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

Absolutely fabulous. The restaurant features cuisine from Michoacan in south west Mexico. Each dish is unique and very flavorful. I especially like the pork Chile verde and the carnitas. You don't get tortilla chips but you do get a generous side of thin delicious corn tortillas -fresh and warm. The chefs put a lot of time and effort into their dishes, and it shows. Great desserts too. read more

Came in during dinner time on a Saturday night and the little place was packed with people, but fortunately there were a couple of small tables left. The waitress took us to our seats and gave us menus promptly. Shortly after being seated, a server brought us water, pickled carrots and salsa. I liked this healthy appetizer, but my husband wasn't a fan. He wanted chips and salsa, but that isn't an option at this mexican restaurant. I ordered the popular Chile Relleno and found the portion quite small, the chile batter soggy, and the sauce on top wasn't too amazing. My dish was okay, but definitely nothing special. I really liked their corn tortillas though. My husband had the carnitas, which he described as decent but nothing worth raving about. He loved the her horchata and corn tortillas as well. The service, horchata, and corn tortillas was great, in our opinion. The taste of the meals was just alright and the price wasn't very fitting for the quality and portions of the meal. read more

My new Happy Place - from the family-forward atmosphere and service to the impeccably prepared food, this place is destination-worthy. The home made tortillas, magical mole, perfectly seasoned carnitas, and out if this world chile relleno are not to.be missed. But, whatever you order, leave room for the best flan you ever tasted - perfection read more

Best Mexican food in the state of WA! I have to say I am so sad that I didn't find this place when I first moved to the state. I searched for almost 2 1/2 years for decent Mexican food and I found it a week before I moved :( The food was incredible. Mouth watering carnitas, homemade fresh tortillas, yummy rice and beans. I was a very happy camper. The salsa was great, too. Not really a fan of the pickled carrots, but didn't mind b/c I didn't fill up on chips and salsa ... and actually had a healthy appetite to finish my lunch. Portions are generous. Very welcoming atmosphere -- I felt like I was eating at a friends home. The owner was my server and she told me all about the history of her family and how they started the business and that the recipes are all from her mother who is the cook in the kitchen! Such a nice lady. Take it from someone who tried almost every Mexican food joint from Seattle to Olympia ... it's good stuff! read more

If you are driving from Seattle to Portland or Portland to Seattle, this is a must grub detour! A friend and I found it on a whim, I don't think he had faith that it was going to be amazing, but it was! I really appreciated that their menu explained where their family and recipes originated from. I thought this was a great touch and showed pride in the origin of what they are doing and sharing! My friend and I each ordered carnitas and tacos. The carnitas were great but I could have eaten the chorizo tacos for days. Sadly my food babay was too big to end the deliciousness with flann, but I fully intend on indulging in that sweet goodness the next time I am driving through. I will definitely return for more authentic Mexican in the middle of my next trip. read more

La Tarasca - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

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This place is a more authentic, to a certain area of Mexico, Mexican food place. They have a unique flavor and menu focused on tradition of their culture in that region of Mexico. The food was good, and the service was great. If you are looking for a different flavor, this is your place. read more

Came here after all of the reviews but be warned it's not a TEX-MEX PLACE. No steak burritos or even chips and salsa. Got the tostadas and their green salsa was a hit. read more

Hand Made Tortillas. Very, very good hand made tortillas, thick and chewy and delicious. Tortillas I will think about until my next trip up or down the Portland- Seattle corridor. They specialize in pork, and make carintas very well, along with serving up mean chili rellenos and enchiladas. read more

Authentic, delicious, friendly. Small but charming atmosphere. I ate here for the first time years ago with a friend and I've been thinking about their mole ever since. read more

People next to me drove 90 miles to eat here. I wouldn't recommend doing that. I found this joint browsing yelp while visiting my sister. Her family told me about how authentic it was and how much everyone loved the food. The first three things I asked about trying to order, they don't make. You should be able to get a chimichanga at any mexican restaurant. Also, don't expect to get any chips here - they don't make or serve them. All of that being said, the food that we did get was very good. I got enchiladas - DO NOT get the chicken with it. The chicken came out very dry and tasteless. Except for the chicken it was wonderful. The waitress even brought out what I would call a beef taco (she had sme special name for it). It was amazing - I could eat half a dozen of those. read more

