After an absolutely terrible experience at the brewery next door we came over here so I could actually eat something and I am so glad we did. The Taco was PHENOMENAL and the Rice was very very good quality compared to other restaurants I've been to. The House Margarita was nostalgic and amazing. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming, and even though FIFA was going on, the ambiance was welcoming and fun instead of overwhelming. There is NO reason that this place should have less than a 5 star rating. I will be recommending this place heavily. Thank you La Palapa!! read more

La Palapa - Shredded Beef Taco & Rice - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

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Large place in downtown PO. One side has the bar with high tables and the other a smaller section for seating. The waitress was welcoming, cleaning behind the bar since there was no one when we came in (pre-dinner on a weekday). We got the traditional chips and salsa, but here they also include refried beans. All were good, the salsa was bland and could have used some jalapeños. Menu is your classic Mexican food, we ordered the Carne Asada Fries (app) and the 3 protein fajitas. The meat was seasoned and the fries (extra seasoning) had a seasoning salt. The cheese was real, not nacho cheese and the fries were crunchy. I wish there would have been more meat, as the size was small pieces and not a lot of it to be carne asada fries. The fajitas were the best part, from the cook to the seasoning. We asked for flour and corn, not sure if we paid for the extra tortillas. The 2 dishes came out just under $60, so the pricing is a little high but still worth the visit. Not sure what health department issues they need to fix with an OKAY rating. This is probably the better Mexican food stops in PO. Solid 3.5 stars that I am rounding up. read more

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This $20 burrito was absolutely awful..They need this item off the menu. Its literally just fries.. I tried eating past them thinking there might be different ingredients.. Nope! This will make a customer never return and tell others never to come here. I don't want disparage the entire restaurant off of one item but I probably won't try this place again. I feel obligated to warn others you might want to spend your hard earned money elsewhere. read more

La Palapa - California Burrito California / California Style Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

Stopped by the beach and stumbled upon La Palapa! From the first bite of their delicious salsa, I knew I was in for a treat. I ordered the combination plate, which included a taco, enchilada, and tostada. Each item was bursting with incredible flavors. The staff was kind and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. I'll definitely be back! read more

La Palapa - Combination! - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

The service has always been quick and friendly. It's my second time there and I get the mango margarita and it hits the spot every time! The complimentary chips salsa and bean dip brings up my appetite and mood. The shredded beef on the taquito is tongue for and ask for habanero hot sauce, house made, you won't regret it! Although it is very hot but delicious! The California burrito will fill you up that you might wanna eat less chips and salsa. Will be back to try other foods. read more

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I grew up in S. California and this place has the exact authentic feel the food had the same taste- yum! Service was great too!

A cute, clean & cozy restaurant with great food. Small but well attended bar, perfect to watch any sports event. Waitresses gave excellent food choosing advice & service. Definitely going back read more

We came for the Tamarin Margaritas, and ur was yummy!! The chips a salsa were also great! read more

This place was great! We stopped in with our two toddlers on a Tuesday for lunch. The service was great, friendly and was patient with my 4 year old when he asked for just whipped cream to eat. Haha. Food was so so good! read more

La Palapa - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

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Drove past this restaurant for a years without ever thinking to stop but I'm glad I finally did! Small town restaurant with authentic Mexican food and an assortment of drinks. The cooks are adept and timely with their craft and the pretty server was very welcoming and attentive. Anyone looking for authentic Mexican food with an authentic Mexican decor and ambiance should definitely stop by. read more

The food isn't bad but it just lacks seasoning, I've gotten tacos, quesadillas, etc. and you get a lot of food for your money but the food lacks flavor and seasoning. We ate there twice to make sure we gave it a chance. read more

La Palapa - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

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I was traveling and i went to la palapa for 3 grilled chicken tacos. Let me just say that this was one of the worst meals i have ever had in my life. The chicken was undercooked and was terribly seasoned. i also ordered the rice and beans and i asked for no cheese but they still put cheese on. They took it off but the beans were almost inedible and incredibly acidic. The rice was stale and horrid. The waitress rushed us out and i felt attacked with a wave of hostility. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

The waitress only showed up to take out order and drop it off. Would be nice to have a refill on my ice tea. Food was very bland - and sour cream and/or guacamole is extra - even with a full meal. Was not a fan read more

Great authentic food! The ingredients are always fresh and the people are always friendly!

