I have lived in Washington State for 21 years and gave up on eating out for Mexican food. That changed today. The only issues is it is 2.5 hours from my home! Good news is its right off i5 and on the way to pdx. Tortillas were amazing. mole amazing. service amazing. decor sweet and authentic. Cant wait to come back and back and try more! read more

I'd move to Centralia if La Tarasca served tequila. The food is marvelous. Warning... the chile verde is hot as hell (in a VERY good way). Be sure to have abundant liquids available when consuming anything that even brushes up against their tomatillos. I love the ambience, the people, and of course... the tortillas. The $2.25 suave tacos are much bigger than I expected. Two with a side of rice and/or beans would have been more than enough. Three did me in. I need to go lay down now. read more

It was an okay Mexican restaurant but being from south Texas it didn't compare. They didn't have flour tortillas and the caldo was alright. Maybe my opinion is biased because of where I grew up. The carnitas was good though nice and tender. They didn't have flour tortillas though but the tortillas de maiz were soft and good. read more

Friendly service, very reasonable prices, authentic food served in a very clean and bright setting.

Best Mexican around for sure. Authentic and delicious! Try the house special which is the Carnitas.

The chili Colorado was delish! The tamales and the chili rellano were both fantastic! Service was fast and very friendly. 5 stars all around. Definitely a must if you're in Centralia! read more

I had a project way out somewhere off US 12 with an overnight stay in Chehalis. I always check yelp before I hit the road and I now have a yelp app on my new phone. A restaurant with 60 plus reviews and an average rating of five stars must be visited. I walked in and was immediately greeted and seated by who I presumed was the owner, a wonderfully gregarious and charming lady. I was dining alone and I sat at the counter; yes, they have a counter. My charming hostess went through the menu with me. "First time here?" I confessed that it was. The food is representative of the Michoacan region of Mexico. Yes, there are definite regional variations to Mexican food. This is not the cheesy-sour creamy stuff. This is muy authentico. Perhaps because I was a first timer (or just charming), my hostess brought out a taco filled with shredded beef (chili colorado?) as an appetizer. The tortillas are all corn, no flour tortillas here. These aren't the crumbly yellow corn tortillas you find in the supermarket. These are thick, hand-made, tender tortillas to die for. I was torn between the enchiladas and the chili verde but the hostess steered me to the chili verde. Wow, tender generous chunks of pork in a sumptuous chili verde sauce. The plate came with rice and refried beans. I mixed up the rice with the remaining chili verde sauce so I wouldn't waste a drop. I washed it all down with a Negra Modelo beer, beer glass provided which is good because I always pour beer into a glass (except around my old college friends). I loved this place, so good, so friendly and the owner so full of pride in her region of Mexico and the wonderful food there. read more

La Tarasca - Says closed, but they'll be open for dinner. - Mexican Near Me - Centralia, Washington

Stopped in on a trip from Portland to Seattle, perfect spot to break up the trip! I had the carnitas plate which was several chunks of juicy pork with a side of rice and beans. Served with a few homemade tortillas which were fluffy and piping hot. I was happy with my meal but it was definitely on the very mild side, next time I'll try the chile verde to get my spice fix. Husband was very happy with his chile relleno, he was nice enough to give me a bite (ok three bites) and it was excellent. Will definitely stop here again on my next trip north! read more

This is an authentic restaurant run by a mother and daughter. Don't expect chips and salsa...instead carrots and some sort of tomatillo sauce. Do expect some awesome food. I had a three steak taco meal with beans and rice. I think it was about $14 and was so tasty. The pico de gallo also has carrots in it along w the usual suspects in pico and it really made the tacos flavorful. I would definitely come back and you should try it too! It's an interesting twist on your everyday Mexican joint. read more

Ordered the Adobado tacos and they did not disappoint. The fresh homemade tortillas were amazing and the taco filling and salsas were very tasty. Also loved the pickled carrots that were served on the side. We will make this a regular to-go pickup on our Seattle-portland drives. read more

We cannot say enough amazing things about this restaurant! Our first visit was PERFECTION. Food, service, and atmosphere was fantastic.

