Señor Moose Café

I had chilaquiles for the 1^st time in Mexico a few years ago. I was so excited to find out on my 1^st visit to Señor Moose that they had them too. Just as good here just no ocean and beach view like we had in Mazatlan.

Like other reviewers here, I have consistently forgotten to take a picture of my delicious Mexican brunch because I consume it so quickly upon arrival to our table. Unilocal doesn’t list them as a brunch place when I searched in the Ballard area but luckily we have seen the lines on the weekend before so we have been alerted to their popularity. We usually only go to brunch if we’re up really early on the weekends to beat the crowds and around 8:30 they were pretty empty on the weekends we went lucky for us, because they packed up quickly.
Two words for you: horchata latte. Seriously, how did I not know that was a thing? Two amazing drinks combined to make an addictive concoction that keeps me coming back. Even if the food sucked I would go here just for these. Luckily, they have a stellar brunch offering. I try to order a new dish every time because the choices are so extensive and I haven’t been disappointed by anything yet.
The first visit I got Sopes con huevos which I think is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten for lunch. Their black beans are so delicious. I make my own black beans at home but nothing as good as this. The extra cheese on the top really makes it too. Husband got the chorizo con papas and said it was some of the best Mexican he’s ever ordered. The last time I got papas con rajas which was very good. I usually don’t order anything without eggs or meat for breakfast but couldn’t pass on this dish. Potatoes, cream, and black beans? Yes please. Machacha con papas got devoured by my husband who can’t resist anything with fresh avocado slices on it. The fact that they have both cholula and tapatio on the table is a sign that they know what they’re doing.
Always, always get an extra horchata latte to go on your way out!

Waited for two hours despite a warning that we would show up with a group.
No display of gratitude for waiting and patience. Staff very unfriendly and non-​cooperative.
Whole place smells like deep fried — food truck type — frying oil.

Love them! I always order food from them. When I’m having work meeting.

Love this place! Great feel and better food! The prices are adorable and the food never disappoints. I stumbled upon this place with a friend and stop in most times I’m in the area.

Super expensive, the food is not bad, but 10 $ for a half size super weak margarita is not great. I would try somewhere else unless you really like to be robbed for dinner.

This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant! Great quality, fresh food. Little very casual place.

The good things:
This is by far the best authentic mexican restaurant I hve visited in the Seattle area. Believe me, there aren’t that many. Most of them are bad tex-​mex imitations.
This is the only mexican restaurant I have found in Seattle that offers mexican breakfasts: I ordered the chilaquiles with steak and egg, and man, they were much better than many chilaquiles I have ordered in Mexico.
The rest of the breakfast menu seems equally impressive. They also offer a separate dinner menu, which I will definitely try soon, because it looks more interesting.
The staff is nice and polite.
The bad things:
The place is super packed and the waiting list is of about an hour. You better arrive early or come in groups of no more than two, and if they offer you to sit in the bar, you better take it, because they have too few tables, and the majority of them are two people tables. So big groups wait even longer.
There are only two cooks for the whole restaurant. Our plates took about 40 min to arrive. They were delicious enough to make me forget how much I waited, but I will hesitate if I want to visit the restaurant again at noon.
They seem to be a little bit understaffed as well. All the waiters/​waitresses seemed super rushed. I’m glad the business is so busy, they deserve their popularity, but they better make some changes to the service if they really want people to remember them for their food, not for the wait and the service.

Amazing food. Beautiful, eclectic décor. Came in on a Saturday morning around 11:30 with 2 other people. There was a wait for a table, we grabbed 3 chairs at the bar facing a window near the rear of the restaurant. Food took about 20 – 25 minutes to get after ordering which was incredible considering it was prime brunch time! I ordered the Tacos Frijoles (I think? Sorry, can’t remember exactly what it was called): it was plenty of food and the perfect amount of heat (spice). Will go back and recommend to anyone. Ever. Always.

Really tasty mexican food, much better than your average place. I had an awesome carne asada plate and everything was spot on!

I had heard the food at Señor Moose was very good; I didn’t know it would be amazing. We started with chips and salsa. The chips are home made and fresh from the fryer with just the perfect amount of salt. The sample of salsa was lovely; one was a peanut with a touch of smokiness; another was cilantro and super fresh.
Sorry Unilocalers – when the dishes arrived we dug in so fast I forgot to snap a few photos. My son had a shredded beef with housemade chorizo and bacon with cheese. It was slightly smoky and robust, but not heavy. I had the Camerones in a tequila cream sauce that was buttery and decadent. It came with rice and black beans and great housemade corn tortillas.
Service was gracious and casual and prices were good. I’ll be back with hubby on date night.

Friendly staff and the best Mexican hot chocolate in town. The chilaquiles were also a hit, spices were authentic and super tasty.

