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El Chupacabra (Phinney)

6711 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 706-4889
Website

Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Restaurant Details

  • El Chupacabra is something of a Bimbo's west; it indulges in the same kind of wacky Mexican baroque decor as the Capitol Hill standby. Surprisingly, it's the chicken that's the standout here; it's super-tender and stewed in a slow-burning chipotle sauce. Plus, they've got a deck, which is especially sweet during happy hour (daily 4 pm-6:30 pm, Sun-Thurs 10 pm-12:30 am).
  • Features: Bar/Happy Hour and Cheap Eats
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Serving Hours: MonÐFri 11 amÐ2 am, SatÐSun 2 pmÐ2 am

Bar Details

  • Named after the legendary goat vampire, El Chupacabra is something of a Bimbo's west; it indulges in the same kind of wacky Mexican baroque décor as the Capitol Hill standby. Plus they've got a deck, and kick-in-the-pants margaritas served in tall tumblers (don't even ask for a blended drink here). You'll stick around for a round of pool and the awesome jukebox, crammed with L.A. punk, Hank Williams, and local bands.
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat-Sun 2 pm-2 am.
  • Happy Hour: Daily 4-6 pm, 10 pm-midnight ($1 off micros and wells).
  • Features: Full Menu, Happy Hour, Good for Groups, Outdoor Seating and Billiards
  • Scene: Themed and Neighborhood Joint

The Stranger's Reviews of El Chupacabra

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 2.67000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (26) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a review of El Chupacabra
26
Three of us walked in, determined we should seat ourselves, given no one acknowledged us. A waitress threw menus down on our table.

About 10 min later, a dude came over and asked us if we wanted waters; since we said yes, we were treated to warm plastic cups of tap water.

"Can we put in a drink order with you?" we asked.

"No." he answered, walking away.

We sat for 15 more minutes. No waiter/waitress came to our table despite waves/eye contact.

We left, ending up enjoying the extremely cozy Blue Star, with its attentive wait staff.

Fuck this place.
Posted by UberAlles on June 16, 2009 at 11:31 PM · Report
25
I went there with friends and it took 20 minuets to finally have a server come take our order, the margaritas were terrible, and 2 people didn't get their food until everyone else was done eating. Seriously, over 15 minuets later. I've worked as a server for years and know it can be shitty, but come the fuck on. I'd been there a couple other times too with not quite as bad results as long as no one else is there. If a restaurant can only handle 1 table it should probably consider closing its doors and letting another restaurant fill the spot.
Posted by bitchyservice on May 5, 2009 at 11:06 AM · Report
24

Yummy Pozole soup

My husband, 2 year old daughter, and I just ate there and had some good grub--wet burrito, dry burrito, chips and salsa, quesadilla, and a bowl of pozole soup. I thought the soup was the best dish of all of them. We had good service. The waitress didn't even blink an eye when I told her my daughter spilled my lemonade. My husband hadn't been there in a long time (since having a kid). We were psyched to learn we could bring our kid. Btw, another kid about her age was already there. If you go with kids, know that they don't have high chairs or boosters, so bring your own.
Posted by bw on January 15, 2009 at 7:50 PM · Report
23

Shouldn't there be a statute of limiations on these things?

These stale reviews don't mean much, if they ever did. Most of them read like the some guy who got dumped by a waitress there and can't let it go. I'm pretty sure complaints about ashtrays are no longer relevant.

Anyway, we go there all the time and the food is addictive. Not any kind of fancy authentic Mexican foo foo but satisfying and fun, not too greasy. The patrons are nothing more or less than Phinney Ridge locals, whom I would hope any normal person could tolerate. I've brought friends there for lunch and we all had a fine time.

There is nothing wrong with the service.
Posted by elenchos on January 3, 2009 at 1:20 PM · Report
22

I am so perplexed by the service complaints. I live in the neighborhood, I am a 40-something mother who looks about as hip as a plate of mashed potatoes. And yet no one who works there has been anything other than nice and friendly to me, esp the bartenders. Food is fine, whatever, there's more authentic Mexican around, but the jukebox is great and it's a dive bar I can walk to. I don't know whether I have good luck or just appropriate expectations.
Posted by anon on October 20, 2008 at 8:06 PM · Report
21

don't get it

UPDATE:
I really don't think the people that gave this place good reviews were in the right place. It's just north of the PhinnWood bend. Not the same place? I didn't think so.

