Rica Cocina

The ambience is beautiful inside…read more The best part of the Baked Eggs dish was the cheese. The cheese was so flavorful, creamy, and delicious. Next best was the bread - it was perfectly soft inside with a crispy crust. Between how oily the dish was and my nose running from the increased spice as I continued eating, I wouldn't return for this dish. The eggs weren't noticeable in appearance or taste- I had to search for them. The "creamy grits" were creamy, but the black pepper taste was STRONG. Definitely ordered the side for the "creamy" factor, hoping when the server said harissa in the eggs would have a mild spice, that the grits would calm my mouth. The amount of pepper made this unsuccessful. But if you like black pepper a lot then you'll enjoy them. My son enjoyed the beignet's. The server was also the host and he was kind. It was easy to get his attention when needed. I didn't see anyone with a grin on their face after taking bites of their food. I looked around quite a bit out of curiosity. So for ambiance, kind and prompt service, and the possibilities of the menu I gave it 4 stars. We only tried the few things I mentioned. I did also appreciate the bottle of water ready on every table. Note that there is no kids menu and it's mostly table seating. So maybe try on your own or with other adults, and leave the kids at home?

We loved checking out Chicory. Such a cute space. All the staff were lovely from start to finish…read more The pork chop was so delicious and we were in love with the dirty fried rice. The crispy bits in the rice were soooo good. Delicious side salad, loved the vinaigrette, so flavorful. Definitely will be back! Wish they had later hours.

Whole Blackened Rockfish

Chicory Manhattan

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Nothing left on the Rockfish Bones

Filibuster Lounge

4.5(16 reviews)

I've been here a few times with a group of friends, and the service is always spot on. The…read morerestaurant is open seating I believe, and there are a lot of tables and cool rooms to sit at. They're a cocktail special lounge and have some of the best old fashions I've ever had. This past time we have been I ordered a Superflat Fashion. It was light and smooth. We also ordered a charcuterie board. It came with whipped goat cheese, and other items. The whipped goat cheese was the highlight though. Will be coming back to try more of their old fashions and other cocktails!

Filibuster is one of my favorite bars, hands down. Their Olympia Royale is one of the best drinks…read moreever. They have a varied menu, but specialize in old fashioned variations and darker spirits, in my opinion. Their food menu is small, but surprisingly good. My only gripe with this place is that it can be hard to find a seat on busy nights because it's small, but it's easily one of my favorite go-tos in Olympia

A L'ANCIENNE DU BOIS (cognac & maple old fashioned)

Apple cider whiskey shot

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What doing?

Shiny Prize

4.4(8 reviews)

Fun atmosphere and great drink and food menu. Drinks can be the usual or very elaborate. Bartender…read morewas attentive and made a fantastic banana tropical style drink. A great date night spot for couples or after work singles. Highly recommend trying this one!

Staff was very welcoming and drinks were great. Loved the Trapper Keeper menu and the overall vibe…read more Will definitely be back to explore more of the drink menu. Check out @passmeyourplate on IG

Shiny prize!

Hurricane

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Spoilers in the bathroom

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

4.4(473 reviews)

We drove from Aberdeen to celebrate a birthday. Walking in, we weren't greeted by any of the many…read morestaff that were working, however, we only had to wait for a few minutes. Once we were seated our drinks arrived quickly because Gemma was amazing and made sure that our orders were in before happy hour ended. The guys ordered the oyster tasting menu and enjoyed it. Mini Lobster roll was great and came with hot and fresh fries. Clam chowder bowl was a hit and my bowl of steamed clams was to die for!! The broth was so flavorful with a hint of garlic, butter and white wine. Other entrees ordered by our party were the poke bowl, steak tartare and small salads with their house made blue cheese vinaigrette, with all receiving positive feedback. I will ask for another trip just for the steamed clams

Great atmosphere. Great food. Great service and to add, a Great Happy Hour…read more Chelsea Farms was a nice surprises to find while visiting downtown Olympia. The oysters were fresh, the burger was excellent and the Rockfish & chips was tasty. They have a wonderful atmosphere to dine in and we really enjoyed our time there. A great selection of beer, wine and spirits too. I would highly recommend giving them a try. We will be back for sure.

Oysters

Chicken and waffles.

