La Palmera - Mill Creek, 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.