I've gone to this restaurant every so often for years. It's normally pretty packed so be prepared to wait sometimes. The food here is fantastic. I came here with guests who have severe allergies and they were able to order with ease. The service has always been kind and courteous as well as efficient. The portion sizes are appropriate for the hungriest of tummies. If you want REALLY good Mexican food, try this place out. You will not be disappointed. I haven't in the 8 or so years whenever I drop by. read more

Greatest food of all time because it taste so good i love everything about this and the employees were nice great management aswell

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant hands down! We lived in Washington for most of our life and now live in Arizona, nothing compares to La Tarasca, just went back a few weeks ago and had my all time favorite Adabada Tacos, the flavor is truly amazing, would love that recipe, especially now that I live so far away! La Tarasca you never disappoint, food and service always the best!! Back again today! They are still the best pork tacos I have ever had and trust me I am trying to find a place in Arizona that compares, it hasn't happened yet! Happy we were able to stop in before they close for their Christmas tradition of traveling home to Mexico. read more

Nice place, friendly people, big fail on a standard item. Chili Relleno - absolutely the worst example I've ever had, or seen. Hard, dry, lukewarm cheese, oil-drenched gummy coating, all the seeds still in the pepper, zero sauce, flavorless pepper, massive blob of sour cream on top. Basically inedible. However, the house made tortillas were quite good as was the green salsa served with them. Maybe the relleno is the only bad item. If so, the owners should probably stop serving it. It's truly, truly horrid. I'm sure this review will be pulled down soon once someone complains about the truth being difficult to take. Hopefully it will save someone from a bad experience. read more

The owner recommended the carnitas and chile rellenos, and we were very happy campers! We saved room for flan, which was so delicious. Next time we'll try the mole, tamales, and more homemade corn tortillas. read more

I want to start by saying how grateful I am for Yelp for providing a forum for reviews which lead me to gems like this place. I would otherwise never have had this amazing meal. This place does not have the typical Americanized menu with 10 pages. The menu is small but what they cook they cook extremely well. It is from a specific region in Mexico and family recipes. I had the chicken mole which has 25 spices which lend a deep full flavor profile that is spicy, smoky, savory, and amazing. The chicken is tender and moist. The flan has a perfect silky texture and ample carmelized sugar sauce. Again, my mouth and tummy are grateful. Keep on cookin' ladies. read more

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I am updating my 5 star review because I do not think my last really illustrated how great this place is. We have been here twice now, both times while passing through. The food is so, so good. They have both meat and vegetarian options . The service is fantastic. The staff is friendly, fast . The menu is from the Michoacan state of Mexico and extremely authentic. From the signs in the restaurant and notes on the menu that specify they do not serve tortilla chips , it seems like many patrons have expected different . Let the chips go and enjoy the pickled carrots. On our last visit, we splurged and enjoyed horchata and flan. Completely worth it. read more

Phenomenal. Ordered the Adobaba tacos and chicken mole. Both were exceptional. Staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Location is a little off the freeway if passing through, but well worth the extra time. read more

Carnitas. That is all. Snappy service, cute place. Carnitas. They were really sooooo good. Tender, flavorful, fantastic, some of the best I've ever had. A little pricey, but so, so good! read more

The food is sooo good! The pork taco and chicken tamales were the best we've had in the state of Washington. Can't wait to come back. Patio available for the dog. Friendly service. read more

Love this place! Great homemade food and family ambience. No chips (thankfully), instead you get a small bowl of carrots and peppers soaked in vinegar to nosh on while they prepare your food. Food is from Jalisco and made with care. Highly recommend the chicken mole for a splurge, or any of the tacos for a simple meal. Rice and beans are addictive. Between the freeway and downtown Centralia. read more

This place is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I've been here so many times over the years. My go-to menu items are adobada tacos, pork tostada, and the chile relleno. I always order a la carte, because I don't like filling up on rice and beans. There are so many yummy things to eat! If I'm hungry I order 2 adobada tacos, a pork tostada, and a chile relleno (watch out for the stem and seeds). It's a perfectly delicious variety plate. They also make tamales. If you're super-hungry give them a try (they are filling) and I recommend them with pork. The pork is so flavorful and delicious! The pickled carrots they bring to your table when you arrive are super special. Do not come here expecting salsa and chips. It's not that kind of place, but don't wave them off because of this! The food is amazing. They do make their tortillas in house. If you like tortillas you should be sure to get something that they come with. You won't be disappointed. The family that works here is so friendly and welcoming. The service is superb and in my experience they have always been quick to bring us our food for a sit-down restaurant even when they are super busy. What are you waiting for? Stop in and eat here! read more

