A sighting of El Chupacabra on Alki is expected soon – but it won’t be fodder for summoning paranormal investigators – it’ll be a reason to dine and drink. Shortly after Casa Feliz closed on the lower level of 2620 Alki Avenue SW (photo above added 4:18 pm), brown paper went up and tips came into the WSB inbox asking “what’s moving in?” This afternoon, we have the answer. We spoke with Aaron Wright, whose El Chupacabra Mexican restaurant and bar is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary on Phinney Ridge – he is hoping to open the Alki branch before that mid-March date. Read on for details:
“I’ve been wanting to expand, and I love Alki Beach,” Wright told us. “I grew up in San Diego on the beach, and it reminds me of the beach area over there. I just think it’s a great location.”
So for those who haven’t been to his El Chupacabra on Phinney Ridge, what’s the atmosphere? “Sort of a Day of the Dead theme,” he began. “A punk-rock-type atmosphere. Everything’s really inexpensive, nothing’s over 10 dollars on the menu. Mission-style burritos and tacos.”
Good news for vegetarians/vegans, too: “We have a pretty good line of veggie and vegan options; we’re using a new vegan cheese and have four different types of fake meat.”
Anything different in the works, compared to the Phinney Ridge menu (which you can see here)? “We’re going to try to do some more fish options. The kitchen in Alki is bigger, and we have a flame griller, so, grilled fish tacos, something like that.”
And a full bar. He’s not planning on live entertainment, though, in case you were wondering (we recall some past performances on the previous establishments’ patio). Wright is expecting the hours to be along the lines of daily lunch, 11:30 am, open till midnight or 2 am, “depending on the season.”
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