La Carta De Oaxaca

They have family-style sittings, but finding parking can be hard. Also the wait can be long if they're busy, but once you get in they... more

Met a friend here for dinner on a Friday about 6pm. The place was PACKED. Like as in, to the gills, no... more

Met a friend here for dinner on a Friday about 6pm. The place was PACKED. Like as in, to the gills, no there is nowhere to stand while you wait for a table, excuse me as the waiter rushes by loaded with plates of yummy food, packed. We sat at the bar. It was empty! And as it turned out, it was one of the best spots in the place. We tried a sangria (not as good as my friend's proprietary Sangria, but his is tough to beat) and chicken mole negro Oaxaqueno (black chile mole with chicken, served with white rice and tortillas), the house specialty. I realize I am in the minority here, but I was not ""wowed"" by the food. It was good, but it didn't kick me in the pants and make me fall in love with it. I have made mole before many times and I left feeling a little underwhelmed. The good news is, for those who love La Carta, there will be that much more room as I probably won't make it back. more

Met a friend here for dinner on a Friday about 6pm. The place was PACKED. Like as in, to the gills, no there is nowhere to stand while you wait for... more

I'm not sure what all the excitement is about regarding La Carta De Oaxaca. I have now been several times and find myself rather unimpressed. The environment is at best homogenized and boring kinda like Starbucks. The restaurant is sooo loud! The service is ok. The staff gets the food out quick and are generally prompt considering how busy the place is. I just think there is more to a good restaurant experience than prompt service. I want to be engaged, and I want my servers to have a personality. I want to feel like I am getting more than just food. I just think La Carta feels like a fast food restaurant. With a seriously boring and overpriced menu. There are far too many great restaurants in the area for me to get excited about this place. more

I walked in after hearing good things about this place, I should have read more reviews. Person was rude to me as I walked in, said they were closed, even though there were lots of people eating. It was shortly after 3PM on a Saturday. Won't be back, it's obvious they don't need my business. Pros: No pros I didn't actually get to eat Cons: Closed after 3PM on a Saturday more

Always good service, even when they are slammed. Food is great and very consistent. You may have to wait a bit for a table, but it is definitely worth it. Pros: great food and atmosphere more

Best mexian food in Seattle! Awesome bar tenders and strong drinks! more

Food - the dishes we were served - was excellent and the margaritas delicious. We were given one glass of water for a table of six, despite requests for five more. Other food items we ordered were never served. This is the worst and rudest restaurant service I've ever experienced! Two members of our party left the restaurant in tears - so much for a celebratory evening. Wish I'd read ballardanne's review first. more

I just had the most bizarre experience at a restaurant ever. I went here with a friend and her daughter and my husband and daughter decided to join us. We told the waiter that two would be joining us. After my family sat down, the owner came over to tell us that they couldn't eat with us since others were waiting. They could not order and could not eat. We, however could order additional food, but if my husband ate it he would be asked to leave. Needless to say this unnecessary confrontation was an embarrassment and very upsetting to our kids. He said he would rather stick with his policy and lose us as customers than to accommodate. Hmmmmm must be nice to have sooooo many customers that you feel so cavalier about throwing a few away. I will never be back - there are other authenticate Mexican places to eat at. Just about any taco truck springs to mind...... more

This is my boyfriend and my absolute favorite restaurant that we go to at least a few times a month. The food is beyond fresh and is not your typical American-Mexican food that is dominated by refried beans and huge platters bigger than a football. Yes, the portions are small, because they are SO CHEAP (plates are between $5 and $8) and meant to be mixed and matched! We usually order three plates when we go, and often an appetizer (their shrimp cocktail is delicious and again, so fresh!). So as long as you realize that this place is meant to have small portions so you can try different plates, then you will love it. The atmosphere is so much fun and... shoot. I want to go right now! Pros: Fresh, fresh Mexican food, really fun atmosphere Cons: None, except it is so popular that you will definitely wait! more

Heard some talk about how wonderful this place was so tried it out. Not wonderful, at all. Had 2 tiny tacos for $5+ each & it would have taken at least 3 more just to make an entre, much less a meal. That is, if I hadn't cut it off and escaped when I did. Probably should have figured this place to be more hype than substance as soon as I saw the stupid church-social style table layout & the parking garage flourescent lighting. Evidently the reviews of this place have somehow benefited from a freak mass of people who either just don't know better or are too afraid to call the Emperor clothesless, as it were (think those who voted for JWBush twice). Anyway while I walk by on my way to better restaurants I am now torn between laughing at & running up to yell some sense into those lemmings who actually wait in the cold to get inside this unworthy spot. Please, don't be a lemming. Pros: If you have too much money & too little taste, this place is for you. Cons: Rediculously over-priced, poor ambience, etc. etc. more