la tarasca is amazing!! it really is the best mexican restaurant in washington! its a great stop if you go for a hike at mt. st. helens. i wish there was somewhere this great in seattle! read more

Centralia has always been just a gas stop for us during our frequent drives between Portland and Seattle. Now it's going to be a purposeful stop just to eat at La Tarasca. Mouth watering, soulful, comforting, heart warming, satisfying authentic food, family friendly and warm and welcoming family running the place. Their carnitas are their specialty and should not be missed. Our kids, ages 6, 4 and 10 months, loved their substantial kids plates - even the baby dug into his sope with gusto. It's an obvious local favorite. It was packed with a rotating diverse crowd the whole time we were there but we never felt rushed. Good people, good food! read more

It really doesn't get any better than this place. Found La Tarasca on yelp. Doesn't look like much from the outside but those places can be the best. Had the pork carnitas and tostadas. Carnitas were amazing, best pork I've ever had. They didn't serve chips and salsa but they had some awesome pickled carrots and verde sauce both were great. Great Mexican place one of my favorite in Washington. read more

This is one of our favorite family dinner locations. Try the Carnitas they are absolutely delicious and it is a big enough portion for two!

The Munudos was pretty good but the Tacos and tamales were amazing! I had 8 tacos and a small bowl of Munudos in one sitting the tacos were so good I kept ordering more. My wife and kids had the tamales and I had a bite they were really good as well. I grew up with authentic mexican food from friends families and this was one of the closest restaurants to that especially with there homemade tortillas. read more

Oh my! Delicious food and great service. LOVE the marinated carrots they give you. Will make a point of stopping in again.

Owner greeted and welcomed us with a huge smile and cheer to introduce us to authentic food from her home town. Her photo is on the cover of the menu. They serve slightly pickled carrots with your menu. Carnitas were amazing and the homemade corn tortillas flavorful. They served a sweet pineapple tamale that was worth the order to taste its unique flavor. Trip off I5 worth it and prices fair. read more

Just to reiterate the other reviews: You can't go wrong with the adobada, homemade tortillas and flan! I'm originally from the San Joaquin Valley of California and I know good Mexican food. This is great Mexican food...and it's in Washington! read more

Wow, people from far away reviewing this place. This place has flat out great Mexican food. I am happy with their tortilla and beans and rice. But everything is good here. read more

I would give this place 5 stars, but my husband didn't really enjoy his meal. I was a little disapointed that they didn't have margaritas and they didn't have flour tortillas. I had the chile verde and it was amazing!! It was so hot and delicious! My husband had the steak tacos, which wasn't really anything to ride home about. I recommend letting the ladies recomend the food for you and you will be much better off. The service was really good too. I'm taking my family here when they visit! read more

The pork is worth the stop even if your not that hungry, service was fast and only 2 min off the freeway. Its well worth many miles for the adobo. read more

This is the best authentic Mexican food I have ever found in the US. Bar none. What a delight to find this place on such a dismal stretch of highway. Last time I was there, I was lucky enough to get a fresh tamale. SUPERB. If you're the kind of American who wants a basket of chips with your "Mexican" food, go somewhere else. This is ACTUAL Mexican food, not the version they make for Americans. read more

This is a family owned business who specializes in recipes from a particular southern region of Mexico. Everybody was very friendly and obviously proud of their successful business If you're expecting chip and dishes smothered in cheese this is not the place for you. We ordered the house specialty which was pork carnitas. The meal started with tasty pickled carrots...a healthy change from the chips i usually pig out on. The carnitas, rice, and salsa had a good flavor but the meat was on the dry side which was disappointing. The three stars rating is because I felt the prices were a little high at $12.95 and the meat too dry for a dish they highly recommended. I do appreciate how authentic the dishes are so i would probably return but try something else. read more

I had high expectations prior to eating here for the first time based on other Yelp reviews. The food here was amazing and exceeded my expectations. Any time I come near Centralia I will make it a point to eat here. I don't normally like corn tortillas but they were amazing here. Best Mexican I've had in the state. read more

