If you're expecting Azteca type food, this place is not for you. Its far more authentic, all the food carries some spice and they have sauces you can add to really take the spice lot another level. apparently its a small chain, who knew we had one in Auburn and there is another in Bellevue It's clean and neat, the workers are Hispanic so you know you're going to get real Mexican food and you do. My friend had a quesadilla which she said was too spicy for her, I took a taste and didn't think so. It was very large and she took some home. I wasn't all that hungry so opted for fish tacos. Didn't realize their tacos are street tacos size so this was perfect for someone not starved. Came with the fish cabbage and a really good sauce that had just the right amount of heat. It's a pretty extensive menu and on the wall sort of difficult to read. Think before we go the next time will study the on line menu.
Ma Cristina L.
Great tasting food!! Service is great and fast without compromising quality and freshness. The ambiance is great as well.
Lloyd Chand
Love the food and the service is great. Plenty of food options to choose from.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aurora Perez
Quick, Great tasting tacos, dinning in or take-out, didn't see a trace of drive through.Parking: Limited parking but there's parking within walking areas
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor
Damien Miranda
Really is the best food place, the food was really good, so was service. Will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carmen Garcia
I was there today, the food was so so, the tacos al pastor wasn't good. But that wasn't the problem. I order take out, a special that includes one el favorito drink, I'm diabetic and started feeling so thirsty while I was waiting for my food, so I approached one of the cashiers and ask her for a cup of water, she refuses and told me that I needed to pay for the water, I know that all the restaurants gives you the water with no charge, I told her that I just needed a cup of natural water, she still said no, so, I ask her to then exchange my favorite drink for a cup of water, she refuses again and said that was the drink included in the special and that she couldn't exchanges it, I know other el rinconcito restaurants does it without any problem. So, I just breathe and asked the lord for patience. When I went to the salad bar there's not ziploc bags to get the limes and stuff, so, I ask her for a couple of bags, and she just gave me one, I told her that I needed more than one and she told me that she wasn't suppose to give me not even one, I asked her then how I supposed to take the stuff from the salad bar and she told me to get some of those little tiny containers that they use for the sauce, how I'm suppose to fit the limes and rabanos, or the jalapeños in those little things? I lost my patience and kindness and told her that she was a horrible worker, her customer service was awful and that couldn't understand why she was working behind the desk. I just left and stopped by a corner store to grab a water bottle...I know, I could have paid for the water in the restaurant, but I didn't wanted to pay for something that supposed to be "free" at any restaurants.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Bryan Lamsen
Bad costumer
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Gregory P. Cannioto
First of all, I should tell you, I've never eaten anything from there. I learned about the place from a neighbor, who I gave a ride there, to get his dinner. How ever, I absolutely intend on trying this restaurant! My neighbor, raved about their food, the entire trip there, (About 15 min away.), and when I walked in the place, it smelled fabulous. My neighbor offered to pay for, anything I might desire, from the menu, however, my wife was making dinner at home when I left there, so I gratefully and regretfully declined his offer, promising my self and my wife, a rain check there! They have a huge menu, listing all the best authentic dishes, that people of all backgrounds in America, generally tend to know about and look for, as well as a couple items, I've never heard of, or tried and their prices appear as though they've remained close to what they must've been, before the Covid epidemic struck America and prices skyrocketed everywhere, for most everything. Which I believe, is the best reason of all the others mentioned here, to give them a shot at meeting my neighbor's raveing description, of their food and service. My only negative thoughts, about the place, were firstly, that it was very similar to fast food joints, in its layout and design, as compared to a place with servers taking and bringing your orders to your table, which I personally prefer, and secondly, the maddening parking situation, which I've detailed elsewhere in this review.To sum it up...Not so convinient parking, but worth trying, none-the-less, based on cleanliness of the restaurant, friendly, focused, bustling service staff and fabulously, authentic looking and smelling, Mexican American cuisine .Personally, I was convinced I was going to try this place as soon as I got over the parking issue, that I'm certain, they must wish they could improve, more than I do.Thanks, for your time. G. P. C.Parking: Parking area, is very small and is not laid out very well. Available spaces are mostly obscured from view, until you actually enter the lot, which is too small to turn around in, leaving you no choice, but to back out, which is difficult as the entrance is right next to a very busy main mall entrance, with fast moving vehicles, you can't see coming, making right turns past the entrance and visibility, heading out backwards, is exponentially worse than entering the lot! In short, parking is a nightmare, full of inherrant danger and, at least, is frustrating, irritating and maddening! If you go, which is worth doing, just plan on using mall parking as close as you can get to the restaurant! Believe me, in a torrential downpour, it would be much less maddening!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
James Allen
Nice place to meet and eat three times this week ??Parking: Parking so times not available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor, Sope
Charles Hart
My family and I go to Mexico twice a year and we LOVE the food. El Rinconsito is fabulous and it's about as authentic as you could get!! Highly recommend!!
