Seattle’s Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlights Storied Traditions, Bright Flavours, and Creativity

SEATTLE — Hispanic culture is an integral part of Seattle, with its vibrancy especially evident in neighborhoods like South Park, Delridge, and White Center. These areas showcase the rich customs that energise the city year-round.

Nationally observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and impact of individuals with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. While the term “Hispanic” is used in the official designation of the month, Visit Seattle also embraces and honors the diverse identities within the community, including those who may identify as “Latino,” or prefer to be referred to by their national identity.

The Hispanic and Latino cultural presence in Seattle is deeply rooted in community and multigenerational legacy. One powerful example is the story of Lucy Lopez, who moved from Cuautla, Jalisco to Seattle in 1957 and went on to open Guadalajara, one of the city’s first Mexican restaurants. Lucy’s leadership and entrepreneurial spirit helped lay the groundwork for generations of Cuautla-born restaurateurs who would follow in her footsteps, creating a rich network of family-run businesses across Seattle and King County.

That connection is formally recognised through Washington state’s sister-state relationship with Jalisco, and the sister-city partnership between Cuautla and Renton. These ties continue to thrive, fueled by cultural appreciation and the work of key community organizations like the Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (SLMCC) and El Centro de La Raza, a Latino cultural anchor based in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle since 1972.

“At the Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to uplift Latino communities and amplify the voices of small businesses that shape the cultural and economic landscape of greater Seattle,” said Marcos Wanless, founder and president of the SLMCC. “Through storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement, we proudly spotlight the incredible contributions of local Latino-owned businesses, including standouts like Jalisco Mexican Restaurant and Cielo Cocina, that continue to inspire and impact our region:

• Since 1977, Jalisco Mexican Restaurant in Lake City has been a home for tradition, flavor, and culture in the heart of Seattle. Thanks to the vision of Señor Chon and Señor Noé, this 100% Mexican-owned business has served generations with the authentic spirit of Jalisco. Their legacy lives on in every delicious plate that they serve.
• At Cielo Cocina in Bellevue, Adriana and Elda serve more than food—they serve heritage. Their family recipes from Jalisco, Mexico, tell a story of pride, perseverance, and the beauty of home. In every dish, we taste the strength of generations and the warmth of a culture that continues to shape our community.”

“We’re proud of our heritage because it reflects the resilience, wisdom, and hard work of those who came before us,” said Miguel Maestas, associate director of El Centro de la Raza. “By uplifting small businesses, like Shark Bite Ceviches, through our Business Opportunity Center’s Food Incubator Program, investing in education, and driving economic development, we’re not just building stronger families, we’re building stronger communities and a future where people thrive with dignity and pride.”

• Marcos Arellano’s path to opening Shark Bite Ceviches in Ballard in March 2025 began nearly a decade earlier. Along with a roommate from Tijuana, Marcos began co-hosting Friday night ceviche parties for friends and family, honing his recipes with feedback from his former coworkers at Eltana Bagels. Marcos realized that Seattle lacked dedicated ceviche spots and started sharing his creations for free at community soccer games and with Eltana customers, which eventually led him to El Centro de la Raza’s Food Incubator Program. Marcos launched a courtyard ceviche stand at El Centro’s Beacon Hill campus shortly thereafter and steadily built his customer base while expanding the ceviche menu from Tijuana-style shrimp to octopus, halibut, salmon, and vegan mushroom options. With guidance from El Centro on permits, licensing, and promotion, Marcos built the foundation that would carry Shark Bite Ceviches from a small stand to a full brick-and-mortar restaurant, bringing his fresh, vibrant recipes to the heart of Ballard.

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More Hispanic and Latino Owned-Businesses 

• Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen – Authentic arepas in the University District
• Birrieria Tijuana– Tijuana-style cuisine specialising in birria in Burien and Kirkland
• Bongos Cafe– Casual Caribbean cuisine in Green Lake
• BooSH Nursery– Central District plant shop
• Bottecco Brazil– Authentic Brazilian cuisine in Kirkland
• Cafetal Quilombo Cafe– Beacon Hill coffee shop and Mexican restaurant serving homemade tamales, tacos, tortas, and more
• Carmelo’s Tacos– Mexico City-style taqueria with multiple locations in Capitol Hill
• DOCE Donut Co.– Donuts inspired by Latin American flavours in Fremont, South Lake Union and Bellevue
• The Salvadoran Bakery– All-day El Salvadoran bakery and restaurant in White Center
• Jackalope– Tex-Mex cantina in Columbia City
• La Loba– Modern Barcelona cuisine from James Beard Award-nominated chef Oscar Amador located in the new 1 Hotel Seattle in South Lake Union
• Maíz– Tortilla shop (tortillería) offering light Mexican dishes with locations in Pike Place Market and Belltown
• MariPili Tapas Bar– A Galician tapas bar from James Beard Award-nominated chef Grayson Pilar with locations in Capitol Hill and First Hill (Frye Art Museum)
• Muse Lounge– All-day, Mexican-inspired restaurant and lounge in Pioneer Square with live DJ entertainment
• Ravenna Brewing Company– Handcrafted beer in Northeast Seattle with a rotating food truck schedule
• Rojos Mexican Food– Plant-based Mexican food in Pioneer Square
• Señor Carbon– Peruvian fare with a focus on Nikkei (Japanese fusion) in Pioneer Square
• Tres Lecheria– Wallingford bakery specialising in tres leches cakes, available in many different flavours and seasonal varieties

Hispanic and Latino Arts and Culture Organizations 

• Bailadores de Bronce – Mexican dance company originally founded by University of Washington students offering free weekly classes at all experience levels in Burien
• El Centro de la Raza Cultural Arts & Mural Gallery– Titled “Our History, Our Community,” the gallery showcases interpretive artworks depicting El Centro de la Raza’s storied history since 1972 of standing in solidary with numerous social justice movements
• eSe Teatro– Seattle-based Latino/a theater company that explores language, shared history and cultural roots through adaptations of classics as well as new works
• Latino Town– Weekly Saturday and Sunday street fair in White Center presenting Latin American vendors
• Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle (MÁS)– Afro-Latino community organization offering arts and educational opportunities for youth and adults in Seattle
• Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery– Multi-use and multi-cultural arts gallery grounded in the Chicana/o Latinx arts traditions in Delridge
• Salsa Con Todo (SCT)– Seattle’s hub for social partner dancing offering lessons and drop-in events across six major dance forms: Salsa, Bachata, Zouk, Tango, Swing, and Kizomba
• The Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture– Museum in South Park dedicated to sharing the Chicano/a and Latino/a experience and history through a social justice lens to cultivate pride, appreciation, and understanding of Chicano/as and Latino/as’ significant contributions in Washington state

  

Upcoming Events 

• 2025 Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias: “Unifying Our Communities”– Sept. 13-14: Throughout the two-day event at Seattle Center, attendees can enjoy delicious traditional Latin American food, live music, folk dance performances.
• MEXAM NW Festival– Sept. 15 – Oct. 15: Curated by the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, MEXAM NW is a multi-event, multi-venue festival that spotlights the vibrant tapestry of contemporary Hispanic and Mexican American culture.
• Seattle Latino Film Festival– Oct. 10-18: The Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF) was founded in 2009 by Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Pacheco, a Cuban-American international award-winning poet, film industry professional, and cultural entrepreneur. The Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF) is the only forum in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to genuine Latin American cinema.
• 20th Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration at El Centro de la Raza: “Seeds of Justice: Fighting for Dignity and Democracy,”– Saturday, Nov. 1: Celebrate a night of remembrance, community, and cultural pride through traditional ofrendas and live performances at El Centro de la Raza.
• Dia de Muertos Festival at Seattle Center– Nov. 1-2: Seattle Center Festál presents Día de Muertos Festival at the Armory Food & Event Hall featuring performances, elaborate altars, colorful face-painting, sugar skull workshops, visual art, and more.

Explore more Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses in Seattle on The Intentionalist, founded by Seattle leader and entrepreneur, Laura Clise.

Learn more about the Hispanic and Latino communities that shape Seattle on VISITSEATTLE.tv:

• SODO Motive | Angelina Villalobos
• Family Style | David Orozco
• Uncharted | Alicia Mullikin

To learn more about Seattle’s support for Hispanic and Latino communities, go to visitseattle.org.

To learn about the history of Hispanic and Latino cultural heritage in Seattle, start here.

Do you have a recommendation for how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Month in Seattle? Please submit your ideas to pr@visitseattle.org. We would love to hear from you!