Lupe’s Hot Tamales
1409 S Gold St, Centralia, WA, 98531
Lupe’s Hot Tamales Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Centralia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Centralia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Centralia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1409 S Gold St
Centralia, WA, 98531 - Phone (360) 736-0298
- Website https://www.lupehottamales.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Carie F.
Stopped in here trying to wait out traffic on our way from Portland to Seattle. This place oozes love. From the cheerful paint and decorations and pretty paintings on the walls to the freshly-made (slightly lumpy, piping hot, very delicious) corn tortillas, to the sweet little princess giggling in the back, it felt like being at a favorite Aunt's for her famous home cooked dinner. We had the mole and shrimp with scallops, both were excellent. The homemade salsas were spicy and delicious. fresh pineapple margaritas had thick pineapple pulp in the bottom and were dangerously tasty. Service was full of love and smiles. What a treat to stumble in here! Made our night.
(5)Nozenji Z.
An excellent meal over all. Really good tacos, ceviche tostada, and pozole. Impressive choice of salsas.
(4)Joseph M.
Awesome spot for fine mexican on the way down to portland. Big tequila selection and reasonable for vegetarians. The horchata and agua frescas are huuuge and tasty.
(5)Anthony S.
I was doing the SLOG a couple weeks ago and popped into my favorite ethanol-free gas station at Exit 77. While pumping $4.25 premium fuel, searched Yelp (or maybe it was Google maps) for "burrito" and found this killer tamale place. The tamales are excellent. As good as I've ever had being homemade or from great restaurants. The salsas they provide are AMAZING. I could of just had chips & salsa. The hot verde is addictive. And you don't have to keep asking for more, as they give you one of each in a giant ketchup bottle. I'm a burrito guru and was pretty happy with the offering. Got the "sweet pork" with jalapenos. A little heavy on the rice and the beans are a bit bland. Huge though. 5 stars by PNW standards. Defintely don't miss this place.
(4)Erica W.
I was in the area visiting my mom. The general consensus was we were all hungry so we decided to go get some lunch. Mexican food in Centralia never disappoints, so that's what I was on the hunt for. Stumbled upon Lupes and decided that's where we would go. Very small quaint little place = hidden gem! There were 2 things I didn't like about Lupes. (Notice I still rated them a 5?! The food was that good!) 1: no Coke on tap. They serve Pepsi in a can. Which means no free refills. 2: (and this is just me!) the salsa. Cabbage salsa, not the standard salsa. Everyone else likes that but I'm picky and don't do veggies. Just mashed up tomatoes in the form of salsa ;) I also don't think the chips are bottomless... I noticed on the menu it had extra chips and salsa listed for $2.50. But a man whom I believe was the owner came over and asked why we didn't have chips, and brought some more over! Awesomeness! But on to lunch! I got the tres fajitas. Which is normally chicken, steak and shrimp served with rice, beans and freshly made corn tortillas. ($14) I don't like shrimp, so I asked for more of the other 2 meats instead. They happily obliged. I can tell you, hands down the best fajitas I've ever had! And same goes for the rice. Usually Mexican rice is kind of dry, and bland. But Lupes rice was moist and delicious. Next time I will ask for no beans and all rice! It's that good! And don't get me started on the fresh tortillas! Soooooooo good!!!!!!!! When we left the man who brought us chips came outside and thanked us for coming in. Must be the owner. Great service, great food! A++++ !!!!
(5)Chrissi C.
If I am ever back in this area, I will stop back again. Stopped in 3 times last visit. Carnitas are the bomb.com
(5)Sean M.
Wow, great service, everything is homemade, the best Chile Releno I have ever had, definitely try their different salsas
(5)Tom B.
I was nearing the end of my photography safari heading south from my home in Olympia. As I was leaving Centrailia I thought "Great time to get a take-out burrito". Problem was I didn't have a clue where there was a decent Mexican restaurant. I practically stumbled into Lupe's, parked and asked 2 young men who were just leaving about the quality of the food. They said it was homemade and delicious. I ordered a take-out burrito, but the owner invited me to dine in the restaurant. I did. The atmosphere is quaint, but charming. The food is as good as the young men had said. For instance, there were several slices of radish, a side of guacamole, and 2 slices of lime to top off an enormous burrito. As I was leaving, I thanked the owner for running such an outstanding restaurant. In fact, I told him I actually had fun! I will be back soon!
(5)Kim F.
Surprised random find while around Chehalis. Carnitas was tasty. Homemade corn tortillas melt in your mouth.
(4)Michael S.
Customer service was excellent fast and friendly. The hot sauces are amazing as is the cabage salsa. MARGARITAS are nicely priced and the home made corn tortillas soft fluffy and tasty. We had our free pork tamale and I would go out of my way to get them. Lupes is a must if you are traveling thru this area.
(4)Jackie T.
Here is the problem! It was 95 degrees out when we stopped by for lunch. The air conditioner was not working so equally hot inside. It would not matter how good the food was supposed to be if you are too hot to eat. Will not return until the air quality addressed.
(2)Cindy I.
