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- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
367 reviews for Mama's Mexican Kitchen
Review Highlights
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"they have an entire room dedicated to Elvis." In 76 reviews -
"They have great chips and salsa, tasty tacos, and delicious..." In 32 reviews -
"Got the Tofu fajitas and fell in love." In 6 reviews
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367 reviews in English
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Review from Vincent M.
Seattle, WA
5/21/2012
This place has some great food. I had the Super Nachos and it was a hefty meal, you get a lots of it. I liked so much I called in and they let me order food for pick up so when you order the Super Nachos they give a large bag of extra chips which are good also. I also had the chicken quesadilla....I'd recommend adding more cheese. The chicken burrito was insanely huge and tasted good.
I'd recommend this place to anyone. -
Review from Farman B.
Downtown, Seattle, WA
5/15/2012
The only reason we came here was because of the outdoor patio and a good recommendation from a friend.
The food was overpriced for how basic it was. I had the burrito and my wife had a taco and the beef was dried out for both of us.
The waiter seemed uninterested and every sentence he spoke was condescending.
The chips and salsa were good though. -
Review from Kevin C.
Seattle, WA
5/6/2012
I awoke this morning and put on my Isla Mujeres Mayan calendar t-shirt with only the faintest idea that today was Cinco de Mayo. It wasn't until opening the news that I'd realize it a holiday to celebrate "heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy," as Wikipedia puts it. And with a super moon, too, it was bound to be a fun night.
Well, I like to celebrate all those things in my life, so off to Mama's I traveled, and as fate would have it, there was an immediate opening at the bar. I had already decided on the Nolasco burrito from the online menu, and decided upon their popular strawberry margarita. Who can resist fresh strawberries in season?
The burrito was served within minutes of my order, and was absolutely delicious. It's no wonder Mama's has remained such a popular Seattle eatery for so many decades. -
Review from Emily S.
5/3/2012
We come here a lot when we don't know where else to go for an outdoor patio/late night food/decent Mexican. The Elvis burritos and/or super nachos are worth the trip, and the carafes of wine are reasonably priced, but I find everything else I've tried to be a bit overpriced for the quality. And it's deeefinitely not the place to go when you want something crisp, fresh, light, or traditional.
They also always seem to have the most interesting non-traditionally beautiful female servers, so it's also good people watching both on the street and inside the restaurant. -
Review from Tori T.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2012
I can officially say that I had the worst experience of my life yesterday at Mamas. The only bright spot was the greeter who sat us. We were seated and given chips and water and then no one came to see us for 15 minutes. Then our server stopped by and asked if we were ready. We ordered some margaritas and food from the menu and when asked if we could order a side of enchilada sauce and he said "if we have any". Our food came another 15 minutes later and still no beverages. When we asked him he was annoyed with us and rolled his eyes. When we finally got the bill we were double charged for an entree and had to find him to fix it. He literally grabbed the receipt out of our hand and walked away. This gentleman should not be a server. Bad service and so so food convince me to never go back.
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Review from Frank E.
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think I would rather go to Azteca. Azteca seems cleaner, more standard, more friendly staff.
I came here because I had a coupon from a Seattle Entertainment book. The food was good, not great. The staff was appropriate, but not too attentive. The place just seemed dirty (which is the best world to describe all of Belltown). It's probably a good lunch spot for those working in the area.
Price: 3
Service: 3
Quality: 2
Quantity: 4
Cleanliness: 1 -
Review from Heather F.
Spokane, WA
4/2/2012
Absolutely the WORST service I have ever had in my life. The female server who we found out was the restaurants manager automatically judged us, a group of nerds who wanted food after Emerald City Comic con, she was rude and straight out MEAN to our group of six. I can't even believe how rude we were treated. It took forever to even get our order in, she never come back to refile our drinks, after we ordered a round of shots she looked at as and said "no ones going to throw up in my restaurant." It was our first shot and second drink after a very week strawberry daiquiri.
After how completely rude she was to us we didn't tip. Nice nerds not tipping is a rarity. But we were so offended. So because of us not tipping she said we were not welcome back. Horrible HORRIBLE service from HER.
The table next to us had a nice enough server, who brought us our check because our waitress was no where in sight, I tipped him ten dollars for getting our check to that we could get out.
SOMEONE PLEASE FIRE HER!
