La Tarasca in Centralia - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Best Mexican food in Washington. Tacos adobadas are a must. Carnitas is their specialty but I prefer Chile Colorado or Guajillo...the tamales are excellent as well.

Great family restaurant that has been a reliable standby forever. We had their specialty pork, and it was yummy. 😎

Delicious! Authentic, mole yummy pazole fabulous!!!!

**5 stars aren’t enough!** I can’t believe I didn’t visit La Tarasca sooner. I arrived just before they opened, and noticed the parking lot was already filled with people waiting in their cars—a great sign! Inside, we were warmly greeted by the owner, who shared her family’s rich history and the inspiration behind the restaurant. Instead of the usual chips, they served pickled carrots, which was a delightful and unique experience! I tried my first tamale here, and WOW, I never knew what I was missing. I also ordered the carnitas, and they were absolutely fantastic. I will definitely be back! Thank you so much!

Most interesting Mexican food I've ever had. Carnitas were excellent, Chicken Enchiladas were awesome. Chicken is served on the side with the enchiladas. They don't serve chips, must be a Michoacan Mexico thing. Great "Mom & Pop" type of establishment.

Best tamales I've ever had. And they are very GF friendly for people with Celiacs. We drive 30 minutes out of our way to go here when we want tamales.

Great food, outstanding service with a personal touch helping us figure out what dishes can be vegetarian, and love the down to earth decor!!!

What a find! This is worth going out of your way to make a roadtrip lunch stop for. Classic Mexican with friendly family owners/staff

Stoped on our way to Portland and the reviews and praise for this place are 10000% accurate. Some of the nicest service and such delicious food! This will be my go to anytime I’m in the area!

Great food and service. Wife has diet restrictions, and the server helped her with no issues. Was a great place would love to come eat more Pork Carnitas very yummy.

Michoacán style Mexican food. Delish.

We had an incredible experience and enjoyed the authentic food as much as the kind, genuine service. The homemade tortillas melt in your mouth and the horchata was perfectly refreshing. We recommend the Carnitas and Chile Relleno. Make sure to stop here when you’re in Centralia!

Potentially the best chorizo I’ve had in my life. Can’t recommend this place enough.

Love stopping here whenever passing through. Delicious food and kind people.

Simply amazing. This is the best Mexican food I've ever had. If you're in the area this place is a must visit.

This is one of my absolute favorite places to eat. I drive an hour and a half one way to eat here. The food is out of this world. Their carnitas melt in your mouth. The beans and rice are full of flavor. Their homemade tortillas are light and fluffy. Don't get me started on the impossibly creamy flan. Did I mention spicy pickled carrots? Because spicy pickled carrots. Potato filled tacos and soooo much more. Everything is made from scratch and fresh. This place is such a gem.

Beautiful cafe. Attentive and friendly staff. Superb pork tacos, mole’ and flan. We’ll be back soon.

The best authentic mexican food on the west coast!!!!

Very friendly! Tacos and pazole were great

The food is GREAT, the service was fine... Two stars is for their feelings / actions against our constitutional rights off of their property on our public sidewalks...

Amazing experience all around! Great food and great service !! New favorite!

Amazing food and people !!!!! Focus don't have enchiladas

I’ve never had Mexican food quite like this. If you’re looking for free chips and salsa and a frozen margarita, this isn’t the place for you. However, if you’re looking for a unique and authentic Michoacán food experience, La Tarasca is definitely for you! The carnitas were perfectly cooked and served with the best beans I’ve ever had, plus a very fluffy and tasty Mexican rice. The homemade tortillas were perfect for wrapping up the carnitas and salsa (which was a much more subtle tomato and chili affair than I was expecting). My partner got the sopes, and from the bites that I sampled, those were some of the best I’ve had. I came here because I was already in the area for something unrelated, but knowing that La Tarasca exists, I would drive down here just for this food!

I cannot give this place enough stars!! I've been going here since I was a child! The family that runs this are the kindest people ever! And the food they make, oh my goodness it's so good!!! I recommend this to anyone looking for super authentic and most amazing hispanic food you'll ever eat!

This was some of the best Mexican food I've ever had! The service and atmosphere were great too. I highly recommend this place. We got the enchiladas and tacos de bistek. I wish I had a picture but we dug right in and ate the whole thing!

It's one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to

When driving between Portland and Seattle, I often stop at La Tarasca in Centralia WA. Lovely family owned restaurant, with friendly people, and good food with Michoacán style (which is unusual to find in the US). They make everything, including the yummy tortillas. This is the real thing (yes, I have lived in Mexico).

Super cute place! We ordered the adobada tacos and the Pollo con mole. Everything was amazing! Tortillas are also homemade. We also ordered the chicken tostada off the kids' menu, and our kid ate it right up! We can't wait to come back and try the chili relleno! Also FYI beer and wine only.

