Golden Wheat Bakery
Golden Wheat Bakery is a business located close to home, right on E Cherry Street and 29th. They offer dine-in, delivery, and take-out services with a delicious assortment of food and drink. They have some menu options tying back to their Latinx roots, and some more common cafe foods, like breakfast sandwiches and croissants. Empanadas, tamales, pastries, coffee and tea options, and even loaves of bread fill their menu. One of the most notable being their alligator loaf, a loaf of bread baked into an alligator shape. The bread itself, as the name of the cafe promises, is golden, with a fluffy, soft, inside and a pleasingly crunchy outer crust. In other words, the loaf is freshly baked, warm, delicious, gator-shaped hug. Also noteworthy, their empanadas and tamales have a number of scrumptious fillings, available at all times of day.
Carmelo’s Tacos
This Seattle staple opened in 2018, out of Hillcrest Market on Summit Ave E and E Olive Way. Since then they have expanded to a second location on Cherry Street, about a mile west of Garfield. They offer fast service, contactless ordering, and consistent quality. They have simplified the ordering process down to three steps. Customers first choose between tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, and mulitas. The second step is fillings. Carmelo’s signature is savory Al Pastor pork with fresh pineapple, and there are 5 other mouthwatering options. Step 3 is sides, The Messenger recommends grilled jalapeños – whether one is humbled by spice or not, they’re a must – and churros.
Sunrise Tacos
Fresh, savory, breakfast tacos available for catering events, at markets, and at local coffee shops in the Seattle area, what more could you need? Not only do they have a delicious assortment of flavors, but they also provide vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Sunrise Tacos’ owner, Frankie Morales, has a long history in the food and restaurant industry, starting with owning his first business Cocina MX, a catering and food truck business, with a partner. During COVID, like most businesses, Cocina MX struggled heavily, eventually forcing Morales to lay off most of his employees and look for other options. Turning back to his old employer at Sunrise Tacos, he made the life-changing decision to purchase the business, reviving the establishment after the misfortune brought by the pandemic. Now, Sunrise Tacos is a thriving business with a vibrantly tangy, strictly homemade salsa, and fresh, made daily, tacos with locally sourced ingredients. Both Cocina MX and Sunrise Tacos are currently available for catering needs and would love to provide for your next event!
The Station
Located in North Beacon Hill, The Station is a Latinx and Black-owned coffee shop– but it’s also so much more. The Station is a cornerstone in the Beacon Hill and Seattle community. It provides a safe space for youth workers, activists, and people from many different backgrounds as well as hosts a variety of events supporting local businesses and artists of all kinds. The owners, Luis Rodriguez and Leona Moore-Rodriguez, employ LGBTQ+ and POC members from their community, creating an environment that customers describe as nothing short of home. “Providing a safe space for marginalized people who don’t always feel comfortable in typical coffee shops has definitely impacted [the] community.” Moor-Rodriguez said. She goes on to explain how “Word has spread about The Station and [its] inclusiveness, [we] get many patrons from all over Seattle and outside Seattle.” Morr-Rodriguez said. The environment isn’t the only thing attracting customers though. Regarding the food itself, the Station only keeps impressing. Featuring a wide variety of breakfast options, including breakfast sandwiches, Biscuits and Gravy, Oatmeal, and other pastries, The Station prides itself on a diverse, delicious menu. The owners themselves recommend their personal favorite and most popular drink, the Mocha Mexicano. A tasteful blend of espresso, Ibarra Mexican chocolate and milk, the drink is fit for any season, just as enticing hot or iced. A welcoming blend of cultures, foods, and people, the Station is a public favorite and a must-visit cafe next time you’re in the area.
Taqueria Sotelo
Parked by the corner of Charles and Rainier, Taqueria Sotelo is everything a food truck should be. It has one flat tire and serves so much more than just tacos. Out of one battered truck comes everything from tostadas and nachos to tamales and mulitas with breakfast and vegetarian options. A standout is their oversized tortas, which always come with a free soda. Another honorable mention are their flaky fish tacos, (pictured left). The truck is almost always open, so it’s certainly worth stopping by if you are in the area.
Graphics by Carmelos Tacos, Seán Kelleher and Tasman Nunn
