La Carta de Oaxaca

Amazing little Mexican spot. House margarita was heavy handed and delicious. Not syrupy like they can be. Food portions were a teeny bit small, without sides but so great! Very small restaurant as far as seating goes, sry hard to spot from the street. Service was over the top.

Being a Southern California Girl, La Carta de Oaxaca made my Pacific North West Taco dreams come true.
First of all, do you know how hard it is to find legit Mexican food in the state of Washington?! La Carta de Oaxaca exceeded expectations.
I ordered the Tacos Al Pastor, which is a set of 3 carnitas tacos, with crema and a side of guac. The texture of the carnitas was perfect, flavorful, moist, and with just enough kick. was also impressed by the tortilla. 90% of the time, I skip on tortilla, but the flavor, texture and amount of tortilla was just-​right.
The crema tied the components of the taco amazingly.
$ 8 for 3 medium to small sized stuffed tacos. I’m 5′ 6″ with a small frame. Get 2 orders!
Other notes: They are closed on Sundays.
The restaurant has limited seating!
Great for going on a date.

Overpriced food that didn’t come out great and rude staff. Won’t go there again. No thanks.

Wow, this place was delicious! I had been wanting to try this place for a while and I’m so glad I finally got a chance.
We got the chips and guacamole to start. The chips were hot and the guacamole serving was huge and it was homemade and delicious.
I got the chile relleno. It was amazing! The chile relleno was cooked perfectly. The sauce that came with it was so good and it was huge! It was one of the tastiest, authentic chile rellenos I’ve had. It came with rice and beans. Usually the serving of rice and beans overpowers a dish but not here! It was just the right amount of rice and beans. It also came with handmade tortillas.
I really enjoyed this meal and would highly recommend a stop by for dinner sometime!

Awesome hole in the wall. Open seating when you get inside. There’s a salsa bar. Enough said right?
We got enchiladas, chips and guac, and the mushroom empanada. All amazing. Great spot for groups or casual dinner– does get loud sometimes though!

Not bad. Salsa’s were especially tasty. Ordered mole negro plate. Would have to say my favorite thing was the side of pinto beans. Would come back.

I’ve heard many say this was the best Mexican in town and I finally went.
This place has a bomb sangria, I enjoyed the yellow curry sauce on the mushroom empanadas and the prices are very reasonable… besides the $ 3 per person chips and salsa charge.
I wouldn’t rank it above Fonda La Catrina or El Sierenito though. I thought the food in those spots were more interesting and unique. Nonetheless, La Carta de Oaxaca is a solid Mexican offering in town.
3.5 stars

Great location in Ballard. Went there late for dinner and got a seat right away. The staff was quick to bring drinks and a menu.
They have excellent home made tortilla chips and guacamole. Plus a salsa bar with some of the best salsa Verde I’ve ever had.
I ordered the chicken tacos fritas. They were perfectly cooked and delicious.
Highly recommend this place. Can’t wait to go back!

Best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to! Super authentic and very reasonable prices. It’s a very small restaurant so it can get a little squished and it’s especially hard to get a table on Friday or Saturday nights. There’s really no waiting area either so if you’re stuck at one of the tables near the door you’re kinda outta luck because people will be hovering over you (however, it is better in the summer because then at least people will wait outside). Even though the seating situation can get a little uncomfortable, the food is worth it! Delicious!

I’ve been hearing about this place for a while, and I’m ashamed that it took me so long to eat here.
Tiny little bar area with a couple seats that basically just serves as an on-​deck circle while you’re waiting for a table. We got a drink while we waited for a table. Only took about 10 minutes at 7pm on a Sunday night. Atmosphere is loud when it’s packed, but not too anxiety-​inducing (and this is coming from a guy with an anxiety problem!)
Waitstaff were all nice. Service is on the slower side. Took FOREVER to get a second round of drinks ordered. I got tired of waiting and got my date her second drink from the bar. Waited a little bit longer than normal for the dessert menu, but I wouldn’t drop my review to one stars like a lot of you nut jobs on here. My significantly better half and myself both speak Spanish at varying levels, and the waitress was patient with us and spoke to us in Spanish.
The food was pretty spectacular, and I liked the slightly smaller portion sizes. The chicken in the mole literally fell apart with a touch of the fork. My shrimp was cooked perfectly. The refried beans were the most authentic tasting I’ve had since I was in Mexico. The rice was quite good as well. Onto dessert: best flan I’ve ever tasted, and the plaintains were incredible. Blackberry sauce, sweetened condensed milk. it was decadent and a pleasure.
So glad to live just a couple of blocks away. I will definitely be coming back here!

