My boyfriend would always tell me that he thinks this is the restaurant that introduced him to Mexican food for the first time and where he fell in love with Mexican food. We were in the area and were feeling hungry so we decided to stop by. The parking was pretty packed but had a spot or two so we were able to secure a spot. Once we entered, there was a sign that you could clearly see that said wait to be seated and it wasn't long until someone came by. We were greeted by a female hostess who smiled and professionally lead us to a booth to sit at for dinner. The menu was pretty extensive but not overwhelming as they had their alcohol drinks separate from their menu. A male server stopped by with some chips and salsa which I think is now fighting for best house made salsa that I've had in Washington. We ordered the combination dinner, I got mine with the tamale and tostada with chicken while my boyfriend got the chimichanga. We got another refill of chips which were not too salty and the perfect size to get a good chunk of salsa. We eventually had two waiters who was a young gentleman and an older gentleman but they were both so courteous and friendly. This was also probably the fastest we've gotten our food at a Mexican restaurant as it arrived maybe 8-10 minutes after we placed our order. The plates arrived nice and hot with the food portions being huge and the presentation was lovely! I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken as it felt more on the dry side for me but I also just don't like white meat and my boyfriend said it wasn't dry at all. I did love the amount of toppings on the tostada as it was stacked high with fresh ingredients on a bed of refried beans which was seasoned perfectly. The tamale was also absolutely delicious and I have had many tamales and I can say this tamale is immaculate. My boyfriend's chimichanga was delicious too from the bite I had and how he cleaned his plate. I can vouch that this place is authentic (dated a Mexican guy and their family spoiled me with amazing food and parties) and my boyfriend agrees that this spot is the perfect place for amazing Mexican food for those who are wanting to try or are hesitant. The staff here are super friendly and professional, they will even pack up your food! It just felt like going to a friend's to enjoy amazing vibes, fantastic food, and a overall good time. Definitely want to come back to try more dishes and drinks. read more

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Was not a fan, margarita came in a little plastic cup. Food was mid. Had a weird flavor that wasn't quite American Mexican, and wasn't authentic Mexican. I did like the tostada. Our water was an older gentleman and he was good. To woman coming around taking pictures was weird, like, I'm not trying to get a picture when I'm stuffing my face and sipping a margarita, but thanks. Also they were playing American pop music, I was t feeling the vibe, especially for the price read more

Tonala Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Great ambiance with Spanish music. The restaurant is designed as an upscale Mexican restaurant, looks very nice inside and has a sitting bar with tvs. The service was excellent provided by Gerardo, he was attentive and very polite, service was 5/5!! Food was meh, for the price we paid, I was a little disappointed. We are from Cali so we know how authentic Mexican food tastes. We tried the carne asada tacos plate with beans and rice, the lunch special of fish tacos, and ground beef nachos. The problem with the tacos was the tortilla. For the fish plate it was chewy and soggy, the fish was flavorless. Beans and rice tasted great. Food was 3/5 but giving a four star review for the service and ambiance. read more

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Tonala is my absolute favorite go-to Mexican restaurant in Tacoma! The food is always delicious, good drinks, excellent service, and they used to also turn into a small lounge at night time for dancing (I'm unsure if they still do it). Angela is the sweetest server ever! I've been visiting Tonala since they opened and she always makes my day. Everyone is very welcoming. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I'll share a few of my favorites. Start off strong with their guacamole and bean dip as the appetizer. The appetizer menu has really good options; the taquitos are super good make sure to ask for some salsa verde to dip them. If you're in the mood for soup they do have Pozole & Menudo on weekends only and both are really good, rich in flavor. You can't go wrong with a quesadilla, I like mine with Carne Asada. Their salads are delicious, if you have a smaller appetite their chicken Tostada is a great option. The Enchiladas Verdes are fire and a must try. The Carne Asada plate is my fav go to - always cooked to perfection. They have delicious tacos and seafood options as well. They have really good, strong drinks so make sure to enjoy a mojito or margarita while you're there ;) read more

