La Carta de Oaxaca Reviews

Plan on a long wait but it is worth it. They have a crowded stand up bar for waiting which is fun to pass the time. Once you get a seat, the food is great and the service is very fast.

This place was packed when we arrived so we decided to wait like cattle in a pen, in the standing-room only bar area. Worth it! The food was delicious and the fresh salsa bar (just walk right up and scoop up what you'd like) was a nice addition. The drinks were also good - no gross slurpy mix for margaritas here (even if you order a fruit-based one). Being a small place packed with people, its loud with conversation but they don't try and drown that out with music which is appreciated. As long as you're not looking for a place to catch up, it shouldn't be a problem. Be prepared to wait but you won't be sorry if you do!

The different salsas are great to try. Chips small and crisp, perfect for dipping. Place is really small, so go at off times if possible. I ordered chile rellenos and a little dry, but just put some salsa on it. The beans are delicious. Quesadillas were really good. Parking hard to find but worth the effort.

This is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Seattle. If you are looking for something a little different with excellent flavors this place is for you. Fresh food, handmade chips and tortillas and fun casual dining. Get the Mole, Halibut Tacos, Carne Asada, and the Shrimp!

My husband is from Oaxaca and this is the most authentic Oaxacan food you can find in Seattle. Traditional plates and handmade tortillas. They even have grasshoppers if you ask for them.

A good place to grab a quick meal which won't hurt your wallet. The chocolate sauce with pork was good.

aside from the noise and communal tables not my favorite, food was amazing and I am picky about mexican! The mole tamale was great! Fish tacos also amazing!! Guacamole wasnt anything too special, a surprise for a place like this. Chips-OMG- so warm and fresh with just enough salt. Salsa-YUM. sweet tamale dessert also a hit.

The wait may be long and it gets crowded on weekends but the food is great. Mostly inexpensive small portions so we ordered ordered several to share. The margaritas were very good and the salsa bar provides a ton of options. We tried the tacos al pastor and a lamb mole dish that was fantastic. The resturant came highly recommended by a co worker from Mexico and I'm very glad we went, a great place

I've been coming here for the past 8 or 9 years now, and it's just as amazing as it was when I first ate here. The food is authentic and delicious, the dishes are well-priced and great for sharing, and the guac is so worth the extra 5 dollars. The service is friendly and prompt; with so many people dying to get in here they do a great job of keeping tables filled without trying to hurry you through your meal. It would be nice if the bar/waiting area had some extra seating and space in general, though.

The real deal - and worth the short wait to get a table. The two mole entres were amazing. We order 5 different items for 3 people and nothing was left! Everything was terrific. We will go back soon.

We have been to La Carta 3 times during our visits to Seattle and enjoy it every time more! During the last dinner I've ordered the fish soup which was very good. The food tastes as if it was homemade by Mexican grandma, a perfect balance of flavors and spices, never greasy or overwhelmed by chili pepper or too hot. Super Guacamole. Best Margaritas I've had! And good value. Fast, super-nice service and fun atmosphere. The decoration of the restaurant is not your typical Mexican folklore deco either, instead a lot of black and white pictures of Mexican subjects covering the nice, tall walls. I wish we had it in the area where we live, I would go every week...

The food a La Carta is some of the best Mexican in the city. It is authentic, cafeteria type atmosphere, worth the long line but short wait. Parking in Ballard is a challenge, but this little gem is worth it!

Nice simple Mexican food. Delicious, fresh and served quickly. Salsa bar has a selection of additional salsas for your chips.

This wonderful gem is very tiny, and I've been told that there is always a wait, but the food is worth it! We ordered the fish tacos, which were absolutely delicious. Very fresh, lots of cilantro, and somewhat spicy chile cream sauce. Excellent sangrias, and the guacamole can't be beat. The only reason this place doesnt get a five is because there were three to our party, and they sat us a a small two person booth. This would have been just fine, except the chair (for the third person) was in the middle of the walkway, so during our dinner people were bumping into me and asking me to move, but the chair could not be moved in any farther since the legs were touching the table legs. This was very disruptive when trying to carry on a conversation. We would be back, but would decline that seating arrangment.

We came here for lunch this week. First, we scored a parking place right in front. This seemed like a good sign. Speaking of signs, the only sign for the place (at this time) is a sandwich board on the sidewalk. The restaurant is casual, not fancy, not artificially Mexican, and the bathrooms are dirty -- pretty authentic. The food is really good, thought the portions are a bit small. I had the Tacos Fritos with beef filling. This was first class shredded beef and these tacos were really good. My wife had the Carne Asada meal and she raved over the beef also. We plan to come back.

GREAT Mexican in a festive atmosphere. Be prepared to wait in line, people line up before they open & the close for an hour in the afternoon between lunch and dinner.

I got 3 carne asada tacos, which cost $9. I was expecting something at least the size of a taco truck taco. I was hoping for a doubled up tortilla like a good taco truck taco. What I got was something that looked like it came from a dollar taco menu at any dive bar at happy hour. Except instead of a dollar they were $3 each. Sorry but that was a rip-off! Three tiny tacos that hardly even cause a dent in hunger is not worth $9. I had finished eating all three before one of the people I was with even took a bite of her food. I was thoroughly disappointed. And still hungry. And out a lot of money for not feeling full at all. It was a great disappointment and I will never eat there again. This place is Seattle pricey (expensive for no good reason). Ever since Ballard became an "it" neighborhood it also became ridiculously overpriced for no good reason. This place is one of the worst examples I've seen. I feel like the plate should have come stamped with the word "PRETENTIOUS" written underneath.

Authentic Oaxacan food made by and served to people from that terrain. So delicious. Watching the food being made with love in a peaceful surrounding is so good for digestion! The servers and chefs have such calmness. Exceptional.

Carte is my favorite Mexican spot in Seattle. I could eat their signature Mole dish for days. The salsa bar is also fantastic as are the drinks. I also know that one time when we had to wait at the bar for a table we ended up getting our bar tab paid for (the rumor is one tab is free per night) so I would say it is worth the wait!

Ok so I put May as the month I went but I go here at least twice a month and for the past two years! The halibut and carne asada tacos and the spicy tequila are my favorite but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. But please don't come on Thursdays so I can still get a seat at the bar!

La Carta de Oaxaca is in the heart of Ballard right on Ballard Avenue. I always try to get there for the lunch specials, which include the best chorizo con huevos ever. This is real Mexican food, just like I had years ago in Oaxaca.

Try to sit outside if you can so you can more easily chat with friends. This place is typically packed though. Fantastic food.

OK, my wife and I love Mexican food, to the point where we can easily discern fresh from frozen. But our host, a Monterey, Mexico native, said this is the freshest and best Mexican food in Seattle. Frankly, we agreed when we had dishes we'd never had before, like Mole' Negro Oazaqueno. We're coming back

Don’t miss this delightful, unpretentious eatery in the heart of historic Ballard. The mole sauce alone is worth the visit - but equally redolent of Mexico are the ceviche and the fish tacos.

