My wife and I went to Oaxaca for the first time tonight. We've been meaning to for some time, but the infamous crowds kept us away. This time, we arrived five minutes before opening (on a Wednesday night) and got in line. Twelve minutes after the doors opened we were packed in with about fifty other diners. The restaurant was simply buzzing with energy -- wait staff flying around the room, patrons excitedly talking and dining. It's surprising that the crowd -- off-putting in most circumstances -- is a big part of what makes Oaxaca such a fun place.
For dinner we shared four items. Our friend, Karen, noted the plates were small enough to order family-style (and I'm glad we did). Our favorite was the house specialty: Mole Negro Oaxaqueno. Our other dishes (fish tacos, pork chile rellenos, and shrimp tostadas) were nearly as spectacular. Flavorful, bright, and fresh. We also liked the salsa bar, which complimented our fresh chips and guacamole quite nicely.
It's rare for any restaurant to be worth a long wait, and it's equally rare to live up to years of hype, But Oaxaca turned out to be every bit as good as we'd heard it would be -- and we'll be waiting in line to do it again soon!
★★★★★Â
5431 Ballard Ave NWÂ
Seattle, WAÂ 98107Â
(206) 782-8722Â