This place is stinkin amazing. I will stop every time I drive through!! The Chile rellenos are fabulous and the service is wonderful! So so good. Note: closed on Tuesdays read more

What a find! Found this on Yelp looking for a snack while going through Centralia. We were struck by what we found to the point of having to try several things for a full fledged meal. The first clue was the sign on the door warning they don't serve chips before or with the meals - a clear indication that what we were walking into was going to be authentic food taken seriously by the presenters. I can't believe this place has been serving for 21 years and I had no clue it was here. The house specialties we were able to try were all wonderful, from the wonderful slow cooked carnitas with home made corn tortillas to the fresh tamales and superlative Chile Relleno. Topped off by the best home made flan I can recall ever having, this was a true HOME RUN! I can't wait to get back here and try some more delectables off the menu! (Note: If you HAVE to have a margarita, this is not the place for you - they specialize in their authentic time worn food recipes. However they will serve you any one of their many ice cold Mexican beers of your choice in a frosted glass. We chose Negro Modelo - PERFECT!) read more

The negative: they don't serve chips. The positive: 1. Everything is made by "Mamma." 2. The whole menu is GLUTEN FREE!!! 3. The tortillas are amazing - I had a quesadilla and tamale; both were great - the quesadilla was made with quest fresca, the tamale was Meade with stewed pork and was nice and tender. 4. The base of the chicken sope was mild and flavorful; the chicken tostada was was fork-tender and zesty. 5. The salsa is amazing. 6. They serve pickled carrots instead of chips. Probably more healthy than chips. Excellent appetizer. read more

We were on our way home to Oregon from Olympia and used Yelp to find this jewel. The Taco was an amazing and we are still savoring the flan. I Am traveling with my friend something of a Mexican food snob and she wishes she had two stomachs to taste more. She's already planning her next trip here! read more

Pretty authentic place. Not a lot of choices for vegetarians. Everything is housemade. We especially loved the tortillas. Nice and thick, the way I like them. Lack of chips and salsa was a bit of a bummer (well lack of salsa - I always eat way too many chips as it is). I had the Caldo de cameron. It was decent, but definitely not the best I've had. That particular dish is a Mexican go to for me. read more

They accommodated our party of 8 and made us feel welcome. The food came soon after ordering and was fantastic!

First rate authentic Mexican food. The tamales were the best we've ever had in a restaurant. The Chicken enchiladas come with a perfectly cooked chicken breast and chicken leg so flavorful and juicy, steak enchiladas came with a nice sized flavorful steak on the side. Great place but small try the Negra Modelo with lime very refreshing! read more

THE BEST!!!! I can't say enough about this place. Authentic food. Great service. Unique and incredible! read more

Everyone raves about this small local Centralia Mexican joint and it's mostly deserved. Their menu is small but well chosen and the ingredients are fresh. We had the carnitas and the chicken mole entrees. While the carnitas had good flavor, it was fairly dry. Same with the chicken breast. The chicken leg was much, much better but you don't get to choose. The orders came out in really quickly which makes me think many items are premade. That's likely why some of the less fatty cuts of meats were dry. The mole sauce was excellent though. I slathered every bite! the rice and beans were very flavorful-- one of the best parts of the meal. If you're expecting chips and salsa, you'll be disappointed. They even have a sign by the front door saying as much. They serve food from the Michoacán area of Mexico and they apparently don't do chips and salsa. We're okay with that. Finally, the flan is highly touted and good. Very much like a creme caramel custard bathed in caramely goodness. In all, one of the better choices of you happen to be hungry in Centralia. read more

I'm very confused why so many fellow Yelpers give this place such high marks? The food is mediocre at best, very expensive, where is the flavor? Seriously, I'm confused by the hype on this restaurant. We decided to try it based on the reviews and the only thing we agree with 4 stars, is the tortillas, fresh and made onsite no doubt! That's it, the soup was made with cheap shrimp and honestly I've had better store bought. Won't be coming back to this place for sure! read more

Best Mexican food around. So glad to have this place right around the corner. I don't have to drive to Seattle for authentic, home style Mexican cuisine. This is our favorite restaurant in Centralia. We are always treated like family and the food is always excellent! I've been trying to work my way through the menu, and I've never been disappointed. read more