Browsing among the incredibly unique shops in Ballard, we stopped here for lunch. The place was packed but we managed to snag two choice seats at the counter. Somewhat noisy (not a place for quiet conversation) but it more than makes up for this with the f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s food! Fresh hand made tortillas are included with most menu items. We watched the fresh tortillas being prepared right in front of us. We started with chips and guacamole and then on to halibut tacos (for me) and vegetarian tostadas (for my husband). Service is quick and friendly. My tacos were over the top! We'll be back! Tremendous value. We noted that a Azteca location around the corner (one of the biggest chains of Mexican restaurants in Seattle) was now boarded up and closed. No wonder with such first rate Mexican food just a few feet away at La Carta de Oaxaca! :-)

This was my first time visiting. I visited last night, a Friday. I went with a friend who had been multiple times previously, and she said it was "off" last night, so maybe my experience was not typical. I don't know. I know that every time I go to the Sunset, the place is packed, so I thought it must be good. I LOVE mole', so I tried chicken mole. It was bland, and a lot of gristle in my chicken, as well. I had to spit bits out about 7-8 times. Fortunately I was with a good friend who did not mind. Now, I thought maybe I was just spoiled because I work often in New Mexico where the food has a lot more flavor, but the Mexican Place in Poulsbo Taqueria El Huarache has delicious mole (also about 4 times larger portions and about a quarter of the price!!), so that is not it. The food just was not that good, not flavorful, definitely not worth the money. I will not go again.

We ordered several dishes to share. The carne asada tacos were so good we needed a second order of those. The food comes out very quickly with the servers all working as a team. They have a salsa bar with 6 types of salsa, all of which were terrific. The crowd was eclectic and there was a great energetic happy vibe. I would not hesitate to return for this great food that was a terrific value too.

We were a group of 4 people for lunch. Very prompt service and the food was excellent all around including delicious mole. Only complaint is that the tables are too close and if you’re unlucky enough to be next to a large group, it’s annoying to deal with.

The food is really good (especially the tamales) but it is quite expensive for what it is. Each item on the menu is an OK price, but the portions are so small that you really need more than one, by which time the cost starts to add up. There can also be quite a line so it better to go during less busy times. Good for a once-in-a-while treat in my opinion.

Went her with an old friend who assured me that this is Great Mexican. I agreed to give it a try and if u really want to know the truth, it's average. Probably equal to visiting Texas and expecting Great Salmon. It's in a great neighborhood that offers lots of people watching, window shopping. The establishment itself is casual, small and packed with hipsters, old and young. Is it worthy of being so highly rated on Tripadvisor? I'll go out on a limb and say NADA. But it's fun. We had Margaritas & chips with guacamole to start. Drinks were strong, guacamole was good but not the best. Our dinners were okay. Nothing to write home about. Seriously, you want great Mexican, fly down to Texas. It's a dime a dozen down there. Almost every place- be it in San Antonio, Austin or Ft Worth. It's excellent. I dunno? That's all I have to share. The wait was 30 minutes. The service was attentive but the food was just okay.

Great service. The food was surprisingly not very good, did not have the authentic mexican flavor, save the chiles rellenos.

We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. The chips and guacamole was yummy. My husband's pork with black mole was outstanding. He loves Mexican food and commented that he has not tasted any mole that good. I had the prawns marinated with lime, chile & garlic which was delicious although quite spicy for me. Still I managed to eat most of it with the help of the rice and beer. Would definitely come back again!

I was in Seattle for a business trip and found La Carta through Urban Spoon. Saturday night and my friend and I waited 20 minutes -- totally worth it! the place is tiny, service was great, they have a self-serve salsa bar, warm tortilla chips and homemade guacamole. i ordered the #24 chicken enchiladas with an incredible cream sauce. Amazing! Would definitely go again!

First of all the chips are warm and served with a variety of salsas. Then the tacos de loma were amazing! Also my daughter found lots of options for a vegetarian. It feels like a whole in the wall but it tastes Delicioso!!

Mole negro is really good, however $15 dollars per plate aren’t worth for 3/4 cup of rice, les than 2oz of meat. Same with the tacos dorados, they taste good but there is no meat inside the tacos, very little sour cream an cheese. I think the food is good the only thing that I didn’t like was the cost per plate and the amount of food received. Service is good.

After all of the reviews I couldn't wait to go here. I love, love, love good mole. The best part was the guac and the salsa bar. Mole okay, but nothing earth shattering like I expected. Okay meal, great service, but for a great mole head to the Red Iguana in SLC.

So glad to beat the rush to the very popular place in Ballard. Our host suggested we try it and we were not disappointed. Great, fresh handmade tortillas and salsas are a real treat also. Got there at 5:00 when they opened and it was jam packed by 5:45. That tells you it's good!

I wasn't expecting such great food so far away from the border. Very inexpensive and for those of you that can't eat a pound of carne asada and hate wasting food, the portions are just perfect. Always packed during peak hours(6-8) so try to avoid that or expect a wait.

Good place for lunch, service was excellent. I had higher expectations for the food but overlal very good.

This is real mexican food in Seattle. There's usually a line so I hadn't tried it for a long time. But this past weekend I waited it out and it was worth it. I had the Pozole which had a wonderful heat to it. The tamales were fantastic. The only thing wrong with the tacos is that I didn't order more of them. Definitely recommend this restaurant for a meal with friends or family. It's a little busy and loud for a romantic date.

The restaurant had great Oaxacan food and margaritas. Their signature dish of chicken mole with white rice was very good as were the chili rellenos. Meals came with homemade flour tortillas. Chips were extra and they had a salsa bar with lots of good choices. There are several shops located on a shady street in the immediate vicinity. The only downside is that the bathroom was filthy!

The mole negro was absolutely amazing. It was without a doubt the best mole I have ever had. The service was prompt and all the workers were incredibly nice and helpful. Great place to take your family for some authentic Oaxacan food.

Looking for delicious Mexican food in a cool section of Seattle called Ballard? Then this is the place for you. La Carta de Oaxaca is hopping place with many interesting items on their menu. The meatball soup is great so is the cerviche. When I looked at my husband's plate there wasn't any sign any tacos had been on it. Enjoy.

We had heard good things about this restaurant, and were not disappointed. This is not average Mexican dining where everything seems mass produced and microwaved warm. There was a great selection on the menu, which was served timely and courteously. There were always people at the door, waiting for a table to come available, if that tells you anything! I think its the best Mexican food in Seattle.

If there were more options in Seattle for Mexican food, I'd give this place 3 stars. But given the facts, this place is solid. Fish tacos were "eh", but the guac, chips and dip, and quesadilla were good. This place is pretty popular among the hipsters of Seattle, so if you go at prime time, prepare to wait...