Short version: Get the Chile Verde. On the strength of a Seattle Times article, my brother and I stopped here on the way to Bend, OR for a two week vacation. I ordered the Carnitas (my go to first time test meal at any new, to me, Mexican restaurant). They were good. Only two complaints. I wish they'd been cooked a bit longer to completely fall apart, and they were a bit dry. Otherwise, a fantastic pork flavor with a touch of browning to enhance the flavor. On the other hand, the Chile Verde was over the top outstanding. HUGE flavor in the green sauce. And it wasn't what I would call mild. There was heat at the front and the back plus that classic verde flavor. And his pork was smothered in it. I kept reaching over with my carnitas to roll it around in his verde sauce. The cherry on top was the hand made corn tortillas. There is nothing like a hand made corn tortilla! The commercially made ones you get in the store that are rubbery until you warm them up aren't even in the same class as hand made ones. And these ones are wonderful! And every salsa of theirs that we tried was awesome. If I lived in the area, I'd be in at least once a week for that Chile Verde plate. read more

Went shopping at the Centralia Factory Outlet and decided to eat before we headed home. We found this little Gem of a place on Yelp! It looked interesting and I'm sure I remember someone recommending it about a year ago! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! We tried the Carnitas plate and Chile Verde! The sauce in the Chile Verde has a kick to it and will keep eating it even after you're already FULL!!! Price for lunch was nice too! A must try if you're in Centralia Wa!! read more

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I should have known it was going to be awesome when I saw the sign out front "We don't have chips." Legit authentic mexican food in a veritable desert of quality food. Chili verde and tamales were awesome. read more

We were a little sketched out cause this place was in a small town off the interstate, but it wowed us so much. The food was 10/10, it was very warmly decorated and the service was incredible. We were just passing through but we're definitely going again! read more

La Tarasca - decorated so tastefully - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Yeah. So. This place might be the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. Fresh. Delicious. Great service. Friendly staff. Decoration is fun and bright colors. This was the meet in the middle between Tacoma and Vancouver. We try a new place every time, this was so good we will be back. We had chicken and pork tamales and tried the flan. So delicious! read more

Absolutely authentic amazing food! To the point menu. Chips are not needed... they don't serve them anyway. read more

The food here was amazing! I had the potatoes enchiladas with chicken on the side. Everything was so flavorful and robust. We had flan for dessert and it's the best flan I've ever had in my life! I would absolutely recommend it. Amazing authentic Mexican food, if that's your goal! read more

First off, they don't serve chips and salsa; instead they serve pickled carrots and salsa. We ordered their super popular Carnitas entree. The pork tasted really tender and good! We also got their fresh homemade tacos. We got the adobada (pork in chili sauce), chicken and ground beef tacos in regular tortilla and crispy shells. The adobada tasted the best and the chicken tasted the worst because it was super dry. Their flan was super good and their horchata tasted very artificial. read more

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Would give zero if possible Terrible food, weird ambience, greasy tables, hostile wait staff Otherwise quite good read more

We stopped here on our way home from camping, and loved it! Adobada tacos, pork tamale, bean taquito tarasca were all delicious but especially the tacos! Chicken tostada was good, but next time I will try more taco suave fillings. No chips! Marinated carrots were great with salsa. You can get rice and beans, but I say skip them and order more tacos instead! Service was quick and friendly. We had planned to take it to go but it was so hot outside, we decided to eat inside. Pleasant space with traditional colorful paper flag banners hanging. read more

Let's start this off right. I moved here from California but that doesn't make me an expert on Mexican food. By the same token, everyone else on here claiming that their Cali roots qualify them are equally bankrupt. I AM a big guy who eats out a lot when he is not cooking most of the food in my household. I know how food is constructed, how flavor is built and I do not give a tinker's damn about presentation. The food here is, in my estimation, and that of my family who ate there with me, outstanding. You want chips? Go to Chipotle. You want flour tortillas? Again, Taco Bell awaits. Neither are truly traditional. We white people like them, so restaurants serve them. The food here is flavorful. Each member of my family has a preferred entree by which we measure restaurants. I like Chile Verde, my wife likes adobada, my child loves Carnitas, so much so that I had to learn to make them. We found each of the meat choices we appreciate to be excellent. The Carnitas remained juicy, having a good crust but with the flavor of the spice and marinade penetrating the meat. None of us were crazy about the beans, but beans are a regional thing, some are thick, these were thinner. Flavor was good, with evidence of pork-fat in the taste and consistency. The sauce was rich. The Chile Verde was right there among my two or three favorites. Often the downfall of a Chile Verde is not being selective with the meat, leaving a lot of fat thinking that it will be covered by the sauce. This was not that. The sauce had the depth and spicy-sweet flavor that I have come to love and the meat was, again, discrete chunks, well-crusted and juicy inside. My wife actually had Carnitas so we didn't get to the adobada. We will be back though to try. My kid had three tamales. Trying the pork as well as the chicken. Without any extra sauce they were quite pleased. The house-pickled carrots were a little palate cleanser, a nice feature especially when they're made fresh. I maybe might ask for the tortillas to be on the griddle for five more seconds, to develop that little bit of color, a touch of more developed flavor, but I'll drive an extra 20 miles for fresh tortillas. I almost never eat the rice. It's never worth it so I didn't bother. I assume, given the quality of everything else, that it was good. HOME MADE Jamaica! Oh, my goodness that was good. We drove 90 minutes up from the Portland area (where the Mexican food is disappointing) to meet the kid who was driving down from college. We'll make the drive again, just for the food. La Tarasca is worth the trip. read more

This place is absolutely amazing!!! Probably the best chili relleno I've had in a long time! I ate here years ago as a small child. And decided to come back and eat here again as an adult now lol. Still delicious as ever! I strongly recommend coming here! Food is absolutely incredible! I'm drooling just thinking about it! I will totally be back soon! read more

La Tarasca - chili relleno - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

This is our comfort food and #1 brunch spot in Lewis County. Soups are the best on a chilly day with a lot of the spices and limes. I love the potato taquitos tarascos with mole. Service is direct and fun. Iced tea and coffee are fantastic. read more

Wow. Staff was amazingly friendly and informative about the food. Next level Mexican food for sure.

