El Jacalito — Restaurant in Mill Creek

The food and drinks here were really good. They make homemade tortillas, which is rare and valuable! There are quite a few menu options to choose from as well. So I don't regret eating here.

But I wanted to warn other diners that eating in the restaurant is a kind of strange experience as of May 2023. When we walked in, it was kind of shockingly shambolic-looking. I'm used to eating in casual, local, somewhat dive-y places but this was another level. The booth seats were all completely worn through and most of the tables and chairs were pushed into a corner. It was like there were too many tables and chairs and they just shoved them in the corner, which made it so only a few tables were use-able. Oddly, all the booth seats were worn out but they had plenty of decent chairs they could have used, but none were in use (they were in the corner with the rest of the furniture). I wondered if they were remodeling but there was no indication that was the case. I almost wanted to leave, but I did a quick check and everything seemed very clean, so we stayed. The tabletops and floors were both very clean.

Another strange area was the service. We were given a menu to order from but later we noticed there was a totally different menu board hanging up behind the counter with different options that weren't on the menu we were given. The server, who was fairly young, was kind of brusque at first but then she got friendly later after we ate, and told me it was a family owned business. But when she brought silverware and napkins, she only brought silverware for me. My husband said something to me after she left, so I asked her for silverware and she said he didn't need it! LOL! (He had ordered birria tacos but no sides.) She only brought it when I insisted and I felt a slight attitude about it like she thought I was being a Karen. I've literally never had that happen in a restaurant.

That having been said, overall the service was prompt and we had no trouble getting anything else we needed. So maybe she is still learning to work in her family's business. I would definitely eat their food again. I'm not sure I would eat in the restaurant again, though, because it was kind of an odd experience. I would probably do takeout next time, and make sure to look at both menus! LOL! So it's kind of hard to choose how many stars to put on this review, but I just split the difference and did...

Lovely family owned spot. Very thankful, welcoming, and friendly owners. Great energy. Nice that they have regular tacos and big tacos, though we opted for only the big ones because we had an appetite. Support local!

You get started with chips and salsa on the house. I loved the chips, amazing crispiness and crunch. Would not be surprised if they're made in house. Salsa was fine, though the highlight for me were the chips.

Birria comes with four tortillas. Originally thought it was a birria taco but it's the stew version with tortillas on the side.

I ordered one of every meat to try and see what I liked most because in the past I've had very chewy asada that pained my jaw to chew and have been afraid of committing to asada since. The tortillas were nothing special, though I think they are also made in house. They held up well for the tacos and presented no issues. I wish they would add a little grease or sauce from the meat to add a bit of flavor.

Pollo - a little dry, also not that much chicken. Least favorite by far.

Asada - pretty good steak that's sliced in small cubes, not overly chewy. My fourth favorite meat but it was definitely still good.

Chorizo - I honestly wasn't sure if I had a chorizo taco as it wasn't obvious. The appearance was obvious, but taste wise I almost thought it was a different way of preparing al pastor for whatever reason because they tasted very similar. Because of this, I give chorizo my third favorite.

Al pastor - fatty and grilled perfect. Best meat here by far, usually the best at other taco spots anyways. There was a lovely tangy flavor that I would likely attribute to pineapple.

Carnitas - amazing, fatty, and a big portion of meat. Second...

Absolutely the best tacos and freshest ingredients around! If you want real authentic Mexican food, this is the place. Just look at my burrito I got today--it was ridiculously good. I'm always looking for new places and I work nearby. So when I discovered they recently opened and make their own tortillas (usually a sign of a good place), I had to try it! This is my 4th or 5th time back for more. 1st time my whole office ordered a ton of their tacos of all different varieties with their delicious handmade tortillas, and sides of course. OM Gosh, we were hooked! We've had their tacos, tamales, enchiladas, and burritos, and all have hit it out of the park with perfectly balanced flavors. They're fast with their take-out orders too. My burrito al pastor today (pictured) was ready in 10 minutes. After the first bite I literally could not stop until I was done. I wish I could have saved half for dinner since it was probably enough for both lunch and dinner. Perhaps I'll have more willpower next time... I also got their new special jello that was delicious. When I was there I saw them making authentic chocoflan. I really want to get that next time as a treat for my family for a...