We went there for dinner. Parking space is limited, but we found one near the restaurant. It is crowded (a sign of good food) and noisy, but the service is good, and the food is exceptionally delicious. We had a spicy bowl of seafood, and our children ordered their own favorite dishes and drinks. The hibiscus drink is unique.

Mexican food is not usually my favorite cuisine, but we went to La Carta with our son and his family early on a Saturday evening. We were told that the wait for a table would be 25 minutes, but it was more like an hour. However, we found a charming area in the back of the restaurant and were very comfortable enjoying our drinks while we waited. I ordered a mango margarita, which was just okay, and my daughter-in-law only drank half of her traditional margarita. Save your money and drink beer here. La Carta has a salsa bar, which was fun, and we ordered also guacamole with our chips. The guacamole is fabulous and well worth the $8, but the portion is small. My husband and I both ordered the tacos fritos with chicken, which were delicious. The tacos do not come with any sides, so you might want to order beans or rice also. The service at the bar was excellent and the hostess was friendly and helpful. However, our server was almost sullen throughout our meal and tried to charge us for the drinks we had already paid for at the bar. She was busy, but her attitude did not enhance our experience.

La Carta de Oaxaca is located on wonderful Ballard Ave and is a must for lunch whenever we are in Ballard. Try the huevos con chorizo, it can’t be beat.

Amazing food, inexpensive, lively ambiance. If you can gather up 10 friends up can make a reservation for their back room which is awesome. I think it fits up to 24 people? They don't take reservations otherwise.

It’s small & not the easiest to find (or park at times) but absolutely worth your time to seek & find this place for authentic Mexican!! The star of the menu (@ least for me) is the pork mole negro with hot hand rolled tortillas! I’ve never had mole this good anywhere- period (drop the mic). The salsa bar with chips & guacamole is a great appetizer while you wait for the main course along with a cup of Mexican coffee. Can’t wait to go back. Note they aren’t open for lunch on Mondays (last I checked)

I wanted a light lunch, so I chose the $8 Tacos Al Pastor: 3 small tacos of BBQ pork in homemade tortillas with cilantro, onion, guacamole, and hot sauce. Most menu items were under $14, so the food is very affordable. All the employees were efficient and friendly. I will definitely return during this vacation.

Don't believe the hype about this place. I have been to Oaxaca on four occasions and have eaten here many times. I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed it before now, but I just ate there so thought I should. Like tapas, everything seems relatively cheap until it all gets added up. Mediocre tacos. The chicken mole everyone raves about is simply typical. It's very average (Oaxacan) Mexican food, but certainly much better than, say, Azteca or Las Margaritas. Cool photos on the walls. I think this is just one of those places that really impresses gringos who don't really know much about Mexican food, perhaps in part because they can SEE Mexicans making their food. Definitely not the place to go if you want to slowly enjoy your food - they want you to order, eat, pay and get out of there ASAP. Not exactly the welcoming, festive atmosphere you can get at other Mexican places around town. Not good for families or dates.

Totally love this place. Very authentic with a buffet of salsas (I love spicy but their spiciest is not to be tried). Great time. Service a little slow but they were busy and we asked them to shut the door and they did gladly. Accommodated the two little ones.

This restaurant was recommended to me by my daughter, who visited this establishment last year. She said it was great and that I would love it; other reviews confirmed the same —- there are many great reviews about this place. To me, it was just mediocre. I’ve had better street food, sorry to say. I had the “house speciality” — Mole with chicken, a side of black beans and guacamole. First, my own guacamole is better, as is other restaurants in general. The Mole was okay, again — just okay. I ate it because I was hungry and I paid for it. That’s not saying a lot. My drink — a standard Margarita — was terrible. I requested the bartender to add flavored juice which made it more palatable but still, again, not as good as others. Overall, I felt like was in someone’s home — just okay food but with family drama behind the scenes in this case, e.g., the bar area.

It was busy and noisy but the food was solid. Fish tacos were tasty but prefer the mole ..choose for lunch to avoid the wait.

This place served us the best Mexican food we have had in months. Having lived in Central California for 55 years, when it comes to good Mexican food, it has been quite a shock to my culinary senses to be in Minnesota for the past four years. Who would have thought I could find this in the Scandanavian neighborhood of Seattle? But, that's what has happened. La Carta de Oaxaca serves Mexican food so good, we heard one of the locals tell a friend that she eats there at least once every week. We had tamales for lunch today. They were long on meat and not overly caked with masa - just the right amount. Whether it was green or red, the sauces were fantastic. The black beans were anything but the traditional refried pintos. The seasoning in the beans was to die for, while the cotija and crema on top were applied in just the right amounts. Rounded out by wonderful yellow rice, the lunch was excellent. Sure, they charge $3 for a basket of tortilla chips, but they are fresh, warm and worth it.

Lucky for my wife and I my son graduated from Seattle Pacific University and chose to live in Fremont District of Seattle. He turned us on this this Mexican Restaurant restaurant a few years ago and we insist we return to enjoy a wonderful meal when we visit. This is not a formal restaurant so if you don't want to sit at a large table then perhaps this restaurant is not for you; find Mexican formal dinning is downtown Seattle and pay 3X the cost and get half the quality. All their meals are simply wonderful with the best favor I've ever eaten. This past visit I had the Chicken Chiles Relleno and it was simply the best I've ever experienced. And I've eaten many meals in Baja, none compare to La Carta de Oaxaca. Of course a restaurant never gets 5 Stars simply for have great food. Their staff is friendly and efficient and eager to help, and suggest a meal, however they can. And I will add, you need to try their house margarita. It isn't served is one of those small stem glasses where you get mostly ice and 4 oz of margarita. Nope, this is a 16 oz tumbler and "shaken". If you have two, you need to call Uber/Lyft - WARNING --> don't drive. So the next time you are in Ballard and you can find a parking space [your biggest challenge], try La Carta de Oaxaca - you'll love it.

Thought I was back in Oaxaca for a minute. Great Ambience, can tell it is a favorite for locals as it seemed full. Great open kitchen where you watch your tortillas being made, I ordered the carne asada plate and was as good as anything as I've ever had. The caramelized onion and jalapeno, rice and beans and the presentation looked as good as it tasted. My wife had the seafood soup, lots of fish and chunky vegetables, perfectly seasoned, The chips, guacamole and salsa were fresh and spicy. If ever back in Ballard we will absolutely eat there again.

LOved the salsa bar!!! Food was increadible! Ended up staying with my friend for hours. Service could use a bit of a brush up. Perhaps better educate. Touching ur face at the table is not aproperate! However. Everything was great! We live in Canada. We will be back the next time in Seattle!!

Terrific Mexican food, with an excellent menu, a huge range of salsa (ranging from mild to lava), and a great selection of Tequila. The food is very authentic and delicious. Just ask if you want more chips or more tortillas. You won't go away hungry from this spot! Don't worry if there's a line; the wait usually short and it's definitely worth the wait!