We have come here numerous time and ask for no pions due to allergy restrictions and they don’t seem to care. They didn’t apologize for putting onions and all they did was joke about it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor
Alison Miller
We were looking for delicious tacos and weren't disappointed. We tried birria, al Pastor, Carnitas, Carne asada. Flavorful meat and delicious salsas and pickled veggies on the salsa bar. The restaurant was clean and we had efficient and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada Tacos, Tacos Al Pastor
Rowland84
Best Mexican food in federal way!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Giovanna S.
Let me tell you that Ive been in the look out for actual "Tacos al Pastor" for almost 15 years! (Being the other one in Seattle) I know how an authentic al pastor taco taste like, and these are the-bomb!!! Highly recommend any "al pastor" or birria items in the menu! I'm planning to visit every time I'm in the area, so I'll be updating this review. Service is prompt and efficient, the servers are friendly and attentive; regarding the ambiance is what you'd expect on any Mexican restaurant. One thing to take in mind if you visit during winter is that there's glass windows all around that make it a little cold so definitely you'll still need you jacket! 100% recommend from a Mexican native !
Andrea Romero
Great service!! Great food and clean tables ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada Tacos, Tacos Al Pastor
If you're expecting Azteca type food, this place is not for you. Its far more authentic, all the food carries some spice and they have sauces you can add to really take the spice lot another level. apparently its a small chain, who knew we had one in Auburn and there is another in Bellevue It's clean and neat, the workers are Hispanic so you know you're going to get real Mexican food and you do. My friend had a quesadilla which she said was too spicy for her, I took a taste and didn't think so. It was very large and she took some home. I wasn't all that hungry so opted for fish tacos. Didn't realize their tacos are street tacos size so this was perfect for someone not starved. Came with the fish cabbage and a really good sauce that had just the right amount of heat. It's a pretty extensive menu and on the wall sort of difficult to read. Think before we go the next time will study the on line menu.
Great tasting food!! Service is great and fast without compromising quality and freshness. The ambiance is great as well.