This food we had was probably our least favorite of the four different restaurants we ate at during our stay in Port Orchard. My friend and I love Mexican, but this just didn't hit the spot right. The food for the price was decent, but the meal as a whole lacked a bit of flavor. The retried beans tasted like mush, Mexican rice was a little oily than usual. Overall a lot blander than other Mexican places that I have been to. I think I expected much from this restaurant because it had such good ratings, but it has not met my expectations unfortunately. read more

La Palapa - Fajita with Steak, Taco - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

Portions were a good value for the money, and the service was quick but not intrusive. It's not a fancy place by any means, but it's good food and the daily specials are a nice surprise from the usual Mexican fare. read more

Really enjoyed my meal at La Palapa. Friendly and efficient service. They served chips and salsa like most Mexican restaurants but as an added bonus they also provided a small bowl of refried beans. Very tasty. To drink I ordered agua Jamaica (made from hibiscus) and it was good and refreshing. The fish tacos were very good, too. Definitely recommended! read more

While we were in the area we figured we'd stop by and get some food. Service was really slow... we were told we can't get a bean dip because they we're almost out of beans but the table right next to us gets some? Ordered grilled chicken tacos Al carbon, it was shredded chicken. Ordered a 3 item combo with a burrito with shredded chicken, carne asada chimichanga, and a picadillo enchilada. The burrito had no sauce or anything on top, just tortilla and meat. The chimichanga came out shredded chicken, and the enchilada barely had meat in it. Once again.... Service is really slow. Like so slow I decided to write this and I actually typed it before they gave us our check. read more

Swift service and delicious food! I tried a bit of everything and the grilled chicken was delicious. Exactly what I was looking for with Mexican food. We ate in and the margaritas were great. They also took care to refill chips and salsa promptly. read more

La Palapa - 3 combo plate with chimichanga, tamale, and enchilada. - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

Oredered the tacos AL carbon with shredded chicken. The chicken in the tacos tasted like chicken left over from the previous day. Was extremely dry and chewy almost like jerky. The beans on the side were super dry and cracking as if they were yesterdays beans, the rice was ok. We Also ordered the chicken taquito plate. Same results. Chicken jerky deep fried in tortillas! Beans dry and cracking, rice ok. Also ordered a Cadillac margarita. Was extremely weak, could only taste the orange and lime pulp in it (never seen a margarita with whole fruit and pulp in it)! Only reason for 2 stars is love the chips and salsa and the server was nice. read more

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First timer here! My neighbors mentioned multiple times we should try La Palapa. We took advantage of a special, which was buy one burrito get a 2nd burrito half price. Placed our order over the phone and was ready in 10 minutes. I ordered a wet chicken burrito, which can easily feed two people. Tasted very good. Will be back. Friendly staff too. read more

La Palapa - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

Decent basic Mexican food with unusually swift service which makes it a great choice if you're getting some last-minute take-home orders; there'll be very little sitting and waiting. We don't eat pork or beef and the menu is heavily slanted toward meat eaters, but as with all Mexican restaurants, there's enough for lacto-ovo vegetarians to be reliably worthwhile. The prices are moderate. The atmosphere of the space is a bit bland so not a date night restaurant. read more

I've been on a Mexican food kick lately, and the only thing that 'kick' evokes here is that you should kick this food to the curb. Seriously though, we threw it out, and we're decently 'green' and hate wasting food. There was zero flavor (re: no kick), the ingredients weren't fresh, and then they slapped a bunch of cheese and sour cream on a burrito we wanted without cheese. Bummed out, because the staff was friendly and we joked around a bit while I was waiting for the food. Which, the other reviews are right -- was maybe 2 minutes later, they are very fast. Hmm, come to think of it, maybe that's why nothing tasted fresh and lacked seasoning. If you want cheap Mexican food, with some flavor, there's a Grocery Outlet 1.4mi away, toss some fritos cheese in a tortilla and rock n' roll. read more

Let's just say I give them a fair chance before posting a review (twelve diners later). I had high hopes since it seem to have good reviews here but one of times times I stop on my way home to grab dinner for the family and when I got home some of the food dishes were still frozen and it look like nothing you want to eat. An other time stop by with family and the kids order Orchatas and the waitress kept refilling their cups and when it come time to pay they charge me for every single drink $2.99 and when I mention it to the waitress and owner they say tuff - you order it you pay for it. We will never return here and it is clear to me now the owner doesn't care for the clients or community. read more