No vegetarian options !! Not even rice ! I would give more stars if there were vegetarian options read more

Authentic, delicious, Centralia's finest Mexican food dine the way they do in Oaxaca. Excellent service and delicious food! Came from Portland & met a friend from Poulsbo. We both agreed it was worth the drive. read more

I don't get it. I don't know anyone local that goes to this place. They don't even give you complimentary nacho chips, which makes them the only one in Centralia that doesn't. Seems to be popular with people from out of town. read more

Hopping busy during Sunday lunch service on Cinco de Mayo. La Tarasca's is a Michoacan Mexican Restaurant. We tried their specialty: Carnitas. The Pork was delicious, the Pico de Gallo excellent I also ordered Sopes with Chorizo - thicker Tortilla sautéed in Chili. The Sopes was a unique and delicious taste experience. The Sopes alone makes it worth traveling to La Tarasca to to partake. Caldo de Cameron - wonderful vegetable broth which tasted like Mussels- perhaps the restaurant utilized Shrimp Shells to prepare the broth? Despite the crowds today, Service was fast, friendly and efficient. read more

La Tarasca - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Very delicious and authentic food. (I am vegan and they don't really have options for me, but my family loves their food.) Also, it's family owned and operated by wonderful people. read more

This is a treasure spot in Centralia, a perfect spot if you are driving through or in the area for GWL. The food is among the best Mexican I have ever eaten. Carnitas, Flan, pickled carrots read more

I don't think I've ever eaten somewhere and been more upset with the terrible quality of my meal. Overcooked meat soupy beans flavorless chili Verde. Overcooked carnitas with the same soupy beans. I didn't know how to even explain their... 'quesadilla' if you can even call it that, a hunk of barely cooked jack cheese in a barely cooked raw white tortilla? Flavorless awful doughy tortillas served with meal weren't any better. At least the Spanish rice was good. I don't know what's more terrible: -the foul quality of the prepared 'authentic' dishes -the nearly 500 reviews rating this awful establishment nearly 5 stars? Do you people have taste buds? -the nearly $40 spent on a meal that I could have gotten better at a food truck for half the price Good luck passing off your terrible food to authentic Hispanics no wonder the restaurant was packed with white folks only I'll take a hard pass and eat literally anywhere else from now on in Centralia read more

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Whenever we make our way through Centralia, we always have to stop here! The best Mexican food!! You can't go wrong with any of their dishes! read more

Mercedes is very friendly. She is the best. She explained that these are family recipes from her home town in Mexico. Authentic as you can get! Very, Very yummy. Must try! read more

La Tarasca - Menudo - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

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I love La Tarasca. My favorite food there is the spicy Chili Colorado. Served with pickled carrots and the best homemade tortillas around. No one else in the area has tortillas so good. So worth the drive to Centralia. read more

Worse Mexican food I have ever had. Anywhere. Soggy tacos. Over priced and not in anyway authentic. Bad. Bad and Bad.

Without Yelp, I would surely be 30 pounds lighter. Passing through Centralia on our way back from a State football championship, we wanted to grub on a celebratory meal. We didn't want the typical chain restaurant, so we did a brief search on Yelp and quickly found highly rated La Tarasca at the top of the list. The restaurant was not far off of the beaten path of I-5, on a slightly bizarre jaunt past a house with all kinds of oddities in the yard. Later, we found that odd house was RichArt's defunct biodegradable art installation. Around the bend, was the quaint yellow restaurant, La Tarasca on the North side of a dated neighborhood street. Pulling into the gravel parking lot on a Saturday afternoon, we quickly realized this was the most happening place in that small town. We had to park out back, and as soon as we exited the car, we knew we were in the right place. Aromas of heavy spices permeated our sinuses and instantly my stomach started growling. Seating is limited to a handful of tables and bar stools, so I suggest going on the off hours. However, we were seated within minutes. The service was GREAT by these tiny little ladies whom I suspect were from heaven by the taste of their food. I would like to make a few suggestions though. Do not ask for things that are not on the menu. They do not serve tortilla chips or burritos, so if you are looking for authentic Americanized Mexican food, there's a Taco Bell up the street. La Tarasca is the real deal, meant for true foodies and their kin. read more

Great place - Outstanding food- friendly service We always enjoy the flare and flavor of the meals here. read more

We were surprised as to the amount of customers in this rest. Great we thought. Food should be great. Not so, Carnitas were dry and a bit over room temp. rice was really dry for some reason. Even the Chili Colorado was just warm and not hot. Flavor was good though. May go back and try it again as the food had great flavor. read more