This place is very consistent. I have eaten here for years and never disappoints me. Staff is great. Margaritas are bomb. Food is top notch. A must try for any foodie.

La Carta Oaxaca is a small restaurant in Ballard tucked away on a side street. Unprepossessing to look at from outside the restaurant is a gem. The menu is relatively short, leaning on Oaxacan inspired dishes such a pork in mole negra, The wine list is minimal and the beer selection typical of a Mexican restaurant in the US with Dos Equis XX and Negra Modelo offered. BUT, the crowning glory is the mescal list. Even in Oaxaca itself you would be hard pressed to find a mescal list this inspired. Numerous small single batch mescals from wild blue agave with a wide range of background flavours to the smoky mescal taste tell you mescal is definitely not cheap tequila. A must try for anyone interested in mescals.

This restaurant is very close to one of the places that I work so it's an easy 4 minute walk to get some very delicious Mexican food in Ballard. I've enjoyed everything I tried over my many visits. Weeknights has a shorter waiting line than during the weekend.

My daughters and I had a lovely meal here. We sat at a nice little table outside and had the shrimp tacos and fish tacos. Everything was delicious and service was quick and friendly. Would definitely return.

Don't miss this simple yet wonderful place to eat in Ballard. I love the Halibut Tacos and Enchiladas Verdes Con Pollo. Also very good margarita's

La Carta de Oaxaca is a great choice if you're looking for some authentic Mexican food in Ballard. Every time I go it's busy (which is a good sign). Most times the wait has been short. (if you go on a weekend i would imagine the wait is longer). I love the Mole sauce with chicken.

Super delicious and authentic Mexican food served by super polite people. The variety of salsas are each different and tasty. The price is incredibly reasonable... what is not to love?! SO GOOD!

Our friends know the place well, so when we came up and it looked like a long wait, they said to not worry. We were seated in 5 minutes at a long table with other diners. This is not a place for those going cheap or those who are indecisive. Most dishes are not that large, so you order more than one. Kind of like tapas, except with Mexican food. The food is very good and quite tasty. You will pay for it, the bill for 4 was over $70. It can get quite loud inside. We enjoyed it.

My wife and I stopped by for a late lunch. Heard it called a hole-in-the-wall and it certainly is, but the food is great. We started with chips, salsa & Guacamole, along with a cervesa. I tried the pork rib mole with black beans and my wife had the quesadilla fritas, a fried quesadilla with Oaxaqueno cheese. Both dishes were excellent.

Dined here with my family on the recommendation of my brother, who lives in Seattle. I had carne asada and it was very tasty. The other two dishes were tamales and tacos fritos. Both were excellent. I would also recommend the strawberry margaritas. Not as loud or crowded as other reviews suggest.

I've eaten here several times, and always really enjoyed it. Their flavors are outstanding, and not your typical Mexican-American restaurant. The mole negro dish is fantastic, and always satisfies. They also know how to make great cocktails. The Deseos Peligrosos is delicious and unique. It's not a fancy place, but service is prompt and friendly. Portions tend towards the smaller side, but are not overly pricey, so value is still good. I ate here once with a large group (10-12 people) and we had no problem making reservations in advance.

To be fair, I would be put off by the noise level even if everything else was perfect - which it is not. The portion size is small, and while normally a tapas fan, not so much at entree prices. The food was tasty but nothing extradinary. Probably its strongest point it is not the typical Mexican chain restaurant fare. The margaritas were good. It's worth noting that the bar is tiny. There were five stools and four people standing and it was at capacity. If you are looking for something a bit different, a small plate and a decent margarita, try it out. Just keep in mind you will be arm to arm with the diner at the next table and conversation is challenging unless you go at off hours.

This was a suggestion from out hotel and it was right on!! We were patient while we waited and the manager sat us in the back at the long tables. Not the greatest atmosphere, but as it turned out, we felt like family. One of the best meals during our 10 days in the Northwest, drinks were very good as well. I would highly recommend.

Son has gone here a few times and always RAVED so he took me for lunch today. Superb. Will definitely go back! Chips are very good, guacamole is pretty tame but tastes great. You get to pick your own fresh salsas from their salsa "bar", which is just bowls of different choices but still fun. From the mildest to breathing fire all are delicious. We had the Carne Asada tacos, three per serving so my son got two orders which was just about right. I had the Enfrijoladas which is their house made tortilla filled with Oaxaqueno Cheese, smothered in black bean sauce and Crema Mexicana with a side of carne asada. Perfection. The barbecued pork tacos, Tacos al Pastor, are also scrumptious. Fun atmosphere, very friendly and great servers.

The menu is filled amazing choices all of which I like with the exception of the Moles which are too sweet for my preference. The fresh salsas are amazing and add enough spice to make the beer wash it down better. This is a place that I had success taking my clients and it isn't that expensive unless you start sucking down hard alcohol then bring out the platinum card. Overall a great dining experience.

I traveled through Oaxaca on an adventure 25 years ago and this restaurant was better then my then-pocketbook could afford. Good margarita, great tamale with mole, but get there early. We showed up when they opened at 5 and got a table right away; by 5:15 people were lined up at the door.

We took dinner in at La Carta de Oaxaca and the food was great. It's not a big place and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table on a weeknight. The food was fresh and the service was courteous and quick. If you like Mexican food, you'll enjoy this place.

Enjoyed lunch at this restaurant with wife and friend. Service was friendly and food was fine. However, the place was quite noisy - - chairs scraping on the floor were deafening.

Real Mexican food, not Tex-Mex, served like you would find in a Mexican family home. Reasonable prices, extremely friendly, and great tastes.

Growing up in Los Angeles means it takes ALOT to proclaim Mexican food amazing. This place is amazing. How is it possible to make tortilla chips & pico de gallo incredible? I don't know. How can a mole tamale be that light, rich, savory and aromatic all at the same time? I cannot say. What I do know is that every time we are near Seattle, we'll go out of our way to eat at La Carta de Oaxaca.

Arrived right after 5pm opening on Monday evening and within the hour the place was filled. There are some tables for 2 or 4, and one long family-style table to share with others. My friend wanted to introduce me to mezcal; so, I ordered the Leyenda flight. I admit to being a neophyte. I drink wine, but never tried mezcal. Wow ... the flavors were exactly as described on the menu. A entirely different taste occurs when accompanied by a bite of lime dabbed in chili/maguey/salt. I'm a convert! As we selected our ramekins of salsa from the salsa buffet, we watched the tortilla dough being hand pressed and cooked on the griddle. By the way, if you come in on a cold day, sit at the bar that surrounds the cooking area. It's warmed by the grill, plus you get to watch an amazing food show. My companion had the Entomatadas and I had the rack of lamb. Although the quantity of food was less than traditional mexican restaurants, along with our appetizer of chips and guacamole we were both well sated. (I'm told that the smaller servings are characteristic of Oaxacan restaurants.) The lamb was exceptionally tender, falling off the rib bones. I'm not a beef eater, but tasted my friend's beef which I found richly seasoned and tender.