Mothers Day 2023 must have just been a bad day for staff at La Palapa. This place has been a favorite of mine for some time but I saw some "firsts" and thought I would share them for what they're worth. - Very slow service. The friendly server was prompt with the chips but he could not take drink or food orders. We waited long enough to hear the customers next to us complain about the slow service and be offered a second basket of chips. During the long wait, I asked other staff members to order food three times before the cook finally came out of the kitchen with his pencil and pad of paper at the same time we were preparing to leave. - Food. Ordered chicken taco salad with a glass of water (because I could not order a Margarita) and was delivered beef over a small pile of lettuce after a 20 minute wait....and dry beef at that. I ate some of it anyway. - Staff. Those that showed up on this Sunday were in over their heads but I think everyone tried very hard. No apologies offered for the wait that should have resulted in us walking out. La Palapa cooks and servers have done so much better during my past visits. I may go back after reading more positive reviews in the future. But with so many Mexican style restaurants opening in the area, competition is fierce and La Palapa may ultimately become a memory unless immediate improvements are made. read more

I was new to town and craving Mexican food. I didn't expect much because it's located in a strip mall type building. What a surprise! Excellent salsa, homemade taquitos, and probably the freshest, yummiest skinny margarita I have ever had!!!! The two Hispanic gentleman working were friendly and provided great service! Very much recommended. read more

Go to spot for Chile rellenos in Port Orchard. Friendly service and usually laid back atmosphere. Favorite spot for sit down Mexican food in Port Orchard. read more

I ordered seafood burrito no shrimp in the special instructions. They still put shrimp in the burrito. This was a20 dollar burrito. read more

La Palapa - Burrito with unwanted shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

This place has decent food, clean restaurant and great staff. We used to like it for basic run of the mill Mexican food, but lately it has gotten bland. If you want a safe choice, plain food and nothing special come here. If you are looking for more flavor or something unique on the menu then there are better options in town. read more

Really, how much time do you have? We went for a casual dinner and spent two hours, the majority of which was spent waiting: * For someone to take our order * For someone to bring silverware once our meal was --finally--delivered * For some hot sauce with our now-cooling meal (it was not hot sauce, as it turns out) Additionally, the waitress twice forgot her order pad, so could not write down our order; she brought the wrong order for one out of two dishes The waitress/bartender had the less-than-helpful assistance of a bus person who completely ignored all the customers The place had only five customers in it The burrito was stuffed full of cheap filler (beans and rice) and did not have much flavor. It was a real search for the few shrimp. On the upside, thank God the margarita was delivered fairly soon. Go elsewhere unless you have a high tolerance for missteps and lots of time to waste. read more

The shrimp ceviche is delicious. Best I have ever had in my life. There are healthy and delicious options here read more

We stopped in while driving through town and the Fajita Burrito was amazing! We also really enjoyed the chicken quesadilla with fresh guacamole and pico de Gallo. They have all flavors of Jarritos sodas (from Mexico) as well as a soda fountain. Great location and once business are open for public gathering again the lounge is well appointed and parking is ample. read more

A hidden gem!!! Delicious and fresh food. The margaritas are some of the best I've had. The skinny margarita is especially delicious - fresh lime juice. My husband loved the jalapeño margarita and we enjoyed the carne asada, guacamole, burritos and tacos. Authentic food, great happy hour. Super friendly staff. We liked this place so much we returned a second night in a row! read more

Really great carnitas tacos and the price was very reasonable. Loved it that the food was not overly salty which is a problem at some Mexican food places. read more

Passing through Port Orchard, got a torta to go. It was decent and the meat portion was generous but it did not, as promised, arrive "smothered" in red nor green salsa, and as a result was quite bland. For $10 you could do better. Minus one star for the styrofoam to-go box. It's 2019! Stop with this single use packaging that holds my food for 5 minutes, then sticks around in the landfills literally forever. read more