Very nice beef — tender, not very fat and not dry either. Try the dish with chocolate and wine sauté onions.

Too, too many good things to say about this place after more than 10 years!
Excellent food, wonderful back bar, friendly service, and the best carnitas ever.
Tortilla soup like in heaven! And the chips are worth every peso spent!
I could eat here everyday.

Pleasantly surprised with our late lunch here on New Years Eve.
Note: Señor Moose Café is more along the line of traditional Mexican food and less along the line of Tex Mex.
Another note: Chips and salsa are not complimentary.
I ordered the chicken tacos and a side of rice. The tacos (five of them) were delicious and very filling. I would definitely order them again but I’d skip the side of rice. The rice side, which will run you $ 2.25, was ¾ cup of plain white rice and just not worth the price. I also did not need rice because as stated before, the tacos were very filling. The chicken was juicy and the avocado was creamy. Each taco also came with two shells which I appreciated because sometimes one shell just doesn’t have the strength to support the «insides» of the taco.
My three other table mates very much enjoyed their dishes and also the house margarita. I wish I liked tequila so I could enjoy margaritas too but too much tequila on spring break in Mazatlan in 2000 ruined it for me.
Service was fast. We entered the restaurant and wrote our names on the wait list hung on the wall directly to the right of the front door. We were seated within five minutes of arriving.
Parking was difficult but do-​able as it always is in this area. It’s a given that you will have to park a generous distance away and by generous, I’m referring to a five minute walk.
I’ll be seeing you again soon, Señor Moose Café.

I feel like I’m two people. A mom with a toddler and a gal who loves to have a good cocktail with her friends! So I’m always looking for places that fit my lifestyle, this is one of those places! Good drinks and family friendly! Plus their chips are homemade and amazing!

We waited outside for about 20 minutes for a two top. That was a good sign that the food would be outstanding.
Then after ordering we waited 40 minutes for our food. Oh, no. HIS food. Here’s how my ordering went.
Me: I’ll have tacos carnitas, a side of cotija, and a side of cream.
Her: (in her semi-​broken English) only cotija and sour cream?
Me: yes.
When his food arrived I was presented with two sides. No food. Language barrier? Maybe. Red flag? Definitely.
She took no drink orders, didn’t check in during our wait or dining. The food is wonderful. The service leaves a lot to be desired. Both the waitstaff and kitchen were remarkably slow.

One of my favorite places for brunch (though there’s usually a bit of a wait).
Get the alambres. Full stop. More than once I’ve gone with a table full of friends and all of us have ordered it, because it IS that good. Every time I go I’m like «I should really try branch out and try something new… but alambres!» (Okay, I’ve had the the machaca con papas once or twice, and it’s good too.) Coffee’s good; haven’t tried the bar.
Easy to get to on the #40 bus. If you’re in a car, street parking can be a hassle.

This place is awesome and I am giving them 5 stars!
I thought oaxala had most amazing mexican food and seeing Tom Douglas enjoying his food there has confirmed my thoughts. However, now when I crave Mexican food, I am going to Señor Moose!
There guac and chip is amazing. The chips always taste like they are freshly out of the oven, and they probably are because it is a one busy restaurant.
The carne asada tacos are bomb-​digidi! It comes with grilled spring onions which makes the perfect balance. The winner of the game for me is the dish called «camarones de tequilla». It is just simply so good!!! It has shrimp in creamy sauce. Creamy, tangy, little bit salty broth with rich seatood flavor. The rice is also flavored perfectly and everytime I go to Señor moose, I order this plate and finish it everytime. You gotta try this place and order this dish if you love anything creamy or yummy!

Great food, lousy location. Nearly no parking and small cramped tables almost caused me to slip this place which would have been a mistake.
Everything is fresh and amazing. Hot chips for the chips and salsa, or in my case guacamole. Friendly employees, and a worn down but very clean restaurant.
Been here a few times now and it doesn’t disappoint.

Amazing! Very authentic. My wife said during the meal, «this is like something somebody’s grandmother would make from Mexico!» Couldn’t agree more! Fresh made corn tortillas then made into chips. Service was kind and quick.

Yes. You want the Moose!
What we drank:
Smoked pepper infused marg
House marg
Cucumber jalapeño marg
Verdict:
I loved the smoked pepper I ordered but would come back for the cucumber. Crisp and refreshing!
ESQUITES
Corn, epazote and cream $ 6.95 was the bomb. A must for anyone. Hangover or not.
GUACAMOLE Y TRES SALSAS…7.95
Spicy red and crisp, tomatillo green sauce with warm chips. The guac had avocado chunks and diced tomatoes just like I make it. Delicious but a small portion for the price. The value is not here and I’ll pass on my next round.
Of the mains, we ordered the following.
CHILAQUILES, Carne de Puerco (carnitas like) and eggs $ 12.95 was a miss. I was disappointed in my choice. Having enjoied this traditional meal many times at many places and even cooked it at home for family, it’s not the Moose’s best dish. Pretty bland.
HUEVOS DIVORCIADOS ESPECIALES $ 10.95 KILLER. This is a great choice willed with color mouths full of joy. Could this be the best?
CHORIZO CON HUEVOS $ 12.95 BIG WINNER!!! Beating out the other dishes on the table by a landslide. Simple, easy and delicious. My new go to
Not sure what was going on the Saturday we arrived but walked right in. No wait. Took a it 10min for our server to come over but drinks and food came out rapidly.
Long lines or not, Señor Moose Café is something special.