Love the food and the service is great. Plenty of food options to choose from.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Quick, Great tasting tacos, dinning in or take-out, didn't see a trace of drive through.Parking: Limited parking but there's parking within walking areas
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor
Really is the best food place, the food was really good, so was service. Will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was there today, the food was so so, the tacos al pastor wasn't good. But that wasn't the problem. I order take out, a special that includes one el favorito drink, I'm diabetic and started feeling so thirsty while I was waiting for my food, so I approached one of the cashiers and ask her for a cup of water, she refuses and told me that I needed to pay for the water, I know that all the restaurants gives you the water with no charge, I told her that I just needed a cup of natural water, she still said no, so, I ask her to then exchange my favorite drink for a cup of water, she refuses again and said that was the drink included in the special and that she couldn't exchanges it, I know other el rinconcito restaurants does it without any problem. So, I just breathe and asked the lord for patience. When I went to the salad bar there's not ziploc bags to get the limes and stuff, so, I ask her for a couple of bags, and she just gave me one, I told her that I needed more than one and she told me that she wasn't suppose to give me not even one, I asked her then how I supposed to take the stuff from the salad bar and she told me to get some of those little tiny containers that they use for the sauce, how I'm suppose to fit the limes and rabanos, or the jalapeños in those little things? I lost my patience and kindness and told her that she was a horrible worker, her customer service was awful and that couldn't understand why she was working behind the desk. I just left and stopped by a corner store to grab a water bottle...I know, I could have paid for the water in the restaurant, but I didn't wanted to pay for something that supposed to be "free" at any restaurants.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Bad costumer
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
First of all, I should tell you, I've never eaten anything from there. I learned about the place from a neighbor, who I gave a ride there, to get his dinner. How ever, I absolutely intend on trying this restaurant! My neighbor, raved about their food, the entire trip there, (About 15 min away.), and when I walked in the place, it smelled fabulous. My neighbor offered to pay for, anything I might desire, from the menu, however, my wife was making dinner at home when I left there, so I gratefully and regretfully declined his offer, promising my self and my wife, a rain check there! They have a huge menu, listing all the best authentic dishes, that people of all backgrounds in America, generally tend to know about and look for, as well as a couple items, I've never heard of, or tried and their prices appear as though they've remained close to what they must've been, before the Covid epidemic struck America and prices skyrocketed everywhere, for most everything. Which I believe, is the best reason of all the others mentioned here, to give them a shot at meeting my neighbor's raveing description, of their food and service. My only negative thoughts, about the place, were firstly, that it was very similar to fast food joints, in its layout and design, as compared to a place with servers taking and bringing your orders to your table, which I personally prefer, and secondly, the maddening parking situation, which I've detailed elsewhere in this review.To sum it up...Not so convinient parking, but worth trying, none-the-less, based on cleanliness of the restaurant, friendly, focused, bustling service staff and fabulously, authentic looking and smelling, Mexican American cuisine .Personally, I was convinced I was going to try this place as soon as I got over the parking issue, that I'm certain, they must wish they could improve, more than I do.Thanks, for your time. G. P. C.Parking: Parking area, is very small and is not laid out very well. Available spaces are mostly obscured from view, until you actually enter the lot, which is too small to turn around in, leaving you no choice, but to back out, which is difficult as the entrance is right next to a very busy main mall entrance, with fast moving vehicles, you can't see coming, making right turns past the entrance and visibility, heading out backwards, is exponentially worse than entering the lot! In short, parking is a nightmare, full of inherrant danger and, at least, is frustrating, irritating and maddening! If you go, which is worth doing, just plan on using mall parking as close as you can get to the restaurant! Believe me, in a torrential downpour, it would be much less maddening!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Nice place to meet and eat three times this week ??Parking: Parking so times not available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor, Sope
My family and I go to Mexico twice a year and we LOVE the food. El Rinconsito is fabulous and it's about as authentic as you could get!! Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We have come here numerous time and ask for no pions due to allergy restrictions and they don’t seem to care. They didn’t apologize for putting onions and all they did was joke about it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Tacos Al Pastor
We were looking for delicious tacos and weren't disappointed. We tried birria, al Pastor, Carnitas, Carne asada. Flavorful meat and delicious salsas and pickled veggies on the salsa bar. The restaurant was clean and we had efficient and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada Tacos, Tacos Al Pastor
Best Mexican food in federal way!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Let me tell you that Ive been in the look out for actual "Tacos al Pastor" for almost 15 years! (Being the other one in Seattle) I know how an authentic al pastor taco taste like, and these are the-bomb!!! Highly recommend any "al pastor" or birria items in the menu! I'm planning to visit every time I'm in the area, so I'll be updating this review. Service is prompt and efficient, the servers are friendly and attentive; regarding the ambiance is what you'd expect on any Mexican restaurant. One thing to take in mind if you visit during winter is that there's glass windows all around that make it a little cold so definitely you'll still need you jacket! 100% recommend from a Mexican native !
Great service!! Great food and clean tables ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carne Asada Tacos, Tacos Al Pastor