My husband and I had a great experience at La Carta de Oaxaca. We were seated at the side bar and while I wasn't thrilled about this at first, I actually enjoyed because we could see women making food right in front of us. I can attest that everything you order is very much handmade! I had the chicken mole and my husband had halibut tacos. Both were absolutely delicious, and completely cured our cravings for something flavorful that would offset our afternoon beer. Mole was complex in flavor - both toasty and sweet. Halibut was seasoned nice and had a great spice. The tortillas are hand rolled and made to order. Good service despite being extremely busy. Great atmosphere, tastefully decorated. It's definitely a restaurant about the food - no hokey Mexican theme or giant margaritas.

I've tried mole in at least 25 different places, over a dozen different states, in multiple countries & this is HANDS DOWN the best mole I've ever tasted PERIOD. If enjoy mole, this is a MUST stop for anyone dining in the Seattle area. (I've only visited the Ballard location, so I can't comment if there are any differences between their multiple locations - but I can confirm that over the past 5+ years & many visits that the mole in their Ballard location has stayed consistent). I preferred the pork over the chicken with mole. The handmade tortillas are also terrific. Years ago I tried multiple items from the menu & they were all solid, but now I just come here for the mole. Decent QPR too.

La Carta de Oaxaca is an authentic Oaxacan cafe. The beautiful backlit photograph of a towering basket of chipulines alerts anyone who has had the pleasure of being in Oaxaca that this restaurant is the real thing. The restaurant says they cook with these marvelous smoked insects. Next time I’m there, I’ll ask for some in my huevos. Wonderful place.

My girlfriend and I are always on the hunt for great carne asada. La Carta de Oaxaca is our benchmark for this dish! Consistently great preparation and presentation! We always start with and order of the chips, guacamole & beans. So good! The carne asada is always tender, the jalapeño is the right amount of heat. It doesn’t matter when we go, the service is fast and friendly. Sit at the bar, enjoy a margarita, Roman will take care of you!

Never Say No To Tacos. That is all. Every time I'm at La Carta I want to order, and then promptly eat, every single thing on the menu. My most recent trip was no different, though I finally decided on tacos el pastor and was not disapppointed. Delicious.

Excellent ,,! We had pork ribs in mole sauce,which were excellent.Homemade tortillas, an enchilada . Outside dinning best for conversation.

Met up with some friends who live in Seattle and decided to try La Carta de Oaxaca based on reviews and recommendations. The restaurant lives up to its reputation. Excellent black mole, tacos and enchiladas. Drinks were quite strong. Traveler notes: The place is very small with a few communal tables, so you may be seated with strangers. We enjoyed it. They also don't take reservations so be prepared to wait. The bar area is very small. It gets filled very early, the food comes quickly and tables turn over rapidly. But it is also very noisy with the communal tables and tightness, so be advised. Not sure if the ringing in my ears will stop...

I stopped at La Carta de Oaxaca with my husband while spending the day touring around Ballard. My husband had been here on a previous trip to Seattle and loved it so we wanted to go again so I could experience it too. We started with an order of chips with guacamole and a few salsas from their salsa bar (all were fantastic) and I had a paloma (an incredible paloma). Then I ordered the pozole at the recommendation of our server and my husband had the tacos al pastor. Both were absolutely phenomenal. The pork on the tacos was tender and full of flavor and the pico de gallo was fresh and delicious. The pozole was heavenly with tender pork and lots of toppings to choose from. The portion was huge, there was plenty left to share with my husband. Our server gave us great recommendations and was very attentive. I highly recommend this spot for a delicious meal!

This restaurant serves "small plates", meant for sharing. I let my friend do the ordering. Everything he picked was a good choice, although he had the advantage of being a frequent patron. There were unique flavors in every dish. The restaurant was obviously a popular choice for the locals - the dining room was bustling despite it being a Wednesday.

We arrived not long before the lunch shift closed, and the place was nearly empty. I ordered tacos and my wife the tamales; a bowl of chips and guac later, we were served. The salsa and tacos were very good; the tamales came wrapped in a huge leaf (banana?) and were infused with a sweet mole sauce. She loved them, but they weren't up my alley. Still, very good food, good service, reasonable prices. Parking is Ballard challenging.

I had the tamales with salsa verde. My companions had two other dishes. Everyone ate everything. But not, the sangria was pedestrian.

We stopped in randomly for lunch on our last day in Seattle. The place was busy, the staff bustling, everyone enjoying themselves. I chose picaditos, which I've never had, and my husband had the mole negro oaxaqueno with pork. I have never had Mexican food with such an interesting blend of subtle favors. The mole was out of this world, and the dishes were not as heavy as the food at regular Mexican restaurants. I wish I had been hungry enough to get the tortilla chips and guacamole, which you can then complement with any number of their homemade salsas, Next time!

This small restaurant features the cuisine of Oaxaca, Mexico and was the Seattle Weekly Reader's Choice of Best Mexican Restaurant in 2012. The food quality and service is still the best and worth the trip to enjoy lunch or dinner. Our luncheon experience was expanded by sharing small dishes of really outstanding and flavorful examples of recipes prepared with locally grown products. The price is a bit above average but worth every penny.

La Carta de Oaxaca is located in old Ballard WA and offers great inexpensive Oaxacan mexican food at great prices. Service is friendly, food is satisfyingly good , nice selection of mexican beer. The highlight is the mezcal list. Stunning. For mescal lovers this is nirvana. Try any of the limited bottlings offered for an unforgettable experience or try one of their flights to compare three different mescals.

We were so excited to visit this restaurant after reading the Eater article about it and watching the video. The chicken mole was especially disappointing. One scoop of rice and one chicken thigh with mole sauce. Good mole, no excitement. $18. Tortillas cold.

Dragged my wife and son to the funky Ballard area of Seattle to this great Mexican restaurant. Halibut tacos were superb. The room was buzzing on a Saturday at lunch time.

The high ratings given La Carta de Oaxaca made for quite a bit of anticipation of our visit there on a Saturday evening last week. The setting is very warm and casual, with an open kitchen and a tiny bar tucked into a corner. As I am a fan of many types of Mexican food, the menu contained many familiar and a handful of not-so-familiar items. I chose chicken with mole sauce at $13, a hard-to-find treat (and even harder to find that's really good.) My husband chose a three pork taco plate at $8. Our dinners were served on what I'd call appetizer plates. Mine contained a chicken thigh (bone-in) with about one cup of white rice and an adequate amount of really delicious mole sauce, with one small sprig of cilantro and one tiny slice of radish. Two corn tortillas came with it. It was delicious!! The mole sauce was not sweet, not too spicy, but really excellent! Since I was only given a fork, I had to debone the chicken thigh with the help of my fingers. Hubby's tacos were on about 4.5 - 5" corn tortillas, with a bit of pork, cabbage, and a salsa. He said it was delicious, but not nearly enough for a meal. Given the price, $8, that was not unexpected. My meal, at $13, also left me hungry. One chicken thigh and a bit of rice with sauce for $13? We both left hungry, so we stopped at Cupcake Royale up the street and indulged in very filling sweet treats.

