OUR STORY

At Poquitos we strive to present delicious Mexican cuisine prepared with ingredients that are the best of both worlds—outstanding local sourcing for our meats and produce; unique and direct sourcing for items essential to honoring the culinary traditions of Mexico. Our menu features fresh guacamole, seasonal margaritas, pork carnitas, coastal ceviche, and much more.

Our inspiration for the name? Our sign that currently resides outside Poquitos Seattle! The original neon sign was salvaged in South Seattle and originally hung outside of a Mexican restaurant on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle through the early 80’s. The proprietor, pictured on the sign, was known for strolling through the restaurant, serenading his guests and playing guitar as he went.

Owners James Weimann and Deming Maclise began collecting light fixtures and other design elements for Poquitos prior to the opening in 2011. Keeping the Spanish colonial influence on Mexican design in mind, they traveled to Puebla and Mexico City in search of additional pieces for Poquitos interior, not the least of which were the over 15,000 handmade Talavera tiles that line the walls and kitchen. With an eye for composition and lighting, James and Deming brought together the collection of fixtures, metal and wood work, tile, and original construction to create a truly unique space in Seattle.

Weimann and Maclise are dedicated to serving authentic Mexican food at Poquitos—while traveling, they were inspired by the variety of culinary influences found in each town and city’s street food and restaurants and decided not to limit the food to a specific region but to encompass influences found throughout Mexico and Latin America. They brought on chef Manny Arce to execute this concept. Arce, a native of Southern California, is well-versed in Mexican cuisine and completed culinary internships in both Spain and Italy before coming to Seattle. He’s spent time in the kitchen at Union and La Spiga and most recently with chef Shannon Galusha at Bastille.