Tacos El Catrin

Tried this place today as we’ve just moved to Astoria and the reviews looked good. While this is a «hole in the wall» restaurant in a strip mall next to a hair salon… it is special. My wife and I visit Mexico once a year and we love the cuisine. It’s a pleasure to find a Mexican restaurant that doesn’t simply blast the cheese smothered dish with heat and then serve it on a «very hot plate». Everything served to us was fresh. They are cooking right in front of you so there’s no sleight of hand. It comes from the hot grill to you. I had the pork enchiladas and it was large and superb. Vegetables (carrots, jicama, and peppers) on the side were crisp, warm, and covered with a wonderful chili rub. This is central Mexican cuisine and is spot on. Wife had a shredded beef taco salad in a fresh taco bowl. Loved it! Emiliano is the owner and spent a lot of time with us explaining the prep and their philosophy regarding cooking these dishes. Happy hour menu looks reasonable and fun. We were too early for that. We will definitely come back here. Food takes a little bit longer but it’s worth it. Again, they’re not blasting it in a salamander. They’re grilling it fresh to order.

This place should not be missed! The food was excellent. We had the chile relleno, torta, nachos carnitas and flautos. The guacamole was super fresh as were the salsas and ingredients of our meals. We came up from Nehalem and would consider a weekly trip!

My favorite place to go for tacos, best place around. The owner and employees are are very friendly and helpful, the food comes out fast and hot. I eat here at least 2 times a week.

This place is fantastic! Amazing burritos and everything looks as good as it tastes. Beautifully prepared food and a great ambience. This is our new favorite restaurant in Astoria.

I have returned quite a few more times from my original review, each time is just as great, and have recommended Tacos El Catrin to many others. I would have to say my boyfriend and I’s favorite place to eat, as he’s always in the mood for a Carne Asada Burrito. I usually get the Chicken Tortilla soup, which is as equal in presentation and deliciousness. I’m currently eating my to go order of Almond Chicken with fresh corn tortillas and there are no complaints here!

This is good authentic mexican. Im sorry i didnt try it sooner.
My only complaint i guess is that they dont have a kids menu. I really wish they did so i didnt have to buy my 2yr old a $ 9 burrito.

Delicious. We had the Almond Chicken and my granddaughter had a chorizo burrito. Not a morsel left.

In seven words: my food had a hair in it.
In two words: never again.
If you want authentic Mexican food, go to the taco truck at the Astoria rotary. If you want authentic Mexican hair, check out Tacos El Catrin.

Tasty and accommodating. My husband loved the salsa choices that came on the side of his meal. The freshly made corn tortillas came out streaming in the foil.
I hate onion, so they offered me plain tomato instead of pico and plain avocado instead of guacamole. So nice!
We’d consider this fine dining Mexican, although they didn’t care that we were in casual attire. We would return.

Only the most flavorful Mexican cuisine I’ve ever had!
Not a large menu but an exceedingly well executed array of favorites.
The food is not covered with cheesy slop that hides the entrees… Instead the chef has created wonderful, flavorful sauces that accentuate the entrees.
The Pollo a la crema is incredible as is the almond chicken.
Located in a strip mall and tucked away a bit you would never suspect the finest Mexican food on the coast is hiding in plain sight!

Tacos a bit on the expensive side at $ 3.50 each. I recommend going for the full entrees where you do get a good bang for your buck. A nice all around dining experience with attentive service. If you love the tastes of Mexico, you will not go wrong. Horchata (to drink) was excelente, and wife’s empanadas primo bueno.

Don’t be deceived by the strip mall exterior. This is a very special place. Warm and inviting interior, pleasant sound level and comfortable seating. The staff is very welcoming, but not overwhelming. I had a tamale and a chicken taco with the fresh salsa condiments; only $ 7.00 ala carte. All very nicely done. Looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. I highly recommend this hidden gem.

So far this is my new favorite Mexican restaurant on the coast. The owner cares about his food an even puts an artistic chef flair on the visual presentation. We will definitely be back!

Great food, service, and atmosphere. Located in a strip mall, it looks like a hole-​in-​the-​wall from the outside. But the interior is pretty, warm, and cozy with only half a dozen or so small tables. The two page menu didn’t have the typical cheap combo plates you often see at Mexican restaurants. Menu, including several specialities, included tamales, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, menudo, mole, chilaquiles, tortilla soup, nachos, and ceviche. Numerous types of meat to choose from. Was a little concerned seeing mozzerella cheese on the menu, but it tasted fine in my dinner. No free chips and salsa, but they do bring you four big squeeze bottles of sauces with your meal. Two red, two green, and they each have their own distinct flavors… all very good and fresh tasting!
I had a burrito with asada ($ 9.95) and was happy to see that it was big and grilled. Nice balance of meat, cheese, rice, and beans, with a drizzle of sour cream. Very filling and flavorful and I even noticed that the tortilla was better than normal. It came with a side of lettuce/​veggies that I could have done without. Easily the best Mexican food I’ve had so far on the North Oregon Coast. Service was attentive. Drinks, food, and check came quickly and dishes cleared quickly. Looking forward to coming back! I visited on a Tuesday evening and there was a steady stream of customers.

The tamale was AWESOme!!!
The tacos were killer and with no cheese, perfect! Sauces house made. I’m bringing the family when they get here. oh and a sucker for horchata, and these dudes make it from Scratch!

You will love it.
This place makes me feel as though I’ve walked into someone’s home, instead of a restaurant.
Our sever (and all of the staff) was extremely friendly and kind. They had 4+ specials that day witch was a little confusing. But I think they might still be trying to perfect there menu.
Now to get to the food. I had a tamale and beef nachos. The tamale was DELICIOUS and only $ 2.50. Our meal came out with four different kinds of house made salsa and I had a lot of fun deciding witch one I liked best (there all fantastic) but I’m a verde girl. The nachos were loaded with meat pico and tons of great quality cheese and they make there own chips. My bf was also very happy with his enchilada.
In my opinion, best Hispanic food on the coast. I will be back.

Stopped by on our way to Seaside. Honestly, my girl and I weren’t expecting much. However, they delivered! The service and speed of delivery was a bit iffy, but the food made up for that. It was downright delicious. We are currently in route to go get more. Very cute little restaurant and delicious as well. Glad we found it!

Guacamole was chunky, fresh and delicious, served with fresh-​made, hot tortilla chips. We found Tacos el Catrin on Unilocal and trip advisor, and it was definitely worth the the 20 minute drive from Seaside. This place would be GOLD in Hawthorne or NW Portland! Warm and engaging server, chef came to ask us how dinner was; overlook the strip mall surround, its darling inside.

The Mexican food here was unique. We had a tamale as an appetizer for $ 2.95. It was delicious! I had beef filled empanadas which had the lightest shells. Almost like a Mexican phyllo shell. my husband had enchiladas topped with Mole sauce. They served these dishes with sauces on the side that ranged from mild to habanero! It was unique to me that one of the sauces was a guacamole sauce in a squeeze bottle. Everything was very good and plated creatively. I also enjoyed a cilantro margarita. What really made this place special was how excited they were about their food and service. It was a happy environment. It is unusual to not be served chips and salsa, but i did not miss them at all.

Upscale Latino Food
Amazing Mole
Fresh HomeMade Horchata — if you have only ever had the powdered kind it isn’t the same
The best well balanced torta we have had in decades!