As soon as you walk through the doors to Poquitos, you’re transported to another world. This Capitol Hill restaurant has been around since 2011 serving authentic Mexican cuisine.
Poquitos’ Spanish Colonial-inspired interior is special — unlike any other Mexican restaurant in the area. The well-curated design is the work of James Weimann and Deming Maclise. The two traveled all the way to Puebla and Mexico City to gather pieces for the interior. Most notable are the 15,000 handmade Talavera tiles they brought back to line the kitchen and walls. Personal touches like these are what make Poquitos’ space standout as uniquely beautiful.
Poquitos delivers authentic Mexican food crafted with ingredients that are locally sourced, along with directly sourced items that are vital to cooking Mexican cuisine. As a native of Southern California, Executive Chef Manny Acre is well-versed in the cuisine. Chef Acre completed culinary internships in both Spain and Italy before moving to Seattle, where he has since worked in multiple noteworthy restaurants. Poquitos’ menu features classic dishes, like fresh salsas, pollo verde, chicken tinga tacos and carne asada, and other favorites like ceviche and a variety of margaritas.
To start off your meal, an order of chips along with a salsa trio and guacamole is the way to go. The guacamole bowl comes in both a half and full sizes, offering options for smaller or larger parties. For a main dish, you can’t go wrong ordering the carne asada. The meat is served on a bed of pinto beans along with grilled onions and a jalapeño, plus sides of corn tortillas and rice. The skirt steak is so well-marinated in an ancho sauce that it basically melts in your mouth.
Another popular menu item is the shrimp tacos. All three tacos are served in white corn tortillas and topped with cabbage, pico de gallo, cilantro and aioli. A side of rice and black beans also comes with this order. The secret behind such tasty tacos is the chile oil the shrimp is sautéed in.
For those who need a little dessert after dinner, the churros and caramel dipping sauce are a delicious option. They are not overly sweet and come with enough to share between a few people.
For those just north of Seattle, Poquitos has recently opened a second location in Bothell. Both locations are open on weeknights for dinner, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch and dinner. Happy hour is available on weekdays.
For more information about Poquitos, visit www.vivapoquitos.com.