Kahlo & Loyal

A must-try new spot in Ballard with an elevated (and rotating) tapas menu at a reasonable price. For finger food, they provide a yummy mix of crunchy lentils. For meals, I recommend trying the full tapas experience; every plate was a winner. My personal favorites were the fish and chips, which had a creamy sauce for dipping, and the risotto, which had the perfect consistency with some extra crunch from the bread crumbs. Moreover, the atmosphere of Kahlo & Loyal shows a real attention to detail. Each room has its own character, whether it's the upstairs lounge where you can watch old films on the projector, or the downstairs bar area that is adorned with trinkets and stained glass. The whole space is covered in a unique combination of South Asian and Mexican artwork, including (appropriately) some pieces of Frida Kahlo herself. There is also a subtle cat theme that pulls it all together. You can often find the owner, Sheldon, grilling some tasty-looking chicken right outside the restaurant. He is a warm and welcoming guy who seems genuinely invested in making sure his customers have a good time. We'll be back soon!

Elevated dining experience at an affordable price 🥹. Highly recommend! Food: their price in Ballard in 2025 is noticeably below the market, and I am so grateful! I haven't had $2 oyster in a restaurant for a long time, and they even come with thoughtfully designed dressing and toppings! We got the tapas set, the chef gave a little presentation about each dish, it's so cool that they forage all their ingredients locally and change the menu weekly. The calamari was so so good, I was blown away 🤯❤️‍🔥👏, I can't wait to come back and try their new creations! Services: the owner is so friendly and everyone was so nice to us. They gave us free snacks and tea, and it was cool the chef came out and talked with us. It's a cute spot for a data night or hanging with a couple of friends. They don't have reservations because they want to keep access to people in the neighborhood first🙌 Go check them out if you are around! Great food offered by the best people 🙏

Excellent new addition to not just Ballard but Seattle. The menu changes each week depending on what produce the owner can source from the UW’s garden. The calamari was great; incredibly light and crispy batter and not fishy tasting at all. The mussels were large and meaty and had great flavor. My friends and I had a great conversation with the owner, Sheldon. We learned he is a trained chef from Cape Town with experience cooking throughout Europe and the PNW. He was so kind and you could tell he takes a lot of pride in his restaurant and work. My friends and I felt the food and experience was incredible value for what we paid, and we are all excited to come back. My only feedback is that the toasted bread that accompanied the meal needed a fresh toasting as it was a bit chewy in texture. Other than that, my only regret is that I didn’t take better photos to share. Thanks for such a memorable dining experience Kahlo and Loyal!!

Great cocktails and cocktails. They changed the tapas menu every Thursday so everything is seasonal and super fresh. Friendly staff, willing to geek out about the food if not swamped. Fun eclectic art, be sure to go check out the upstairs even if you sit downstairs.

Wow - Kahlo & Loyal exceeded my expectations. The tapas plate is a must try which rotates weekly. Each dish we tried was so fresh & full of unique flavors - a truly elevated culinary experience. We ordered dessert not wanting the experience to end which was delightful. Chef/owner Sheldon puts a lot of heart and attention to creating the menu, we will be back!

First time here, but it's a very cute space. With delicious cocktails and a really good menu that changes with the seasons. We had a bomb salad with apple and blueberries. And the chef let us try some kimchi wings they were working on (wonderful). But above all the service was so good here, everyone we interacted with was so kind and engaging. Will definitely come back!

The food here is AMAZING! We went during happy hour and got the tapas plate which came with one of each of the menu items and I couldn’t even pick a favorite. Everything was my favorite! It was happy hour so it came with a free dessert. We also got oysters which were $2 each, a very reasonable price for the area. The meal was filling but we didn’t feel overly stuffed when we left. The atmosphere and service are both welcoming and chill. The food was on the level of a fine dining restaurant but with the price tag of a more casual eatery. I highly recommend this place. The ingredients are locally sourced, so it’s a great place to bring out of town guests to give them a taste of the region as well!

rotating menu, the risotto was amazing and so was the dessert. sweet ambiance and the food was healthy! will definitely come here again to try out more!

Great tapas. Excellent service. The drinks were delicious and came out in layers for excellent presentation. Every dish we tried was amazing! It was great to hear that there is a huge emphasis on local items being sourced for the dishes. Fun place to go to have a good time with friends!

If you're looking for a restaurant that will completely surprise and delight your palate, THIS IS THE PLACE! The service was warm and knowledgeable about their menu - which makes sense, because the food here is nothing short of extraordinary. The cuisine is international fusion at its best- bold, inventive and absolutely bursting with flavor. Every dish felt like an adventure with ingredients I would have never thought to combine, but somehow they came together in the perfect harmony. It's the kind of food that makes you pause after every bite just to appreciate how clever and delicious it is.

Had some of the best salmon we've ever tasted here (which is saying something in the PNW!): grilled with asparagus and topped with champagne veloute. We actually asked for spoons to be able to get every drop of the veloute. Friendly staff, eclectic decor, and great drinks make this a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

The moment you walk into this cute little spot, the decor immediately catches your eye..charming, cozy, and thoughtfully put together. There's a small bar that adds to the intimate vibe, perfect for a casual night out or a cozy date night. The risotto? Absolutely amazing. But honestly, I'd recommend going for the full food board so you can sample a bit of everything, they truly put care into every dish. The owner gave us a tour and was pretty cool that each piece of art has a little story. Also, ask about the Ms Rita mural on the wall. What a touching story!! I'll let the owner tell you! He definitely put a lot of care into this place. While the menu might look small at first glance, don't let that fool you. It rotates regularly, which keeps things exciting and fresh, especially for locals who want something new each visit. A gem of a place that's definitely worth checking out!

The owner is fighting people that disagree with him in a very rude manner. The food was okay... I don't know why he would act this way and alienate his audience

Wow what an impression this restaurant made. This week's rotation was calamari, salmon, fried zucchini, and mussels. Each dish was perfectly balanced and I mean perfect. Salt acidity spicy sweet. The chefs know what they are doing. I literally already want to go back. We also enjoyed the $2 oysters. They were amazing and had toppings. The restaurant is beautiful on the inside and has 3 types of seating arrangements. Lower seating similar to typical dining seating. Upper level seating which has bar seats. Finally there is a darker room for true "date night vibe." The menu is also very reasonably priced and street parking is abundant. I could see myself as a regular at this restaurant since the staff is so welcoming and the menu changes every week.

A group of us ate at Khalo and Loyal tonight and it was great!! The restaurant is located in Ballard on the corner of 17th Northwest and Northwest 56th. Delicious and very creative food with wonderful service!! Highly recommend and we will definitely be back soon!!!