Mama’s Mexican Kitchen

Written by mojdeh on August 28, 2013 in I Eat Seattle, I Eat...Out with 0 Comments

(mamas.com) – Belltown neighborhood, downtown Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: Open since 1974, Seattle’s oldest Mexican restaurant seems to be a Belltown staple. I have been coming here since first moving to Seattle in 2002, albeit only about once per year (or two years). A good friend of mine introduced me to the quirky establishment, and the Entertainment Book is what kept me coming back for late night Mexican fare.

Type of cuisine: Elvis-inspired Mexican food with Northwest inspiration – enter spinach quesadilla. Anything you fancy from burritos, also available with ranchero sauce, to fajitas, nachos to combination plates including rice and beans. Vegetarian options also available (and they only use vegetable oil).

Ambiance: Eclectic. Quirky. Cluttered. Those are the first words that come to mind when talking about Mama’s.

The space is mostly red (some green and even exposed brick) with brightly painted walls. Nooks and cranny’s form the space in this maze-of-a-restaurant that includes the famous Elvis room.

The Elvis room can be reserved for fans who appreciate everything Elvis. Rumor has it that Mama and Elvis once shared a margarita, hence the tribute to and complete Elvisness of the room.

Paintings, pictures, signs – neon and otherwise – deck the entire restaurant, giving it more kitsch than refinement, while offering a casual and easy place to dine. Booth seating as well as table/chair areas are available for diners.

Few windows make for a dimly lit space at night and during gray days. Outside dining is available for less wet days.

What I ordered: A group of us dined at Mama’s after a day of moving my husband and I into our new apartment. Once completed, we decided it time to treat everyone to a dinner of their choosing. Mexican it was! An array of food made its way to our table, including Chili Relleno,

the Elvis Presley,

Tacos,

and more!

What I loved: While I could have used more than one slice of avocado, the fresh, perfectly ripened avocado made my day! The salsa served with the corn tortilla chips to start was probably my favorite thing sampled on this visit.

The pork in the chili verde was juicy and tender and marinated well. The nachos, cheesy and toasted, just the way we like ‘em! On future visits, I will probably go back to my veggie nolasco burrito, or the fajitas.

Why I loved it: I did love that the portions were large (I have enough for lunch, today) and that the food was served quickly and hot! I especially loved our server’s Halloween costume: a potted plant!