A plate of camarones at La Isla in Ballard. Photo source.
If you’re a seafood lover, you’ve likely snacked on your fair share of shrimp, whether sautéed or served with cocktail sauce. But if you haven’t yet tried camarones, it’s time to expand your shrimp horizons. What exactly are camarones, you ask? While this Mexican delicacy can vary from recipe to recipe, you’ll usually find some variation of savory or spicy sautéed prawns swimming in a creamy or buttery sauce on your plate. Many renditions are gluten-free -- but as always, those with dietary restrictions should confirm ingredients and preparation practices with individual restaurant staff before digging in (for instance, some sauces may contain flour). We recommend starting by checking out these Seattle spots.
Cactus | Multiple locations
Cactus serves up savory shrimp at its five Seattle-area locations in Alki Beach, South Lake Union, Madison Park, Bellevue Square, and Kirkland. Whet your palate with a plate of Camarones D’ El Diablo, an appetizer-sized dish with crispy prawns dressed up in spicy “Diablo” sauce, coriander-pasilla verduras escabeche (spicy pickled veggies), and mango-pineapple mojo (a sweet and savory marinade). Hungry for more? The Tacos Camarones feature the same crispy prawns and spicy Diablo sauce served with ginger and mango slaw, fresh cilantro, and buttermilk crema.
Cantina de San Patricio | 1914 Post Alley | 206-443-2150
This fine Mexican dining room -- directly adjacent to Pike Place -- does its fresh camarones in a cream sauce at happy hour. Other daily options include Nopal con Camarones (prawns cooked in white wine and served with salsa and pan-seared cactus leaf) and a spicy Mexican cream sauce option made with serrano chiles and onions.
La Isla | 2320 NW Market St | 206-789-0516
La Isla’s camarones pair perfectly with your choice of four housemade sauces. Jumbo prawns are butterflied and sautéed in olive oil, white wine, and butter before plated and served with Al Ajillo (ultra-garlicy sauce), Isla De Fuego (hot habanero and jalapeño sauce), garlic and coconut sauce, or A la Criolla (creole sauce) for full-fledged smothering.
Señor Moose | 5242 Leary Ave NW | 206-784-5568
At lunch or dinner, enjoy Veracruz-style Camarones Enchipotlados (sautéed shrimp finished with a smoky chipotle cream sauce) or Jalisco-style Camarones al tequila (finished with tequila-cream sauce and a dash of chile), each served with black beans and rice. At brunch, chow down on Camarones a la Veracruzana -- shrimp sautéed with tomatoes, capers, and green olives and served with black beans.