I had heard great things about this place and was just disappointed. I had the traditional Mexican tacos which weren't traditional at all and weren't even that good! The service was also slow and poor and the place wasn't even full

Unfortunately this is another place that used to be great and now not so much. I used to go to the location in Ballard when I lived there and it was always packed. I have never seen that place not packed with a line out the door. The food is good, not great and the service has always been fast. Last week we decided to try the location in Queen Anne and what a disappointment. The host did not want to sit us right away because one person in our party was outside parking (the remaining 4 of us were already there). Then, in spite of the fact that there were tables available he sat us at a shared table right next to a family with small children. We decided to sit at the other end of the table and he come over to move us down. Then it took a while before we could place our order. The food was rushed and not that good. The chicken enchiladas looked and tasted like they just came out of the microwave. The taquitos has cinnamon in them, nothing worse than eating meat and cinnamon. The fish soup was incredibly salty and hot and kind of thrown together. The Gringas Oaxaqueñas you can forget easily. The only good thing was the guacamole which is always excellent except that the portions got a lot smaller so you definitely have to order more than one, even as an appetizer, to feed four people. All in all, decent if you're hungry, I hope they can go back to be the good quality place they used to be.

Not your usual tex mex here. Busy location in Balard and parking can be tricky. Expect a wait, but worth it.

I agree with others...not sure what the fuss is about. We tried 4 diff items off the menu. All were bland and not traditional mexican food at all. Even the salsa was poor. Best part of the mean was the Corona. Seems nowhere in WA knows how to make real mexican food.

Very much worth driving for and waiting for a table. Reminds me a lot of Colibri in San Francisco. Amazingly consistent and awesome drinks. Makes the Matador across the street seem like a Hispanic Dennys

It's a little hole in the wall and the staff seems a bit serious, cranky, aloof, pick your own adjetive, and you may have to wait for a table however, you must try their Pozole!!! Be sure to leave some for me though, will ya?!

La Carta is fine, not great, Mexican food. The mole sauce has good flavor but the serving was very small and came with very little else.

My wife and I have visited here twice. Both times we had very good food and good service. The restaurant is very small and the seating is tight, so be prepared to wait for a seat and to be able to hear your neighbors complete conversation. If you're looking for a place to have a romantic Mexican dinner this is not it. So like I said their food is very good I do believe there is better Mexican at some other local establishments.

Oh Boy - let's start with the house margarita, and I am picky with margaritas because a good margarita with Mexican food is a must. I can't stand a too sweet margarita with too much sweet mixer in it. The house margarita hits all my criteria for a great drink - not too sweet, muddled with all the right quality ingredients. The food - excellent! My friend and I had the slow roasted lamb served with rice and veggies. We ordered the halibut tacos for an appetizer - wonderful flavor and ingredients. The atmosphere and service? Fun, interesting, eclectic, and invigorating! We will be going back!

This is one of me and a bunch of my buddies' favorite dinner spots. The authentic Oaxacan food is very tasty and always high quality. They rotate new items onto the menu pretty often and always keep their most popular items on the menu as staples. The authentic margaritas are awesome as well.

Fresh salsa bar. We got there early, but the place was filled quickly. Food was good, reasonable, but because of the crowd, service was rushed.

This is more small plates than an actual meal. People who've never had authentic Mexican food are wowed, but their mole is nothing to write home about, and definitely not waiting for almost an hour with a group of pork-pie wearing hipsters and parents with untamed children. Try The Chile Pepper on 45th in Wallingford for real Mexican food.

Great spot!!. always packed but they move quick so you get a table fast. the bartender was top notch. When I asked for sargrita to go with my blanco he made it from scratch .....rarely if ever seen...and it was so good. Back to the food....amazing....I wanted to go back for dinner. The next trip to Seattle I will spend one night in the Ballard area. Ballard is getting better all the time.

Not your traditional Americanized Mex restaurant. Small plates (like tapas), excellent flavors true to the Oaxaca province. We had shrimp cocktails, #19 with green sauce, Fish Tacos, and the Pork Mole. Sooo good!

Wonderful Real mexican food. Each dish is well thought out and skillfully prepared. most dishes are small to medium sized, so you can order several items and share with the table. excellent margarita's. really really outstanding. it can be very busy so you might need to wait, but it's worth it.

Rustic and authentic restaurant on Ballard. Pork Mole was delicious. Busy busy noisy probably for good reason. Getting there at 5.00 pm was a smart move.

We stopped here for a light lunch, and enjoyed our meal. Ballard is pretty quiet during the day, so we were lucky to find something open for lunch. Service was very good, and I would definitely return if we lived in the area.

The perfect place to go before hitting up the night life in Ballard. It's usually busy, but the tacos are very tasty here.

...but I was disappointed with our lunch. The dish I ordered (can't remember what) was lackluster and the guacamole was a bit off...maybe not so fresh. I was expecting some Oaxacan food, and in a town that has limited good mMexican options, we were disappointed.

We had read about this place and were glad not to have to wait too long to get a table on a weekend afternoon. Food and drink were lovely. Atmosphere was great!

Service was OK, but the food is not good. We ordered taco, empenadas and soup. All dishes we're medium at best

All the food we had here was delicious! Best Mexican food I've had in awhile. I would definitely recommend it!

This is an unexpectedly delicious restaurant with great flavors. You can't go wrong but you should definitely have the mole, as the mole plate or as enchiladas de mole. The food, music and ambiance is all authentic. Great for a family dinner, group of friends, or fun date.

Come here every time we come down to Seattle (once a season maybe). I've had multiple of their dishes but the standouts are either the pozole soup with fixings or the chile rellano. Great authentic Mexican food with clean flavours and fresh ingredients. Service is wonderful as well, quick and attentive even during the busiest of dinner rushes. Their salsa bar is awesome as well as their complimentary hot, fresh tortilla chips with delicious guacamole. Their weekend dinner rush is busy with insane (but worthwhile) waits so we prefer to come here for lunch instead.

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Seattle right now. Their house margarita is simple, not sweet, and extra delicious. Every time my husband and I go we get something different from the menu, which I have to say is hard. The mole sauce is incredible. We usually get two or three dishes and share them depending on how hungry we are. The place is almost always packed but so worth the wait.