I love this place, Everytime I go here I’m happy and the people are just the best!
See you soon!

One of the best, most authentic Mexican restaurants out there. LOVED the chile relleno, green enchiladas, and tacos. Decent prices for the quality food. Can’t wait to try more of the menu.

If this is the best mexican you’ve ever had, you shouldn’t embarrass yourself by writing these reviews.
Seriously underwhelming. We got the al pastor tacos, and chicken mole tamales. The meat in the al pastor was bland, not juicy, not tender, and included the texture of flour (??HOW??). came on one bleh corn tortilla. The presentation for the tamales was interesting, it came wrapped in a plantain leaf. That was probably the best part of the tamale, the mole was too sweet for my taste.
Just overall so bleh. The ambiance was also only ok.
And dear white people of Ballard, please go visit a legit mexican joint in the burbs.

There wasn’t a single thing about my experience eating here that disappointed me. The salsas were out of this world, the margaritas were the best I’ve ever had, the food was a good price, and the wait staff was very friendly and didn’t make us feel rushed at all. I wish I would’ve discovered La Carta de Oaxaca before I moved away from the Seattle area. Will definitely come back each time I visit home!

If this is the best mexican you’ve ever had, you shouldn’t embarrass yourself by writing these reviews.
Seriously underwhelming. We got the al pastor tacos, and chicken mole tamales. The meat in the al pastor was bland, not juicy, not tender, and included the texture of flour (??HOW??). came on one bleh corn tortilla. The presentation for the tamales was interested, it came wrapped in a plantain leaf. That was probably the best part of the tamale, the mole was too sweet for my taste.
Just overall so bleh. The ambiance was also only ok.
And dear white people of Ballard, please go visit a legit mexican joint in the burbs.

My first time trying Oaxacan cuisine and was pleasantly surprised. They have a salsa bar with several options ranging in type and spiciness. There is something for everyone. The food is truly amazing and 5 star worthiness. We ended up ordering Quesadilla Fritas, Entomatadas, and Mole Negro Oaxaqueno (pork). All were fantastic.
The reason for a 4 star vs 5 star is just the atmosphere of the restaurant. We were seated in the middle of a large table next to a group party of 4 adults and a larger group with 4 kids and 3 adults. It was loud and I was constantly being elbowed by the adult on my right and kicked in the leg by the kid on my left. This place opens at 5 and by 5:15 was already full and taking down names.
Despite how crowded this place was, our water glasses were always full and there was great customer service. Great food, great service, but small location.

This Mexican restaurant is «gotta-​check-​out» Mexican restaurant in Ballard. Love the atmosphere, service, and the food. My friends and I ordered chips and tried all of their salsa choices at the salsa bar. They have a great variety selection from non-​spicy to spicy. I love it when Mexican restaurants give you a variety of options for salsas; it gets boring with only one type.
For lunch, I ordered the Halibut Tacos. I am very picky when it comes to fish tacos, and these were the bomb! Although I wish they doubled their tortilla so that my taco wouldn’t break. The tacos were fresh and had the good amount of fish. I also had a side order to their beans and rice. AMAZING! Unfortunately, the tacos don’t come with them, so make sure to order beans/​rice n the side. Totally worth it! I would highly recommend checking this place out.

I just noticed that I have never written a review for Oaxaca! I’ve been here several times throughout the years and it’s always been consistently spot on. The guacamole is worth it believe me YUM. Okay so this place is small and there is almost always a wait which is usually the reason I don’t come here as often as I’d like to.
Most of the plates are on the small side so keep that in mind and consider ordering more than you think you should if you’re really hungry. The halibut tacos are my favorite– so juicy and mouthwatering goodness.

