La Palmera, Mill Creek

Since it served its first plate in 1991, La Palmera has proved to be one of the Seattle area's most popular Mexican eateries. They restaurant has been named a finalist for Best Mexican Food by King-5 every year since 2009, taking the top honors three times. The reason for the adoration is easy to see: La Palmera offers an extensive menu of hearty south-of-the-border fare.

Though La Palmera's cooks craft classics such as tacos, enchiladas, and burritos with ingredients such as house-made chorizo and signature marinades, there are plenty of savory specialty dishes as well. Chicken might arrive glazed in a sweet-and-spicy peanut-butter mole sauce, bacon-wrapped prawns are paired with sauteed veggies, and charcoal-fired carne asada is topped with guacamole. The fajitas are a popular choice as well, a sizzling skillet served with enough meat for two people or one grizzly bear.