisket was nice and tender. I had the South Texas Migas, South Texas Migas, Butter toasted tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, salsa verda, crema, green chili, serrano, avocado. Added Chicken Tigas for $4. Also generous portion likes the freshness of the avocado. I a verde fan this dish had a little kick but not so much that it took away from the flavor perfect spiciness. I like that it had roasted and fresh chilis. Service was friendly. The staff is very alert one of the employees saw us looking at machine from or table and asked if we needed help. I told him ww were trying to figure out what the machine was. He explained it was a tortilla maker names Angelina. Looking forward to visiting again to try some more of the menu l.

Absolutely amazing. They have a killer happy hour. The queso is delicious and the chips and salsa are phenomenal. The chips were nice and warm and they were endless. The fajitas are big enough to serve 2 people. Will definitely come back!

Yikes. I really wanted to love this place. The ambiance and location is great.. but man, the food.... My husband ordered the brisket enchilada and the meat was so tough. If it's a brisket, it should've been way softer and tender. We ordered nachos for my kids and it was literally like 8-10 chips spread out on a plate with toppings on it. Fine, but the taste was off with the beans on them. I ordered the chicken fajitas and the onions on it were amazing and so delicious, but everything else was a no. The beans were gross... the corn tortillas were pretty good as I believe they're made in house. The margaritas we ordered were also underwhelming. :( we definitely won't be back. It's just all overpriced and not good.!

Came here with a large party for lunch where we had to preorder our food so our choices were really limited. Service: Our server Cat was great- friendly, efficient and graciously split our bill separately for everyone. No complaints there. Ambiance: casual but upscalish Mexican feel, open space with eclectic light fixtures. Good for meeting up with a friend or people after work. Food: the prickly pear mocktail was tasty. Perfect amount of heat with the jalapeño and not too sweet. I'd definitely order this again. The brisket jackalope tacos and beans were good. The rice was a miss for me. Reminded me of instant rice- didn't taste like authentic Mexican rice at all, which was disappointing. Overall the service and ambiance was a 4 but the food was a 3.5.

The food is awesome because their steak quesadilla is deliciously chewy and flavored by a delicious oil. The nachos are great because they are juicy, they are arranged so each chip is equally topped with cheese, fajita steak and jalapeños. The jalapeño stuffed peppers were yummy they were cheesy, perfect size for a quick bite. The Huevos rancheros were a amazing too, you get two corn tortillas topped with black whole beans, eggs over easy which is topped with a wonderful salsa.

I tried Jackalope at 4:30 on a Thursday. It was already quite busy, but the service was fast and friendly. I ordered the happy hour margarita, which was exactly what you would expect. I was disappointed there weren't more happy hour food and drink options. This was my first time trying Tex Mex, and it was definitely different than Mexican. There were some spices, and the brisket enchilada reminded me of fajitas wrapped in tortillas. The brisket was incredibly tender, and I enjoyed the meal. It was more expensive than other, equally tasty Mexican options around Columbia City, so I don't know how often I'll choose Jackalope.

The food was very good but not what I would consider Tex-Mex as a Texan. The service was kind of abrupt when there weren't many people there but we didn't go without anything and always had full waters so take that with a grain of salt. I would definitely go back, the brisket chili enchiladas were incredible.

I have seen a decline in the quality of food and drinks here. I used to be a regular, but after tonight, I doubt I will ever return. Too bad

This place looked really cool on Instagram, so I thought I'd check it out for brunch. The atmosphere is cool, it has kind of a saloon feel. The food wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad. The service is probably what felt so disjointed to me. It kind of felt there was no organization or known roles for the 3 that I were working the floor waitress was friendly but there was this younger guy who seemed like a food runner/busser. He moved super slow, brought out one dish at a time and at one point almost all the tables needed to be bussed but he was no where to be found. I guess I was expecting to have my socks blown off but they weren't. We had the Queso and chips, Huevos Rancheros and Hill Country Breakfast Tacos with Brisket. I may give it another try and see if maybe it was just an off day but it wasn't an experience I am in a hurry to repeat.

First impression is that everyone was so friendly! I easily found a bar seat at 6pm but the place filled up by 7pm. I ordered: - The Texas Margarita (5/5): not too sweet, can't taste alcohol, but still moderately strong - Warm chips and salsa (3/5): chips are seasoned, big portion, but salsa was bland Food looked good but I didn't try anything else. Would return.

Saturday night in Columbia City is always a W for me. Add to that forgetting to pay for parking on a freezing first date night and not getting a ticket in Seattle felt like winning the lottery. The mood was set and upon entering Jackalope for the first time, we felt immediately welcomed and cozy. Very charming Tex-Mex atmosphere. Our waiter Oscar was friendly, fun and very attentive, tho immediately started promoting their sister restaurant before establishing credibility in the present. The menu was a combination of traditional and eclectic. Prices were reasonable. Unfortunately Jackalope suffers from a couple maladies that are epidemic in Seattle. The space lacks acoustic insulation to give the illusion of vibrancy. So much so that we could not hear each other despite being close. Overall the food was meh. Uninspired. Chips, salsa, poppers and guacamole were very good. Entrees were not. A cafeteria rice scoop with a dollop of salsa on top. What? I wish they'd dig deeper into the soul of Tex-Mex cuisine and infuse the menu with more authenticity. Worth returning to for the positives in hopes that it was just an off night in the kitchen.

I'm not a big tex mex fan in general, but we had a good time when we came here for brunch. It's a welcomed addition to the neighborhood and generally very busy. I got a fajita and my partner got enchiladas. We also got a small tostada appetizer. Everything was very fresh and well prepared!