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Geoduck

Cryptatropa Bar

4.0(82 reviews)

0.3 mi

I'm a German-Mexican, heterosexual, 50 sometimes, cisgender male. I came in wearing light colored…read moreColumbia clothing. I came into the Cryptatropa Bar with my wife and had a GREAT TIME!!! Seems like the bad reviews are from haters. People who came in with a chip on their shoulders. I didn't. Why? I have been around the Goth and Dark Metal community for years. I know them. While they may look scary and mean to most "normies". They are actually some of the nicest and open minded people you could ever know. In all I felt welcomed here even though we were not dressed for the part. The staff here were very welcoming and friendly. The service was prompt and excellent. The drinks, especially the nonalcoholic drinks were good. We came in on a movie night. They were showing an art film whose name I can't remember. The film was very artsy and deeply interesting. I and my wife really enjoyed it. The BIGGEST kudos to the Cryptatropa Bar is actually showing an independent art film. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up there were lots of theaters that showed art films. Then after the 90's they all went away. Leaving only a few mega theaters who they all show the same movies. This place is a RARE GEM for doing this. Independent film makers don't really have outlets to show their films anymore. THANK YOU!!!

Unimpressed. Lots of attitude, no substance. Too "try hard" in my opinion. I walked in, scouted it…read moreout,and walked right back out.

Steel table and gargoyle

1st time here.... checking it out.

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What's the difference??

Uptown Grill

4.5(520 reviews)

i love this place it has best food please contact me here…read moreowner i'm looking for job i can do anything in restaurant very professional. i can cook, prep cook and wash dishes serve customers i have over 5 years of experience working in restaurant and i didnt find your website so that is why i'm applying thru here. you can contact me thru my email igor240528@gmail.com

This is a very nice little spot off the main road. The food was good and very friendly service. We…read moreordered the burger and fish n chips. The burger was too thick but tasted good. The fish was perfect!

Warm Northwest Blackberry Pie

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S'more

Cheeky Martini Lounge

4.6(46 reviews)

This is my "go to" martini place in Olympia! The drinks are well made and balanced. I always get…read morea gin martini. The bartenders are friendly and the service is great. I'm never waiting. It also has an old school atmosphere. Perfect for a martini after dinner.

Checked this place out last night! The atmosphere was cozy. Definitely not busy for a Saturday…read morenight when they first opened. Drinks were good but would love to see more martinis on the menu.

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Valentina’s Lounge Restaurant and Tequila Bar

4.7(232 reviews)

0.2 mi

First we went to Vino downtown (also owned by Valentina) and LOVED IT! And today we are trying…read morehere :) we ordered the asada and cashew green enchilada!! Both get five star! The service here could model after vinos location a little. And the ambiance here is SO CUTE. Over all, Valentina created two of Thurston county's best restaurants in my opinion! I how she opens everywhere. Sorry, the food here was so good. We forgot to take a photo first. Haha

Good drinks, good food, and awesome decor! Came here on a quiet Friday night with a reservation for…read more3, and got seated in the bar. We ordered a few bevy's and snacked on some delicious chips and salsa while we waited for dinner. We were asked if we wanted guacamole, which we said yes, and later found out the 5oz of guac was $12. We ordered the enchiladas mexicanas, habanero enchiladas, and carne asada tacos. My enchiladas mexicanas were soft and had excellent flavor, but could've used a bit more enchilada sauce. Lastly, a man checked our IDs at the table, a lady took our order, a different lady brought our food, and a different lady cleared our plates and asked how we wanted our checks to be split. It was hard to tell who our server actually was and who I was tipping. Overall a cool and authentic place!

Cute dining room

Guacamole

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Hibiscus Mojito

The Brotherhood Lounge

4.1(152 reviews)

Killer spot! Happy hours don't get better than what they…read moreoffer! Great vibes inside and chill area outback, it will smell like cigarettes as it is a smoking area! Folks are friendly and they have a vending machine for a few quick snacks. They also sell yummy local hummus and chips!

Female bartender Wednesday night at 10:00 was rude and ripped me off for $10. I won't be coming…read moreback when she's on shift. First bad experience here.