Nice half way stop between Seattle and Portland. Beef cheek tacos were wonderfully flavorful. Carnitas was very good with an occasional dry area but the flavor made up for that. They serve the packaged chips warm which was nice. My hubby liked having a burrito for a change, hard to find that in Portland. Oh and the homemade tortillas were excellent and the taco ones were the thickest I have ever had. We will stop again and even though it seems a bit off the path it's not bad because you don't have to backtrack, you connect back to HWY 5 by continuing the same direction. Very nice owner also checked on us and knows it's a bit off the usual streets but we hope they do well!
(4)Sean C.
Super fresh food. Kind, downhome service. I had Camarones a Diablo, and it was great! The kids absolutely devoured the Quesadillas - maybe the best they ever had. My bride had the Tacos, which were great. It's such a treat to find an awesome spot that you might never have stopped to learn about. Thank you, Yelp, for helping us find superb alternatives to big-chains.
(4)eden m.
What a pleasant road trip stop. The food was fresh and delicious. Our group tried the enchiladas, carne asada and garlic & mushroom shrimp. And the Hot Handmade Tortillas !! Great service. Good prices. Next time hunger strikes on the freeway between Portland and Seattle, we'll be back.
(5)SeungHyun S.
This is my first writing review on yelp My explanations for this place won't be good enough to write. You just need to go if you live near by. Im just a visitor from CA. Me and my friend just stop by this awesome place on our way to Seattle. First, i came in to restaurant a guy greeted us really happily. I think he is the owner of the restaurant. This is my first time to have a tamales so i don't know anything about it. Second, he told me what it is and what are people usually get really nicely done. I got port tamales and beef chick taco. My friend also got chicken and pork tamales and beef tongue. Third, this is most important thing. The taste of those tacos and tamales are really amazing. JUST AMAZING. The tortillas are really soft and puffy. Most taco place has same qualities but this place is different. Didn't have this kind of tortillas before. You need to try it. After we finished our food, he came to ask how was it And we obviously said everything was totally amazing. We told him about how good tortilla is and he also showed us how they cook. Thank you for your all help and delicious food! If i come back here to visit. I definitely will come back to this tamales place.
(5)Merav V.
We were driving from Portland to Seattle, with two tired kids, and we were desperate to eat dinner in the area. We got there quite late, but they were very friendly and patient. The food was fresh and tasty. The restaurant decor was charming. A great place to stop on the i5.
(5)Stassy V.
Cute little restaurant. Clean and colorful. Food was really tasty and fresh. Only problem I had was with owner. I called in a order for two shrimp ceviche and a pork tamale and was told it would be ready in 10 to 15 minutes. When I arrived there was no order ready. The owner came out and asked how would I be eating the ceviche? Huh? He went on to say the tostadas would be soggy. I said well wouldn't you pack them separate so they wouldn't touch? He was completely flabbergasted. I told him go ahead and serve the ceviche and pack the rest up to take home. I had a coupon for one free tamale and he told me that's only if I eat a platter in house. I was so weirded out by this guy I said that's fine I'll pay for it. He takes another 10 minutes to give me the tamales. I pay and leave, when I look on the bag there's only 1 tamale!!? Wth? Anyway good food, strange experience. Will not go back.
(3)Heather M.
This family-owned restaurant is serving up authentic delicious Mexican food that will hit the spot! I recommend trying their tacos... they're just like the street tacos you'd get down in Mexico. I personally like the cabeza (beef cheeks) and lengua (beef tongue). Their tamales are pretty good; although I thought they needed a little more filling. They make their own chips (awesome) and their homemade salsas are fresh and flavorful (do note that they are also pretty spicy, so take that into account when using them). Of course, you could always order a glass (stein) of their homemade horchata to cool your mouth off! The platillos (platters) are pretty pricey; however, they contain enough food to feed two people easily. My only reason for not giving them 5 stars is their prices. As someone coming from San Diego, it amazes me what Mexican places up here charge for their food. Tacos and tamales should be between $1.00-$1.50, not $2.50-$3.00. Burritos shouldn't be more than $5.50; not $7.50. However, with that being said, the food is really good AND it is a family run joint, so I'll fork out a few more dollars per item when I'm jonesing for legit Mexican food.
(4)Carla R.
we went here this afternoon based on Yelp reviews, and I am not going to lie; when we got there I said "No way, let's just order something small and go eat someplace else". That would have been the wrong decision. I'm glad we tried it. I opted for a taco (carne adobada), and a sope (carne asada); the husband got a torta (carne asada). Let's start with my food : taco was seasoned pork meat on a fresh delicious corn tortilla with onion and cilantro. The sope was very good on a nice corn dough with beans, and the normal toppings lettuce, sour creme cotija cheese and avocado, and tomato, I was stuffed after I ate it all. The portions are filling. I was disappointed with the cold chips, I am used to warm ones and the "kimchi" cabbage and vinegar was weird- not in a good way. Zanahorias con Rajas would have been better and more traditional in the absence of good salsa for the chips. The torta looked good and he ate every bite before I could even finish my sope so zero issues here. I am from California and grew up in Tijuana so I know Mexican food . Was this the best authentic Mexican food I have ever had ? No. Was it good? Yes. Is this the best Mexican food in this area? Maybe so. This is the first Mexican place I have tried so far. I have only been in the area 22 days. I am still looking for tacos del trompo or "street tacos" like in Mexico. I would hate to think I have to go all the way to Guadalajara or Tijuana to get some.