Stopped by here on our way back to Portland. This place is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've had in the northwest. Our waiter took time to explain the menu and what region their food comes from which made a huge first impression and contributed a lot to our experience. We had the carnitas, Relleno, flan, horchata. Everything was perfect! Best flan! read more

I've been here about 6 times over the past several years: either when visiting the Great Wolf Lodge or riding the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride (STP). It has never disappointed. Love the carnitas, the different tacos, the tamales, the chili colorado, and especially the pickled carrots! My daughter says they have the best plain cheese quesadilla she's ever had too :) read more

Everything is handmade or made from scratch.. Everything is beautiful.. Everyone is genuine.. The people.. The decorations.. And atmosphere.. BEYOND AMAZING! I wish I could give this place 10 stars! Give grandma a hug if she's still there and tell her how amazing her tortillas are My favorite Mexican restaurant of all time from two visits.. JESUS CHRISTO read more

La Tarasca - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Unbelievably good Mexican restaurant! We go here every time we drive past Centralia. The Chile relleno is my favorite- fresh with a nice broth sauce. The Chile Colorado and tamales are amazing, and everything else we've tried too. I wish we lived closer! read more

I have said before, time and time again. Mexican food is very different here in the Pacific Northwest compared to Colorado. La Tarasca however is about one of the best Mexican restaurants I came across since I have moved here. With one or two exceptions. The place was very busy. A very good sign that the place was good. I puzzled over the menu. Not too sure what I wanted. I didn't want a combination plate so I ordered a la carte. I ordered some tacos and a Chile Relleno. The Relleno was so good! It was not real hot but man did it taste good and a little dollop of sour cream really made it a fantastic menu item! The tacos were very good as well! Steve and I wanted some dessert as well so we ordered some flan. Once again, another hit! The flan custard was so creamy and delicious and it had the typical syrup that goes with flan and that made the dessert all the more infectious! I live a little ways from Centralia but I realize I don't need much of an excuse to go down there since La Tarasca would be the excuse I would use! read more

I spend a lot of time in Mexico - mainly Mexico City, Puebla, Yucatan and Oaxaca. I've also been to Guanajuato and Jalisco as well but only once. The folks who own this restaurant are from Michoacan which I haven't visited. Normally I drive on by Mexican restaurants in the US because it's the same old boring American food - rice, beans, burritos, fajitas, flour quesadillas, chimichangas, chips and salsa etc.. It doesn't matter if I'm in California or Washington it's the same stuff (sorry Mexican food "experts" from California). Being from California or Texas pretty much guarantees you don't know what Mexican food from Mexico is. I also avoid any place that says "Authentic" because so far they are anything but. The word Authentic in this case actually means 'as you are accustomed to" so a Mexican restaurant that says it's authentic is going to sell you what you are accustomed to - burritos... I finally gave up on any sort of Mole in America as well. Here's where the story changes - I was driving to Portland from Seattle and needed something to eat so we checked Yelp to see what the highest rated restaurant was and it was this small Mexican joint. I gritted my teeth because I thought I knew what I was in for and boy was I wrong! The first indication that something is different is they don't serve chips and salsa. Not only do they not serve them they have it printed on the menu that they don't serve them! Yelper's raved about the Tacos Adobada so I had to have one of them, the waitress liked the tamale and they had a mole taco as well that I added. At the last minute I threw a sope on the order as well. My partner ordered the "Thursday special" of Chicken in Chili Guajillo sauce which we were warned was spicy. The Tacos Adobada was very moist and wonderfully flavorful. Really one of the best. The Mole taco was a bit odd as it was really a homemade corn tortilla fried with meat, mole and toppings in it. The odd thing was it was fried like an American corn shell taco. Now, I haven't been to Michoacan so maybe they do tacos like this there - I don't know. Just north of there in Jalisco they have Tacos Dorados which are flat and fried in oil. Even though this taco was a bit odd in it's presentation the mole was freakin' delicious! This was the best mole that I've had north of Mexico City. That is not an exaggeration. That also includes Guanajuato and Jalisco which are not known for their Moles and for good reason too. This is just better. The tamale was in corn husk which made me almost not order it because corn husk tamales are usually very dry which is why I prefer Oaxacan tamales in banana leaves. However, this is probably the best corn husk tamale I've ever had. Still I'm not a huge fan so I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars by itself. The Sope ended up being my least favorite. If you've ever had a Torta's Ahogadas which Guadalajara is known for you'll get the idea about how they fix sopes here - dipped in red sauce and fried. I really like Sopes other places but I just couldn't get into this one. The meat was just as nice as any other I had but I wasn't sold on the dipped Sope shell. However, if this is how they do it in Michoacan I want them to continue. Please educate me when I eat... My significant other had the Chicken in Chili Gaujillo sauce and it was phenomenal. It's very spicy so if you're sensitive or don't care to be burned twice 12 hours apart then skip it. For the rest of you this is a very very good sauce. This and the mole both are clearly made with dried chilies reconstituted and pulverized. Such wonderful clean flavors. Oh, and the tortillas! In other restaurants you get flour or the soggy but stiff corn tortillas that smell like sweaty socks. In various parts of Mexico you get these amazing corn tortillas that smell like corn, not socks. I'm not sure how they do it but they're fantastic and I can't get them at home. They clearly makes their own! I had a reasonably long conversation with one of the employees (family member?) about why Mexicans stop cooking Mexican food when they come to American and start cooking Texan/Californian food. She said someone close to her is from Sonora and they cook flour tortillas but she still can't get used to them. That's awesome. They refuse to serve chips and salsa even after 20 years in business and they still get people asking for them. These folks are sticking to their guns and serving food from Michoacan and are educating the populous along the way. I've asked Mexican restaurant owners in the past why they make burritos when they didn't at home and they say people want them. This restaurant was very busy and proves once again that if you make REAL Mexican food people will come over and over again. Take note other Mexican restaurants... I highly recommend this restaurant if you a) know what Mexican food from Mexico is like or b) would like to. I don't know what they're doing in Centralia but from now on I'll be stopping every chance I can get. read more