The food is not good enough to stick around through HORRIBLE service. -
Review from Elibe E.
Seattle, WA
3/14/2012
Mama's is almost like a living monument to Belltown. The service is warm and friendly and the place just makes you want to kick back and relax.
The patio out front is great (weather permitting...). The food could be much better, but it has always been consistent and plentiful. Drinks here are very good, and always consistent. -
Review from Juliane W.
Seattle, WA
1/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
After having been somewhat disgruntled after my first visit here (due to the waitress' attention towards the men and not the women)...I reluctantly gave it another shot because I'm a frequent visitor at Lava Lounge and always crave mexican food. I was very pleased with my second trip for a few reasons...
1. The waitress was funny, quick, helpful and checked on us often without being invasive...actually she was a HIT. I was way too indecisive and she kept poking fun at me (which I loved) and then helped me pick something to eat. Love.
2. The shrimp quesadilla I ordered was scrumptious and definitely satisfied my craving
3. My lime margarita was the right amount of boozy yet tasty
If you want a quick, friendly and plentiful Mexican food experience head to Mama's..then get even more tipsy next door. -
Review from Denise J.
Seattle, WA
4/10/2012
Super consistent food, fast service, great music. Fabulous server Bella, personable and funny! Always a win with Mama's.
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Review from Lauren B.
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I liked this place pretty well. The steak taco meal was good - got double rice instead of beans. The strawberry margarita (made with fresh strawberries) was good, although I preferred the jalapeño margarita. Definitely get that one 2 spicy - 1 had barely any kick to it at all. The decor was interesting eclectic - sort of tattoo shop meets Mexico. They did not have horchata, which was sorely disappointing - apparently they used to, but customers never ordered it and the kitchen staff would end up drinking it all. Sad. Anyway, a worthy place for a relatively inexpensive Mexican meal. Would return.
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Review from Loralee V.
Mercer Island, WA
1/22/2012
When you need that good, cheap Mexican food fix, you can't go wrong with Mama's! The atmosphere is a bit on the zany side for my taste, but that's all part of the experience here. I always have a good time, and end up leaving over-satiated.
* seated immediately with yummy chips 'n fresh Salsa
* One of the best lemon drops ever! -Muddled with real lemons made this taste so amazingly fresh!
*Super-crispy tacos - the best ever! -Had to be fried to be that crisp... was packed with shredded chicken, lettuce and cheese! Whole black beans and rice on the side pretty good. I added some of that delicious salsa to give it even more zing! -
Review from Felisa D.
1/20/2012
I believe it was Anthony Bourdain who said that you must proceed with caution at any restaurant with the word "Mama's" in its name.
I should've listened.
Came here with some friends because this place was doing Dining Out For Life -- a night when select restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to local AIDS service organizations.
There's a novelty about the place that we found enjoyable. It's just kind of an over-the-top theme that I'm not even quite sure is really Mexican. It's overall entertaining... But that's really about it.
The food does not have the qualities you deceptively associate with a place with "Mama's" in its name. There wasn't a heartiness or warmth to it that was comforting. It didn't even have the overdone and unapologetic greasiness you also sometimes associate with a Mama's restaurant. It just seemed so... "gringo" to me. For the record, I'm not just talking about ONE dish. I tried everyone else's too. It just wasn't very memorable and had no kick... or flavor for that matter. Everything seemed super under-seasoned. It just tasted really flat... I don't think I'll be coming back. -
Review from Melinda K.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2012
Excellent authentic Mexican food-but no better than any other authentic Mexican food. Sort of dirty and crammed, but I guess that adds to the Belltown experience. The food is very good, its very busy. Bathrooms and seating can be crammed. Not impressed by the chips and salsa. Other than that, excellent continuation of Belltown vibe done the Mexican way. I am sure I will eat here often. Patio on nice days, and nice, friendly staff.
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Review from Shana N.
1/18/2012
Good, cheap Mexican food! How can you go wrong? We were sat immediately, but then did think for a little while that we had been forgotten. We were the only people in a section by the window and it was at least 10 minutes before the waitress came over to take our drink order. The saving grace was we did get chips and salsa as soon as we sat down.
My sister had the street tacos - these were so good, I was jealous I didn't get these too! I had the Mama's taco - this was good too, a crisp taco shell and packed with beef, lettuce and cheese! Neither of us were disappointed, it was just what we were looking for.