(4)Alden C.
When I went to Lupes Hot Tamales I was already on a eating binge on my trip, a relatively healthy one though! Since Lupes apparently is best known for the tamales that is what I ordered. They have three kinds of tamales to order from and I got two of each since I was doing supper detail that night. They have a pork, chicken and vegetarian tamales. The vegetarian tamale had a filling that was made of a squash or perhaps sweet potato. All three types of tamales were delicious and they were still nice and warm when I got home to Steve! They also includeed three different kinds of sauces for your tamales which also tastes fantastic! While I was waiting on my "to go" order I had a nice conversation with the waitress who was very friendly! I look forward to going back and trying more of their menu items here!
(5)S C.
Good authentic Mexican food and very friendly staff and service.
(4)Adam K.
It was a drizzly day, and my lead turned out to be a dead end, so I stopped in at Lupe's for some grub. Never been there before. The building was in a cold part of town; not sure I would have ventured in from the looks of the place on the outside, but the inside was warm and clean. The waitress was a nice gal. I showed her a deal on this Yelp thing, and she gave me a free tamale with my plate. Later I tried a slice of that Mexican cake with the milk inside. She gave me the cake gratis. A real nice gal. I tried a bottle of Mexican beer: pretty good, really. The gal brought me a mug from the freezer. That mug was covered with frost like my windshield on an overnight job in January. Made me feel like a kid drinking out of that mug, but I kind of liked it, really. I ordered the chile relleno with the cream sauce. That hit the spot. The broad who was with me got the chicken en mole--the meat was a little sparse, she said. But they also brought us some home-made tortillas, which are hard to beat. We had plenty of those. All in all, I liked the little place. I'll be stopping in again if a trail leads me up that way.
(4)Anthony T.
I've been several times now and the service is great, the food is amazing, and the prices are reasonable for the amount of food you are served. I went today with some friends and as always everything was just right. The cooks beautiful young daughter greeted us as we sat, helped the server delivering flat ware and bowls showing the other patrons her glove balloons. I love supporting a locally owned family business. If you're in the mood for amazing food at reasonable prices come here, maybe a beautiful little girl will bring you your bowl.
(5)Cynthia S.
Amazing Lupes sweet pork and regular pork tacos were so yummy Even free cole slaw stuff was great Hubby had carve asada and loved his too
(5)Chris G.
Great food, everything was very fresh. Friendly staff. Taco meat was super flavorful. Pollo asado was good too!
(5)R. C.
Great food, good atmosphere and wonderful pineapple Margaritas. No matter what we order, it is good.
(5)a.c. b.
Birria de chivo -- outstanding! If you like goat, this is a rich, flavorful, and authentic version of the dish. Birria. Birria. Birria.
(5)Kiana M.
We always stop here when driving back from portland. Everything on the menu is amazing!
(5)Charlie B.
Amazing! I got the chicken Carne asada. Can't get better Mexican food anywhere! Lupe's is the best.
(5)Brianna S.
Tamales were good but guy at farmers market last year was rude. But I'll give him another chance next farmers market. Maybe he was just having a bad day. Bad days happen to the best of us.
(4)Mike W.
Awesome, and Very Traditional . The salsa's are very hot also the Platters are a lot of yummy Food. The setting is nice .Service is Very Good. I also reccommend Tamales , Fantastic
(5)Valerie S.
Delicious! !! Amazing Carne asada!! Everything is fresh & yummy!!! Only request we ask is for milder salsa. Bill & his granddaughter were so polite & very attentive. Thanks for the awesome birthday dinner :-)
(4)Karla S.
This place is legit. The food is awesome and they have some really unique items we haven't seen at other Mexican restaurants. Do not miss the carnitas! The pork is soooooooo tender!
(5)KJ H.
Best Mexican I have had in a long time! We had their enchiladas and mole. Blew our socks off. And that avocado salsa is something that I now have to try and reverse engineer as I cannot go without it in my life. Might have to plan a another trip just so I can eat there again.
(5)Liz W.
Lupes was a nice, homemade Mexican spot in old downtown Centralia that was a nice change from usual pitstop in the outlet mall area. It's a neat little bright orange cottage with a handwritten menu. The ceviche tostada was very fresh and light. The tacos were also fresh and tasty. Very good homemade tortillas that took it up a notch. I am not a tamale fan in general but theirs was very good quality. Nice selection of salsas for your chips. Can't imagine there are much better homemade options of this quality and value in Centralia, but I haven't tried them all. We would go back for sure.
(4)Bob W.
OK, GET OFF THE FREEWAY! - You are missing something very special... A few exits off of I-5 from Tacoma to Portland is a place called Centralia, to me it's like coming home. In the 1970's I grew up in a lovely Mexican barrio in the San Fernando Valley in California, of which I'm very proud. One of my favorite memories is of the practice of making Tamale's at special occasions and the other-worldly smell and taste of "Comida-Mexicana" Here, at this very humble but lovely restaurant you will experience that cherished care and hospitality. The food is unbelievable, if you are fond of Lengua (Beef Tongue) you wont find it any better ANYWHERE, It's remarkable. The homemade salsa's that they provide at the table, served in large "Squirt" bottles are not to be underestimated, They are positively delicious. The green (Verde) sauce is so complex, with hints of Cilantro, Green Onion and what I believe is pureed Cactus (Nopales) would be delicious on anything including a kitchen sponge! - The "Peanut-Sauce" is undoubtedly someone's Grand Mother's treasured recipe because it doesn't taster like any peanut I know, it just tastes fantastic. Add to the charm and love abounding in this place, the menu is nicely varied and as down-home and old-school as you could ever find. If you are feeling homesick, Drop on by for what ails you!