We decided to come here for a family dinner at somewhat of the last moment and I can say we made the right call. Food was great and it is more true to Mexico than what you would get at larger Tex-Mex restaurants. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, this is your place.

such a great, lively atmosphere, plus great personable service, plus great tasting food that also LOOKS good. We waited on a table (very popular place), which allowed me to watch the dishes coming out. They all looked picture worthy. The mole sauce is delicious. Great guacamole too. Go here. A lot.

This was one of my favorite restaurants for about five or six years but that last couple times I have ate at la carta the food is just not what it use to be. It's been a year since I was really happy with it. Not sure what happened and I hope they can get it back.

Awesome place to grab a bite in Ballard. Authentic Oaxacan flavors presented with modern flair! Order about 1.5 plates per person. Always jammed but worth the wait. Seating on the street an in the back will be better suited for couples. The main dining area is noisy but fun! Don't miss the salsa bar... Service is a bit spotty, but the folks are nice.

Love this family owned Mexican restaurant, have been going here since it opened back in 2003. Love the guacamole, the breaded steak and lots of awesome Mezcal to choose from.

Absolutely delicious!!! We had ceviche de pescado and caldo de pescado. The flavor was amazing. Best Mexican food ever!

This is the best mexican food in Seattle! Do not miss this spot! The margaritas and chips and quac are a must! The staff is great!

We were there on a Saturday night, about 5:45. Got to walk right in and have a table. Shortly after that there was a consistent line waiting to get in. This is a small place. Tables are very close together. Not a good place for a larger group. Seems like a little local hangout. Photos covered most of the wall. Servers are hopping from table to table. Our dinners were both very tasty and the presentation was nice. Parking can be a challenge. Although we throughly enjoyed our dinner it was a rather noisy room. Hard to carry on a conversation with the person sitting across from you. Don't think I'd want to take small children there but the people next to us had 2. The management had their stroller tucked away somewhere and when they left it was brought out. Service was great. Just a little too cozy and noisy for us. It was a hoppin' place so obviously not a problem for others. Food won't disappoint, but they don't do "blended" drinks.

La Carta de Oaxaca is a nice option for dinner in Ballard. The food is very good and the service is good. I wish they had a better cleanliness rating from the city.

While in the Ballard area, my husband and I ate here late one night. We started with the chips and guacamole, as well as tried the salsas from their salsa bar (which range from mild to habanero-hot). The whole menu looked good, but we decided on the Mole' Negro Oaxaqueno (house special black mole) and Entomatadas (thin sliced beef with a variety of toppings). Both were delicious. Service was quick, and the atmosphere was very casual. A great find!

The food in this restaurant is outstanding !! We had beef mole, chili relleno, and pork in sauce with rice. Everything was absolutely delicious. The tortillas are hand made and fresh every night. If this restaurant was in our town I would be there a couple of times a week !! The food is without question amazing. My favorite Mexican restaurant ever and I live in S Cal.

I particularly chose to try out Carta De Oaxaca because of the local's comments. On my 2nd trip, after doing all the touristy stuff on the first trip to the great city of Seattle, my goal was to find stuff the locals like. I love Ballard and was pleasantly surprised this restaurant is located there. I was even more so pleased with the ease I had in finding parking, and getting a seat easily by the accommodating staff. Fyi, I ate lunch there on a Thursday. The food was prepared by what looked like mama and her family helping. My waitress who had a heavy accent was so accommodating in helping me to find what I wanted to eat using online pictures. I wanted fish tacos with rice and beans. For lunch the rice and beans are ala carte so it was like paying for 2 meals. At first I thought a little pricy at $24, but hello It's in Ballard. Well the meal met up to my expectation and I ate it all up savoring each bite, with a humming sound "mmmmh!".  Yes, every bite, " mmmmh!".  I definitely  will return on my 3rd visit to the great city of Seattle.

Terrific Mexican food, with an excellent menu, a huge range of salsa ranging from mild to fire The food is very authentic and delicious. Ballard is great area to visit in Seattle as well so this place is not to be missed!

Very good local gem in Ballard with authentic Mexican food! Everything we had was delicious and we will definitely be back. Strong margaritas, great service and a patio on Ballard Ave capped off a very good evening. For those that have high standards on Mexican food, this place will actually meet your expectations. Tip: Try the buffet of many salsas!

This is my absolute favorite mexican place in Seattle. My favorite dish is the mole and pozole. While there is always a wait it is well worth it! Also, one lucky group at the bar get their bill on the house so while it is unlikely to be you it did happen to me once. Definitely check this place out and go hungry!

My daughter brought me here and I'm so happy she did, everything was as advertised, good service, and excellent authentic food. I ordered the tamale with Mole Negro and it was delicious and a full on meal. If that's not your thing, still come here as everything else is also delicious!

If you are looking for a fun meal with the family in Ballard, La Carta de Oaxaca is a great option. Good tacos at reasonable prices.

Happened across this small restaurant in Ballard after having visited the Chittenden Locks. We had the Tacos Fritos which were good and the Ceviche d' Camerones which was really excellent. Highly recommended for lunch if you are in Ballard

Trust me everything here is awesome! You must make the trip to Ballard and try this place! The pork mole negro is silly good!

One of the best in Town... Good food and service.. Tacos al pastor and Beef are a must in this place Lot of traditional mexican dishes as well

I will circle the block for hours to find parking to eat dinner here. It's my favorite Mexican food in Seattle.

It is outside Seattle in Ballard but it is worth the quick trip! Plus Ballard is a great area and if you have the chance to explore you shouldn't miss it. Cool shops and restaurants etc. La Carta is hole in the wall, family cooking at it's best. We sat at the counter because as always it was busy but we watched them making their homemade tortillas during our meal so it turned out to be wonderful. Wanted to try something new but couldn't pass up the chilles rellenos but I promise to try something new next time. They have a salsa bar that you can try from mild to hot hot! Be prepared for busy but delicious!

I've been several times and have enjoyed each visit. On my most recent visit I had the enchiladas, they were good. You may have to wait awhile if you go on the weekend and the place can get very loud but don't let this keep you from going

Great ambiance, excellent food, speedy service. Love the black mole, it's so rich and velvety, it is truly sublime. And the fresh tortillas are delicious.

Moved here from LA years ago and have been looking for good Mexican food. Have been meaning to go here for a long time and I finally did. I can't WAIT to go back. It was so good, prices were great, service was great. I'm hooked.

We went for a bite to eat at HappyHour. I got the pozole and my wife got the quesadilla. With beer, chips and guacamole these dishes were ample to fill us up. I wondered if I needed to order another dish like their chile rellano but I wouldn't have been able to finish it. The pozole came with a few tortillas and toppings like radish and cilantro. The broth was not spicy and could have used some heat. The quesadilla came with guacamole and sour cream. The servers made sure our dishes were cleared away promptly.