Cute lamps by the bar

Love the subtle retro aesthetic

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Octapas Cafe

4.3(278 reviews)

0.2 mi

Octapas Café was an outstanding dining experience and one of those places where every dish seemed…read moreto hit the mark. We started with the patatas bravas, gambas pil pil (butter garlic shrimp), oysters (both raw and cooked), and a hummus platter, and everything was excellent. The true standout, however, was the smoked salmon Alfredo--an absolutely incredible dish and one of the best pastas I've had in a long time. We added some chopped jalapeños for extra heat, but honestly, it was fantastic even on its own. The dessert was equally impressive, with a cake that was incredibly moist and the perfect way to end the meal. The wine selection deserves special mention as well. They offer a great variety of Spanish wines that pair beautifully with the menu. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive throughout our visit. The atmosphere is one of Octapas Café's biggest strengths. The restaurant features a beautiful, spacious dining room, plenty of outdoor seating, and even a private event space for larger gatherings and celebrations. Whether you're stopping by for tapas, seafood, pasta, or wine, Octapas Café delivers a memorable experience from start to finish.

Sat 11:30 am - no reservations. Restaurant not too busy. The…read moreolder female hostess was not welcoming to us or the party of 2 that walked in behind us. I've encountered her before -- she isn't rude, just not at all welcoming. She asked us to wait for a moment for'something' which turned out to be stocking water bottles and napkins. We felt like an intrusion to tasks she could've worked on after seating us. We asked to sit on the patio in the sun - she seemed annoyed by this but acquiesced. The patio was quaint and the weather helped make it enjoyable. We were greeted by our server (wish I had her name - older lady in tie-dye shirt) she was welcoming, helpful with the menu, and very friendly! We ordered cocktails and brunch and enjoyed both! Dishes (Smoked Salmon Lox & Goats do Roam Tart) & Drinks were all good - see photos for more info. So go -- get past the hostess and you'll enjoy the rest!!! PS - I do remember from a past visit, the Beignets were good!

Haunting octopus ......

Salmon salad

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Wings

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J. C.

0

42

15

5 months ago

Holy wow, Olympia! Rica Cocina was one of those rare meals that you're still talking about days later!! We overheard people raving about it the day before at Olympia's Procession of the Species and decided to go for a late Sunday lunch, and I am so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, the whole place felt warm and welcoming. The atmosphere is beautiful, with music playing, thoughtful décor, and gorgeous landscapes of Mexico quietly playing on a large screen. It immediately set a tone. Then the food started coming. Fresh chips and beans to start, plus a salsa bar with house-made salsas that were all incredible. I could have made a meal of the salsa bar alone. The fresh tomatillo salsa verde was so bright and alive I'm still thinking about it. Honestly, choosing what to order was hard because everything on the menu sounded amazing. Our waitress was delightful and knowledgeable about every dish and helped us make selections. We ordered one creamy shrimp dish and one red beef dish, and both were extraordinary. The spice profile was deeply flavorful and clearly made with care. Their menu says everything is made with corazón (heart), and that is not just a slogan, you can taste it!! And the portions! Huge. Like laugh-out-loud huge. I'm a hearty eater and even I needed a to-go box. I'm not wanting to take pictures at a restaurant, but I had to snap a pic of these plates just so that I could share here! But what really made it feel special was the service. Top notch. The multiple people we interacted with were all Very friendly, professional, and genuinely proud of what they're serving. And you could feel the love behind the whole place. And the blended margarita? Served in an almost comically giant glass and absolutely delicious. This felt less like finding a new restaurant and more like discovering a new favorite. The kind of place that makes you excited to bring friends back! Downtown Olympia is extremely lucky to have Rica Cocina. We left happy and already planning our return. read more

C B.

5

7

5

1 month ago

5 Stars Give this spot a try... you will love it. As a family from San Jose, California, we know and love high-quality, authentic Mexican food. Our standards are pretty high, so we are always a bit skeptical when trying new spots while traveling. Enter Rica Cocina in Olympia--easily one of the absolute best Mexican food experiences we've ever had outside of California! The food was nothing short of awesome. I ordered the Chili Colorado, which was rich, deeply flavorful, and cooked to absolute perfection. My son got the taco plate, which came loaded with five massive, authentic street-style tacos that hit the spot perfectly. My wife ordered the mole enchiladas, and the mole sauce was incredibly complex, balanced, and delicious. Beyond the amazing food, the hospitality truly stood out. We had such a great time chatting with the staff and the owner. You can tell they pour their heart into this restaurant--their business card says "Made with Corazón," and you can absolutely taste and feel that in every aspect of the experience. They genuinely care about their customers and the quality of the dishes they serve. If you're in the Olympia area and craving top-tier Mexican cuisine, do yourself a favor and stop by Rica Cocina. 5 glowing stars from this California family! We will definitely be back the next time we are in Washington. read more

Di E.

