EVERETT — Yep, the storefront is nothing fancy.
But inside Ade’s Mexican Deli on Evergreen Way, the food is beautiful.
The tourism website onlyinyourstate.com early this week listed 12 Washington restaurants that “don’t look like much, but, WOW, they’re good.”
As the website author said, “We’ve all heard to not judge a book by its cover, but we’ve all done it anyway until someone tells us that the inside’s a hidden treasure. Same goes with restaurants.” The site gave Ade’s Mexican Deli high marks for its torta sandwiches.
Whatever your taste, Ade’s offers about as authentic a Mexican menu as one can get in these parts. As someone said, don’t expect all-you-can-eat chips and salsa. That’s not why you should visit this deli, which has been in business for about two years.
We stopped in for lunch the other day and ate well for cheap.
Here’s what $20 (including tax) got us: A street-size chicken taco, an everything-on-it pupusa, a generous beef sope and a large chorizo burrito, plus a glass of horchata agua fresca and a soda for my husband.
The taco came with a lime section. Use it. Together, the sauce and the lime made for a perfect fresh taco taste.
After that little treat, the pupusa arrived with a cole slaw that offered a counterpoint to the thick, rich, hand-made corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans and pork. It came with its own special sauce, but each table also has available three other salsas, from mild to very spicy.
The beef sope was a good size and thick, almost like a savory tart. Covered in queso fresco and greens, it was very satisfying.
The chorizo burrito paired the Mexican sausage with beans and rice, as well as some scrambled egg. You don’t often find huevos as part of a burrito, but it’s a tasty addition, even better with a few squirts of salsa.
The jalapeno salsa, the middle choice between mild and hot, was a good balance of flavor and heat.
The $8.95 foiled-wrapped burrito, also available with chicken or pork, was plenty on its own for lunch.
The food was delivered quickly to our table on nice white and blue dishes.
The day we ate at Ade’s, the staff was busy, but the manager/cashier was friendly, helpful and took plenty of time to explain the menu. His favorite dish is the tacos dorados, which features crispy tacos.
Next time I plan to try that plate or the chile relleno. Or maybe the shrimp tacos. OK, I suppose I will go back to Ade’s many times.
The deli’s Facebook page says the store is cash only, but they do accept credit cards.
The restaurant does make meals to go and the owners plan to print a takeout menu soon.
Also coming is a liquor license to sell beer.
If you live or work near the intersection of Everett Mall Way and Evergreen Way, Ade’s is a great lunchtime choice.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
Ade’s Mexican Deli
10316 Evergreen Way, Everett, 425-353-1560, www.facebook.com/AdesMexicanDeli.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Alcohol: Has applied to sell beer.
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