This little eatery on the Pike Place hillclimb feels like something you’d find in Mexico, though in a city that sees its share of tourists—down a side street in Cabo, maybe. Though it’s usually just used as a quick lunch break for downtown office workers, it’s not a bad place to linger on a late afternoon in summer.

It’s pretty campy, with banners, posters, and flags covering the hand-painted turquoise walls. The mismatched tables are perched under all sorts of hanging ephemera like a set of tiny chairs with woven-straw seats. You order at the counter, and service is nonexistent (many people complain that it’s actually a bit on the surly side).

Taquitos (filled with chicken, carnitas, carne asada) and the carne asada platter are the standouts here. And all the other accoutrements of authenticity are in evidence, too: tiny, hand-formed tortillas; aguas frescas like horchata; shelves lined with Jarritos and a good selction of Mexican beers; a good salsa bar.

We’ve had enough good meals to feel comfortable recommending it, but be forewarned that word of mouth is all over the place and it seems to have more “off days” in the past three years than it ever has before.