I had a margarita with grapefruit and agave, it was one of the best margaritas I've ever had! Crisp and fresh and resfreshing! My sister had a Pacifico which was served ice cold.
I would go back, can't wait to explore their menu more and have another margarita! -
Review from Juli-ann W.
Bellevue, WA
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yeah, it's a dive, but when you are craving gooey refried beans and copious piles of chips and salsa, it hits the spot. I love the fajitas because they have tons of vegetables. Service is generally friendly although occasionally forgetful (perhaps overworked?) and the price is right. So not gourmet, probably not very authentic, but a girl gets cravings....
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Review from yekta a.
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've never had such bad mexican food - ever. Even when I warmed up Lean Cuisine style frozen burritos.
The salsa they bring to your tabel is running and not-so-tasty and the chips are stale.
The food had no kick to it, or taste really, tasted like it was microwaved.
the service was so slow.
Don't think I'll ever go back. -
Review from Noelle S.
Seattle, WA
12/15/2011
Hands down the worst Mexican food I have had in my life! If I could give negative stars, I would. I came to this restaurant in the hopes of finding a local spot I could come to to get my weekly Mexican comfort fix and to no avail. As a self proclaimed "cheese whore" I was excited to find my food covered in cheese. Upon poking my fork in it, the half melted cheese mess sweated after being removed from what had to be heat lamps. I sucked it up and gave it a shot. The beans (Mexican food staple): tasteless, bland, boorrrriiinnngggg (salt or something people!), the rice (another staple): blah, Hard taco: greasy, not hard, bad meat, un-melted cheese. the only decent thing we had on the table was the guacamole.
I am no novice to Mexican food. Having grown up in a town that was predominately Mexican, living in the Mission District of San Francisco for the past 10 years and having just moved to Seattle, I'd say you would have a better shot at a good meal at Taco Bell. A good spot I found is Jalisco Mexican Restaurant on 1st ave N. No frills and the food is good. -
Review from Shanna K.
Gresham, OR
3/26/2012
We were in Seattle on a family vacation and this place was somewhat close to our hotel. I am SO glad we went! My husband is not big on mexican food but i love it. The food was great. Chips and salsa was good. Portion sizes were good. The waitress was friendly and great but not the pesky kind of way very relaxed. The only negative thing at all was the kids meals comes w rice but no beans so my kids ate all mine :) and the guacamole wasnt that great, but im picky with that. All in all GREAT resturant and great staff!
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Review from Kristin T.
Kirkland, WA
3/7/2012 1 photo
I'm not a huge fan of mexican food and will never suggest going to eat it, but I went with my co-workers and we got the nachos and it was HUUUUUUGE! And good. I haven't tried anything else, but enjoyed the atmosphere and the friendly staff.
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Review from KoryLexy F.
Seattle, WA
12/27/2011
If you are from anywhere other than Seattle, you probably think Seattle is short on good, traditional, stick to your gut Mexican food. While Seattle does have some nice joints for Pac NW, healthy, fusion type Mexican food, the stuff most of us are used to is few and far between, and usually falls short. Mama's is not exception to this, but as Seattle Mexican joints go, it is "A-ok".
Pros: All of the usual staples, fairly extensive menu, lots of options. Great margaritas, decent service, fun atmosphere, and when it is nice outside the front deck is an awesome place to chill with a drink.
Cons: Expensive for what you get, food that sometimes falls short of expectations, service is only decent
All in all, I enjoy eating at Mama's when I resign myself that it isn't going to be the Mexican food I grew up with. For Seattle, in a convenient location, it is the best we have found so far for sit down Mexican, -
Review from Gillian W.
Portland, OR
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
When I'm in Seattle I go to this place very time. The drinks are strong / big and the food is just to die for, you will miss out if you don't go at least once. I love going here when going to the theater there, this is like just down the street. The decor in here is quite unique and makes you feel as though you are in authentic Mexico. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Great for date night, late snack or brining in the family!
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Review from Dustin A.
Seattle, WA
4/10/2012
Just don't get the WHOLE beans! You'll fart for two days. I woke up the next day and there was a fart fog above my bed. Food is great though!
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Review from Kate N.
