Azteca Mexican Restaurants — Restaurant in Kirkland

Oh my, I love really good food made by people who know what they are doing. Azteca is exactly the perfect place for amazing food!!! Even better still, the atmosphere and service are some of the best I've enjoyed in 3 countries!!!

This time I had the Chicken Fajitas, and as always the food was cooked perfectly. Good fajitas are an art, they many seem simple when you eat them but as a chef myself I can tell you it's all about time, temperature, and the right ingredients! Azteca gets the highest marks for that since these were perfect! The chicken was hot, properly cooked on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly seasoned for the average American. The vegetables, now there's more artwork. So many places incinerate perfectly good vegetables and call it good. Not Azteca, they strike the perfect balance between piping hot, lightly caramelized onthe outside and still firm and with a bit of snap on the inside. Again lightly seasoned for the average American, these were perfect.

Okay, let's talk atmosphere, the decor, lighting, everything is as good or better than places you'll find in South America and Mexico. It practically screams authentic in a subtle, understated and so welcoming fashion. This is more like someone's comfortable dining room than a restaurant. It's so perfect. Everything speaks to comfort, welcome, and relaxation. Which brings me to the service and the staff.

From the moment we walked in we were greeted like family, from the gentleman who remembered us from the last time and didn't need to see our proof of vaccination again (because he remembered us from a few weeks ago) and sat us promptly and happily, again, making us feel more like family than customers to the lovely and fun Estela who was more than just a server, she was more like a good friend. She was busy, it was a busy night, but she kept passing by to make sure we had everything we needed, refreshing our drinks, and making us feel like we were at home, not at a business somewhere. She, like everyone I've ever interacted with at Azteca is awesome, friendly, relaxed and casual, never making us fell rushed, instead letting us feel like we were part of the family. You cannot fake that kind of feeling, that kind of welcome, and she is awesome.

So best just you out for a good meal, or a big group, head to Azteca and relax and...

Went to Azteca Friday with a small family group. I’ll be honest, this is a large chain so the standard an expectation would likely never reach 5 stars. The food was bland and generic and high was disappointing considering I order taco al pastor. Not one hint of Pineapple which is really the twist in this dish that I love and experience everywhere else. The only additions to my plate was a wad of refried beans and some rather dry pico over cabbage 🥬 or another leafy green, no lime, no nothing. My Gf and I both got margaritas that they called magnums, which was basically a goblet with the same room of a normal glass. I got the house, tasted fine but my GF had the blood orange that tasted of straight juice and no hint of tequila. When the waitress asked how everything was my GF did point that out and the response was “ok”. Lastly I’ll add my GF ls sister and BF specifically ordered a dish to be split between them but if they could portion it for them, but they got what looked like two entrees which they were worried would comeback to haunt them at the time of the bill. They were right, two were charged and it was quite the hassle to get it all sorted out. Ultimately it was appreciated the the waitress mistakenly entered the order wrong and the manager came out and cleaned up the mess but also left my GF sister upset because of a condescending comment that manager made. He had the nerve to say “ok, so we have only charged you for one meal but you got two” she was nice enough to still tip. The experience here was really just chalked down to bad luck and poor execution, I don’t believe it’s a reflection on the restaurant per se, I just think we...

*January 2025 - Still the best restaurant And staff in Kirkland!! 8 months later and we still love this place!! Only now, it’s completely prepped for post COVID-19 dinning and taking every precaution to keep customers and staff safe and healthy—all while maintaining the same level of delicious food and wonderful service. Carry out is so quick and easy on their website too! Thank you Azteca Totem Lake!! 6-18-2020

I LOVE this location!! Best place to dine in, on the Eastside! They’re the Starbucks of local Mexican joints, always on point. Their staff is the kindest and friendliest out of any where I have ever eaten. We consider ourselves regulars so to us they are like family. Your food always arrives so fast it seems impossible. Unlike some other local places, they have no problem substituting menu items for your food restrictions or preferences—I do not eat cilantro and my food is always perfect. Everyone works as a team to be fast and efficient, no one wants you to be hungry or thirsty for longer than necessary and I can’t say that about any other place. Their hours are great because my husband works graveyard and they’re open early/close late. I literally love this place and their people. Any negative reviews seem shocking to me, my husband and I eat here once a week (sometimes more lol) and I’ve only heard one negative review about food in over 5 years and it was about fajitas (I hate fajitas but they always smell delicious at Azteca). Sign up for their coupons with your phone number, it took us four years to realize this but you get a surprise after 9 visits! We love you...