(5)Gene R.
Very unique and homey place. Service was great to say the least. Had chicken enchilada and carne asade along with some tamales. First, the tamales especially the pork where spot on. The enchiladas are highly recommended. Carne asade was very good but prefer a char finish. Experience was really good. Would have been 5 stars however since the tv on the wall was off despite it being baseball season.
(4)Tom M.
Stopping at Lupe's was a big risk, given how good La Terasca is and how often we get to Centralia. It turned out to be a fantastic decision. Great food, wonderful service. Highlight for me was definitely the Birria, which for some reason is rather uncommonly found in our northern, stew-friendly climate. I also really appreciated the fact that our beer was served in a cool, frosty mug - totally unexpected for a small, roadside restaurant. This might have been the best Mexican meal I have had in the Pacific NW, and with La Terasca, Centralia is making a good case for not eating prior to the drive between Seattle-Portland travel, so to eat well mid-way!
(5)Carrie W.
Tried this restaurant based on reviews, glad I did. Ordered a Carne Asada burrito to go. This burrito is HUGE! The tortillas were so fresh, I would have been super satisfied with just those! We came just before closing (felt kinda bad, but hadn't noticed the hours) they were really nice and welcoming. Oh! And they gave us the rest of their rice for free since we were the last customers...and it was very good. There was a young teenager working the counter and she was pleasantly youthful, sweet girl. Will definitely go back, gotta try the tamales...
(4)Ashley P.
Not worth the trip off I5. The service was horrible and by a pre-teen. Our tacos were dropping grease and the chips and salsa are not impressive. "Fresh veggies", as advertised was not the case. The salsa was a dry shredded cabbage blend and the actual salsa came in squeeze bottles. I'm giving a two star rating simply because the tortillas were pretty good.
(2)Hannah L.
Lupes is the best Mexican food that I have eaten in Washington State or the whole Pacific Northwest. Being from Los Angeles where great Mexican food is readily available Lupes would stand out. Their salsas, hot sauce and food in general is wonderful. The carne asada is great, goes on my all time favorite list. Grab a burrito which is just huge. Tacos are outstanding. I would love to try desert there but I am always too full.
(5)Trent P.
Lupes has delivered authentic and locally sourced fresh ingredients with love. Great family and always welcoming. The guacamole is a real treat as well as the different salsas they share with you at the table. After living in Mexico for awhile I am grateful for the cooking of La Señora aqui.
(5)Cassandra G.
You want authentic Mexican food with locally sourced organic produce...meet lupes! This place is incredible!!!! Make sure you try the tamales get a side of hand made corn tortillas. We were staying at great wold lodge and wanted to get some good food totally worth the 15 minute drive! What a find! Highly recommend to any foodie!!!!! You have to search seattle for a restaurant like this one!
(5)Stephanie B.
All I can say is delicious!!! The tortilla chips were fresh and warm, served with a side of slightly pickled cabbage and three different types of sauce. I highly recommend just using the pickled cabbage and scoop it onto the chip. I had the tres fajitas with beef, shrimp, and chicken. It came with rice and beans, sauteed onions and green peppers and your choice of flour or corn tortillas. I had the corn. It was garnished with fresh slices of tomato, avocado, and leaf lettuce. Everything was well seasoned, meat was tender and flavorful and the corn tortillas were fresh. My husband had the grilled beef burrito which must have weighed at leas a pound and he said it was good. He is a food snob so when he says something is good, it is good, lol. We will be back.
(5)Olystacy B.
I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. My co-workers and I have been here several times and every time we go, it is awesome. I have tried several different menu items now and am crazy about their tamales and sopas. I also had a few bites of my friends Cuban Torta! Huge and delicious. We have also tried their trios leche cake = delicious as well. The staff here are so nice and attentive. We will continue coming back.
(5)Deb F.
I enjoyed the heck out of my meal here at Lupe's. Ultra-friendly and really fast service, and some unique offerings. I had the Enchiladas Michoacanas with chicken. It was served in a way I hadn't seen before: 2 or 3 (I couldn't tell, there was so much food) enchiladas filled with potatoes, cheese & onions, under sauce, and then an enormous butterflied grilled chicken breast was on top of it all. Side of rice & beans & some "salad". It was easily enough food to serve 3 people. I ate what i could and had the rest for lunch the next day. Hubby's tacos were exactly what he was looking for: grilled meats w/ onions and cilantro on soft corn tortillas. Oh yeah, and I had a Yelp check-in offer for a free tamale. It was good, if a bit dry. For the money, you are getting a great deal here, plus a colorful, clean place and friendly service. The chips were served with a cabbage slaw-type thing, which was nice but I kind of missed a true salsa. So we asked and were brought 3 squeeze bottles with different kinds of homemade sauces. Worked for us. The only weird thing was the TV was playing some sort of horror movie, and it was getting quite graphic when we were there, with lots of loud screaming...not quite the kind of show I want to watch when I'm eating. But otherwise, we had a great meal at Lupe's.