0

1

0

4 months ago

We finally have an A+ Mexican Restaurant in Oly. And I am from San Diego, so I KNOW excellent Mexican Cuisine. The food is absolutely delicious. And my Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita was one of the best I've ever had. All the Servers so nice and friendly. The Restaurant is clean and nicely laid out. Highly recommend!!! read more

Chris R.

0

6

0

20 days ago

Rica Cocina has become our favorite new spot! The food is fantastic, the service is great, the place is clean and cozy and the salsa bar is filled with spicy goodness. We shared the molcajate tonight and it was delicious! Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Teresa F.

0

1

0

2 months ago

FANTASTIC! The food was truly amazing! Worth the stop, for sure. Hand made margarita, to top off the meal. it will be our go to restaurant from now on! read more

Rica Cocina - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Valentina’s Lounge Restaurant and Tequila Bar

4.7

(232 reviews)

First we went to Vino downtown (also owned by Valentina) and LOVED IT! And today we are trying…read morehere :) we ordered the asada and cashew green enchilada!! Both get five star! The service here could model after vinos location a little. And the ambiance here is SO CUTE. Over all, Valentina created two of Thurston county's best restaurants in my opinion! I how she opens everywhere. Sorry, the food here was so good. We forgot to take a photo first. Haha

Good drinks, good food, and awesome decor! Came here on a quiet Friday night with a reservation for…read more3, and got seated in the bar. We ordered a few bevy's and snacked on some delicious chips and salsa while we waited for dinner. We were asked if we wanted guacamole, which we said yes, and later found out the 5oz of guac was $12. We ordered the enchiladas mexicanas, habanero enchiladas, and carne asada tacos. My enchiladas mexicanas were soft and had excellent flavor, but could've used a bit more enchilada sauce. Lastly, a man checked our IDs at the table, a lady took our order, a different lady brought our food, and a different lady cleared our plates and asked how we wanted our checks to be split. It was hard to tell who our server actually was and who I was tipping. Overall a cool and authentic place!

Dos Hermanos Mexican Kitchen

4.3

(145 reviews)

One of our best eateries in town. The food is great, the staff is friendly, and it's locally owned…read moreby some wonderful folks. I just love the vibe with the beautiful art on the walls, well lit, spacious. It's just a nice place to hang. Great place for a cerveza, an incredible wet burrito, chips. The whole deal. I've been here almost a dozen times and it's always consistent, fresh, and well prepared. If you're looking for good Mexican, you can't go wrong with the good people at, Dos Hermanos.

I heard good things about this place. I really did. So I was looking forward to trying their tacos…read more I ordered 10 tacos Unfortunately, the chicken was really dry. There was barely any cilantro and onion on top. It was just chicken and considering they were almost 4 dollars a taco. I was expecting a hell of a lot more.

Vino Mar

4.8

(12 reviews)

TLDR: Was great, will be going back again soon!…read more The Nitty Gritty: New Hispanic restaurant with a Caribbean flair by the harbor in downtown Olympia. Pretty spot, light and airy with a plethora (word of the day) seating arrangements, from outdoor, to harborside to indoor "garden" balcony. The service was friendly and surprisingly on-point for a brand new place. Not just our server, but all the servers (and hostess) pitched in to ensure a pleasant dining experience. Big kudos on this front. However, for as nice as the aesthetic is, and the exemplary service, the real star of the show was the food. My wife and I shared an appetizer, had drinks, two entrees and shared a dessert and it was all amazingly presented and tasted out of this world. We started with the garlic shrimp, served in a garlic cilantro sauce, with poblano rice and crostini, it was a nice light dish at just the right portion to be shared or enjoyed solo. Usually this sort of dish will punch you in the face with garlic but this was seasoned perfectly. Next up was our entrees; a chorizo and rice mixture served in a hallowed out pineapple. Sweet and spicy (but not too spicy) it was a treat to the senses. My wife had the seafood enchilada served with a cilantro cream sauce and homemade corn tortillas, was out of this world (and this from someone who isn't over the moon about seafood). Finally, we finished our meal off with Bananas Dulce. Perfectly prepared, light, and exquisite served with a generous scoop of ice cream. The perfect ending to a perfect meal. I tend to be critical (especially in this black-hole-of-food area) of the local restaurants but Vino Mar is a surprising star that immediately gets added to one of my local favorites. Go and enjoy!