Mexican south of the border for Ballard prices… They nailed it!
Leave the kids behind.
Kids options quesadilla or plain black beans. We chose beans. Chips and small bowl of beans $ 12.
Would have been extremely helpful to have known dishes are small plate style. Waited almost forty minutes for dinner to get the smallest portion of tacos we’ve seen since living in Mexico.
No offers for drinks, no helpful advice that plates are tapas or appetizer size. No napkins, no knifes, no room between tables and we’re pretty small people.

This is by far the best Mexican place I’ve been to in Seaatle. Although their place is small (hey, it’s Ballard), they do have a large party room that holds at least 20 people if you have a large group.
I like how they have a corner bar area with 4 seatings, so me and my friends were able to grab a drink and wait for our tables to be ready.
We ordered #9, #19 and I forgot what was the other one called. They were all delicious. Beef were tender, rice were done right even the most basic tacos fritos were great. Love how they have an open salsa bar with lots of different salsa available. ((I think their salsa are homemade cuz they taste so unique)) I would give it a 5 star if the tables were not that close to one and other. But overall experience was great. Would definitely come again :)

Pros: Seated immediately. Multiple styles of salsa were tasty. Black beans were delicious.
Cons: Terrible service. Had to ask for a waiter. Someone dropped off chips but didn’t bother mentioning that the salsa was self-​serve. Sat around for quite awhile before finally having to ask someone.
Mole tamale & Mole with pork were so disgusting that we could barely eat them. It was so incredibly sweet. I could stomach about a bite and a half of the tamale before giving up. The tiny condiment sized bowl of black beans on the side were great though. Wish there had been more of those. Maybe it’s a Oaxaca thing but every Mole I’ve ever tried, despite the chocolate, has leaned more toward the savory side.
We didn’t think it fair to send the food back simply because we didn’t like the flavor of the Mole. So, we ended up paying & then just ate at another restaurant instead. Looking back on the experience, if we had wanted something as sweet as dessert we’d have rather just eaten at Hot Cakes next door.
That being said I would still give it another try but if that doesn’t go well then we probably won’t be back. Sadly, this place came so highly recommended to us.

This place is pretty solid. They win my vote for good Mexican that’s close to my apartment although their prices are sliiightly higher than I’d expect.
Salsa bar is a plus. I wish all Mexican places did this. I’ve gotten the prawns which are delicious. Chips and guac are delicious. Chicken mole is delicious also.
I’d take a date here or my mom. Great place!

Ok I approve of the mole here! I grew up having a best friend who is Oaxacan and I of course always came over when her mom would make mole. Although the style of this mole is different than her mom’s this mole with chicken was equally BOMB. But I have to say the star of the night was the Lamb Birria it was a party in my mouth! If you need to know what to order here get the lamb birria! All the food we ordered was great. They serve handmade tortillas fresh off the comal which is always a huge plus!
I think the chips should be free and I was sad there was no horchata available today cuz their horchata is delicious but overall I think this place is great and recommend it.

This was one of the recommendations given to us as «where to go for Mexican food in Ballard.» We googled «best Mexican food in Ballard» and Unilocal led us straight to it. Tip – parking right out front is PAID parking (if you’re from out of town like we are), so make sure you pay the box at the end of the street!
Food: My husband and I ordered the chorizo & eggs. It was so good and had the right amount of spice. One plate was enough for the two of us. The DIY salsa bar was really nice as well. I liked being able to help myself.
Drinks: n/​a
Atmosphere: While the inside was quite crowded, we sat on one of the few outdoor patio tables and really enjoyed the experience… minus the line that stretched out the door to get in.
Service: Considering how busy they were, our server was kind and helpful. He was a bit hard to understand and the food took a while to get out to us, but again, we were just happy to have such a nice table!
Happy Hour Offerings: n/​a
Overall Quality: Lots of food and delicious taste!
Overall Value: Not too expensive for a huge plate of food.

This place is delicious. Came with a few friends a few weeks ago for a weekend lunch and was amazed by the quality and flavors of the food.
Expect a short wait, La Carta de Oaxaca does not disappoint and will nevertheless attract customers of all kinds eager to enjoy their food.
I had the mole negro and shared a plate of the halibut tacos. We also had micheladas made with a stick of tamarind jam that was simply delightful. Their mole negro sauce was spot on. Smoky, chocolaty with hints of spice and sweetness. Their halibut was fresh and flaky, not overcooked with perfect pairings of lettuce and lime juice over fresh corn tortillas. They even make their own tortilla chips fresh so you have that hot feeling with a salty bite as you plow through a handful of these awaiting the arrival of your delicious meal.
Overall, great service by the attentive staff. Food quality and flavors were enjoyable as I would gladly come again to try more dishes.