(4)Skip C.
Being from Southern California we are always looking for a great Mexican food restaurant. While driving home from Tacoma we hit up Yelp for the goods. We spotted this little gem about 10 miles off the beaten path and we decided to go for it. We were warmly greeted at the door by a very friendly family member. One thing I noticed was that the place we very clean. They don't have a kids menu but my kids had a bean and cheese burrito that they devoured. My wife got the best Torta of her life and I had a tongue taco and a beef cheek taco. The food was fabulous, authentic and hit the spot. We chatted with Lupe the cook which is always a great treat. I gave this restaurant 5 stars for the food, the family that runs it and the restaurant. My only problem is it is 2.5 hours away from where we live in southern Washington. Keep up the great work.
(5)Steve B.
It is not a fancy place but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the variety on the menu.
(5)Peter S.
Okay, Chile Relleno is by far my most favorite meal, so whenever I go to a Mexican restaurant, my choice is made... The chile relleno here is probably the most amazing thing you will ever eat. It's addictive.. Bet you can't just take one bite.
(5)Victor J.
We saw the reviews for this place and had to try it out. What a little gem! Glad we followed the reviews. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Murray J.
Great food, especially after a long drive. Quick and very family friendly!! Mole is amazing and guacamole has cotija cheese in it!
(5)Shon H.
Done! I'm not too often through Centralia, but I certainly don't need to eat anywhere else when I am. Agree with all other 5 star reviews. Flavors are exceptional, lovely family run business, don't pass on the humongous mug of iced horchata. Wish I could get the cabbage "salsa" by the bucket.
(5)Abigail R.
Probably the tastiest and most authentic Mexican food I've found in Washington so far! Everything was simply amazing and so, so fresh. Everyone was very friendly- it's so fun to watch this family at work! Definitely worth your time to make the stop.
(5)Greer T.
This place is phenomenal. Not from the area, we stopped at Lupe's based on yelp reviews. I can't thank everyone enough. The ceviche is out of this world. It was my favorite. I also enjoyed the sopes. My husband loved the fajitas platter. If I lived here I would be eating at this place everyday. This is a must try!
(5)D P.
Ok, I am a usually a little suspicious of 5 star eateries especially when there are not a lot of ratings but this place is really good. A bit off the beaten track when going between Portland and Seattle but will be our "go to" place when we have a hankering for Mexican food on future drives. A great, inexpensive family-run restaurant. My wife had the tamales and I had the menudo. Both were excellent!! The tortillas were handmade and the salsas were fantastic. If you have the time to detour 10 minutes away from I-5, I heartily recommend Lupes.
(5)Bryan C.
I had the carnitas and it was greasy and over cooked. The beans were watery The service wasn't good and the waiter didn't come back for a long time after serving our food. I could hear.people talking and laughing in the kitchen.
(2)Scott S.
Thanks to Yelp reviews, I had dinner at Lupes in Centralia, WA tonight. So good...! It left a wonderful taste in my mouth and I will definitely be back! It's in the more "industrial" area of town. GPS almost navigated me wrong. No where near as busy as the Mexican restaurant near the freeway that had 3-star reviews. Walked in to Lupe's at 6:30pm and only one other party was in there... More came in but it never got real busy. They say they specialize in fresh and homemade food, and it did not disappoint. Homemade tortillas - some of the best, if not the best, I've ever had! Homemade salsa - very unique, not tomato based. Lettice based, with seasonings, some tomatos added too. Unique but in a good way. Main course was shrimp and scallops. Very good - and not overcooked. Seasoned perfectly. Rice - very good and moist. Beans were a little thin...but tasted good, and had a bit of crumbly white cheese (similar to Feta) sprinkled on top of it. Very good! Definitely will be back to this place. Great food!
(5)Ruby E.
Chile Relleno de Queso with the creme sauce is to die for ! True Authentic Mexican food ! We'll worth the drive.
(5)Luke F.
6 months later, the place is always packed, the food is still excellent, still wonderful
(5)David L.
Wow! The food is beyond amazing and the service matches. Worth a regular trip from Beaverton Oregon just for Lupe's
(5)Kennly A.
This was the best Mexican food I've had in Washington so far. The service was friendly and the food was excellent. I ordered a jamaica agua fresca for $2.50 and expected it to be just a regular 12 oz glass, but they brought out a HUGE beer stein sized glass. I couldn't even finish it! Their cabbage salsa was delicious and very unexpected. It's literally cabbage slivers with some secret sauce - very refreshing. The burrito was delicious and I was excited that they were willing to let me order a milanesa burrito - most Mexican places flat out say no and try to force me to order a torta. Their tortillas are made from scratch - very fresh and good. The parking lot is to the right and is grassy/unpaved, but it's not a big deal if it's not raining. I will definitely come back here when I'm headed to the outlets - it's only 1 exit past.
(5)Eric P.
Great Fajitas! Alot more authentic than we are used to and that was wonderful. Small and friendly place. Worth a stop.
(5)Catamara R.