So delicious and authentic.. I drive very far out of my way every time I'm in the area from New Mexico to go here.. Everything is so incredibly satisfying and flavorful .. YUM x 1000000 read more

Simply brilliant. Munch on the perfectly pickled carrots with a zing while you look over their menu. My advice is to ignore the recommendation of the house specialty, the carnitas, and go straight for the spiced pork instead. The illustrious adobada. I'd take their adobada tacos over any others I've had in my life - California, Arizona, and Mexico included. The meat is super flavorful and dripping with delight. The tortilla is soft, warm, and has it's own great flavor to add to the mix. Pair it with a homemade horchata if you please. Not thick and gunky like many, it's sweet, light, and refreshing without being too rich. Try and save room for dessert. Their flan is perfectly textured with a great sauce. The bread pudding is extremely rich, but the complex flavor is certainly worth trying out and savoring. I doubt if I'll ever go to another restaurant in Centralia, this one is just too amazing. read more

It has been many years since I first ate at La Tarasca. I live in Austin, TX, now, where we have a Mexican restaurant on every corner, but none of them compare to La Tarasca. I remember when they first opened in this defunct Dairy Queen--I stopped by on a trip down from Olympia to pick up something at an antique store, and I could not believe what I had found. They were brand new and business was slow, but it had picked up dramatically within the first year. The restaurant draws people from all over the state. I dream about their food, all the way down to something as simple as their escabeche (fruta en vinagre). This place is that good. Hi to Carla and family! read more

I've gotta say, after all the rave reviews I was ultimately disappointed with the food at La Tarasca. I've tried not to punish the restaurant with a low review just because I had my expectations set too high, but after waiting months to try this place I just can't see the hype. As most other reviewers have said this isn't Americanized Mexican food it is "real" Mexican food. That pretty much just means no chips and salsa, which the restaurant makes quite clear from the multiple signs posted in the windows and on the menu. I ordered the carnitas plate which was $14 and had a big star next to it, which I assumed meant it was a popular dish. It consisted of four chunks of pork, refried beans, rice, and a side of homemade tortillas. The tortillas were amazing, no doubt. However the rest of the food was completely lacking in flavor. Very bland. If this is the most popular item on the menu I'm a little stumped at the restaurant's reputation. I don't care for spice but I drowned my food in salsa just so I could taste SOMETHING. I've given it three stars because the tortillas and tamales were quality and the service was quick. Would I drive an hour round trip to try it again? Probably not. read more

