[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified Burien resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff. The news article referenced in this letter was based on information released by the Burien Police Department/King County Sheriff’s Office, and can be read here.]
Dear Editor at Burien Blog,
We are aware of the recent article mentioning El Pique Peruvian & Mexican Restaurant in connection with an incident that occurred in the parking lot.
El Pique is a hardworking, family-run restaurant with no connection whatsoever to the individual arrested. We do not tolerate any illegal activity on or near our premises. For years, our team has proudly welcomed families and neighbors from across Burien, treating every guest with dignity and respect.
We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and support the prosecution of the suspect to the fullest extent of the law. At the same time, we have already taken additional measures to further protect our customers, employees, and neighbors—expanding security cameras, improving lighting, enhancing staff training, and enforcing a strict no-loitering policy.
Our family is deeply committed to this community. We love Burien, and we want to continue serving as a safe, welcoming place for everyone. We welcome regular police patrols and will keep working closely with city and county partners to help keep our streets safe.
While many in our region face challenges such as addiction and homelessness, we believe the solution requires compassion, accountability, and collaboration from all of us—businesses, residents, service providers, and law enforcement alike.
We have worked too hard to build our reputation to allow anyone’s criminal behavior to cast a shadow over our business or our community. We ask readers not to conflate the actions of one individual with the values of our family or our restaurant.
With respect,
Eugenio Vallejos & Adita Villalobos
Owner/Manager, El Pique Peruvian & Mexican Restaurant
14445 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien, WA
206-243-8260
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I drive by El Pique at night quite often. This letter seems a little desperate. I was coming home from work early Sunday morning and at 2am people were arrive to go into El Pique. Other times close to 3am I see people stumbling out quite drunk. Far after legal closing time. There have been shootings there almost every year since they opened including what can only be called an intentional murder of someone in their parking lot.
El Pique, Thank you for this letter, though we have never eaten at your establishment (yet) we have always thought it would be a tasty place to eat. WAIT we have one time, when you had the charcoal chicken in the parking lot. Again, thank you for the letter and remember everyone, this November’s election who you vote for we need to keep moving forward in a good direction and not going Moore, Mendez, Rocco, Garcia in the backwards direction.
They have no idea of what’s going on in their restaurant/nightclub and it’s been going on for years? Maybe have better lighting and cameras after someone was murdered in your parking lot not just now when you’re getting bad press. This letter is so desperate and hides from the truth. The previous article only report what the police is telling the author that the drug trafficker was selling in their restaurant. Why even let this letter be publish when there was nothing incorrect about the article?