Mexican
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South of the border in Tacoma and Olympia
by Jake and Jason de Paul
Jan 18, 2007
AROMA CAFE
Resonant Mexican-Cajun-Mediterranean influences, spicier than ever, weight the small, sturdy standard menu. 1001 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.8215.
EL PULGARCITO
El Pulgarcito a tiny Salvadoran restaurant on Pacific Highway in Lakewood, offers a tasty tour of El Salvador. If you insist, though, the restaurant has a few Mexican dishes, such as pollo ranchero and carne asada, for the unenlightened. 12134 Pacific Highway S.W., Lakewood, 253.582.5173.
EL TORO
You can’t say you’ve really lived until you’ve had the chicken molé at El Toro. There is nothing else like it in these parts. No, make that the chile verde. 3820 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.2265. Also in Lakewood at 12914 Pacific Highway S.W., Lakewood, 253.588.5888.
LINK: El Toro's Camarones a la Diabla on Spew
FUNKY IGUANA
Extremely fresh, solid, filling Mexican fare served cheaply and consistently. The grande nachos were the best we’ve tasted in a really long time. 2941 South 38th St., Suite F, Tacoma, 253.474.7879.
LA PALMA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Palma boasts traditional Mexican cuisine, a festive atmosphere and knock-your-socks-off margaritas. North side of the Lakewood Towne Center by the Pierce Transit Center, 253.582.8349. There are also La Palma locations at the South Sound Center Mall in Lacey and one block south of the Ballard Bridge in Seattle.
MASA COMIDA MEXICANA
The environment is stylish, metropolitan minimalism with spicy and exotic Mexican fare, handcrafted, exotic drinks, and it’s a popular dance club on weekends. 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560.
LINK: Club Masa Friday and Saturday nights
MATADOR RESTAURANT & TEQUILA BAR
Matador is a flirtatious Tex-Mex spot. It’s sexy. It’s spicy. It’s ohmigawd spicy with quality, fresh ingredients and interesting combinations. Tons of tequila, too. 721 Pacific Ave., downtown Tacoma, 253.627.7100.
LINK: Opening Night party on Spew
LINK: Best of Tacoms 2008
MAZATLAN
A local, popular Mexican chain restaurant where the tables in the vibrantly colored dining room are closer together than Frida Kahlo's eyebrows. The food is good and reasonably priced, and the margaritas are big and potent. 10518 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253.588.8817.
MELAQUE MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Melaque is pink, green and clean. The Tacos Melaque rule. 4820 Yelm Highway, Lacey, 360.459.0818.
PEPPERS MEXICAN
Peppers is a classic Mexican restaurant in that it is more about food combinations and spices than glopping on a lot of Thickener #5. 422 Legion Way S.E., Olympia, 360.943.1111.
REYNA’S
A deity must have plucked this tiny hole-in-the-wall from a Mexican village and dropped it on Garfield Street. It has everything from chimichangas and burritos to specialty plates such as Mexican stuffed peppers. We’re addicted to Reyna’s pollo de molé. 411 Garfield St. S., Parkland, 253.538.2368.
TACOS GUAYMAS
The real deal. Seriously. 10105 South Tacoma Way next to the Great American Casino and at 2630 S. 38th St., Tacoma.
VUELVE A LA VIDA
The authentic Mexican food is fabulous. The kitchen, open for view, prepares unbelievable carne asada, top-notch tortillas and items that you simply won’t see at most Mexican restaurants in South Puget Sound, such as marinated goat meat and beef tongue tacos. 5310 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.473.7068.
LINK: Best of Tacoma 2008
User comments
submitted 10:46 on Aug 10, 2008 by KeatonWhat about Tacos el Riconsito, right across the street from Vuelve a la Vida? Even more authentic, without the niceties that Vuelve has to offer. Dirt cheap tacos, loud mexican soap operas on the television, perfect. :)