After a quick browse of Yelp!, I decided to dine in at this restaurant. However, after the last bite, I was mildly disappointed; for being such a highly rated restaurant, La Tarasca failed to live up to it's promising expectations and proved to be simply just another Mexican family restaurant. The employees were friendly and the main hostess seemed genuine while the menu was quite authentic. The time it took for the food to come out was less than 10 minutes, which actually spoke volumes about the quality of the food. When juxtaposed with the service though, the food stands out significantly in a negative manner. Chips and salsa, a common commodity in the Mexican community, was not served in conjunction with the fact that the dish portions were subpar in size. In conclusion, the 16$ was a hefty price for the surprisingly underwhelming food received. read more

I have been seeing the great reviews on this place on Yelp, so when I found myself in the Centralia outlet mall area, I had to stop by. The place is very low-key, I would have driven right by it if I didn't use my Google maps. I love family restaurants, and when the waitress was telling people about the specials her mom was making in the kitchen, I was sold on this place. I had the carnitas, which were flavorful without being overwhelming, and very tender. I am usually not to big on refried beans, but the beans here had the perfect amount of flavor and salt, I almost licked the plate. The rice was good too, not dry and with good flavor. But, for me, I would come back for the tortillas every day if I could. The handmade tortillas are so good, I could eat them plain and be happy. I have to admit I pigged out and ate 5 of them in one sitting. Most of the time when I go to Mexican places, I have a couple tortillas left over in the container, not here, I asked for more of them. I am looking forward to going back there to try some of their spicier options next time. Definitely my favorite Mexican restaurant in this area! read more

I was really looking forward to having dinner here especially when we arrived and the entire restaurant was full. Sadly I was disappointed. Growing up on authentic Mexican food this business was more concerned about their profit margin and a fast turn around time. Claiming that in "michoacan" the enchiladas have the chicken on the side and not inside, does not mean it's authentic. It means that it's quicker and less time consuming than making a fresh chicken enchilada. Another complaint is that "al la carte" there is not an option for carne asada tacos. When I ordered my children chicken quesadillas I was told "we don't have chicken" but they have chicken on the side for my enchiladas...? (Something isn't adding up here) On the menu it states "no substitutions" I'm pretty sure if I'm dining I'm entitled to slightly adjust my meal to my liking... Positive- it was clean, waitress was very friendly. read more

