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El Encanto, Kirkland, WA

El Encanto

4.2
4.2
222 Reviews
$31 to $50
Mexican
Top Tags:
El Encanto is the latest restaurant to join Carillon Point, from the group that brought you Cantinetta and COMO. Enjoy Chef Gabriel's elevated Mexican menu featuring recipes passed down through generations. We offer two unique private dining rooms that come with their own patio, available to book via email. Expansive outdoor dining and lounges overlook Lake Washington, which will be on a first come, first served basis. Come enjoy the gorgeous PNW with us, a margarita and your new favorite Mexican dishes!

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (425) 202-7114
  • Website
    http://www.elencantousa.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Gabriel Chavez
  • Private party facilities
    For all private room/full buyout requests please email privatedining@elencantousa.com
  • Location
    1170 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033
  • Neighborhood
    Kirkland
  • Cross street
    We are located in Carillon Point off of Lake Washington Blvd. in Kirkland
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Winter Solstice Dinner

    $125.00 per person

    Dec 21, 2023 only
    Join us for our first Winter Solstice Dinner at El Encanto as we celebrate the slow ascent towards longer days and warmer weather (and a kick-off to the Christmas week!) This will feature some exception dishes by Chef Gabriel Chavez, a welcome cocktail and wine pairings. Round up a group of friends for a memorable dinner that is sure to turn into an even more memorable party. Happy solstice!

What 222 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 3.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Seattle / Eastern Washington

    Hot spot

  • Eastside

    Hot spot

  • Eastside

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Eastside

    Great for scenic views

222 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall1food3service1ambience4
    Our group was sold drinks that were $125 a glass but the waiter didn’t disclose this so we were shocked when we got our bill. We told management and instead of making any adjustments for the misunderstanding they just implied that we seemed to know what we were ordering and suggested it was our fault. Very disappointing.

    1 person found this helpful

  2. PhilipW

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    la comida súper deliciosa!! felicidades al chef por tener tan bien gusto y poder compartir los ricos sabores de sus recetas

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server was awesome! He surprised us with the best drinks, I asked him to make it strong and he did not disappoint. We were very happy with our drinks and food and service and everything was immpeccable!

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  4. digitalkara

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    Food was good, service was decent, but the restaurant was SO loud

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  5. MarshallB

    Seattle

    6 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    The food and service were great but it was extremely loud in there. Hard to hear my wife across the table from me. Would go again, for sure but I was expecting a little more of a peaceful atmosphere.

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  6. BeccaT

    Chicago

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    wonderful experience, great food super helpful staff

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  7. CouldntResist

    Seattle

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience5
    I took a couple of business partners to El Encanto after hearing good things. Overall it wasn’t bad. I certainly wasn’t embarrassed by the location choice (especially with limited options on the Eastside), but there is room for improvement to make it great Service Our server was obviously busy, though did a good job of checking in on us. However, I would have appreciated a run down of the menu and maybe a recommendation on how to order based on our group size, or even an explanation of what the focus was for each section of the menu. These are reasonably expected experience for this process point. Instead our interactions with the server were very basic - “are you ready? Do you have any questions?”. A lot of upsell was missed because of this. Ambiance The place had a good vibe and was very busy. I was a little worried as some of the restaurants at Carrillon Point serve a … specific crowd… so I was pleased to see a more trendy vibe. That said, the acoustics could probably use some work. Our table of four was almost shouting to hear one another. Price I went in expecting higher prices based on other reviews, and have to admit I was still surprised based on the actual food and overall experience. While the dishes were fine, they were not bits of culinary brilliance that deserved Canlis pricing. For context, I’ve been to Altura, Canlis, Surrell’s etc, and am willing to pay for a good meal. But I feel like this was definitely an instance where my satisfaction was maintained because my company picked up the tab. Food The food itself was fine, but I can’t say it was “good” when evaluating it next to the price. Was it the best margarita I’ve ever had in my life? No. Was it the best taco I ever had ? Also no. But I was satisfied. If this is the best Seattle/Eastside can do for “elevated Mexican”, they have a lot of work to do before they are comparable to Cosme or Oxte, where your money and your time both feel well-spent.

    2 people found this helpful

  8. cheri

    Seattle

    17 reviews

    3.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    The food was OK but expensive. The ambiance lacked warmth but the service was very attentive. At the end of the meal, they were unable to split the bill between 4 credit cards, which just seemed silly to me.