I’ve had a lot of different dishes here over the years but I recently had one that made the record books. Usually, I order the pesole or tacos but this last time I got the carne asada. I was really impressed with the tenderness and quality of the meat, it was delectable. The handmade tortillas are probably the best (maybe only) quality tortillas you can get in Seattle. I do like their margaritas but typically stick with a beer. Their salsa bar is super great too.
One thing that deters me from this establishment is their service wait time. It’s just borderline too much. I don’t have much of a problem getting a table but once I’m there it feels really drawn out. It is in a really fantastic location in ballard and if your lucky you will get a spot on the patio.
Overall, if I would recommend one authentic Mexican place to someone in Seattle it would be here. I will continue to come here and would love to see them grow and improve.

Several parties waiting, pretty full inside, hostess asks, «how many? 2? Okay, 10mins. You are number 15.» She doesn’t write anything down and yet we are seated right on time. How she do that?
Seated against the wall, right next to others, it is loud like an audience to what feels like a circus. Monkey facing a wall of photos, one of which, features a striped, big top tent-​like shade, tall flashes of fire illuminate the kitchen and the unmistaken tuba music blankets the chatter surrounding us. We are elbow to elbow and she talk that «omg talk» so damn loud. Sure, while there’s a Monkey briefly on the table, I can’t help but expect to see elephants walking past the door.
Monkey do:
CHIPS & GUACAMOLE– $ 6 for guacamole half the size of an avocado?! We mixed two servings of salsa with the guac to make it last
CARNE ASADA TACOS– homemade tortillas, marinated steak, plenty of onions, cilantro & mild salsa. Fantastico!
If the tortilla breaks while you are savoring every delicious bite, just shove it all into your mouth. Asada is chopped into small pieces as are the onions & cilantro. Mexican baby food.
Monkey loved the tacos and is already craving our return…

I like this place, came here for dinner the other night and it was already packed but we were able to slide in between some peoples. Seems to be family friendly with a nice large community table in the middle, some smaller tables around it for parties of 2 or 4. I like the décor, photos/​pictures on the wall. Very relaxed place.
We decided to order a few beers with our chips & guac, nothing like a good Tecate to wash it down! Great salsa bar at the kitchen counter area, they had about 6 different salsas available, from mild to spicy.
I was sold on getting the Al Pastor tacos, comes with 3 in an order, pretty good! Meat was tasty & flavorful, I like the simplicity of the onions & cilantro with a nice salsa verde on top. A few hits of lime and I was mowing them down! I probably could’ve eaten a 6’er but didnt want to be all gluttonous! They make their own tortillas as you can see the lady making them up front.
Service was fine, refilled waters quickly, checked on us a few times and was quick to give us the check when we were ready. Cool spot, definitely gets busy and hopefully you dont mind sitting close to others or community style or try to have this super personal conversation because we will probably be able to hear it.

Completely packed when we visited on a Saturday night, but the wait was just half an hour. You need to have your full party present, otherwise they won’t seat you. We were seated at the table by the door, which is practically right against the door when it opens. It felt cramped in there, and it was pretty loud.
I tried the carne asada plato, and thought it was good. The meat was flavorful, but was a little bit chewy. Portions were smaller than I expected, and no free chips? Guess I’m just use to places with bigger portions, and that come with complimentary chips. I almost always have leftovers to take home, because I eat smaller meals, but with these portions. I pretty much finished the whole plate in one sitting.
Service also seemed scattered/​lacking. They never checked up on us, and they only refilled our waters once. when we were paying our bills. They also gave us more change than they owed us, which I guess was nice? But probably not good for their business. The server apologized when we let her know though. It also seemed like they round up, so they didn’t give us exact change.

Fuimos anoche y eramos una mesa larga de hispanoparlantes, nosotros cuatro y un grupo como de diez en la misma mesa. La comida riquísima y la atención no solo esmerada, también paciente. Todo más que bien.

Best. Mexican. Food. Ever. Ever. EVER.
Go here ASAP. Muy muy muy muy Bueno!