On our way to Great Wolf Lodge, and awaiting our check in time, we were hungry and the kids were craving Mexican...not an actual Mexican, but you know - food. My mom had said that there was a place in Centralia that had raging reviews and she had read on multiple sites that it was the best food around, period. Google Maps led us right there, to a hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere - usually the recipe for those hidden gems, right? The restaurant is small. I would say it maybe fits 40 people, if ypu squish together like sardines, which in fact, we were really squished together like sardines. It took a while to be seated and when asked how many, we told them 4 and a highchair. She escorted us to our table and then pointed to the entrance and said "the highchairs are over there". Now, not that it was a huge deal, but this seemed incredibly out of the ordinary to me. (Mind you, out of the ordinary is certainly the theme here). I don't know about you but after 2 kids and several decades of dining out, I've never actually been told to fetch our own highchair. Nevertheless, we proceeded to get it ourselves and be seated. Excited for some greasy chips and delectable salsa, we were then greeted with...marinated carrots? Accompanied by bold print in the menu indicating thy absolutely do not serve chips. Two 10 year Olds and a toddler had quite a bit to say about this. Quite frankly, I did too. As you read the menu, you will see, that everything here is homemade, all the way down to the hand-rolled tortillas (which are delicious). Given that they make thir own fresh tortillas right here would explain why they don't offer chips and salsa. That being said, I have never eaten at a a mexican establishment before that did not serve chips and salsa and was the first of many disappointments. Our waitress turned out to be the owner. She explained that the food that is served is much different than traditional "tex mex" as she called it. Tex mex sounds more like Chipotle or Baja Fresh to me though - not authentic Mexican food. The kids wanted enchiladas. $15 for 4 enchiladas sounded reasonable. The kids could split them and it would be a decent price. The enchiladas, however, are served with your choice of beans or potato inside and a large slab of steak or chicken on the side. They chose beans and steak. I was enthralled to see that there was not only menudo on the menu for soup. Alas! There was pozole, which I've often found to only be a weekend treat. I ordered pozole and 2 adobada tacos. I asked if I could get them in a crunchy shell but I guess that was against the rules. My mother ordered the carnitas and my son - the cheese quesadilla. If it weren't for the pozole and pork plates, this would be getting 1 or 2 stars. The owner seemed put off by us with every request and even taking our order. I know they were busy and perhaps her personality is just brash, but everyone (including the 10 year olds) noticed that she was a little on the rude side. The enchiladas were dry inside, and small. Certainly not a plate sufficient to split. The steak that came with it was more like beef jerky. It was burnt, chewy, and not good, to be frank. Finally - there was no rice or beans served with the enchiladas?! The child's quesadilla plate was one small corn tortilla folded in half (think street taco tortilla). Nothing came with it and at this point, I was pissed. I was not going to pay $5.50 for a small tortilla with cheese. Upon taking another gander at the menu, we found that the rice and beans was omitted from the kids meal but the enchiladas? Nope. No rice and beans indeed. Again, the owner seemed put off by the fact that we wanted the rice and beans that were alleged to come with the meal. My youngest wouldn't eat them but my son and his friend were nearly famished from the lack of remotely appetizing food and scarfed those rice and beans faster than Honey Boo Boo eats cake. I will say - that was the best damn pozole I'd ever eaten. I took it home and warmed it up to snack on that night and the cabbage was still crunchy even after being warmed in the microwave. My mom said the carnitas were pretty fabulous and the adobada tacos were meager but scrumptious. The food is solely the reason for 3 stars instead of 1 or 2, maybe. Make sure you have no qualms about dining with others. I could hear the kid next to us passing gas, and sure smelt it too. My kids probably would've been better off eating his rice and beans. Highly disappointed in the service, especially considering that the owner was our server. It was pretty unpleasant. If we ever ate here again, I think we'd forgo dining in, take it to go and have some chips and salsa with it at home. read more

O.M.G. holy amazing mexican food batman. First off, my gf and i are mexican food nuts - and rightly so, since we're both hispanic. So we have high standards, although we can appreciate almost any quality mexican food. I found this place by accident, when I was looking up a good scenic road trip from portland to seattle. This place is about an hour outside of seattle, and right off I-5, so it's really easy to find. The second we get in we're greeted by the owner. She tells us all about the menu, where she's from in mexico, the history of the restaurant, the history of her region's food, and makes some great recommendations. I had the Chile Relleno, which was spectacular. It came with a side of homemade corn tortillas...I could live off these things. My GF had some kinda shrimp soup that was just amazing. And definitely go for the tamarind water, it washes everything down nice and smooth. My friend went for the recommended pork carnitas, which he was in love with. This is seriously one of the best mexican places I have ever been to, and the amount of info that the owner gave you made the place that much more awesome. This place definitely lives up to the hype. go. now. seriously. read more

When driving I-5 between Portland and Seattle the dining options a driver can spot from the highway are downright depressing. But then if you actually get off the freeway and start wandering, who knows if you'll find anything worth stopping for? I knew from past visits that there were at least a few hopeful joints in downtown Centralia so in my hunger, that's the direction I headed. Before I got to the true downtown I spotted this charming - and busy - cafe and pulled in to check it out. At first glance it's a Mexican place but once you set foot in the door and check out the menu you see the big difference between the Sonoran standards we're all familiar with and the unique cuisine of Michoacan. For example: chips and salsa? No. Burritos? Not a one. In fact, no flour tortillas at all. But: Mole Chicken? Oh yes, possibly the best I've ever had. Carnitas? Killer. Hand-made corn tortillas? Like you have possibly never experienced. The warm and welcoming family who run the place will happily point out the dishes that they take most pride in and the menu explains in some detail the culture of Michoacan and exactly what a 'Tarasca' is. No spoiler alert here- just go, read the menu and eat some awesome food. They are closed Tuesdays and I now plan my Seattle trips around that fact. read more