    1 person found this helpful

  9. FeChef

    Seattle

    77 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    77 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience1
    Decided to try this place out because Seattle Met named it one of the best new restaurants of 2023. For the life of me, I can't see how it could even come close to making the list. This place has exactly one thing going for it: the view. That's it. The food is ok, but EVERYTHING is tiny. Water glasses? Tiny. Margarita glasses? Tiny. Esquites? Possibly half a cup of corn for 13-bucks. Same with the queso fundido--a couple of ounces for 17 bucks. You are paying for this restaurant's lease, not their food. Oh--and one other thing: is was SO LOUD in this place that we quite literally had to yell at each other across our tiny table for two.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. KatherineL

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience5
    Loved the view, atmosphere, and service, however, the food was not good yet super expensive. The price tag was not worth it. I really hope this place works on the food because I would love to come back!

    1 person found this helpful

  11. Stefan

    Seattle

    32 reviews

    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our first visit, and a very pleasant surprise. We enjoyed upscale, creative and yummy Mexican food and impeccable service. The lively atmosphere is very different from before, so is the audience. A very successful turnaround! Congrats to the team, and a big thank you to Hector who made us feel very special. Can't wait to go back.

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  12. Kaiiiii

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience4
    Food was dried and not enough food items on the menu to choose from.

    1 person found this helpful

  13. French75

    San Francisco

    14 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience5
    The menu was complicated for us and we needed assistance from our wait person to translate the items. Clearer definitions would be helpful. The squash blossom quesidilla was so-so. The rib burrito was awesome. We see the appeal but would not warrant a return visit for us.

    1 person found this helpful

  14. DianaD

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had an amazing time celebrating a birthday. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. Our table was ready and waiting for us! The food was delicious! The portions were generous and some were shareable. The ambience was wonderful, we had a great view of Lake Washington!

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Here for Seattle restaurant Week and it was well worth it and we’ll be back for the full menu experience

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  16. Tutu

    Seattle

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience3
    We had a very expensive mediocre dinner in an environment that prevented conversation. Food was very salty and overpriced. We’ve been wanting to eat here for some time. Now we have and we don’t need to go back.

    1 person found this helpful

  17. AL01

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing ambience, delectable good and attentive service. Highly recommend!

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  18. SimoneN

    San Antonio

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Estoy Encantado! Authentic and delicious food and drink!

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  19. AliOoops

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 25, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience4
    We had a very good waiter. He was quick, funny, and attentive -- even though it was restaurant week. The menu looks great, interesting. Everything we had was too salty, except the guac. The margaritas were very good. In the summertime, the patio is lovely. In wintertime, it's still pleasant inside. Super sad everything was so salty --- could barely taste anything else.

    1 person found this helpful

  20. Pamela25

    Seattle

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 23, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Appetizers were very disappointing for how expensive they were. Would not even order them if they were free. Will never get an appetizer there again. The ribeye was great minus the sides. The adobo chicken was good again minus the sides. Will not go there for dinner ever again. Great place for cocktails on the patio during summer.

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waiter was the best. He projected a very high standard of customer service keeping it fun and very knowledgeable on the menu And we were very impressed. Super friendly , well presented , and wil be back 👌👌 We’ve booked for New Year’s Eve dinner because of your service and food. The location and the vibe of your restaurant is amazing Thank you .

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  22. RLTEastside

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall3food2service2ambience2
    Some of the most uncomfortable chairs I've ever sat in--my guest required a pillow just to sit in it without significant discomfort on the back. with nearly 100% hard surfaces, it is very noisy--and not in an "energetic" good way, just hard to hear. Food portions were very small, but good.

    2 people found this helpful

  23. sjidiner

    Phoenix

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience4
    Solid 3 stars, priced like a 4+ star. We arrived on time for our reservation and were told a table was almost ready. 10 minutes later the host tried to seat us at a table (that had been open the whole time) in the bar when we had specifically booked a main dining room table. After we asked about being sat there, we had to wait another 10 minutes for the lovely dining room table. Not the best start but oh well. Took another 10+ minutes for anyone to come to the table and take the order. Food came out incredibly fast considering. Appetizers were excellent. Tacos were dry. Dessert was underwhelming for the price ($16 churros). All in all, I would go here for drinks and apps but not worth the $150 for a 2 person dinner with no alcoholic drinks…

    2 people found this helpful

  24. JannaT

    Seattle

    5 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience3
    Service was super slow, food was bland and overpriced for the small portions.

    1 person found this helpful

  25. Mandy

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 18, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Good food, great location. Good for occasions. A little on the pricy side, moderate value for the money you spend.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    The food was good but wasn’t entirely worth the price in my opinion. Drinks were very good though. Beer was served room temp but the mixed drinks were good.