Cute place, friendly staff, service was good as well as the prices. Not your normal mexican food items. The ceviche was amazing! They serve pickled cabbage w/ your chips, which was a first for me... also amazing. I didn't try a tamale because I have a whole freezer full of them at home that were just made when I went to Phoenix for the holidays. I do however plan to try one the next time I visit. Menu selection good and portions are more than decently sized! Prices frange from $3 - $13 so if you're on a budget you can still try a few different things and not break the bank, or get a platter for a little more. Oh and they have great margaritas!
(4)Daleasha R.
Great mole, yummy tacos, fresh homemade tortillas, awesome service, and delicious condiments! So glad we found this place.
(5)Michelle P.
Had chicken enchiladas very good.
(4)Cristina B.
Amazing food! Everything I've tried here has been mouth watering. You'll need to make several trips here to try these dishes or go with a big group so you can try more food. I recommend the ceviche and any of the tamales as a must for EVERY visit here. The chicken enchiladas, fajitas and camarones mojo de ajo are also favorites. The enchilada is served with the chicken on top vs. inside the enchilada. It was te first time I've eaten an enchilada that way but definitely won't be the last since I plan to visit this gem several times a year. Definitely worth the drive!! Service was great also. Never had to ask for a refill or anything because they were always on top of it!
(5)Steve P.
The reviews got me to try it out. It was not as good as I anticipated. They may have a lot of Yelp friends if you know what I mean
(2)Payton T.
Excellent! Love this place! Always great food fresh and delicious! Taco Tuesdays $4.63 for 3 tacos your choice! Finish it with tres leches cake call it perfection!
(5)Nora M.
YUM!!!
(5)Angela D.
Absolutely delicious! Best tacos - just like in Mexico.
(5)Paul W.
I'm going to follow suit on the 5 star rating. This was a great surprise. Really great food, recipes completely creative, my mate and I loved it! I loved the cabbage salsa (guess that's what it is) that came with our chips, but my wife likes traditional salsa and asked for and received 3 wonderful salsas: a red, green, and avacado-based. Wow, they were really good. She got the enchilada and I got the carnitas. The enchilada's were prepared with the grilled chicken separate from the tortillas. She's not always that adventurous with her food, but she loved the flavor and it won her over. The carnitas had some of the best flavor in the meat I've had. It was excellent and the portion was huge - I took some home for a late night snack. Service was friendly and attentive. We thought the place was cute and liked the overall feel of the place. This will become a staple on regular trips up the state of Washington.
(5)Frank F.
A fabulous meal with the best mole, I've had outside of Mexico. Can't wait to go back to this modest but hugely appealing cafe.
(5)Casie W.
Best carnitas I've had -- and I'm from SW Arizona so have had lots! Moist, tender with wonderful flavor. My DH had the Cubano and raved about the tasty ingredients including ham, pork and a deep-fried chicken cutlet. Big servings so we both ended uo with to go boxes. Service was polite and attentive. Will definitely put this on our list of "must stops" when we're passing through.
(5)stephanie g.
We have been coming to Lupe's almost once a week for months now. We are Southern CA natives and lived by the boarder so we are not new to Mexican. We are creatures of habit and always order tacos, but have had other things and it's all good food. Pickled coleslaw rocks.
(5)Shawna V.
Last Saturday night my brother came for a visit and we decided to go to dinner. After consulting yelp for a destination, we headed to Lupe's with my 3 children in tow. We arrived at 8:04pm and were promptly told that the kitchen had already been cleaned and they would not be serving new patrons. We walked out the door and we will NEVER return! It is bad business practice to advertise that you are open until 8:30pm and then close your kitchen 30 minutes prior to closing time. Shame on you! We ended up going to Boccata, with no regrets!
(1)Twylla C.
We were going through Centralia, so I decided to check out Yelp rather than pull into one of the restaurants closest to the freeway, and boy, am I glad I did! I will be going back and will make the drive up from Longview for the best, most authentic Mexican food I've had in a long time! First up, chips and a delightful pickled, spicy cabbage slaw in place of the traditional salsa. Thumbs up from everyone in our party! Around the table we had the Cuban torta (humongous, share with a friend), fabulous sopes, chile rellenos smothered in sour cream sauce (next time we'll try half red sauce), pork tamales and ceviche tostados. I don't know how it could be better than this. Great service, nice decor, but a little hard to find off the freeway. The food is fabulous and the prices very reasonable. Update: Ate here again last week and the food is every bit as good as I remembered! Carne Asada Sopes, Ceviche Tostada and Chile Rellenos....I sure wish this restaurant was closer to my home!
(5)Shelly B.
Um. Yeah. It's all true. This is clearly a family run place. And we had impeccable timing to hit it right after a ginormous crowd. We had to wait a bit. But it was definitely worth it! Our waiter was so sweet and apologetic that we had to wait. The food. Amazing. The homemade corn tortillas? Seriously. Delicious. I had the tres fajitas - beef, camarones, chicken. Tender and seasoned perfectly. It's a bit of a jaunt off the freeway if you are passing thru, but worth the stop. Give it a try!
(5)Cory J.
I wish I could say more amazing things about this place, but I'm about to go into a food coma from their amazing Tres Fajitas.
(5)Julie C.
