Thrillist has said, "Hosting a bevy of festive margaritas like its cucumber-honeydew variation, El Borracho takes tacos and other standard Mexican eats to the next level with options like the shredded rabbit in a
chipotle tomato stew, and braised
beef tongue taco with salsa verde."[2] In addition to the cucumber honeydew flavor, the restaurant has also served
coconut, hibiscus,
habanero,
pineapple-
jalapeño, and tamarindo margaritas.[3][4]
The restaurant has offered discounted tacos and margaritas for
happy hour,[5][6] as well as food and drink specials for
Halloween.[7][8]
Also in 2013, the Pike Place Market restaurant's sign was stolen. In response, Davidovich offered a $100 bar tab and a
limousine ride if the sign was returned "without being caught".[12]
All three El Borracho restaurants closed during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Pike Place Market location later operated via curbside patio service in 2021.[13][14] In mid 2021, all locations implemented a new entirely plant-based menu.[1]
The Ballard restaurant closed in 2022.[15][16] The business continues to operate at Pike Place Market and in
Tacoma.[17]
Reception
Christina Ausley included El Borracho for both Ballard and
Downtown in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's 2020 overview of "every Seattle neighborhood's most popular Mexican restaurant".[18] In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the newspaper's Callie Craighead included the Ballard restaurant in a "guide to Seattle's most popular Mexican restaurants for dine in, takeout, delivery".[19]