Always my go-​to when I want Mexican food around Ballard. I ALWAYS order the Camarones with the tequila sauce. I can’t seem to try anything else because it’s THAT good.
Check this place out if you’re in the Ballard area. You may need to put your name on a list because there always seems to be a line out the door.

Do not judge this place by the name that doesn’t really make any sense or the looks, which aren’t anything special, but who gives a shit?
My girlfriend and I tried this place and experienced great service, AMAZING FOOD (we haven’t experienced Mexican food this good in Washington, ever) and good vibes.
It has been a month or so since we went, but we had this prawn dish that came with black beans and this orange sauce. I think the sauce was made with tequila or vodka or something. Either way, it was GLORIOUS.
I will definitely be coming back even though it was a *little* pricey. Great local business to support!
*applause*

My new favorite Mexican spot in Ballard.
Very friendly staff and AMAZING food!
My daughter had a Chile rubbed pork dish and exclaimed «oh my god!» after she took her first bite, it was that good. Luckily she let me try some and I agree withe her.
I had the machaca Tacos which were solid. My wife had enchiladas that were also amazing.
Then Jicama and cucumbers with lime and Chile were great, very refreshing .
The star was the fresh fried chips and bean dip with Chorizo and quest fresco. I will get that every time I go back.
We sat at the bar and had a kitchen view which was great because we got to see all the delicious food coming out of the kitchen. The 2 guys in the kitchen had some mad skills just the 2 of them pumping out all that food, I was impressed.
My daughter wanted dessert and she wanted the Tres Leches chocolate cake, I reluctantly ordered it because I thought I hated tres leches cake, but this cake changed my mind. Any chocolate cake I eat from now on will be compared to this one.

Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Waiting: 3 stars
Place: 4 stars
Any dish on the menu is delicious, you won’t be disappointed. They offer authentic Mexican food. For breakfast my favorite one is the Huevos Divoriciados («Divorced eggs» 2 sunny side eggs mounted on a tortilla and beans, separately covered with 2 salsas: green and red)
Be prepared to wait for a while for your food to be served. I mean, the wait will be worth it, but consider that they only have 2 guys in the kitchen taking care of everybody’s orders.
Servers are very friendly and kind.
PS: they’ve a very good Mexican beer list

You won’t find flour tortillas here, so you know it’s great Mexican food!
My family and I enjoyed our late lunch here. We all devoured the three salsas and guacamole appetizer.
I especially liked my dish, Hongos a la Mexicana. The flavor of the sauce tastes fresh and had the perfect amount of spicy. The chicken came in nice sized pieces and were not skimpy.
Next time, I’m saving room for the tres leches cake!

I am SO torn writing this review as I was dying to try this place but honestly the only fabulous thing was their red salsa on the huevos divorciados.
We waited about 20 minutes for a spot at the bar on a Saturday around noon. We started with chips + salsa & margaritas. The margaritas were OK (missing something). Chips are deep fried. You get three salsas in TINY TINY cups… You couldn’t get the chips in there… it was weird.
The green salsa was very bitter & not very good.
Unfortunately, the green salsa was over one half of my eggs divorciados… The red salsa on it was AMAZING. My boyfriend asked for a side on his.
He got the Alambres and thought it was pretty good. It looked like a meat hash with some pieces of cheese on top but he was happy.
All in all, I’m glad I tried this place out but will probably stick to other brunch spots. Am interested to try their mole…

Went in for a late lunch, diner feel with a counter to sit at. I do like the art work, I think it is for sale as another customer was asking about prices.
I had the «sopes de tinga»…pretty good, 2 mini masa corn cakes with the shredded tinga with some sour cream, jalapeño for a lil kick (got a lil sweat bead going) with some frijoles negros on the side. (Black beans). Good size lunch plate and satisfying. Waitress gave me some delicious spicy hot sauce on the side too that flavor boosted my mouth! Whoa!
Got me a horchata to wash it down and put out the fire in my mouth too. Tasty drink, they offer it cold or steamed.
Service is ok, I came in during the lull from after lunch but before dinner. They were playing some music, a little singing, habla espanol all around! Lively bunch.
Probably will come back to check out other items.