We love this place! The food is authentic and delicious; the place bright and clean; and the servers are friendly and helpful. We drive down from Olympia because this place outdoes any Mexican restaurant we have here !
(5)Mona M.
Everything they say is TRUE!! Between us we had tacos, pozole, and a carne asada burrito. All amazing. We raved about the food at a family reunion and several other non-yelp using family members tried it, as well. 5 stars all around. They had tilapia, chicken enchiladas, and the carnitas plate. I am craving more pozole days later! We can't wait to come back.
(5)Alex B.
Wife found this on Yelp when we were driving back from our daughters track meet and this place did not disappoint. The best part (aside from the great food) was that when I checked in, I got a coupon for a free appetizer. A must visit again when in the area.
(5)Josh S.
This place is really a GEM of a restaurant. Lupe is making food orders of magnitude better than 99% of all affordable places of this ilk. The server was great, the food exceptional, and the ambiance was simple and perfect. Not a place for a romantic date, and the quesadillas were a little unremarkable, but everything else was perfect.
(5)valerie t.
I've since been back to Lupe's a handful more times and I'm not sure how this is possible but it has been consistently more and more delicious! AND I finally tried their margaritas and I am happy to report that they are fantastic!
(5)Stephanie M.
I'm giving this place a 5 star. I am a regular patron of the other amazing Mexican place in Centralia, but so are a lot of other folks... and the reviews have launched it to great success and crowded it full of fork cleaning hipsters. So, we decided to give Lupe's a try. Get the head. Seriously. Go to Lupe's and get head. I mean the cabeza (head) tacos. So.beefy. But more on that later. This place was quiet and open. Big plus for me. My spousal unit and I ordered WAY too much food. I wanted to try the rice and beans, as well as the tortillas, because really, they should be awesome in any authentic Mexican place. While chips arriving at the table are usually a teenie red flag, these came with this amazing cabbage salsa. They were the perfect scoop for the fresh and crunchy deliciousness. We gobbled it and were brought more. We split the rice and beans and each got a tamale. Well, husband got two as well as two tacos. I got the head. Two to be exact. The tamales were nice. Pillowy and corny with moist filling. Rice and beans were good. Rice had bits of chile pepper which was a nice touch. And then there was the cabeza. Unbelievably rich and beefy flavor. Just beyond good. I think they were a bit much for the husband, but next time, I would order nothing but these tacos... and maybe the ceviche that everyone is talking about. If you have never had cabeza and are the least bit adventurous, go for it. It's pretty much beef cheeks. Nothing scary. Go for it. The other bonus, this place is cheap. We walked out paying half of what we would in Centralia. So, if you're in the area, drive a bit further out of the way. It's worth it. And don't polish your fork. It makes you look like a douche.
(5)Bill N.
Excellent lunch here. I had the carne asada and meg had pork carnitas. Everything was perfect and really tasty. Although I think it might have had some MSG. I like MSG but Meg claims it gives her a mild headache. Service was extremely attentive by one of the owners teenage kids. Reasonable prices and great food means we will be back.
(5)scott P.
Yeah good food, being from Caly it's so,so but I would go back, the Veg tamale was surprisingly good - a little pricey though its $$ cause lunch platters are $12
(3)Bob S.
We stopped in Centralia for a bite to eat at lunchtime and boy did we ever get a delightful one! The food is terrific at Lupe's. My burrito was the finest I have ever enjoyed. The guacamole dip was excellent as were the tortillas and locally sourced organic vegetables. What a treat. The beverage menu has nice beers and wines. A definite hit with an attentive staff and a great family, yet somewhat also a quaint romantic atmosphere.
(5)Dave S.
This place is seriously good. Authentic. A good deal, too, when you consider the large portions and quality of food. They give you warm tortilla chips with 3 salsas with your meal. Also, the tortilla skins they give with the carne asada are bomb. It's a family run place, so it's not professionally run. It took a few minutes for the staff to notice me after I walked in because they were busy in the back. Also, there's no air conditioning and the building just feels hot. Still, a great place to visit.
(5)Jill A.
They have the BEST sweet pork burrito (huge). Theyalso have all different kind of sauce and theyare all great. The chile relleno is awesome.
(5)Nephi H.
Excellent in all regards. Came last night and had come again tonight while still in town.
(5)Tami S.
Customer service was good. The food was mediocre. Restaurant was too cold for being 7pm at night.
(3)Christina C.
The Enchiladas were delicious! The food tastes "fresh," definitely a little more authentic than regular "chain" Mexican restaurants. Different flavors than what I am used to. I really enjoyed it. I would go again.
(4)Lori R.
Oh my gosh!! My friends and I had a wonderful experience! We had the Cuban Sandwich and the Enchiladas Michoacanas (one with chicken and one with beef) and everything was excellent! Great value! Lots and lots of delicious food and not a lot dinero spent! My only regret is that I didn't get any photos of our food! ;). So happy we found this cute place and you will too!!
(5)Kelly W.
I just ate here today for the first time, and I will definitely be returning. It was fantastic! I ordered Las Tres Fajitas and was not disappointed in the least. Everything tasted far above par, and I was pleasantly surprised with how authentic it was. Also, the large portion has ensured that I won't have to cook dinner tonight! I highly recommend everyone try this place, as I can guarantee that you will return after your initial visit. Thanks for the great meal!!