Had the potato taquitos. Awesome. Love that they serve pickled spicy carrots on the side.

Always delicious. And the service is wonderful. Love this place. The pickled carrots are legendary.

Authentic, delicious, fresh food with great service!

Very delicious and a lot of gluten-free stuff

wow. genuinely the highest praise to La Tarasca. the owners are very proud, and for good reason! their homemade tortillas are probably the best you can get, and their flan is so good! reminds me of my own moms! this is easily the best mexican food i’ve had in america, and i’ve been to many different places. They are also very friendly if they aren’t as busy - it felt like i was with family! if you’re in the area, definitely go here. the many good reviews are here for a reason.

This is not "authentic". "Authentic" to me is a person following an "authentic" recipe, with a list of ingredients. We all know you can give a written recipe and the exact same ingredients to 20 chefs and you will have 20 different meals. This is Grandma, Mom, and Brother making lunch and dinner for the family. A Mexican family, cooking for the family. If you are lucky enough to sit at their table, you will come away full, happy, and feel you have just touched something very real and special. This is just amazing food that will feed your soul.

Amazing- the food, the people, the atmosphere.... probably the best we've ever had. Be sure to get the flan for dessert- it is amazing!!! The tamales and tortillas are homemade, fresh, and spectacular

Great gluten free place ..relatives said best Gf food ever.

Great michoacan style food. Decently priced.

1st time my husband and I ate here. We brought my parents all the way from Hoquiam. It was everything my parents said it was to be expected.

I had rice it was very good thanks

Amazing experience here! Service was fantastic and super efficient. Loved how much pride the owner had in her food. Highlight for us were the abodaba tacos and tamales. Refried beans nd home made torillas were best I've ever had. Drooling as I type this... Thanks for a memorable experience, we'll be back!

Lovely Mexican place! The service was friendly and quick and the food was great. The restaurant is also decorated beautifully. I'll definitely stop by again for more delicious food!

Had my favorite, a chile relleno, plus rice, refried beans & freshly made corn tortillas. Mercedes is such a sweet, efficient lady & offered me homemade flan for dessert. It was so good!

They cook good food and they're faster, the flavor is ver good.

Excellent food, excellent service!!

It was a total pleasure 🙂 to find a true Mexican food restaurant. No watered down flavors. The staff and owner were amazing.

La Tarasca has been one of my favorites for years. From the rustic Saltillo floor to the brightly colored decorations it radiates its Michoacán roots in a cozy dining room. All the dishes are deeply flavored and showcase the variety in the family's recipes. The fresh tortillas are delectable and go with everything, just like the pickled carrots and fresh salsa. Whether you want the carnitas, the chile colorado, the tamales, or anything else, you will be happy for it. All it takes to experience this is to go another minute further off the interstate than the run of the mill joints. Everyone should be eating here. And save room for the flan!

Amazing, authentic dishes and super friendly staff! I love the Chile Verde!

Have been here a few times when passing through. of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to. The food is authentic, so don't expect to get chips and salsa when you sit down. The last time I was there, we were told the tamales were very fresh. They were delicious and highly recommended. Portion sizes are great, and you will leave stuffed.

Wonderful cooking, wonderful service! I ordered the chili relleno platter with vegetarian beans, and the perfect flan. This is a really special place.

Amazing vegetarian options! Salsas and pickled carrots were amazing! Would definitely recommend!

The food here was AMAZING. The owner's from Michoacán in Mexico, is so so friendly, and gave us great recommendations for what to order. We got the carnitas, enchiladas, cheese quesadilla, some tacos, flan, and loved them all. Super fresh delicious corn tortillas too

This is a very nice place to eat. The food was good, but I've had better. Only been there once, as their hours are not always correct. I've been there twice, and they were closed. They need to do a better job of updating hours. As of today, it is closed until January 10th, 2024. Food: Tortillas-great Carnitas plate - They were good, but could have been better. The beans were great. But the rice was subpar. Rice was not flavorful, very bland. Menudo small bowl- with hominy. The hominy is not part of the menudo because it's not served in Michocan that way. But I have always had it that way. In any regard, I would not order this again. The tripe was not flavorful and having made Menudo for years, I can only guess it wasn't cleaned good enough or not cooked long enough in the pot to absorb the flavor of the spices. Because there is a taste that it had that results from poor cooking habits. Also, garnishments were not enough. They provided limes and oregano, red chili powder, but no cilantro, green onions, or yellow/white onions. They did have a spoon full of chopped onions on top. I will visit them again and try a different meal. Keep you posted.

