Ixtapa

The worst food period. I should have charged them for ruining my stomach. and my taste for Mexican food. Pass this place up. FAST.

I really like their polo con crema and chicken chimichangas. They have good service and to go orders have always been packed nicely.

The only thing worse than the food is the service. Very sad… this place used to be good. Must be a new owner. The last 3 or 4 times I’ve been here have been no bueno. Shame… I won’t be visiting ever again.

I love Ixtapa. I have eaten there since I can remember, only I thought it was called the «bean store» when I was a child. Started by going to the one in Monroe, then when I was 5 we moved to Lake stevens. My husband (at the time my boyfriend) and I used to go every week (until we moved to Everett), the waiters would have our orders in before we sat down! Loved it! I LOVE the chips and salsa, it is the best!

My family and I use to really love this restaurant. We would go at least once or twice a week! Not anymore. Sadly the quality of the food has gone down and the prices have gone up. A lot! Before my family of 4 could eat for around $ 40. Now it’s always over $ 60, which would be fine IF the food was worth it. Not anymore :(
We always try to do taco Tuesday’s when they have 99cent tacos. They only do the 99cent tacos in the bar and if you don’t get there by at least 3pm you are not going to find a place to sit in the bar. At all. They get busy which is good but if you are hungry and want to sit in the bar good luck, because you will be waiting a hot minute. Ixtapa use to be the place to be for dinner time during the week. Unfortunately my family and I usually take our taco cravings elsewhere.

They make their own tortillas in a little station in the middle of the restaurant & turn them into the chips they bring to your table. We always order a side of tortillas because they’re so good. Yes it’s a chain, but they do a really good job & the service at this location has always been fantastic. Never had a bad meal here.

We love to take our family here when they are in town there food is fabulous home made flour tortillas. They are always very busy so if your looking for small romantic dinner this is not it this is more family friendly viverent place to go. Love the Carne Asta and deep fried ice cream

No Bueno. High priced and very plain.
I got the steak fajitas. Thin strips of tough and flavorless meat, lots of onions and green peppers in a pool of grease. And none of the ingredients tasted fresh.
The waiter was very attentive but lacked in friendliness
The chips and salsa were just ok
Best part about the m al was the Mac n jack beer

My wife and I love Ixtapa in Stanwood, it’s one of the best Mexican restaurants around, but this one in Lake Stevens was not good.
The service was presented with a smile, but I have never experience being aggressively waited on by 7 separate waitresses (To include one off duty girl). all of them returning to the table every 5 minutes to question if we needed anything. At one point I couldn’t remember who we started with as I tried to identify the server who tried to take me wife’s plate away before she was finished eating; I mean he move in and snatched it up while she was on the cell phone, this made her feel like she had to guard her plate. The hole operation looked like it was overstaffed and the right hand didn’t know what the left was doing.
The quality of the food was very low starting with the orange tasteless burrito sauce they served us as mild salsa. Next came the Caso cheese dip that was thickening tasteless cheese over peppers and onions, not a dip. ending with odd favored main courses.
Overall a bad experience and a waste of fifty bucks.

I’ve been coming to IXTAPA since I was 4 (20+ years). It’s my favorite Mexican restaurant. The staff is super friendly, the restaurant is clean and the service is always promt. I love the chicken soup, Carne Asada, fajitas and enchiladas but honestly I’ve never had anything I didn’t like.

I was visiting Lake Stevens for the first time and came here after being told they were the «best» Mexican food around. Pssh yeah right. They had the worst worst service ever. We waited so long that I almost got up to look for a server to get our check. The food wasn’t that great, it was average price but not with as much food as other restaurants with the same kind of foods. It was also drenched in cheese! I had to take all the cheese off to eat my food. Yeah, I would not go again. I would rather go to Taco Time.

We wanted to wait until we tried it a few times before we reviewed this restaurant. So, we’ve pretty had a consistent experience. The food it bland and not close to traditional Mexican food. 4 out of 4 times we were given the wrong order. (Twice during sit-​down, twice take out). Meats were very over cooked, The carne asada resembles a thick piece of beef jerky and difficult to cut.
The chicken relleno was unpalatable with some kind of a curdle cheese or sauce or something on top. We through it out. The chorizo burrito was so salt it was also inedible. .
My thoughts are they cover the food with so much cheese and sauce to try and make the food better. i’m not sure but that was our take.
We did enjoy the tortillas, but not enough to return.

Excellent! From the yummy, warm, fresh chips… delicious salsa, and the awesome Chicken Enchiladas! Can’t go wrong!

Seriously, don’t bother. I’ve had friends who have worked here, and I can’t even tell all the disgusting things that go on «behind closed doors».
Plus the food isn’t that good, It’s more of «Amaricanized» Mexican cuisine, not authentic at all.

My wife and I we’re traveling through the area on a getaway trip. Stopped for dinner here on the recommendation of a local shop owner. Very disappointed in the quality of the meal we were served. We ordered Shrimp fajitas and shredded Beef Nachos. Let’s start with the Fajitas. 8 shrimps for $ 17? Really? I realize that they aren’t cheap, but 8? That size if shrimp comes in a two pound bag in the local grocery store for about $ 14. Gotta keep up the profit margin, but sheesh. And then there’s the Nachos. When they came, we could see that they came with lots of what you order them for. Toppings! Lots of them, and good tasting too! Only thing was that there was perhaps a dozen chips on the entire plate. Had to ask for another basket of chips for it.
If and when we come through the area again, I do not think we will be coming here for dinner.

Always terrific service and good food.
Walked in 10 minutes after closing and was greeted with a smile and a wave to come in and sit down.
Enjoyed the chimi and enchiladas — and a delightful waitress.
They locked the doors behind us — with the same smile and wave.
Tipped big in appreciation!

We have been very loyal to this restaurant for many years because their food has always been good and the staff is always friendly…
And tonight was good food and great service but it isn’t the same anymore… About two months ago, on our last visit, we thought it was a fluke because they were busy but tonight confirmed that something is off. The ultra small portions brought us a smear of beans and a tablespoon of rice next to a very small pile of meat that was barely covered with sauce. Where we used to have something leftover for next day, we were left feeling like we didn’t even have a full dinner. This especially hits home when you get the bill for $ 60+ for 2 adults and one child (who all drank water,) tax and tip additional. I completely understand that food costs go up and prices need to go up too but you can’t charge more and give much less.

Got carne asada takeout with a friend, and it hit the spot.
Pros?
–Tender meat
–Fast service
–Pricing is average for the area
–If you want extra meat, it’s seriously… A LOT OF MEAT :-)
Cons?
–A little too salty for my taste

Not a bad mexican place for a small town.
I got the cheese enchilada combo and everything tasted good.
I like the salsa too, but wish they brought out a bigger portion.
Waitstaff was attentive and the place was busy, even at 4pm on a Saturday.
I didn’t really care for the atmosphere. The tables looked a little dirty and the place could use a renovation. I also didn’t like that there isn’t an a la carte menu for smaller portions.
The food was great though! I’d come back here next time I’m in the area… I’ll just make sure I come on an empty stomach so I can eat a big plate!

Best Mexican food in town!
$ 1 tacos and beer Monday and Tuesday all day in the bar
They also have GREAT tortilla soup and seafood plates — and the best skinny margarita I’ve ever had
The employees make you feel at home
Great food-​great prices-​fun for everyone