Senor Moose

Recommended by:   Reader who recommended after reading our Varsity Inn post about secret Mexican breakfasts.

Description on the Senor Moose website:   Our love for Mexican food began nearly 30 years ago. As we traveled deeper into Mexico, we quickly discovered it’s heart. The food.At Señor Moose, we celebrate comida tipica, the cooking found in central plateau Mexico’s fondas and backroom kitchens. From moment one I have written down recipes, watched and made notes as I have talked to women in fondas (small homey restaurants) road side places, houses and markets, most often in the states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Nayarit as well as in Mexico City. We have been fortunate to have had wonderful creative women helping me in the house who cooked with what there was that day, what was interesting at the market, food they prepared for their families from memory, recipes from mothers, grandmothers and aunts—and a few of my favorite men as well. We took notes as they cooked, or as we cooked together. The food at Señor Moose is a result of those jottings. Not to mention a stunning effort from our amazing staff. We try to stay true to real FONDA food, food that tastes as much like it does in Mexico as possible.

Neighborhood/Type:  Ballard

Address:  5242 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107

What we ate/drank:   MACHACA CON PAPAS  – Hash made with shredded beef, potatoes, and onion cooked together and topped with two eggs. Served with tortillas and refried beans and  tortillas. CARNE DE PUERCO EN CHILE VERDE – Tender pork simmered in tomatillo sauce, served with refried beans and tortillas.  Horchata Latte, Hot Chocolate

Comments:   Not taking into account taco trucks, because you know we love us some taco trucks, but in our opinion there are really three tiers of Mexican restaurants in Seattle.

• The fancy modernish ones like Barrio, Mezcaleria Oaxaca, Chavez(RIP), Fogon Cocina Mexicana, Poquitos
• The mid-tier ones like D’La Santa, La Carta de Oaxaca, El Quetzal, Casco Antiguo, El Borracho, 418 Public House(RIP)
• The hole-in-the-wall cheaper ones like La Conasupo, Mendoza’s Mercado, Taco Chukis, Gorditos

We believe Senor Moose is in the mid-tier and is the best Mexican restaurant in this category.

I’ve been to a Senor Frog’s, Senor Iguanas, Senor Bear. So whenever I hear the word “senor”+ an animal name,  I don’t really have high expectations. The restaurants are typically American versions of Mexican food that specialize in happy hours and flowing tequila, but lacking in food quality.  We have an exception here in Seattle. Don’t let the name fool you.  To say that Senor Moose has some of the best Mexican breakfasts in Seattle is not an accurate statement. To say Senor Moose has some of thee best breakfasts in Seattle is a more appropriate statement.

Our understanding is that the owner lived in Mexico for 20 years and upon her return to the US opened Senor Moose having accumulated recipes over those years and now the restaurant is run by her daughter.  Senor Moose was opened in 2004. For some reason in my head, it seems to have been around longer, but one thing is for certain, as long as I can remember there has always been wait times to get a table due to its popularity. If it’s a weekend and brunch time, forget it. Dinner time, forget it.  Our time to go if we can is normally weekday mornings, which is rare. We typically go to Senor Moose either before or after doctor appointments to Swedish Hospital down the street.  After our latest visit to Senor Moose, we were reminded of how good the food is and how infrequently we come here. For us Senor Moose is the perfect candidate for a delivery service via Caviar, Bite Squad or Uber Eats. We can still enjoy the food, but won’t have to deal with waiting especially with an infant and a toddler.  Although we rarely use these services, I think we’ll need to for Senor Moose.  We’ve only been here for dinner once, but have been to many breakfasts.

Senor Moose’s location is in an old house over 120 years old. They open every day at 8:00am, where most places only serve breakfast on the weekends. The space is filled with Mexican folk art, gorgeous photos for sale and colorful décor from the pink and red walls with blue trim to the green bar wall to the bright blue floral pattern on the dining counter.  Senor Moose is divided into 3 sections. The first section is counter seating, diner style, when you first walk in the door. The second area is the main dining area to the right with individual tables that probably seats 25 people. The last section is the bar in the back.

Senor Moose is known for their chips, but be careful that you don’t ruin your appetite before your main dishes come out.  We started off the day with a hot chocolate and a horchata latte. I don’t normally drink sweet coffee drinks, but it’s not often you see horchata lattes in Seattle and I figured if they do food so well, the latte will most likely be good too. It is a bit on the sweet side for me, but my wife who doesn’t normally drink much coffee, loved it.  On this particular occasion we had the Machaca Con Papas and the Carne De Puerco En Chile Verde.  The Machaca Con Papas is shredded beef, potatos and onions cooked together. You also get two eggs. I think most people get it scrambled, but I like to get my eggs over easy so I can mix the yoke with the rest of the dish. Sooo good.  As much as I loved the Machaca Con Papas, the Carne De Puerco En Chile Verde is my new current favorite.  Look at the picture below. They are not chintzy with the pork.  Also, sometimes I find tomatillo sauce to be a bit sour for my liking, but Senor Moose’s is tasty with a hint of sourness, but not too much.

Machaca Con Papas-Hash made with shredded beef, potatoes, and onion cooked together
and topped with two over easy eggs

The portions are massive. I happened to finish mine, but didn’t need a lunch and actually had a late dinner that day, because I was so full.  My wife ate about 1/3 of her portion and boxed up the rest. Our server was nice enough to give her extra tortillas to take out and transferred her hot chocolate to a to-go cup before we left.  Both dishes were superb, but Senor Moose has a selection of so many dishes it’s difficult to have a “favorite” and order the same thing over and over again like I do for so many other restaurants. I tend to order something different every time I come to Senor Moose.

Because the portions are massive and you can basically split one dish into two or even three meals, the bang for the buck is definitely there.  I’d probably wouldn’t take a visitor who wants to go to the most trendy hip place to Senor Moose. I would take somebody who has a great appreciation for tasty authentic Mexican food first and foremost, who doesn’t care seeing and being seen at new hip place. For example, my parents who have lived almost their entire lives in Los Angeles and love Mexican food would love Senor Moose.

Ratings:

Atmosphere: 4.75

Service: 5

Food/Drinks: 5

Bang for the Buck: 4.75

Overall:  4.85

Locals Only Factor: “Locals Only” grading-We’ll assign a grading as to how “local” a place is.

• • Well known or Touristy. Most locals don’t go there unless they have business dinners or visitors in town.
  • Most locals know about it
  • Locals “in the know” know about it
  • Only those who live close by know about it.
  • You’re in on the secret. Don’t tell anybody!

Eavesdropping Convos: None

Servers recommendations to visit in the future: None when we visited Senor Moose, but as mentioned above we thought Senor Moose was the best Mexican restaurant in Seattle for the mid-tier price level and probably the best overall Mexican restaurant in Seattle.  A reader suggested that we try D’La Santa Mexican Cuisine & Grill and promised we would be impressed.

Related Articles:

• Varsity Inn –  The Diner With The Secret Mexican Menu
• Battle of The North Seattle Taco Trucks
• D’La Santa
• Our Top 15 Best Seattle Dishes of 2018 (Part 1)