(5)Rebecca L.
Wow... thank you reviewers for talking about your experiences here at Lupes!! I had a speaking engagement in Centralia on Sunday and being a foodie I was excited to check it out. We met here as a group of 7 with out calling ahead. The place was clean and the young lady who waited on us was very sweet. The food was amazing! All very obviously made from scratch, the cheviche as FABULOUS, the sopa's were wonderful, the 3 meat fajitas that friends had looked amazing, and they were super happy.. the burritos that two other friends ordered were as big as their HEADS... this is a place I will frequent when ever I am in the area!
(5)Pat M.
We went for lunch and had fajitas, cheviche, sope and a tamale. All the food was excellent, fresh, delicious and homemade. The Margaritas were great too. The server was very friendly, helpful and prompt. I would highly recommend this family owned restaurant.
(5)Doug R.
If you've been to Mexico and eaten authentic Mexican fare, you will love this place. Other American Mexican restaurants claim to offer authentic Mexican food but do not come close to authenticating the real thing. Lupes is the real thing. Great food, wonderful service. The refried beans are exceptional. The pork tacos (al pastor) are amazing and the pork tamales are very very good. We will stop again on our way North on the I-5 freeway which is more like a parking lot.
(5)Anna S.
Mediocre food and horrible service. I tried this restaurant after having the tamales at the local farmer's market then reading the reviews on Yelp, but I regretted the decision after I spent 2 minutes there. I walked in and the place was empty with a young woman wiping down the table. I stood near the entrance, waiting for her to acknowledge me and ask me to sit down but instead she looked at me and went to the back and set down her rag. The ladies in the kitchen looked at me through the service window with a look of annoyance and continued to yell at each other. I thought about walking out, but I tried to keep an open mind, so I stood there for a few more moments, hoping to be seated. The server returned to the dining area, walked to a table and said "is this okay?" no smile, no greeting, no attempt to hide the fact that she ignored me when I walked in the first time. I sat down and was served chips and slaw, which were okay, average quality. I looked at the menu, which was very simple but featured a lot of great selections. The price of carnitas was $12, which I thought was a little high considering the shabby atmosphere and I was already a bit put off by the cold reception I'd received, but I thought it was a safe bet since I haven't met many carnitas I didn't like. Besides, I ordered Lupe's special carnitas so they have to be good, right? It crossed my mind that the special might be that they spit in them, but I don't think that was the case. I made two orders, one for carnitas and one to-go order of tamales. Three sauces were brought to the table, a tomatillo sauce, a spicy, green sauce, and a peanut sauce. The carnitas with the sauces were really good, and it looked like the tortillas were handmade. I was surprised to find they were so good, and the portion was perfect. They were not as good as La Tarasca's, a little on the greasy side, but I enjoyed them immensely nonetheless. After I was finished, I sat at the table waiting for the bill. The young woman was rolling silverware in napkins, so I guessed she was waiting for the tamales to get done before she gave me the bill or came to see if I was finished. Truth be told, I was hoping she would come to the table to ask if I wanted dessert, which I did, but alas, it was never meant to be. I sat there for a few minutes waiting, then finally realized maybe I was supposed to pay up front. I went to the counter where she was rolling napkins and asked if I could pay my bill and whether the tamales were ready to go. I paid my bill, and she handed me a bag of three tamales for $3 apiece. I brought them home and my boyfriend was not impressed. He makes fantastic tamales so he was disappointed by the lack of meat, flavor, and price for the portions. The verdict is... I will not return. Though the carnitas were very good, they weren't as good as La Tarasca's, not to mention the tamales, which are always fresh and delicious at La Tarasca's. For the price, I could have received a grand feast(!) at Tacos El Rey, and wouldn't have had an expectation for service. If you are just traveling through, this should be your third choice under the two I mentioned if you're in the mood for Mexican food. I can see that this place has received 5-stars over and over again, I did not have that experience.
(2)Chris O.
The tamales were pretty good. Not the best I've ever had, but good. They go nicely with a tall glass of horchata.
(3)Clifford L.
Totally enjoyed our meal at Lupes Hot Tamales.....great twist on the guacamole, the cerviche was spot on....I had the chile relenos which were perfection ! Tacos were delicious....I left with the feeling everything was prepared with the customers satisfaction in mind. Definely can't wait to go back when I am in the area !!! A true gem for Mexican food !
(5)Laura P.
5 star. Tasty!
(5)Greg F.
This was some of the best Mexican food I've had in decades (it's Guerrero / Michoacano style and more). All the ingredients were fantastically fresh. The meats were savory and succulent, perfectly seasoned. The portions were generous. And the service was warm and prompt. The last review mentioned the cabbage salad served with the gratis chips. Our kids had the Quesadillas, and loved them. My wife had an a la carte dinner: a tamale, a ceviche tostada, and a beef sope which she couldn't get around to, because she was so full (it's in our hotel fridge for lunch tomorrow, along with some of the quesadillas). I had the enchiladas asada Michoacana - ingredients served on top of the tortillas. Just superb. We had a generous and tasty margarita. An amazingly satisfying meal. This restaurant does it right, to a rare degree, and is worth going out of your way to experience.
(5)