For some reason, Mexican food sounded good on our first night in Port Angles. Jan, our innkeeper, recommended the Kokopelli Grill, and we were not disappointed. It is not part of the franchise of a similar name, but it has all the usual Southwest items you would expect, in addition to several daily specials.
The tri-color tortilla chips and salsa arrived almost immediately. I enjoyed the salsa’s strong garlic and cilantro flavors, but for my boyfriend, the spice hound, it was a letdown. I ordered the steak fajitas. The plate of food was enormous, with enough left over for another meal. I am always amazed at the logic behind the vast quantity of the filling and the paltry number of tortillas that restaurants seem to give you. The meat was tender and flavorful, the rice was well-seasoned, and the vegetables and toppings were abundant. But what I remember with the most fondness is their corn salsa. I don’t know why, but I think it was my favorite part of the meal, even though it was just a little garnish. My boyfriend has one of the daily specials, some sort of ribeye steak. Although he enjoyed it and thought it was good, he said there was nothing to make it an enjoyable steak served in a Southwest cuisine restaurant, just a good plain steak.
We were entirely too full for dessert, but they had about eight items, including fried ice cream and flan.
Overall, I was pleased with our choice of restaurants on our first night in Port Angeles. The service was attentive, and the food was nothing amazing but well-prepared and enjoyable. They do not have their own parking lot, so you have to look for something on the street. It gave us a chance to repeatedly drive along the water, but it might be more annoying if you’re doing it during the height of the tourist season.
It has been certified by the county as a 100% smoke-free establishment.