i have been holding off reviewing la tarasca (because i don't want you to go, i'm just that damn selfish) but since i'm moving out of the area i feel obliged to tell you that in all of the time i lived in dallas (27 hellish years) i never had food like this. this place is incredible. from the decor to the sweet and sassy service (it's run by a family of women each and every one of them is tough as nails and sweet as sugar cane) from michoacan. they holler out "hey chica" when i walk in which means hot girl which means they love them a fat girl and this fat girl loves them too. i have never ever had a dish in this place that wasn't perfectly seasoned, freshly prepared and en pointe. tonight i shared the carnitas plate (with extra tortillas it was more than enough food for two) the meat is always tender and delicious, the carrots and garlic they serve with hot sauce as an appetizer are always superb, the tortillas are soft and handmade and the flan, well the flan is made from the hands of the goddess, surely. when they give me an end piece i swear i see visions. you will not ever in your life find another place like la tarasca. don't even get it twisted. read more

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I was reading one of the other reviews about someone driving from Seattle to go here and I was thinking...ya right....must be the brother of the owner.... NOT! This was amazing food and super friendly service. We actually arrived when they were closing, but the owner came out to our car and said we should still come in. Everyone was super nice and the food was amazing. My wife keeps telling everyone about it and I am just hoping she does not suggest we drive down for lunch, but we will certainly stop by every time we pass Centralia. Don't miss out.......Oh and I never would have found this without Yelp! read more

I never thought I would find authentic Mexican food in Washington.(I am from San Antonio) The corn tortillas are in my new top 3. Thanks yelp, I love and hate you at the same time. You bring me to these amazing places that I will never go to again. Single tear. read more

La Tarasca - Tamale and adobado taco - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Came to La Tarasca after breaking out of Great Wolf for the night. Came in quite late - about 8:30pm think they were toying with closing around 9-9:30. Place is pretty spartan cantina - simple decor. A couple of groups of locals sitting in there. The menu was simple - some plates and a la carte. Mama came out and chatted with us for a few. We wanted to try a few flavors and got some guidance on her best dishes (yeah Carnitas was pushed we resisted) We grabbed a bunch of dishes off both menus, Chile Verde, Tacos, Mole,Quesidilla- too late for the Tamales :( Usual accompaniments. Food came up quick, portions were perfect. Food was great - spice/heat/flavours just right. Our kids were treated like stars and cleared their plates too. Unusual but it happened with no prompts. We finished with flan - though I barely had room having ate far too much. Only wish was they'd come to Bellevue :) read more

I often look for carne en sa jugo on a menu of Jalisco Mexican restaurants or ask if that is something that they can make. It is a very traditional and authentic dish. 99% of the time people will not have this available. However here at Tarasca they have it on the menu. Of course I am going to get it. A bowl full of meat and bean with bacon is a perfect food for a colder damp northwest day. It was perfect and filling. If you find yourself traveling between Portland and Seattle and are looking for something to eat, this is a great solution. What did I learn today? The pickled carrots and jalapeños are to die for. read more

Tamales. Get you some Tamales! Excuse the poor grammar but the tamales at this establishment are amazing!! As another review said before, Mexican food varies in different places, but those are the most authentic tamales I've had north of Sacramento. I don't think they could have been any better. I'm not really a fan of the red tamales (usually used for chicken and sometimes pork) but the ones served here were perfect! Just be careful not to drop a fork full on your white or light blouse/shirt. You can kiss it good bye. The cheese tamales are definitely my favorite. The spicy kick mixed was on point. They also reheat well too (remember to steam them for the best flavor). Next time I come back I'll be buying a bunch to take home and freeze since I can't make that drive every day. read more

A 5 star Mexican restaurant serving authentic Mexican in Centralia, WA? Can it be true? I am pleased to report - oh yes it is! This place was outstanding! I had the house speciality carnitas with fresh (and I mean like 30 seconds before it was brought to my table homemade) tortillas which was amazing. My wife had enchiladas / carne asada which was equally spectacular. My kids could not get enough of the rice and beans - yes, I know what you are thinking, kids always love rice and beans. But, these were extra good. Add on top of all of that some ice cold Pacifico beer and friendly service with a fun, small town atmosphere. This place is a MUST for anyone wanting Mexican food in the area! P.S. Don't miss out on the pickled carrots too they bring out when you sit down - healthier and less filling than chips! read more