Seattle, WA
10/25/2011
Stumbled upon Mama's one hungry cold evening, and walking in you may be thrown off a bit by the eclectic decor but just TRY one bite of the food and you'll be hooked! Great prices for incredible food! These we're the best fajitas I've ever eaten! Service was good, and they have plenty of seating! This is a hidden treasure for ALL fajita obsessed people!!
Excellent outdoor seating when the weather's nice as well! -
Review from Kelly C.
Seattle, WA
7/30/2011
Mama's is one of the most fun dinner spots in Seattle. The food is always good, and of course they offer great drinks too. But it's really the ambiance of the place that does it for you. Inside the restaurant is divided into rooms with each only a handful of tables, which is great if you go with a small group (so you get your own place to be loud and obnoxious without disturbing anyone else.) During the summer, nothing is quite like enjoying a margarita and salsa and chips with friends on Mama's patio in the evening.
Oh, and if you're lucky, you might even get serenaded by a live mariachi band, too. -
Review from Josh M.
Las Cruces, NM
2/18/2012
California Mexican food. It's really just ok, not bad but not that good
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Review from Benoit S.
Seattle, WA
2/8/2012
This place makes some pretty good mexican food. However, I strongly suggest getting take out rather than dining in. They will still give you free chips and salsa, but you won't have to deal with the downright dirty dining rooms.
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Review from Mackenzie F.
King, WA
9/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Killer margaritas.
Yummy guacamole.
Perfect nachos.
Good service.
Everything you want in a Mexican joint! -
Review from Kate S.
5/26/2011
A nice place to enjoy a margarita or beer on a sunny day on their outside patio area. But food wise? Well, don't expect anything mind blowing.
I met up with some fabulous yelp ladies for dinner and happy hour deals. I ordered the beef tamale with mole sauce and was pretty sad that there wasn't a lot going on flavor wise. Having to ADD lots hot sauce and salsa to a mole is a sad sad thing, but I really needed something more exciting going on in my mouth and that tamale was just NOT cutting it. I also ordered the bean dip to share and it really seemed like a can of Rosarita's with some cheese semi melted on top and some tomatoes and olives thrown on top for good measure. It was all happy hour prices though so I was sated and ok with what I owed.
Our waitress was inattentive, but I will give her some slack for having to cover so many tables and also having to continually run inside then outside over and over again. It was sort of pathetic that we -- being the whole table -- had to resort to modern dance moves (jazz hands) to get her attention when we wanted our check.
So not my favorite, but if the weather is nice and a table is available it's a good place to enjoy a drink and some company.Listed in: Another Belltown list
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Review from Andrew R.
Redmond, WA
8/6/2011
Very bland food. Both my wife and I had to put every hot sauce we could find on our food just for it to have some taste. And if they ask you in the beginning if you want pico de gallo, guacamole or bean dip, it's not complimentary. Salsa and chips are though.
Our server was nice and the atmosphere is hip. Lots of tattooed servers. -
Review from Uhura J.
6/22/2011
The fact that this place has a 3-star rating only confirms my belief that the PacNW doesn't know jack about Mexican food. Basically, Phil E's review does all the heavy lifting here (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and hits the nail right on the head: Mama's is solid California Style Mexican fare, and has now given me a reason to risk Belltown after dusk.
After living in New Mexico for 6 years, it takes a LOT to get me into a Mexican eatery up here. I'd heard good things about Mama's and they didn't disappoint. The telltale signs were great salsa (the best I've received gratis so far), fresh chips, and the subtle yet supremely on point seasoning in every dish. I had the Elvis burrito and was stunned that the menu hadn't lied about the steak being marinated. (Most places mess this up and there is no recognition of individual components which yields a terrifying lack of flavor balance in their burrito.)
Price was exceedingly reasonable (Especially for Belltown) and my server didn't flinch when the kitchen made a mistake on my order (I try really hard not to send food back) - letting me know beforehand and asking if I was okay with it.
Parking: It's Belltown. Just pay the $$ for a well-lit lot on a main street. Not getting your car broken into or accosted after dark is totally worth it. -
Review from Inna B.
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a serious craving for beans, melty cheese, tomatoes, and spicy salsa. I had plans in Belltown, so I decided to check out Mama's with a couple of fabulous Yelpers.