Think about the worst service you could possibly get and then imagine you were also wiggin out on a bad trip and you had a railroad tie piercing your forearm, prying your radius and ulna further and further apart, and you would be halfway to how this place makes me feel. Damn it! I hate you for not allowing me to have your better-than-average food without DEALING WITH A COKED OUT RETARD!!!! FUCK!!!! What the hell is wrong with your hiring? How do you shoot yourself in the foot(and yes, this could be junkie reference) with every single hiring?! I officially give up. You are no longer allowed in my life as I feel I'm only enabling your ways and habits. Goodbye, old friend, goodbye...
Posted by jfljoe on October 9, 2008 at 8:44 PM · Report
20

It's fine

Been here a couple of times and I liked the food. Margarita's were not great but OK. Nice atmosphere, and in my experience friendly staff.
Posted by Eelco on June 23, 2008 at 12:05 AM · Report
19

Avoid like the plague

This place is close to my house, and they server Margaritas.. How bad could it be. Very, very bad. The food was, at best, OK. Every time we've been the wait staff was remarkably rude. I guess they are too cool to wait on normal, non-pierced (that you can see anyway) folk like us. Seriously - service was horrible, and when we tried to get our check because we'd been sitting there ignored for about 20 minutes, we got yelled at. I'll never go back. I like the comment from "capital hillbilly" - "great cheap food, good people." You sound like somebody trying to talk the place up. How is it that you know the kitchen is clean? Do you work there? Good neighborhood asset - ha. It's my neighborhood, and I can't wait for it to go under. Maybe if you spent more time working harder rather than writing shill reviews the place would get better reviews.
Posted by El Cainos on April 28, 2008 at 8:07 AM · Report
18

Great Margaritas...

Been here a bunch of times and I get why some people don't dig the service. This is a bar. I don't expect a bartender to kiss my ass. Just get my drink right and notice when my glass is empty. But the service has never seemed unfriendly. The good, the house margarita. One of the best around and certainly the best price/quality ratio. But then there's the food. Not bad, but not really good either. I think eating here is an excuse to have one more margarita without falling down. Another plus as we head into better weather, it's the only place in Phinney with a good patio.
Posted by Carne Asada on March 23, 2008 at 6:29 PM · Report
17

Me Lova the Chupa

Went there for the first time a couple of months ago, and now go there at least once a week. Food is great and nicely priced, drinks are good as well. I've always had GREAT service, some times the staff even has my next margerita prepped before I've finished the first, though that could just be a testament to how much they know I drink. I can't say anything bad about this place.
Posted by Coocamonga on February 7, 2008 at 2:37 PM · Report
16

bull corn

I can't believe the ratings. I live in the neighborhood, I go there at least a couple of times a month. I have never encountered poor service. Food is fine for the price, and the margaritas are some of the best in the city.
Posted by mexicana on February 1, 2008 at 5:29 PM · Report
15

Rude Server

The first time we went here the food was amazing but the waitress who served us acted like we were wasting her time AFTER she acted as if we weren’t even there. Since I dreamed of the salad I had during that visit, I went back in hopes that service would improve or that I would get a much friendlier waitress rather than the stick thin, bitch of a server. Thankfully, this time around I got the friendlier waitress and the food wasn't good. I’m confused as to why the bitchy one is still there and why The Stranger gives them such accolades they don't deserve.
Posted by what's her malfunction? on January 3, 2008 at 1:33 PM · Report
14

Worst Service Award

Phucked on Phinney shouldn't go back yet. They definitely haven't fixed their amazingly horrible service. Sat for 30 before walking over to ask to order. Wonderfully bitchy waitress came over to take my order only. Her eyes said her nose was probably well powdered, which was probably why she thought I was the only one who wanted to order. Upon figuring out that there were several of us who wanted to order, she got pissed and stormed off to get a pad. Seriously, I've never seen a worse server nor a stranger sight. It was incredibly entertaining laughing at her sorry ass and wondering how this place's ownership could keep her around. So the funny thing is- I f-ing loved the food when it finally got there. It reminded me of the good old days getting awesome food on trips to SF and SoCal. Crazy how such a shitty front of the house can be marring the rep of such a great kitchen. Even though our order was totally f-ed up and we were missing several items, we got other random items as some sort of weird tradeoff. Gotta tell you, the CARNE ASADA TORTA WAS AMAZING!!! Different than ones I've had in the past, but better. The posole was great, and the taco was definitely worthy. Tried my girlfriend's wet burrito and loved it. I'm so torn. Don't know if I can deal with the service to get to the goods, but I think I might have to try.
Posted by jfljoe on December 28, 2007 at 1:13 PM · Report
13

Yuck

Love the patio seating and the atmosphere, but both food and drinks were awful. Mushy, tasteless food and the most watered-down margaritas I've ever had. When you're ordering shots of Tequila on the side to pour into the margs and they still seem way too light, something is very very wrong. Much better Mex food/bars down the hill Ballard.
Posted by So disappointed... on December 12, 2007 at 8:13 PM · Report
12

This place is alright

I just went to this sort of hyped-up bar for the first time recently. Unlike many of the other reviewers, our service was good. The vibe at the place was cool, fairly chill. I like it when bars aren't too brightly-lit, so that was nice. The food was average, not that great, but it was a decent place to drink.
Posted by bringussomemorebeers on December 8, 2007 at 7:11 PM · Report
11

Horrible service

Could not have had a ruder server. First time in my life I did not leave a tip. She pretty much neglected everything...utensils, not enough glasses, the cook finally brought the food to our table because it had been sitting so long. Made us feel like we were inconveniencing her to ask about the menu. The only time she passed for nice was when she brought out the check and apologized for it being busy. Too bad she was such a b. I wrote a big fat zero under tip because that's just what she deserved!
Posted by Merry on December 2, 2007 at 11:37 PM · Report
10

To Quote Another Reviewer...