What's a sopa? I'm not totally sure, but at La Tarasca, it is made of pure deliciousness replete with complex flavors and intriguing textures. And I mean that in the good way. Tortillas are homemade and toasted to just the right degree of crispy, the chili rellenos are fried in a distinctive egg batter, and the tasty pork-stuffed tamales are bigger than your forearm. Well, my forearm anyway. I'm no mountain-climber or goat-milker, but those are still some huge tamales they got there. Even the refried beans, which I usually ignore at Mexican restaurants, were extra-tasty and extra-gone by the end of the meal. Go here now, but be warned: I overheard the waitress telling a customer they close for three weeks for a much-needed vacation in December. read more

Staying in Chehalis on the way to Portland, I checked Yelp and was drawn here by the reviews. I wasn't disappointed. Like so many of the best value restaurants, they offer a modest selection of dishes but they all sound mouth wateringly good. I had the Carnitas, which is the house speciality. The pork was delicious and tender, the salsa, rice and beans all complemented each other wonderfully - the pickled carrots in the salsa cutting through the richness of the beans. But the tortillas were something else entirely. Light, soft and fresh with a wonderful corn flavour, they beat anything I've had anywhere else. The boys had the kids meal tacos, which went down a treat and we ended up ordering extra tortillas to mop up all the goodness. For desert, we tried each of their desert options. The flan was wonderful - not too sweet with a real bitter-edged caramel. The bread pudding was an amazing flavour experience but too rich for us to do justice to. The rice pudding, with it's subtle cinnamon notes, wasn't quite our thing, but was no doubt excellently put together. On top of all that, the prices are great and the room is great - bright, cheerful and homely. read more

Authentic! It's so worth the drive from Olympia. This is no chain Mexican/American joint. It's tiny, no chips and salsa, but the melding of flavours is so delightful. I believe it's Central Mexico. Also check the hours before you head down. Closed (I think) Tuesdays. Try the pasole. We always get that to go for later in the week. read more

This is my favorite restaurant of all time. I have eaten at a wide range on places all over the country (I admit I have not been to NYC or a few other food meccas) and every time I think about what I want for my last meal I think about the succulent, spicy, tangy chile verde with chunks of slow cooked pork and fresh, homemade tortillas. Mi Dio. Muy bueno. If I could give 6 stars, I would. This is one of the few places I can say that the food is just honest, simple, fresh and cooked as if it were for her own family. And really, it's all about the pickled carrots and the tortillas. And the tamales. I don't know what is in their Masa but it could be crack. Mercedes, the manager, is on top of her shit. She is friendly but very professional and savvy. Her mother is the cook and her daughters are servers. And they always have a smile on their face and provide outstanding efficient service, even when the place has a line out the door, which is everyday at one point or another. The mole is rich, the colorado is spicy and smooth, the tamales are moist and the carnitas are dripping with savory pork juice. They also make aguas frescas from scratch and they are all delicious. The tamarindo actually has chunks of fresh tamarind in it. I have no issues with the price, it is more expensive than it was 10 years ago but honestly if it was cheap they'd run out of food by 7pm. Also, if you make something well, and people are still willing to come, then more power to you. I will pay more to make sure this sort of place sticks around, and in a perfect world, proliferates. I will say if you go here expecting to get a super Cali style burrito or endless chips and salsa... Azteca is right down the street. Don't hear the word authentic and then be disappointed in the lack of cheese. I love you La Tarasca and I will fight to death for your honor! read more

Stopped in for lunch on our way down from Seattle to Portland. I had a pork taco and a chicken tamale with horchata--- and it was *amazing*. The food is very flavorful and the tortillas are the best I've had anywhere. When we were there, another diner asked if there was wheat in the tortillas. The waitress said they're made of 100% corn and there's no wheat in food in the restaurant. So if you're gluten intolerant, you'll be happy here. The service was very friendly, the food came quickly, and the total for my meal since I ordered sides was around $7.50. Looking forward to trips between Seattle and Portland more now! read more

So delicious. Family run and very authentic. Homemade tortillas and great service. Close to I5.