Grabbed lunch here on my way down the west coast, and read about this place as a good stop in between Seattle and Portland. With a small terrier in the car and uncharacteristic 99 degree weather, I asked to order takeout and one of the servers recommended their Carnitas plate, which is what they're known for. I also wanted to try the Chorizo taco, but she recommended the Adobado, and I'm so glad she did. After placing my order, the server said okay, it will be ready shortly. You're going to like our food. Man was she right. The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, and the corn tortillas are made in house. I live in Southern California and this place is on par with all of the best taquerias in Los Angeles. Incredible. read more

Disclaimer: I'm from San Diego so I know authentic Mexican food. That being said, this place is alright. The atmosphere is nice, the food was actually quite tasty... but that's about where my likes end. Here are my issues with this place: 1. Price. This place is ridiculously expensive for what it is. Mexican food is notoriously affordable. Charging $14 for a plate of carnitas or carne asada is absurd. $5.50 for a chile rellano a la carte? Really? Especially when it's really small? I liked the taco... all three bites of it. But for $3.50-$4.00?? I really wanted rice, but I believe a small bowl of it was another $3.50. Really?! Just not worth it... 2. Where are the tortilla chips? They are a quintessential part of a authentic Mexican restaurant. And yet, they were oddly missing from our table. It even baffled me more once we received a small bowl of green salsa. 3. Service. We went in there around lunchtime. There were about five tables occupied; however, most of the people had already received their food. We walked in prior to two other tables, and yet we were the last table to receive service. We waited quite a long while for our simple a la carte items, while one of the other parties who sat down after us received their specialty plates rather quickly. 4. Portions. The tacos were small, the chili rellenos were small, and just about everything else I saw on other people's plates were small. If you're going to charge two to three times what other Mexican food places do, you better have decent sized portions. When it comes down to it, this place has good tasting food... but for the price, portions, and service, I'll gladly either make it myself or go somewhere else to get my Mexican food fix. read more

If this place had a hard liquor license it would be perfect. However, keeping the Pacifico cold as hell, the way I like it, compensates. It differs greatly from the usual cookie cutter Mexican restaurants. No chips are offered on the table. Instead they welcome you with beautifully pickled carrot rounds. The sauces are fantastic. Everything seems to be from scratch and very well done. Try the Chili Colorado or chicken mole, but be prepared to carry half of the serving off for lunch the next day. The tortillas have to get special mention. None of your "made in Milwaukee" tortillas here. They are the real deal. read more

Amazing authentic Mexican food made from scratch. It's a real family restaurant with recipes handed down through generations. Will definitely stop by here again when I'm back in the neighborhood. read more

Some friends of mine from Portland told me about La Tarasca. My grandparents used to live in Centralia, so I must have driven by it a hundred times over the years. I'm embarrassed I haven't stopped in before. Adorable decor, a friendly family vibe, also a family friendly vibe, amazing food. I had the Carnitas which was a tad dry but lovely flavor. My girlfriend had the chile verde which was insanely good. We also had sopes (chorizo and pork), which might have been my favorite part of the meal. The portions are big enough that I declared myself unfit to ever eat again after that. Surprisingly I -have- eaten once or twice since. I am still a bit confused by how it came to be that Salma Hayek passed through Centralia. But, man, you should do what she did! Bring your whole camera crew. Bring your riggers! Bring your grips! The food is outrageous. You'll all be happy to hear that I told my dad about this place. He's a commercial fisherman. Commercial fishermen -love- sopes. read more

Excellent Michoacán food in a restaurant seemingly staffed entirely by kind, no-nonsense abuelas. Highly recommend.

Family owned and original recipes from Michoacan, MX! The atmosphere is friendly and your family will love it here!

Had to try this place after hearing about it in Tim Ferris's book The 4 Hour Chef. I couldn't believe there was a top 10 place this close to me. Nice small place that you would pass up unless someone told you about it but well worth the trip because the food is amazing. Not your typical Mexican either, no chips or salsa, instead they bring out pickled veggies which were incredible. We tried a couple dishes and can't wait to go back and try more. 4 stars until I try more, but this is definitely a 5 star in the future for me. read more

The family ownership and kind-hearted staff make this restaurant a gem in the area. The food was also tasty and authentic. We waited a very short time from ordering to when our food arrived. Like other reviewers have mentioned, there are no chips and salsa. Instead there are some carrots. Despite this, because od the atmosphere, this restaurant is still highly recommended. read more