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Service was quick and friendly - we came on Mother's Day and although busy, we were seated within 5 minutes. Our waitress was so attentive and did not miss a beat! The owner was around putting in work, bussing tables and bringing out food which I totally respected. This restaurant is family owned. Food and Ambience - authentic and quality was so good! My parents and brother have been here before but due to location, it didn't catch my eye. However, never judge a book by its cover. The inside is cute, clean, tv to watch sporting events and the food is top notch! There is also a private dining area for parties. 10/10 all around! Less than $150 for a party of 5. Can't beat that!! read more

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The horchata doesn't really taste like horchata the tonala burrito was trash put the fries in the bag lil bro

Customer service was genuine, observant of anticipated requests, mindful of resources and communicative. It was a great display of teamwork by mature servants who were obviously self-driven to enhance the customer experience. I could taste the love put into the creation of the food. Everything went down smoothly. Portions were just right and the plate was empty- no leftovers or waste! Ambiance was calm and inviting. It made me even more curious to explore the culture, history & more cuisine. I'll be back!!! With friends & family. Excellent establishment, you bring great honor to our community. read more

I have been going around town and trying Molcajetes. I'm sad to say that the Molcajete at Tonala is just below "Meh". The best way to describe is is a very cheesy and bland Molcajete for people who are skittish on trying one. The rest of the food here has always been good. So is the service. Not to mention the place is very nice inside. read more

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Decent food, very awkward staff trying to take a photo of you mid service then sell a framed photo back to you for 20$.

I came here for my coworkers birthday back in April of 2022. The food and drinks were really good. Definitely an authentic Mexican restaurant. Service was excellent too! read more

Tonala Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Delicious food with affordable price. Great atmosphere. Clean restrooms. Service was great. Hidden gem in Tacoma. read more

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We always on the lookout for a good Mexican food place and we found it! Date night gone right. The service was amazing hard to find rare in the PNW. We ordered more food than we could eat but worth every bite and penny. Definitely be returning. read more

Tonala Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Great service food is pretty good too The ambiance is comfortable I have had their avocado salad twice it's probably my favorite dish Where as some dishes are hit or miss the chilled relleno was very watery like it had been pre frozen then heated up not a fan Chips and salsa are good too I still have yet to try more from there menu will definitely try again read more

Very friendly staff. Family friendly and great decorations. Food is great, served hot. Drinks from the bar are top notch.

Another visit - though two years apart lol - Stopped in with my daughter and had another great meal. Chips are amazing- I had fajitas and she had chicken quesadillas- Even the ice tea was good. Lots of service from different employees and the experience was great. We will return read more

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Food was delicious and the service was just as amazing! Price was reasonable and worth it!

This is a very good Mexican Restaurant, with many traditional dishes, as well as numerous unique Mexican dishes. The food and service was great. I will definitely return. read more

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Came here for lunch by myself and was so warmly greeted and welcomed. The Huevos Divorciados were delicious! The coffee was exceptional, too--tasted like Christmas in a cup, and sort of had a Mexican hot chocolate after taste! The restaurant has a fun, clean, relaxing ambiance on this Thursday afternoon. Big kudos to my waiter, Gerardo, for being so kind and attentive! read more

Service was the best I've had in this area ever. Vibes excellent, drinks delish and food a1

Delicious authentic Mexican food. Service was excellent too. A must-visit spot in Tacamo for Mexican fare.

We had a great meal at Tonala! The top shelf margarita was delicious. I had a Mexican pizza which hit the spot. The best part was the friendly and efficient service and the clean welcoming vibes! Definitely worth a visit if you are in Tacoma and in the mood for hot plate Mexican food! read more

The service was fast and the food was delish! I also love that the restrooms were clean. I came with my mom during lunch and it wasn't super busy. She said it gets busy on the weekend and mentioned they have great drinks! Will visit again next time i am in town read more

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I'll keep it short and sweet, we came here because we skipped lunch and wanted something filling. Service was fast and friendly. The tortilla chips were warm, the salsa was flavorful (on the salty side, but bring it), and the entree was DELICIOUS. The pico was a lil dry but otherwise I really enjoyed my carne asada. It was cooked perfectly. read more

We had a 70th birthday party for a friend in their back room. Our waitstaff (one person) was great. There were 26 of us and she was able to keep all our drink and food orders straight. The food was good. Most enjoyed what they ordered. The atmosphere was good too. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

I mean...it's fine? Passes as Mexican food but nothing to write home about. The reason to go is to get better prices for the area. Service is friendly and accommodating. read more

My favorite Mexican restaurant. I love to come here with my family. Definitely a repeat location for me.

