Del Rio Grocery & Taqueria

They didn’t put any guacamole on my super nachos, and it was a grease bomb:(

Fairly new to Seattle but this place is average at best. Menudo lacked flavor and asada taco meat was squared cuts of meat that were thick and tough (rather than thin with chargrilled with soft middle and crunchy tips). I hope to find better in Seattle (and plan to eat my body weight in tacos when I am in Chicago).

I’ve driven past this place hundreds of times and probably wouldn’t have ever tried it, but I really wanted tacos and didn’t feel like standing in the rain outside a taco truck.
When I walked in the place was empty and the 3 workers looked at me with a bit of suspicion. But I asked the cook what he recommended and ordered. After that they seemed to relax a bit.
The recommendation was chicken tacos so I got a couple of those and one of barbacoa as well. The tacos were big, with plenty of cilantro and onion, some nice spicy/​tangy salsa and a couple of limes. They brought me an extra chicken taco, which was kinda cool.
I’ll definitely go back here.

I’ve come here twice already, both during lunch time and got their Super chicken Quesadilla without rice & beans. My first dining experience kinda sucked ’cause the waitress did not give us (we were in a group of 5) enough chips and salsa and my chicken quesadilla tasted was so salty that I thought it was a total salt lick.
Despite the let down, I was determined to give this cute taqueria another chance. I ordered the same dish on my second visit, and it tasted muchhh better! The waitress came over and checked on us several times and made sure our chips and salsa baskets/​dish were plenty filled.
Also, I love that they serve you water in the huge beer mugs, and the cheesy Spanish soap opera that they have playing. And the hot chick cardboard cutout they have at the side entrance to lure the men in… my male friends find it a tease. Just kidding ;-)

If Seattle had better Mexican or Tex/​Mex, I would probably give this place 4 stars. But compared to whats here this place is about as good as it gets. Taqueria Del Rio used to be located inside a small Mexican grocery that sold pinatas and other Mexican products. The reason I mention this is the fact that they are catering to Mexican people so you might not get the service of Azteca but the food quality and pricing is better. I have had all of their daily specials but my favorite is the carne asada/​asada tacos. They also have quite a bit of seafood and soups. The prices aren’t dirt cheap (like some taquerias) but the food quality exceeds their prices. Their portions are big and the food has always been fresh.

At one time there weren’t lots of places in Seattle to get Mexican food. One could always go to those funny fast food places, and one could go to Azteca, but not the kinds of places that might be a tad more authentic. Del Rio would take care of that. Sometimes a person would just like a bit of barbacoa of carne. When you go in, ask if they have it ready. You’ll be delighted to dig into truly buttery beef that has been treated with respect.
It is nice that a cold beer is available as well. I always like the Negra Modelo with my beef.

Once I start eating Mexican food it ends up being all I want until something bad happens (look for that review shortly) but eating Mexican all the time is pretty normal for me because when I’m back home in backyard Tijuana where I grew up I eat Mexican for breakfast, lunch and dinner much to my families surprise. Anyways after my somewhat disappointing experience at Taqueria El Sabor I wanted more Mexican and I remembered Maia reviewing a place in White Center so I look it up. Taqueria Del Rio, oh great another taqueria but at least this one was somewhat in my backyard.
As I’m sitting on the couch I tell my GBF#1 I want Mexican food, he says OK me too. So off we went to White Center to get some Mexican food. We park and walk in, the place is huge and could easily put six or more tables in it, but I’m not sure they want to. I sensed they liked the open, warehouse feeling space they have. To top off the bigness of the place they were blaring Spanish soccer on the TV apparently it was a good game because it was so loud and people were watching it with great intent.
We both check out the menu I see what I want more taco’s oh and a side of beans. GBF#1 gets the carne asada burrito plate. I go for two pollo and two al pastor tacos and the side of beans. Chips and salsa arrive was we want for our food, the salsa looked a lot like some chunky marinara and I was scared but than I tried it and it was rather tasty, it had a very nice flavor to it, unfortunately the chips were cold, not refrigerator cold but colder than room temperature, oh well.
My tacos arrive and OMG they are freaking HUGE tacos, these were not street tacos like I thought and no wonder they were $ 2.35 each vs. $.99 at other places. The corn tortilla’s fell apart on me as I lifted one up to eat, I hate when that happens everything ended up all over my plate in a taco mess, but I didn’t care because they were Muy Delicioso. The pollo was much better than the al pastor but still good, I was sad I couldn’t eat all four they were just too big and messy for me. The beans were good, I’ve had better (Baja Bistro) but again way too much food. Oh and I think GBF#1 liked his food he didn’t say he didn’t.
The service was friendly and the place was clean and decorated to make you feel like you just stepped into a HUGE taqueria in San Ysidro, Chula Vista or even National City, CA. Also if you’re ever looking for Spanish videos to rent/​buy I think you can find them here.

Del Rio is more than a grocery store, it’s a restaurant too, and a yummy one at that! Go there, eat, drink some horchata, and experience it for yourself. You won’t be sorry!