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience4
    We went to El Encanto to celebrate our friend’s birthday. The food was ok and our server was nice. However, we were extremely unhappy and unsatisfied with the attitude of the restaurant’s manager. First of all, when she noticed she brought the wrong food, she just took the food away. She did not apologize or acknowledge she brought the wrong food. That was rude. Second, we were charged a $35 cake fee (aside from the 20% gratuity). When we brought the cake in the restaurant, the hostess offered to store/refrigerate the cake. However, no one told us that there will be a cake fee. We questioned the cake fee and our server was nice enough to check with the manager to see if the fee can be waived. The manager refused to waive the fee and stated that we chose to eat our own cake instead of ordering “their dessert”. Excuse me, we did asked for the dessert menu but no one brought it to us. Also, is there a rule that the customer must order the restaurant’s dessert after the meal??? Besides that, the manager did not bothered to come to our table to explain the cake fee. Instead she sent the server back saying that the fee can not be waived. That was extremely rude and unprofessional. We were fine with the gratuity but the cake fee was absolutely ridiculous. We chose El Encanto to celebrate a special occasion but the experience was disappointing. We have to say we are not sure if we will ever return to El Encanto for lunch or dinner.

    2 people found this helpful

  28. Travelerswife

    Seattle

    47 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything about this restaurant was great. The service and food were outstanding. We will return to this restaurant to enjoy more:)

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  29. BrandonMichael9264

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience and lovely food!! I’ll be back again

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  30. WhitK

    Los Angeles

    19 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on October 6, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    The food was absolutely delicious. Although our server was lovely, his section was huge and it took 40 minutes to get our cocktails (we were forgotten). Ambiance was fabulous, would give it another shot!

    1 person found this helpful

  31. Dino

    Charlotte

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    it took a while for us to be seated, but apart from that very nice staff, food was amazing, beautiful inside and out

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  32. JennyP

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a picturesque anniversary dinner. The service was stellar, food was delicious and atmosphere was so romantic and comfortable. Definitely a night to remember. We will return!

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  33. JulieT

    Dallas

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Love the ambience. Mojitos were great. Margaritas tasty but overpriced for the amount. Food was good but somewhat limited menu

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  34. JeffE

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Beautiful location and interior and great Mexican breakfast. T

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  35. JanN

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    We had a really nice dinner at El Encanto. I loved their POLLO ADOBADO AL CARBON. It was perfectly seasoned and very juicy.

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  36. KarliS

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall2food1service4ambience4
    Would not recommend to anyone, overpriced and not good.

    1 person found this helpful

  37. AnonImus

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waitperson was Hugo -- excellent service. Food was excellent. We dined on outdoor terrace -- very nice. All sauces, guacamole, etc made fresh, on the premises using fresh ingredients -- very fresh and high quality. Nothing was greasy or dripping with oil. Cuisine: predominantly Durango, frontera, but seafood on menu, also. None of my dishes were spicy. From Appetizers thru to main dishes , all well-prepared w/ attractive & sophisticated presentation (and delicious) ; excellent wines, great mezcal Palomas. Only letdown: dessert churros (plain churros w/ some caramel sauce on top) : overcooked/dark and small diameter w/ barely visible extrusion shape -- looked like dark sticks. Maybe that's how they make them in Durango! The restaurant interior is beautiful. The Carillon premises appears to prohibit restaurants from posting visible directional signage for visitors/guests, as well as no info on any of the glitzy computerized touch-guide signage -- obnoxious. You're on your own to find the place. It's infuriating that Carillon mgmt could be so short-sighted and stupid. They created a beautiful setting w/ zero signage permitted to guide customers who want to spend lots of money there. After a lot of walking around, it was blind luck I spotted it. There's no signage or guidance in the Basement parking garage, either. The restaurant is fantastic and we're going to return, for sure.

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  38. Bill

    Seattle

    7 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    Noise level was beyond "energetic" too loud or uncomfortable would be more like it. Cactus is better and Pear is way better

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  39. Lovetravel

    Seattle

    37 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    The food at El Encanto was really great and the view and general vibe was outstanding. It was pricier than most Mexican food establishments for the amount they gave you but the quality was definitely there. Would have liked the tacos to come with rice, would have liked a basket of chips with my small portion of guacamole for $15 rather than one big round crisp tortilla that you break up yourself. But again, the food was really tasty and loved the outdoor seating and ambience so we'll probably return!

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  40. TomG

    Chicago

    59 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    Our food was amazing! The guacamole was excellent! To my happy surprise everything was seasoned perfectly!

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FAQs

El Encanto is rated 4.2 stars by 222 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for El Encanto

1170 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    We are located in Carillon Point off of Lake Washington Blvd. in Kirkland
  • Neighborhood
    Kirkland
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Gabriel Chavez
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.elencantousa.com/
  • Phone number
    (425) 202-7114
  • Private party facilities
    For all private room/full buyout requests please email privatedining@elencantousa.com
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