Super tasty super good and will definitely be back a bit on the pricy side but worth it

The place is nice but the food is not good. We're had the chicken fajitas and chicken sopes. The sopes were not good at all, the shell was super soggy. The fajitas had a ton of onion and the limited chicken was bland. There was also no actual salsa, no spice. You can't have Mexican good without a good salsa. read more

We finally found a place we love since we moved. I can't say enough about the food, service and atmospheres. We are regulars now. The queso is incredible and priced very well. The beer and alcohol selection is above average and even better than a few local(downtown tacoma) high end restaurants. We sit at the bar if that makes a difference read more

Tonala Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I love this place! I always sit in the bar and Omar is literally always my bartender. He's friendly and funny and makes delicious margaritas. The food is fresh and full of flavor. The nachos have cheese on every layer of chips. Their chili relleno is my favorite. When you're here you feel taken care of and well fed. I just wanted to share my love for this place. Here's my drink on National margarita day! read more

Tonala Mexican Restaurant - Original Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Delicious food. Service was amazing. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Service was quick. Shrimp tacos were delicious. Highly recommend!

First time here. Great food and margaritas. The wait staff is fantastic! Very attentive. Restaurant is a bit loud but not so much that you can't hear. Apparently this is the place to be for Birthday celebrations...3 of them. Looking forward to going back! read more

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Good Mexican food. Always good to find good, authentic Mexican food. Wait staff was very attentive

This place is definitely a hidden gem. The food is delicious and authentic, service is on top of it and you get a lot for your money.

This spot has been home to several failed restaurants over the years and sadly I think this will ad to the list in time. First off, it's really pretty inside. They did a great job with decor and music and staffing. Points there! Plus it's clean, a favorite of mine. The drinks were good (we had two house margaritas, nothing special). The service was also good. Nothing thrilling. If anything a little over attentive....we don't need to be checked on by four people every five minutes in rotation. But the food. Why is it so hard to have good Mexican food? We had nachos with steak and they were not good. The refried beans were straight out of a can. The cheese was wayyyy to much so that spots were melty and spots were just thick. There was basically nothing but steak and beans on it, no black beans, no jalapeños, nothing. Their guacamole was beyond bland (I LOVE guacamole) and everything lacked flavor. Please. Please do better. read more

This is my favorite place to eat Mexican food, in Tacoma. Clean... Service is beyond amazing. Food is absolutely, delicious. Love love love love this place!! read more

Great food and cozy environment! Waiters were very friendly and the music was nice addition as well. I'd love to return one day when I revisit Washington State. read more

Tonight we ate here for the fist time and the only thing we regret is waiting so lone! We split the Tres Amigos platter which is enough for the two of us to split, and then some. The chile rilleno was pretty tasty, but a beef colorado was the MVP. I could eat that stuff all day. The decor was pretty and the staff was superb--friendly, attentive, and very welcoming. It's one of those open spaces with high ceilings, so it can get pretty loud, so if you have sensory issues, come prepared for that. You may also want to bring your own water, since they use unfiltered city water, and, well, Tacoma water... We will definitely be coming back to our new favorite Mexican resteraunt! read more

Hello, your local LA born Mexican here. I don't know what everyone else was talking about in the other reviews, but this place is JUST OKAY. Pros: the green salsa that comes with the chips is yummy and the staff is nice. Cons: overpriced, vegetarian options are bland and yuck, the street tacos don't come with salsa (???) Margaritas are weak and also overpriced. Carne asada was overcooked and greasy. Overall, the ingredients used seemed to be lacking in freshness and the dishes themselves are questionably "authentic". Perhaps they were having a bad night, but in this economy, we can't afford bad nights for our infrequent restaurant outings :( read more

Best salsa, best rice, amazing service, and an endless menu of drinks. What more can you ask for?