This place is GORGEOUS. Valentina outdid herself here. It would look right at home in classic Palm…read moreSprings, with a custom bar shape and wine shelves, deceptively intricate candle nooks, and multiple rooms and levels that make you want to explore. The view of the water in the evening light was immaculate. The staff was delightful. They bantered, sang, and danced with each other the entire time, while being able to turn on a dime and offer bespoke service. It looks like a fun place to work. Luke in particular was extremely pleasant. Their Signature Margarita came in a small glass with an adorable tiny shaker that refilled the drink 3 times, preventing it from getting watered down. The Happy Button was a unique, light cream with a slight grainy texture. I'd like to see them offer more cocktails, but this is primarily a wine bar. We didn't get to try the food, so we mentally earmarked a few entrees that we'll have to get next time.

Uptown Grill

4.5

(520 reviews)

i love this place it has best food please contact me here…read moreowner i'm looking for job i can do anything in restaurant very professional. i can cook, prep cook and wash dishes serve customers i have over 5 years of experience working in restaurant and i didnt find your website so that is why i'm applying thru here. you can contact me thru my email igor240528@gmail.com

This is a very nice little spot off the main road. The food was good and very friendly service. We…read moreordered the burger and fish n chips. The burger was too thick but tasted good. The fish was perfect!

The Westside Tavern

4.0

(245 reviews)

Nice tavern in Olympia near Hash and The iron rabbit. I had the turkey sando and tots. Everything…read morewas fresh and tasty. Tots were hot just like I like them. Seemed like a nice neighborhood place.

Five stars - great…read more We went here after pickleball on a Tuesday night. Because it was late, there were not a lot of restaurants that were open. We are sure glad that we discovered The Westside Tavern. The restaurant is a standard bar. You can order food at the bar, or you can sit down and a server will take your order. Service was a little slow, but it was not slow enough to impact my review. I got the Big Easy burger with tater tots. I had never seen a burger served with a sandwich bun, but it worked out great. The burger is large, so a bigger bun made it more manageable to eat. The burger itself was delicious. I liked the tater tots, but they paled in comparison to the fries (my partner got fries with their burger). We would definitely go here again.

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Been here a handful of times, done both done in and takeout. Super friendly staff and clean…read moreambiance, I will share some pictures of the menus for you all. We have always been very satisfied with our orders, come give them a try.

Food was good. Services was superb and very nice cozy restaurant not so big but make you feel like…read morehome.

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I had a lot of hope for this. I've had their catered stuff at an event before. The salsa was good…read moreand the carne asada and pork both good. So I had high hopes. I was SORELY disappointed. First, they don't post prices next to their menu items on their board. That should be a red flag. One burrito preferred. Total, after tax: $19.75. WTFreak!?!???? Burrito barely had any meat. Like, barely. Barely had any cilantro. Like, barely. Barely had any sour cream. Like, barely. What it did have a lot of was beans and rice. So, as you can imagine, it was soooo dry. They gave me two red sauces, both just half full. And if you think this was just a good salsa taquera, you're wrong. It was filled with other stuff (onion chunks, etc. Seems like it was simply some old salsa, but it also had almost no flavor. So maybe it was fine that these two little to-go ramekins didn't last past the first four bites. Completely dissapointed, especially after having their good catered meal.

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•$$$

The food is amazing and the atmosphere is wonderful! The jazz band is wonderfully talented!read more

Probably the best RISOTTO that I've ever had. And I've ate that dish all over the world, even the…read moremicrowavable version. Olympia- what are you doing?!! Why aren't you here EVERY night?! Best. Risotto. Ever.

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