Stopped by on a Tuesday evening and we're seated promptly without a wait. Margarita was ok - a bit on the stronger side in terms of alcohol. We did a small portion of the nachos, which were tasty. The individual portions made it easy and clean to eat. Liked the salsa and guac that came with it too. For the mains, we had a Chile relleno and the shrimp fajitas. We replaced the refried beans with black beans in both cases. The rice that it came with was pretty yummy too! Both dishes were big and filling, although the fajitas could use a little more flavor/seasoning. I'd recommend the Chile relleno over the shrimp fajitas. All in all a good place to grab some satisfactory tex-mex.

I was visiting my son in the Seattle area and he recommended Jackalope Tex Mex in Columbia City. Great food, good service and a fun environment. The portions were generous and I took home leftovers.

Came here thanks to the generosity of my client's gift card, Jackalope has been on my radar for a while now, pretty happy to finally be able to make time to check them out. Words around the street is to try their brisket, so we indeed did ordered the brisket enchiladas. Was curious to try something different like the chile relleno, really enjoyed the cheese in it, so creamyyy. Both dishes came with bacon refried beans and rice, the beans were very flavorful without an overwhelming pork fat after taste to it like some places. When did Columbia city got so cool with trendy coffeeshop and restaurants like this? Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:)

Came across this place on an instagram reel that recommend it for brunch. I brought 2 other former Texas residents with me and we were all impressed with the flavors of home. I had a brisket breakfast taco that was tender and flavorful. the other taco I had was chicken Tinga and that was also delicious, but maybe I should have gotten 2 brisket tacos. The quest was very tasty but I sure do wish there was more of it. Their chips were crispy and warm, then best. Folks were polite and patient with us. The space was kind of small so I wouldn't try to do a large brunch group here, but 4 folks seems an easy fit. There was also a nice full bar. I had a mango passionfruit frozen margarita and that was so good. They're apparently connected to a series of bbq spots called "Jack's bbq." After eating here, I need to try that place.

We have lived in Columbia City for some time and finally decided to try this tex-Mex spot after it took place of the original Mexican restaurant that had been there before. Sadly, we were not wowed in the slightest. The pros: we got 3 cocktails and they were well crafted with good flavors and generous pours. The atmosphere seemed really friendly. The decor was nice and the staff were very welcoming Cons: the drinks may have been good but we received them well after we got our entrees. You have to pay for the chips and salsa when most restaurants give it for free, and it's not bottomless, we got one little cup of salsa to split between the whole table with a small bowl of chips. The entrees... the beans tasted like they were just poured from a can with cotija sprinkled on. The Spanish rice was seriously just boxed instant rice like rice a roni, it was awful. And the enchiladas had no flavor. The presentation made it look tasty but it was not enjoyable. I usually can't help but clean my plate at Mexican restaurants but I didn't want to eat anymore after a few bites. Maybe it was an off day... The service was great, but we probably won't be going back.

The College Friend texted me Tuesday morning checking my availability to accompany her to Jackalope Tex Mex and Cantina in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood (5/10/22). Sounds good for my first meal of the day! First visit too. It has been years since I've dined at Jack's BBQ. My fave BBQ is way up north in Marysville these days. So it was good to visit hungry and with no preconceived notions. We arrived onsite just as the sidewalk signage was placed and the open sign was turned. I immediately liked the interior and the very welcoming wait person. She brought us menus, water, house chips & salsa, plus answered all of our questions. The generous chips and salsa were on the house, extra refill for a minimal charge. Because of my college age son, I've been on a chips and queso with chorizo stretch. And these chips were so addicting! The College Friend opted for the popular Texas Brisket tacos with salsas, bacon enhanced beans, and rice. I decided on my benchmark, Chicken Verde Enchiladas with the same beans and rice. Filled with succulent chicken thigh meat, score! Kept scooping the beans with those chips. Very filling and later my leftovers reheated nicely. I reserve the fifth star, because I still miss the long time Santa Fe (now Ada's) in Phinney Ridge and still partial to Cactus in Madison Park and SLU. Oh darn, twist my arm so I can work my way through the menu and try some cocktails next time, lol. The place was packed by the time we finished. Great game plan to be there by 11am!

BOOOO NO STARS. (OliPop can to scale) Decided to order chips, salsa, queso, and tortillas to go with what we were cooking at home. We paid EIGHTEEN DOLLARS for this tiny box of chips, an 8oz queso/cheese dip, and THREE small flour tortillas. Who gives only three tortillas and where does it end up being $18?? We also asked for salsa and didn't receive it. Mexican food is such a scam in Seattle. Should have just gone to Safeway.

I would totally recommend this restaurant. The food is really good. I usually get 1 or 2 of the same things when I order. My go-to dish is the chicken verde enchiladas (double rice/no beans) or the nachos with chicken. The nachos are AMAZING and they don't hold back on the cheese. There usually isn't a long wait and I'm in and out. Check it out for yourself! You won't be disappointed.

I'm not sure what's up with BBQ forward people doing Tex Mex these days... But whoever started this trend needs to be given an award. Reviews: Fish Tacos - Thick pieces of fish, generous portions of avocado, to-die-for sauce. Brisket Tacos - Just stupid, stupid, stupid.... Tacos should be this good. Basket of Chips and Salsa - Next level salsa game, and the chips are even dusted in what I can only imagine is angel dust. Fresh Tortillas - Had me dancing! Drinks - had 4.. don't remember what they were (obvious reasons are obvious), outside of outstanding. Bean and rice - Need work.. I mean, there good... ya'll just set the bar so high with everything else. Jack - Thank You! Columbia City - You're Welcome!

I tried the oyster mushroom fajitas and they were so savory and delicious! There was a variety of vegetarian options that I would love to try in the future. I also had the beef fajitas, which was so juicy and tender! I would definitely recommend Jackalope, because they have such an incredible menu.