Riss arrived a little early, so she was able to grab a fabulous seat outside. They already had some chips and salsa on the table, so I ordered a Corona because I was in the mood for it, and the Bean Mary Salad with guacamole on the side (because I don't like avocados). The salad was nothing special and I had to add plenty of spicy salsa and hot sauce to make it flavorful, but it satisfied the craving I mentioned in the beginning of this review. Plus, it was $6.75 instead of the $10-12 I'm used to paying for a plate of Mexican food. (Their regular plates with meat and tortillas cost $12-14, so while the servings are huge, it's not really a "cheap" spot. What I wanted just happened to be cheaper than what I'm used to paying for Mexican food.)
The waitress wasn't very attentive, and at one point we wondered if spirit fingers or jazz hands would get her attention. She kept running away from the patio after taking orders, so it took longer than we would have liked to get a refill of chips and pay our bill.
So, I satisfied my craving and it was pretty flavorful when I added plenty of salsa to my meal, but Mama's didn't seem like a "good" Mexican restaurant and, even with my not-so-high expectations for it my experience was just a-ok.Listed in: Belltown
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Review from Erik M.
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mama's used to be THE place for kicking off a big night in Belltown back before it got overrun with condos and all the dives turned into swanky meat markets. Filling up on a bigass burrito and margaritas before a show at the Croc ensured you'd have the necessary energy to power through whatever the night had in store.
While Belltown has changed, Mama's really hasn't, and they're still serving up bigass burritos and margaritas all day long with over the top kitchiness, including an Elvis shrine that fills an entire room. Plus, Mama's is kid-friendly and the youngsters will certainly be entertained by the crowded and colorful decor.
It's not authentic Mexican cuisine, but a California style (lots of cheese and heavy sauces), that's consistently filling and tasty, and they have plenty of options for carnivores and vegetarians alike. I personally prefer their signature Elvis Presley carne asada burrito, and you can't go wrong with the Nolaso burrito.
I don't think I'd care to head down and fight crowds for dinner anymore, but it's worth the trek for lunch, when it's usually less busy. The service is quick and the prices are really quite reasonable, even if you add a couple cervezas or margaritas to the meal.
It's great when old standards can stick it out in the face of what some would consider progress, and Mama's is certainly no exception.Listed in: Family Friendly Seattle
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Review from Paul O.
Kenmore, WA
10/30/2011
Why did I rate this unique destination in a sea of trendiness four stars? For just that, being a great hold-out while the surrounding neighborhood loses the essence that brings us in, in the first place.
At Mama's, I always find something new. This round I chose one of my favorites, but with a twist, Chili Colorado as a burrito. I chose Pinto beans as a filler. Ohhhh yyeeaahh, that hit the spot!
Speaking of new, there is always something new to find interesting along the winding pathways. -
Review from Angel W.
Tacoma, WA
7/24/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Is this place authentic mexican...mmm no its definitely not. Is it delicious new take on the same old thing, I say YESSSS.
Best part for me it is vegetarian friendly. Ive read some reviews that their re fried beans are "weird" That is most likely because they do not use lard in them, nor do they use chicken stock in their rice. This is GREAT for the vegetarian crowd .Especially when your with a group of carnivores. Its been over a week and I cant stop craving their spicy salsa. It was delicious I put it on everything in my plate, not that it needed it the spice was great. I will definitely be back when im in Seattle and craving mexican food that is different than your pre made re heated food. -
Review from Matt F.
Seattle, WA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think this is only the second time I've been here. The chili verde was bad the pork was dry and tasted like it had been microwaved or reheated somehow.
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Review from D.R. W.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2012
This AZ native has found a portal to home.
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Review from Rachal B.
Seattle, WA
9/23/2011
first time I went here was absolutely good! The second, it was good but not like the first. Don't know what happened but it was still over all good. I would still go back.
Only problem out of the staff I've seen there was the hostess getting into a huge fight with one of the waiters. It made me feel awkward. And it was over guacamole.
But I recommend it! It has a cool vibe. -
Review from Corinna K.
Seattle, WA
9/22/2011
If you like orange grease cheese slicks blanketing mushed-up cardboard then you'll probably like Mama's.
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Review from Kimberly G.
Seattle, WA
1/12/2012
The food is no big deal, the service is poor, and the prices are too high for what you get. On top of it, it is located in an area of Belltown that attracts some shady characters and if you're eat in the out side they walk right up to you and harass you. Don't recommend you eat here.