Decent food, but service is a little weird. Tables are packed in, and you wait to be seated. Seems family run and at least our server treated tables differently (more/less info, more/less friendly etc) which was a little off putting for a first visit. The pork carnitas are flavorful, but mine was unfortunately over cooked. Tamales were good, better by adding salsa. Overall, not sure if we will be back- order was almost $50 for lunch 2 people read more

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Let me say first off that we are used to Tex-Mex flavorings in our Mexican food. Therefore these seasonings were not to our liking as much. I liked my sope and tamale but my husband's chicken in sauce was very dry. All food had a more Peruvian hint of spices to me which are good but not what we were looking for. read more

Props to the Ayala family for opening up a Mexican Restaurant where people, either dn't expect much...or simply, just don't know any better. Two stars; first for the service. Second for the decor, it got my hopes way up. As a Native Californian wh grew up in Los Angeles, making tortillas in my Nana's kitchen...perhaps I'm a bit of a "comida" snob. Bland rice (add some tomate), dry beans, and mediocre red sauce on everything does not constitue authentic. I hate to give bad reviews...but when I look forward to food based on its yelp reviews...I hate being disappointed. Oh yeah...get some chips for that salsa too. Who wants those "delicious pickled carrots". read more

This place was AWESOME authentic Mexican flavor. No chips, only pickled carrots and salsa at the table. Waitress said chips are not authentic so they do not serve them. I am game! Ate ala carte so I could try more variety. Had a fresh pork tamale and three tacos - chicken, pork, beef. Everybody at my table had something different and all looked great. Good reviews by all. read more

La Tarasca - Pork Tamale, three tacos - chicken, pork and beef - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

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We were persuaded to try La Tarasca by all the rave reviews on Yelp... but I think we were slightly led astray this time. Don't get me wrong, it was totally edible food (if a bit pricey), but I don't feel like I need to go back ever again. We came for an earlyish dinner on a Sunday evening and it wasn't crowded at all, so we were able to sit down right away. The server came over to greet us and drop off pickled veggies, and shortly thereafter, the owner came by to ask if we'd been there before and deliver her spiel about the menu and the food. Other reviewers commented on how friendly and welcoming this felt to them, but after I heard her give the same speech two or three more times, almost word for word, it started to seem artificial and more off-putting than welcoming. The menu had a fairly large selection, although prices seemed relatively high compared to other Mexican restaurants in the area. We started with a tamale because the owner recommended them, and it was good. The carnitas were bland, as someone else commented. I had the daily special of spicy pork with tomatillo salsa, which was FIERY HOT and required many glasses of water, so the spice levels kind of seemed all over the map. The restaurant does have really fun and colorful decor and artwork on the walls, so there's lots of interesting stuff to look at. Our server was friendly and came back to check on us often. Overall, though, I wasn't particularly impressed and nothing stood out as particularly special. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but it didn't seem like the same place that others here have raved about. read more

You know when the waitress brings a dish of marinated carrots and onions instead of tortilla chips, it's going to be good. Great little spot for authentic Mexican food in downtown Centralia. Good food, friendly service, cute and clean atmosphere. The house special of carnitas did not disappoint, and the house-made hibiscus juice was superb. read more

What an amazing little gem! This is exactly why I love Yelp so much. Probably never would have found this place otherwise. This is a super quaint, family run authentic Mexican restaurant. To be honest, it started out almost TOO authentic for me as they don't serve tortilla chips. Apparently, tortilla chips are not typically served in Mexico except for in touristy areas. Once I got over not having chips, this some of the best Mexican meals I have ever had! I had the Chile Verde and my girlfriend got the Carnitas and both dishes were to die for! The homemade corn tortillas were amazing too. If you're heading from Seattle to Portland or vice versa, this is a great place for a pit stop! read more

This friendly and delicious restaurant may serve the best food between Portland and Seattle. Only a mile or so from either exit on I-5, but a world away from the fast food and genericicity of the Interstate Zone; i.e., a welcome midway relief from driving the 3-hour Portland/Seattle slog. The mole, sopes, tamales, carnitas, and tacos are as excellent as the other reviewers have said. I'd like to put in a plug for the chile verde (traditional pork version, but sometimes they have chicken chile verde as a special) and the aguas frescas (I've enjoyed the horchata and tamarindo, and someday will branch out to the jamaica). The whole menu is strong -- you can't go wrong, really. read more