All I can really say is yum. Fish tacos were great. Chips and guac were awesome too. Jason, the bartender was cool with us havin a lil fun, and closin the place down. Ha ha more

I had heard so many people recommend this restaurant, and finally tried it this weekend....was very pleased with the choice. Had the Mole and it was amazing. Portion sizes are on the small side compared with other mexican restaurants (ie. chicken mole for lunch had 1 chicken thigh, some rice, and two corn tortillas for $9)....but it's definitely quality over quantity! more

this place is located in ballard, and is really super busy during the dinner hour. it can be hard to snag a table sometimes, but is definitely worth the wait for the great, authentic mexican food. you serve yourself when it comes to the salsa bar, but you order as you would at a normal restruant. the fish tacos and mole dishes are fabulous choices! Pros: great flavor, great food Cons: very busy and sometimes a long wait for a table more

I came to La Carta de Oaxaca as a gluten-free diner and had a fabulous experience. My husband and I ate a late lunch and were seated right away, but I think we just got lucky--the restaurant was still packed and filled up again as people left while we ate. My pork mole tamale was sweet and richly flavored; my husband's tacos enchiladas (a lunch special) had a red sauce that stood in contrast to my mole but was just as delicious. Service was busy but fine. The photos from normal life in Oaxaca that cover the walls are interesting to check out. I highly recommend the restaurant. more

The person who wrote the review below must be greatly mistaken... as Fantasy Island is no where near Oaxaca. Perhaps they are not aware that the people of Mexico happen to be a bit shorter than other Americans, and that they sound extremely inappropriate refferring to a person of ethnicity by comparing them to a little person of fictional character. Perhaps they also have never been to a busy restraurant where you do, indeed have to have a complete party in attendance before being seated.... or that in these circumstances, when a business is exceptionally busy, they have seating policies for a reason. You are not the only person waiting to be seated....\r That being said, the people that work at Carte de Oaxaca are extremely nice, and accomodating in many ways, even under the pressure of running such a busy restraurant. Not to mention, they serve the best and most authentic mexican food in the most comfortable environment I've ever had a Mexican meal in Seattle. The chili relleno is the best I've ever had!! the quesadilla is crispy, and filled with just the right amount of queso fresca... and the salsa bar features tons of tasty delights that you can take as much of as you want. Try everything!!! I have yet to see a friend order something they didn't enjoy and rave about throughout the meal.\r If you are worried about a wait, just walk across the street to Thai Ku, they have a cozy bar with lots of yummy drinks. Unless, of course, you have a problem with the height of their servers as well... Pros: the food!!! the tequilla bar!!! the ambiance! Cons: there's a bit of a wait. more

I was very excited to go to La Carta de Oaxaca. I have passed it several times and it has always been packed. I was invited to a birthday party being held there. Our party consisted of 10 people. La Carta de Oaxaca does not take reservations so there was a long wait of almost an hour. Once the table was ready, 8 of the 10 people had arrived and the host, who I can only describe as tattoo from Fantasy Island with a pretentious attitude, refused to seat us as not all 10 people had showed up. We had to plead with this annoying troll to get a seat. French waiters could seriously get rudeness lessons from ""este pinche enano""\r \r Now to be fair, the food is quite authentic. I had the Mole Oaxacano, which I found to be quite authentic. The quesadillas were interesting and the tortillas tasted like they were straight out of a vendor?s cart in small town Mexico. I suppose that is really something to Seattleites who haven?t had anything but Azteca but the food served here is not Mexican Haute Cuisine by any stretch. This is the kind of food you would find at any Oaxace?os house.\r \r Despite tattoo, I would recommend the restaurant. Pros: Very authentic home style food Cons: Tatoo the host is a conchatumadre more

This is the real deal. Hand made tortillas, freshly made sauces. Like travelling to Mexico for dinner. Very busy (because it is so good). Long lines. Try lunch - much easier to get in. Everything is good. Small portions/a la carte menu is a refreshing change from more is better approach of the americanized mexican joints. Chips are freshly made for each order! I can say enough good things about this place. If you are used to americanized mexican you may be disappointed, however if you want authentic this is one of the few places in town to go. Best halibut tacos anywhere! Pros: Food, Food, Margarita, Food, maybe another Margarita Cons: Very busy more

La Carta de Oaxaca is one of the few places to which I would possibly confer the phrase 'authentic... more