Esta persona tienen una forma de atender super mala no lo recomiendo y la comida no tienene nada que ver con michoacan

Best Mexican food outside of Mexico!! LOVE this place. Always a stop when I come down to Centralia. Don't expect chips and salsa. Best handmade when you order them tortillas. And the beans are simply wonderful. Make sure you stop in!

Delicious authentic Mexican food. The best north of Michoacán.

I have never had better Mexican food! I regularly drive 200 miles (100 each way) to eat here. I search for reasons to visit Centralia just so I can eat here. When asked where I wanted by Birthday meal, this was my choice. The service can be a bit slow, but the place is always packed and they are doing the best they can. Besides, this food is worth waiting for.

Best Mexican food in WA! Their mole is incredible.

This place is incredible!! If you’re in the area, you u just go and try the homemade tortillas and carnitas!! It’s might be worth it to just go to Centralia to go here!!

LaTarasca has been a long time favorite of mine for the last 20+ years here in Centralia, Washington! The Comida at La Tarasca is authentic Mexican cuisine, it feels as if you are in Mexico when you sink your teeth into the deliciousness! I hear the flan is to die for, but I have not had the pleasure of trying that yet, this will definitely be part of my order next week! Thank you so much La Tarasca.

The food here is fantastic. Pozole, tamales, potato stuffed enchiladas, flan, horchata, bread pudding.... it was all delicious and almost the entire menu is wheat free. The corn tortilllas were aoft, supple, and delightful and the flan is the best I've had in big generously portioned squares.

We review restaurants around WA, and we were very excited to try this place considering it’s TripAdviser rank. DO NOT GO HERE!! We were disappointed. The food was ok.. fairly bland honestly. We have never been treated like this in a restaurant, server was rude & we felt very rushed. She had an attitude & glared at me multiple times. We were extremely uncomfortable & felt out of place our whole meal. I asked for a bean enchilada, & they gave me a Potato enchilada. How this restaurant has a #1 ranking, is beyond me.. Please go somewhere else. Server should be ashamed.

Amazing food! Amazing service drove quite a bit to come here and it did not disappoint. I will definitely recommend this place to everyone I will be coming back!

Loved the excellent food!! Well worth the stop!

Food was good,service was fast. A cute place not too far off the freeway. A good spot for a quick meal. Recommend the pozole.

They don't offer chips/salsa or outdoor seating for dine-in but that's not a game changer for us. Staff is great, food is authentic and delicious, what more can I say? The carnitas are to die for and my son enjoys the ala carte tacos. Come try La Tarasca, you won't be disappointed!

Very few dishes on the menu. A little expensive for what you get. Chicken tacos are great!!!

Very authentic killer food!!! We will be back! Puts all other Mexican restaurants to shame. Thank you for your hard work!

Killer food. I was recommended by the owner whose car I tinted to check out his restaurant in Centralia. I finally got the chance. I had the chile verde, my wife and sister had the chicken soft tacos. All the food was fantastic. It truly is authentic Mexican food. Highly recommend. 👍

Not at all authentic, food was very bland, everything tasted like it was just boiled, not actually cooked. It had no flavors whatsoever. Had better food at taco bell. The waitress was nice and friendly.

Tasty Mexican food. Parking could be packed on a busy day. Indoor and outdoor dining available. Outdoor dining needs to be to-go order as they do not service outdoor dining. The sauces did it for us, there's variety of sauces provided such as red and green salsa, chili powder, Italian seasoning, pickled carrots, and mango pico de gallo. The only complaint I have would be customer service is more dismissive than friendly, and some of the items are definitely over priced.

Food was delicious! I really enjoyed the carnitas (a house special) Solid service in a welcoming atmosphere.

I don't know why it said I visited here, but I haven't.

Same delicious food, friendly. Be aware just like everywhere else prices have gone up. $46, lunch for two.

Pure authentic Mexican i’ve ever tried. It’s a must visit.

A hometown delight. La Tarasca has been in business for years, and the 5 star service, food, and atmosphere has never declined. It is always a pleasure to dine in, you're treated like family, and the food is absolutely perfection. Pro tip: make sure to try the tamale de Pina

Wonderful food and decorations. No better road trip stop.

Real authentic Mexican food! Really.

So delicious! A great sit down option for authentic cuisine. I had the carnitas and it was absolutely delicious!

Alwaus friendly snd welcoming! Fresh! Quality! Authentic!

A true jewel. A charming place serving very good Mexican food. The staff were always smiling and ready to assist.

Absolutely amazing! Was so delicious, and charming! They make REAL rellenos!!! 🤤 I will sing praises to La Tarasca 🙌🏼 and definitely visit again!

Great place for a different style from a different region of South America!! Awesome staff!! Glad that we stopped!!😉👍😋👊❤️

Excellent authentic food. Great service as well.

Excellent food with traditional region specific and family recipes. Will definitely stop by again the next time we go through Centralia!