Yup, 5 stars! We got to the restaurant a little late...around 8:20pm on a Saturday night. It was empty. I was a little concerned that it was so empty but later the server told us that we were lucky because the place was packed just an hour ago. We got the carnitas. They were very good but I think I should have got the carnitas with a little more spice in it as I found it a little bland. We also got the chile relleno which was very good. Both of these dishes came with 3 tortillas. We also got 2 tacos (adobada) and 2 tamales. The adobada tacos were a little oily but very flavorful. These 2 tacos were the winner of the night. The tamales were good but didn't blow me away. I also got the flan for dessert and it was excellent. The pickled carrots and salsa verde were also excellent. This place was very welcoming and really made me feel good for eating here. I enjoyed the service and conversation with our server/owner named Mercedes. I hope to be back soon! read more

The tamales were the best I've ever had. Usually when I eat a tamale the cornmeal they use is usually very dense and not flavorful but let me tell you that the tamales at this place is flavorful& kinda fluffy. It's hard to explain so I guess you'll have to come out and try it yourself. The carne verde is also amazing!! read more

We take several trips a year up and down i5 between PDx and Seattle, this place is going to be our new traditional stop (both ways!) the food is phenomenal, but it's the family that runs it that makes this place truly special. On the way up we tried the Chile Colorado and carnitas; and on the way down we had enchiladas and Chile verde. All were amazing with incredible flavor. The service is also FAST. Makes this a truly easy stop on your car trip. read more

If you're on your way to Seattle, Centralia is a great place to stop. Yes, there are the outlets, my beloved Burgerville and cheap gas. But the highlight of this small town is none of those things. Consider going a mile off the freeway and stop at La Tarasca for lunch. You'll be greeted by two or three of the friendly ladies waiting to greet you. They will welcome you into their restaurant like an old friend. I instantly felt at home, and like I had known these ladies for years. The cuisine is from their home in Mexico in the state of Michocan. Many of the dishes are family recipes. The carnitas we ordered was the owner's mom's recipe. The horchata was out of this world and the homemade pickled carrots and onions were a great way to start the meal. La Tarasca is a bright spot in Centrailia. read more

This place is excellent. Authentic quality food. We've been hitting spots in Centralia when passing through for kids sports or a trip to Oregon for years...and La Tarasca will now be part of our plans. The staff running this quaint little joint were great and the food options make me eager to return to try several items I watched leave the kitchen and served to hungry patrons. Worth it! Giving this place five stars...for being so super. read more

We stopped by on our way to Portland and feel in love!!! Loved the taco adobado, carrots, soup & those delicious corn tortillas! The restaurant was clean & warm...the women working were lovely and directed us to the best treats! Can't wait to come back on our way home! read more

Thanks, fellow Yelpers, for this recommend. I would have never found this place on my own. Everything we had was really great! The adobada tacos, the carnitas and the Tamales were exceptional. The corn tortillas were amazing. I truly regret my stomach wasn't big enough for me to try the mole or some of the other interesting items on the menu. The service was warm, friendly and very helpful. Really nice people! I'll be back every time I'm in the area or passing through. read more

Yes, 5 stars (I doubted it, too). Drive past the chain Mexican joints to this place. You'll be glad you did. I was looking for someplace in Centralia on the Seattle to Portland run and was shocked at the high rating and number of reviews. I was a little dubious when I drove up (it looks little beat up from the outside). When I entered I was warmly greeted and the inside was colorful, but not super gaudy (disclaimer - I used to eat regularly at a Mexican restaurant decorated with Corona beach towels on the wall). The menu doesn't have a lot of the chain Mexican staples, but that's a good thing. They have enough variety that even if you're more of a taco eater, you'll be happy. Both the Pork Carnitas and Tacos de Bisteck were great. The salsas were subtle and great tasting. It seems to be run by an extended family and sometimes they get talking to each other, but the service was never anything but helpful and genuine. Liked it so much I had to stop there two days later on the way back... read more

The menu presentation and pickled carrots had me at hello. Potato taquito and pork tamale.... read more

La Tarasca - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Amazing food, amazing flan- Waited a few minutes to be served because it was packed for lunch- once seated we never had to wait for anything. The servers are very attentive and friendly. read more

La Tarasca - First time here. Menudo and hand-made tortillas were amazing! - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

REAL Mexican food...it doesn't get any better than this (at least in Centralia!) My favorites here are the tamales and the flan...to die for! read more