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Green star El Sombrero (Columbia City)

4868 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, Washington 98118
(206) 725-1418

If you want family-Mexican-restaurant-style Mexican food in Columbia City, El Sombrero will make you happy. It has fake flowers arranged around a big framed review from The Stranger right by the front door; the headline is “Charmingly Adequate,” which is a.) the best headline ever, and b.) the best version of what we ask these places to be (with the charming framing acting as meta-charm).
Categories: Restaurant

Restaurant Details

The Stranger's Reviews of El Sombrero

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 3.40000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (5) RSS

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5

malissimo

God do I wish this place was better. The food is as bad as Seattle Mexican food gets (and that's very very bad!) Non-descript gloppy sauces, valveeta-like cheese, and margaritas are definitely from a mix. For real Mexican food in the south end, go to one of the neighborhood taco trucks or to El Quetzal on Beacon hill. Drawback of these options: no alcohol.
Posted by suren~o on April 18, 2008 at 12:17 PM · Report
4

maria is wonderful

El Sombrero is typical Mexican fare. It is in the heart of Columbia City, sandwiched between the Gallery and Geraldine's. The food is ok, but the servers are wonderful. Maria (owner? or manager queen?) always has a smile on her face. And the drinks are strong and cheap! Watch out on Friday and Saturday nights, as the wait can be long. And don't forget that they have weekday lunch specials!
Posted by sassyhopeful on August 4, 2007 at 2:20 PM · Report
3

sangria

the food is not bad - roughly average mexican food (if you want the real stuff, just hit the taco truck a block down and across the street in front of rainier plaza) - but the sangria is what's really worth the visit - give it a try.
Posted by kinkos on July 30, 2007 at 4:52 PM · Report
2

Yummy Mexican seafood dishes

I moved here a year ago and El Sombrero has fast become one of my neighborhood hotspots. Shrimp enchiladas, shrimp tacos and tostadas are all very good 'every day' fare. Love the camarones mojo de ajo, the Mexican equivalent of scampi. Delish. Portions are huge and it's packed almost every night.
Posted by newgirlintown on July 25, 2007 at 9:04 PM · Report
1

The food is fantastic.

A friend introduced me to this place and it is well worth the bus ride/walk to get there. They do arroz con pollo in a way I've never tasted before, almost in a mole sauce, and their tortillas are thick and crusty. Any time I mention Mexican food to friends who know Seattle, the first place they mention is El Sombrero.
Posted by a neighbor on June 3, 2007 at 2:47 PM · Report

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El Sombrero
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