"This dive bar by design is a mess." Erm, last I checked that's what divebars are all about... "Just from sitting there I was able to learn by overhearing that the two owners hate each other, bar staff have bad attitudes toward everyone, one owner has a crack habit and picks up prostitutes." ...It's amazing what someone can pick out in conversations when no-one wants to talk to them... This is just the tip of the iceberg. Avoid at all costs, you don't want to be there when the feds close in on RICO charges!" ...Might as well stay at home and have another Cognac. If I didn't drink there on a regular basis already, this review would make me search the place out!!! I moved to Greenwood arround a year ago and had never heard of the place. Someone told it was a good bar so I went in to check it out. I was immediately at home - strong drinks, one of the best jukeboxes in seattle, a friendly barstaff and cheap eats that taste good. Go there if you understand what a divebar is. If not, go somewhere else!
Posted by Jules on September 14, 2007 at 10:53 PM · Report
9

food is okay, service sucks

I'm tired of paying money to businesses where the staff treats me as though they are doing me a grudging favor by serving me. I know working in service sucks, but I'm nice and I tip well, so neutrality doesn't seem like too much to ask. Last time I was there the few minutes we actually had the staffs' attention -- and they were very few -- we also appeared to have incurred their wrath? No idea why. I'm never going back and even though the food is decent it's not worth contributing to the wages of your abusers. But if you're missing rockabilly then maybe this is the place to go.
Posted by lolathon on August 20, 2007 at 9:05 PM · Report
8

enough said

the place sucks, the food sucks, belongs on broadway.
Posted by phinneycat on August 11, 2007 at 8:44 PM · Report
7

Sliding Downhill FAST

I live a couple blocks away and can no longer recommend El Chuppacabra. In general, a great atmosphere and value to the customer in terms of food. The only problem ... The service. This place officially wins the worst service in Seattle. When you order drinks or food, the staff actually treats you like an inconvenience! After being a Capitol Hill veteran for 10 years, I did not think it was possible for a neighborhood to offer a worse staff. Oh yeah, this is not based on crowds ... Thick or thin, it's terrible. Plus, the drinks were much better (aka stronger) in the past ... but that is trivial. Bring back the old staff or hire some people with more qualifications than multiple tatoo. I look forward to giving you another try in a few months.
Posted by Phucked on Phinney on July 17, 2007 at 2:42 PM · Report
6

The Chup Rocks

This is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. I've tried their burritos and the cheese enchiladas, which have been consistently good. And don't forget about the $1.50 Tecates. T hey also have vegan options which is nice if you're dating one. It's definitely got that grunge/hipster vibe to it, and the multi-tatted waitresses are usually pretty cool. The patio outside is also a bonus if you can get a spot.
Posted by skykomishsunrise on July 10, 2007 at 10:31 PM · Report
5

Nice lunch in nice weather

considering the prices charged there, this is a great place to get a cheap sit down lunch in nice weather. Not so sure about the late night crowd, but I've thoroughly enjoyed my lunches there.
Posted by Balludite on July 3, 2007 at 8:28 PM · Report
4

great cheap food-good people

I think the food is fantastic . pork torta on wonder soft vietnamese french rolls wonderful. burritos the best i've ever had. 6 or 7 dollar meals as good as most places offer for 15 or 20. Fairly spicy expensive ingredients for mexican food. It's a great food bargin but naturally when they get slammed don't expect white linen service-nobody could do that without drastically increasing prices. It is a bit overly casual but thats kind of the fun of the place. Actually the kitchen itself is very clean. Good neighborhood asset.
Posted by capital hillbilly on June 24, 2007 at 7:18 PM · Report
3

Ick

Ok, so now I've eaten here twice and both times sucked. The food has no flavor! The servers were eating greasy burritos while serving food, making change and mixing drinks. Dios Mio, go someplace else.
Posted by Tacos terribles on May 26, 2007 at 12:05 AM · Report
2

There was a hair in there

The food was ok, but I did find a nasty hair in my burrito. They were so busy, that I couldn't complain or get something different. It was really gross! Also, what is up with making folks pay for chips n' salsa? That is just lame.
Posted by Tequilla Mama on May 16, 2007 at 6:30 PM · Report
1

Gross Hipsters

The food's edible, if obviously cooked by twenty-something white kids -- you can get much better and realer Mexican further up Greenwood. It's the atmosphere I can't stand. Loud and dirty, with hipsters draped over every surface; and most annoyingly, there's ALWAYS an ashtray with a few cigs in it immediately outside the door on the patio, with smoke blowing in. If you're under 30, you'll probably like it a lot better than I did. The patio's pretty nice in summer.
Posted by Fnarf on May 16, 2007 at 2:38 PM · Report

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