Wow, wow, wow. Great service, flavor and portion sizes. I do miss chips and salsa to kick off the meal, even if inauthentic, but the pickled carrots were tasty enough. House salsas were good too, with the red one being pleasantly spicy. The house relleno was delicious for something that seemed so simple, as well as the pork taco with the most delicious tortillas I've ever had. No guacamole or margaritas either, but all in all, a great stop if you are in the area! read more

This place has the best Mexican food in Washington. They have the best tamales, the best tacos (adobada tacos are my fav), the best tostadas. Oh and lets not forget the spicy carrots you get when you first walk in. So bottom line is they are freakin delicious!!! I would recommend this place to everyone even a stranger on the street! read more

Absolutely fantastic! Hubbie and I had the carnitas and the bifsfek tacos. Authentic and wonderful flan too!!

Goosh I love this place. Been here a few times, good food, good atmosphere, small space is my only complaint. Kind staff.

I was very pleasantly surprised to stumble on this quality restaurant in tiny Centralia. Definitely where you should eat if you're in/around/traveling through the Centralia area! The pros: The pickled carrots - delicious, unique, a great way to start the meal! The carnitas (house specialty) is fantastic! The abodabo was also amazing! The service was really friendly and food came quickly. There was a table next to us who all had the mole - next time we'll have to try it! The cons: Avoid the "gringo" food - the shredded chicked was mediocre. read more

Excellent, authentic Mexican food, warm service (my wife was remembered from a previous visit two years ago) and homey surroundings at this Centralia taqueria. We mixed our order between fresh, steaming pork tamales, a selection of tacos and the carnitas plate. Everything was full of flavor with the adobada taco and the carnitas standing out. They were very accommodating with our kids who loved the food just as much as the adults. This will be our go-to lunch spot for the Seattle to Portland trip from now on. read more

Awesome! The refried beans and Mexican rice are out of this world. Homemade tortillas are fresh and hot. Carnitas are tender and amazing. Horchata was good but not my favorite as I like more cinnamon. Atmosphere is quaint and homey. Service is fast and nice. Go here and you won't be disappointed. read more

After a long day of doing Mt. St. Helens we were in need of some Mexican food and Yelpers came to the rescue. There are three in our party, all from the Southwest so we were pleasantly surprised to find such a gem in a small town of the Northwest. My two companions immediately complained that there were no chips, just marinated carrots (great, more for me) but their concerns evaporated after their first bite of the main dishes. We all ordered a la carte and were in heaven. The chile rellenos, very good and the tamales were excellent. As stated over and over the tortillas are superb and our chicken and chorizo tacos were tops. If in the area and in need of a good meal, this place is a must. read more

Amazing authentic food straight from the heart of Mexico. Served with care. Get the Adobada (pork) tacos. The tamales were also very good.

Amazing, authentic food! The dishes were explained well, and everything was delicious. Try the molé chicken, it's amazing! They really make you feel like family, too. read more

Authentic - I ordered the chili relano and a taco. Nice stuffed pepper - the taco was stuffed with chicken. It is a small quaint family restaurant. No chips instead veggies and salsa (nice change). Love that the plates were not drowning in greasy cheese. No lunch prices, meals a bit pricey for one item and rice and beans. read more

La Tarasca is the best authentic Mexican food you can get! I've been going there for years. The Tamales are amazing and my husband loves the tacos! I don't eat pork but I will even eat a few bites of the Carnitas if my husband orders it. Simply the best!!! read more

Very good tortillas, horchata, pickled carrots. We had carnitas and special chicken dish. Both were totally fine but not amazing.

The best Mexican food I have had in a long time. Rivals Mexico itself. Tamales are the best I have ever had. So here it is,,,,,,,The mole is out of this world. I was craving it and it didn't disappoint. An absolute must experience. read more

Excellent and authentic. Tacos de Bistek for me. Carnitas plate for husband. Kids quesadilla for my boy. Everyone cleaned their plate. Only surprise was no chips. Warm and friendly service as well. read more