This is widely lauded as the Best Mexican Place In Seattle. We frankly have no idea what the fuss is all about. The chips and guac appetizer was so amazing that we thought we were in for a really special meal. But things went downhill fast from there. The dinner that followed was poorly assembled, uninspired, and in the case of my plate (the entomatada) pretty much inedible. And I don't know how you can mess up sangria, but they managed that, too. Furthermore: the service was hurried, surly and ungracious. And the room is clearly designed for fast turnover rather than lingering -- noisy and closely packed with too-small tables and uncomfortable chairs. They don't want you hanging around. Given the line outside (we waited 45 minutes for this), that strategy makes some sense, I guess. But at these prices, we're not paying to be treated like we're at Taco Bell. All our friends are still raving. But we're not going back. If you're looking for good Mexican in Ballard that's actually worth the wait, give Senor Moose a try.

My wife and I were tired of our own cooking and decided to try take-out at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, La Carta de Oaxaca. My wife ordered Mole Negro Oaxaqueño with chicken and I ordered Lamb Birria, a rack of lamb, seasoned with dried chiles. We ordered and paid for our food by phone. When we arrived and called the restaurant, they brought the food out to the car with minimal contact. Both dishes were still warm when we got home and both were very good.

One of the most amazing salsa bars in Ballard. The food is great, space is tight. So be ready to squish in. Their salsa bar is heavenly and compensates for everything else. The food is authentic and not really American Mexican. So go here and enjoy a slice of Mexico in your backyard

Whether you are at a communal table with strangers or a small table with friends, you will have to resist the urge to ask for bites of your neighbor’s meals! Everything I’ve had is delicious, and everything I haven’t tried looks delicious. Their chile rellenos are the best in Seattle, and I’ve made a point to try them all. And the house margaritas are perfect on a hot day.

The food is amazing. I've spent time in Mexico and this place does it right and authentic. It is our go to place for good food and a fun atmosphere. Great drinks as well.

I have never been to Oaxaca, so I can't personally vouch for authenticity... Overall my fiancé and I had a good time here, although I was hoping for a bit more flavor. Service was informative, the menu was well-rounded, the salsa bar was good, and we had some fun trying Mezcal. We shared several items- some dishes stood out, some didn't. Our favorites were the quesadillas fritas (cheese makes just about everything good) and the tacos el pastor (good portion of meat). The chips served with the guacamole were probably the best chips I've ever had, but the guac needed improvement. Really want to go to Oaxaca to do a little reconnaissance ;)

A friend had praised this place a while back and we happened to walk by it when figuring out what to have for dinner so we thought we'd finally try it. We anticipated it to be authentic and it is. The prices are pretty average but the portions were smaller than we're used to. Also, we had to pay for chips before our meal. Still, it was all very tasty! The salsa bar has pico de gallo and five salsas from a mild verde to FIRE. We might try again when we're not starved.

I had to share a table with others, but the food made it worth it. Open view of the kitchen, everything made fresh, great spot in Ballard. The prices are very reasonable. You will enjoy this place, read the reviews..

This place gets packed quickly. Arrived for lunch at 11:30. That was a good idea. It was my breakfast.... Lunch specials are great deals. Cuisine from Oaxaca is so complex and flavourful, it is an experience in itself. Super efficient staff and very friendly. The ceviche is excellent. Freshness guaranteed. I had the Lamb Birria. An almost spiritual experience. Best dish I had in Seattle in 25 years. Absolutely delicious. Wanted to order another one right after. But I am keeping it for my next visit :) From now on, THE reason to go back to Seattle: Lamb Birria at Carta de Oaxaca ! 2 people 3 dish 4 beers= 55$ A steal ! Busy & lively, this place has character and excellent food. And the neighbourhood is cool too !

Pardon the pun in the title, but it seemed to fit. I'd eaten at La Carta with my wife once before, many years ago, and had good memories of it, so when we found ourselves back in downtown Ballard for my high school reunion, and a group of us stepped out to get some dinner, it was a no brainer to head to this great place, especially since it was just across the street from the bar everybody was at. Six of us were promptly seated, and after drinks and chips were ordered, we settled into our menus to check out the offerings. It took us a while, though, as we kept chain-munching from the baskets of warm and delicious chips and scooping up hunks of the fantastic guacamole and dipping them in one of the several salsas from the bar. I never order mole in Mexican restaurants, but seeing that it was the house specialty, and knowing the reputation of this place, I went for it. Wow! What an amazing dish. I got the pork version, which came with two fat ribs loaded with lots of succulent, delightful meat, with plenty of mole sauce and a side of rice. I stripped chunks of tender pork off the bones, slathered it in the mole sauce, and then piled it on the warm tortillas with the rice. I repeated this process *six* times, and was amazed at the amount of food I got out of this seemingly small plate, which was nothing like the typical huge mess of cheese-smothered rice-and-bean monstrosities you typically get in Mexican restaurants. If anything, La Carta de Oaxaca is the antithesis of your run-of-the-mill chain Mexican places, and eating here will awaken you to the amazing variety and subtle flavors in food from Mexico when it is cooked authentically.

La Carta De Oaxaca is a great place for dinner or lunch in Ballard. Recently they received an excellent rating from the Seattle Public Health Dept. There previous rating was good (which is fine) but it’s nice to see this change. The food goes between good and very good, the same can be said about their service.

I was born and raised in S. Cal., with many trips to Mexico. La Carts de Oaxaca has some of the best Mexican food I've tasted. We drive over 30 miles each week (in downtown Seattle traffic) just to go to this restaurant. They never disappoint. It's a small place, almost a hole in the wall. They don't even have a sign on the front of the building and still 5 minutes before they open is a line out the door. It's not a fancy place, but clean and well run. They do not accept reservations and you can't even be seated unless your entire party is present.

We really enjoyed our visit. Portions are smaller than you'd expect in the US but ample. Food was fresh and tasty, service was great too. We'll be back.

We heard/read good things and they were true. And we are critically minded about Mexican food, as a Mexican American family. Simple comfortable outdoor seating. Birria and mole were excellent, something we make at home. Fish tacos good, too.

This place is delicious! The mole tamale is crazy good and it is fun with a group because then you get to try more great items!

Our meal at a restaurant which we chose because Trip Advisor rated it so highly was tremendously disappointing. The service was absolutely terrible: no waiter took full responsibility for our table; food appeared very slowly; no one informed us of the availability at a counter near the back of the place of sauces for several dishes; we had to eat dessert with our dinner dishes still sitting dirty on the table. The house special Chicken Mole was nothing but a tasteless Mole (I have never had worse, in the U.S. or Mexico) on a small plate with a modest helping of white rice. My wife's fish taco dish was better, but only average at best. Flan was good, albeit expensive. Loud, incessantly repetitive music continued throughout the meal. Tables were crowded together, so a couple is eating right next to another couple. I had to go fetch someone to give us our bill. Only restaurant of five we visited in Seattle that was poor.