Great spot to eat, I highly recommend this place.

When you want a meal like you would get at your friend's moms house, this is where I'd go. I went with ppl that were expecting chips and salsa, sorry pickled carrots, onion, and jalapeños here (I just love them). I had the Pork Carnitas special. I usually don't eat meat, but it was sweet and smokey, such rich, unbelievable flavor with no sauce. That's when you know it's good. The homemade tortillas were perfect. The rice had something maybe smokey about it. Rice with salsa is a favorite. I was not disappointed with either. I am allergic to everything but Mexican beer (histamines), so it was nice to have a cold beer with my meal on a hot day. There was enough food that I had it for 2 more meals. The service was excellent as usual. My friend was also disappointed there was no taco salad but said her tacos were really good.

Amazing lunch. Flavors unlike what you find at a run of the mill Mexican restaurant. Was really grateful the owner was around to make recommendations. Loved it and was we’ll worth the short trip from I-5

Possibly the best Mexican food I've had in Washington state. Adobada is delicious and the staff is delightful.

Tasty family ran restaurant...the homemade tortillas were great!

My partner had read a article in the Seattle times on places to eat as you travel north or south hy 5 . We were headed home after trip to kalama. Wa and decided to stop for lunch at la Tarasca. The woman who seated us was so pleasant and asked us if it was our first time there? I ordered a tostada and my partner ordered pork carnitas. Both excellent . The carnitas come with homemade corn tortillas. We both enjoyed the food and the atsmosphere. Oh one more thing don't go looking for generic chips and beans to be set down in front of you. You get these wonderful cut carrots that are pickled and salsa. The hostess will tell you food from her region mexico. If you want authentic Mexican food go there.

Wonderful mamasita serving genuine Michoacan food made from scratch with love.

We stopped here for lunch with low expectations. It was great. Friendly service in a bright, clean, cheerful room. They served us salsa and spicy carrots when we sat down. Yummy. We all loved our main dish - after listening to our waitresses strong recommendations. She didn’t steer us wrong. My daughters hibiscus tea was also delicious. We were pretty full but couldn’t resist sharing the flan. You shouldn’t resist it either!

Tasty Mexican on the way to St. Helens. The hand made tortillas are super tasty, as was the pickled veggies. Note they don't do table chips.

We had just finished our vacation in Seattle and were driving back to Battle Ground to visit family. Centralia marked the halfway point of the drive, and we decided to visit this restaurant based on the great reviews. The restaurant did not disappoint! We arrived just as the lunch rush was getting going. We noticed that they had a sign posted saying they don't serve tortilla chips and were a bit bummed out about that, but the amazing food far outweighs the lack of chips. Our server was a gem! She asked if it was our first visit there and then recommended food for us since it was our first visit. I ordered the carnitas plate (their specialty), my two sons ordered their pork tamal as well as a chicken tamal, and my husband ordered an adobada taco (at recommendation of the server), a pork tamal, and a tostada. Everything was delicious. My husband was so impressed with the adobada taco that he said he wished he had ordered two of them instead of the tostada. Corn tortillas are made fresh at the restaurant. Best of all - I got to taste refried beans just like my grandmother used to make them. It's rare to get beans that taste exceptional, and this place has it! We were so impressed that we encouraged our in-laws to try them out when they are in the area. Thank you for such a wonderful meal.

As soon as we drove into the parking lot we knew it was going to be an authentic dining experience. We were greeted warmly as we were seated and given a history of the regional (Michoacán) cooking. Brought to our table instead of the same old, sad chips and salsa were pickled carrots and onions with a kick in the tastebuds salsa verde! The service was excellent and plates arrived quickly. I wanted to order one of everything on the menu, but settled for the tamales which were some of the best I have ever had. I live in Seattle and don’t own a car, but I am seriously considering an Amtrak trip back down for the day just to eat at this place! I highly recommend La Tarasca. Go, you will not be sorry!

Wonderful signature dish is pork carnitas. Fabulous ! Waited on by owner.

awesome spot, worth stopping for sure when you drive through centralia.

It’s a lie!! If someone says the food here is good, it’s a lie. The food is AMAZING!!!! The tacos are amazingly good I nearly cried when I took that first bite. Been craving authentic Mexican food for a while and this just hit the spot. The owner is also very welcoming and kind. I totally recommend this place 100%. Zippy

The tortillas were the only good food they have here. I had a sope, carnitas plate, and chile colorado and they were bad for my taste.

Absolutely exceptional food. Flavorful and authentic. I was thoroughly satisfied. I've lived in major cities like NYC and Boston and none of the Mexican restaurants there (or restaurants in general) match the quality of the food here. I'm blown away. If you pass through Centralia you MUST stop here for at least a tamale, hopefully more than that because the carnitas and mole are superb.