Decided to stroll off the beaten path to give this place a try. There were two Mexican spots that came up for Port Orchard and despite the reviews being identical, something about this place called to me. I was expecting a traditional restaurant, but this was more of a fast food spot, at least by the casual table, chairs, etc. I was shocked to find it was only one menu, meaning it was lunch time, but there was no lunch menu. They did have a daily special of Tortilla Soup and on a cold rainy day, that sounded delicious. The description said, "Chunks of grilled chicken, is a rich savory broth". You had me at chinks of chicken. It was kinda weird, I'm used to flat cubed pieces of chicken, this was literally ripped pieces and ends, lightly grilled. Not much of the chicken had char marks or the smokey flavor that I love in a good Tortilla Soup. The Broth also wasn't rich or savory. And despite adding salt, it just wasn't impressive when it came to the flavor profile. I will say the bowl was twice as big of any cup you would expect for that price, but my suggestion would be a slightly smaller bowl with a true rich flavor, they wasn't enough in the broth to warrant the large bowl, I had to search for chicken, tomato, etc, because it was a 4 to 1 ratio of broth to ingredients and a good Tortilla soup should be 50/50 if you ask me. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't memorable and I knew I wouldn't be back, at least until this Quagmire kinda guy walked in, he was super fidgety and had a tiny Asian woman with him, she walked over to my table, looked at my soup, looked at me, and I'm pretty sure she mouthed, "Me love you long time". Right as I was about to respond. "Too Beaucoup", her friend said, get over here, we are ordering Carnitas. I failed to read the menu and didn't realize they had more than just Mexican novelties. I had room for a taco, so I ordered one. When the taco came, it was twice a big as I expected and the pork was so succulent I can tell you it was without a doubt the best Carnitas I have ever had. Before I left, I yelled to the owner, "Amigo", before I could tell him it was good, he looked at me with a smug face and said. I know, Beuno". For a second I wanted to slap that cocky grin off his face, then I realize, he may be the only one that knows this recipe and since I now intend to return, I dare not harm this man. I'll be back with a fat wallet and empty stomach. read more

We've eaten here a few times since my last review and the food has been overall very good. But not yesterday. I decided to try the pork carnitas tacos and was severely disappointed in the quality of the carnitas. No seasoning and overcooked. In fact, it tasted and looked like the carnitas had been reheated from the previous day but I have no idea if this was actually the case. But I do know what reheated food looks and tastes like. Anyway, my wife and I make much better carnitas at home. The carnitas tacos I was served was not nearly worth the $13.99. I think it was only worth less than half that. But, no matter, I won't be ordering them again. Maybe the pork carnitas plate offers better quality. I noticed that when I order the carne asada it's superb but one time I ordered a burrito with carne asada and the chopped meat inside had grizzle and fat, something I've never experienced with a carne asada plate. Pehaps it's best to order the carne asada and the pork carnitas as the main dish because the quality of the meat seems lower when stuffed into burritos. My wife ordered her usual chicken taquitos and also found it not as good as on other visits. She's usually found them delicious--but not yesterday. It could all come down to who's cooking that day and what kind of day they're having. read more

My husband and I love coming here! The food is wonderful. The queso is amazing too - it's not on the menu but they make it and it's even better with onions and jalapeños. Ask for it! The shrimp quesadilla is so good and so is the shrimp soup. I love getting the ceviche tostada which i haven't found on other menus at other restaurants. It's very fresh if you just want a smaller meal. The guacamole and chips and salsa are great as is the chile relleno. I'm from San Diego and this is the best Mexican food in the area by far! The owners are super nice and service is great. I highly recommend eating here. read more

Large menu, great prices and fantastic fresh eats!!! Favorite New Mexican Restaurant in Port Orchard!! read more

La Palapa - Quant Lil' Tequila Bar - Mexican Near Me - Port Orchard, Washington

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***PROS*** * Clean * Decent Service * Authentic rice & beans * Yummy salsa * Generous portions, on both adult and kid plates ***CONS*** * Carne asada was dry, tough, and under seasoned. * Chicken was also under seasoned. * Taco shells tasted stale. ***CONCLUSION*** Not the worst dining experience I've ever had, but I probably won't return. It could just be that I didn't order the right thing, but I feel like if a Mexican restaurant can't prepare a good carne asada, I am hesitant to try anything else. I realize that Washington standards are not as high for Mexican food, and we also have to pay more for it here, but there are definitely better Mexican restaurants in Kitsap County. read more