« Ballard Restaurants

THE best Mexican I have had. I started going here almost three years ago when I moved to the neighborhood from a receommendation from a neighbor. I thank him for that suggestion. The mole is so flavorful and just the right amount. Everything is done well. I like the noisy, communial atmosphere. Where else can you go to get hand made torillas!!

Only white people in ballard would pay this much money for taco truck food. seriously people. i mean its good, but not $10-$15 for 3 tiny taco's good.

Our food took so long to get to our table that it was already old and stale and tasted of grease. Or maybe it was just cooked and tastes that way normally. Hard to say.

Unpleasant atmosphere. Dirty.

I've been twice and both times the food was rather bland. Both times were in the middle of the Friday night madness. We did have to order an extra shared plate to fill up near the end of the meal, but that's cause we were downing those crazy strong margaritas. I don't care how authentic something is, I look for food that is stunning. I miss both the fusion fare of Border Grill in Santa Monica and the Lolitas and La Posta of my childhood in San Diego...I can go either way, as long as it is yummy. Perhaps the third time will be the charm, if I make it back to Oaxaca.

I've been searching for the perfect mole for awhile, and this place has it. I took my skeptical boyfriend here and now it's one of his favorite restaurants. The servings may look small, but I'm completely full after one serving of the chicken mole. Plus, when most restaurants charge over $10 per plate, this is a nice change.

Love La Carta de Oaxaca - staff always friendly...service efficient...food great - very authentic. Feels like one big family...

I got a late dinner there last night and it was amazing! The mole was delicious, the guacamole was fresh and flavorful, and I loved getting to choose several salsas from the salsa bar. Great service also. I will definitely go back!

I love it when someone prefaces a comment by stating where they've livee and then declaring themselves an expert on a topic only to completely lose all credibility by making a suggestion that's so off the mark I'd think it's a troll.

Gordito's over La Carta as authentic Mexican?
well played, troll. Well played.

I absolutely love the halibut tacos and the guacamole is fresh. Keep in mind this is an adventure in cuisine, not americanized mexican food. This former Texan is thrilled to have La Carta within walking distance!

Just because I ate here once and didn't like it I am now accused of:

A) Owning a competing mexican place

B) Starting a smear campaign?

It's really unfair of you to speculate / blame me for these reviews. I ate here once, it wasn't a good experience and I commented on it. Mine aren't the only negative comments, and judging by how crowded it is there are plenty of people who have eaten there and may have chosen to rate it.

I'm perfectly willing to try it again and probably will at some point. Please stop hating on me for voicing my opinion nearly a year ago.

My favorite place - hands down. I go for the amazingly fresh, flavorful, brilliant food. Yes, it is a long line. THAT MEANS IT IS WONDERFUL. It IS noisy and BUSY and a bit chaotic. I love this place. I've heard folks complaining about all the condos flooding favorite eateries in Ballard. I think this is the only flooded place...

I wonder who is in charge of the quite obvious smear job on the ratings for Oxaca? Look at the inordinate number of ratings for this compared with every other listing.... and judging by how much it lowered there rating from just a few weeks ago- I assume it was all 0-1 stars.

Thanks (Bethany?) for ruining the integrity of this service.

Too noisy! I couldn't hear myself eat, the wait was unbearable and the food and margaritas were O.K. but the atmosphere was chaos.

Mole, mole,mole...

I love this place. It's authentic to the region. If you're looking for that greasy, yellow-cheese covered food they serve at some places or huge, mega-burritos it's not going to be your place. But if you want the best, south-of-the-border swine you can get, stop by and try the mole.

We have been going there periodically over the last few years. It seems the quality of the food has been decreasing. Last time we went there (a couple weeks ago) the food was really mediocre. Also, didn't this place used to be a "small plates" restaurant? We ordered 3 plates and had way too much food- maybe if it was better we might not have thought it was too much. :-)

I love the food. I think I've tried the entire menu. Good Margaritas too.

Yes, I can attest that in comparison to New Mexican cuisine, most other mexican food will be a disappointment. No joke.

As a New Mexico local for 22 years who has spent a fair amount of time across the border I think my opinion might count. THIS PLACE SUCKS. Bad service, bad atmosphere, over priced for flavorless but always greasy food. Oh and add in the unpleasant north faced neo-ballardites with whom you have to share a table. (That is not the fault of the restaurant) Gorditos is the only remotely edible Mexican food I have eaten in Seattle.

Maria, Gorditos is the worst Mexican food in Seattle. It's bland and awful! I've eaten at La Carta many times over the past few years and I've never had anything there that's greasy. The food at La Carta is flavorful and it's one of the best Mexican restaurants in Seattle. The family that works there is obviously Mexican and I'm certain the food is authentic.

If Bethany's not in line, we'll get a table faster! Keep hating, Bethany!

Bethany - you must own a competing restaurant because your comments aren't accurate. Their food is fantastic and it is cheap. All entres are less than $10.

I don't need Claimjumper portions and judging from the public lots of people could do with Oaxaca sized portions for a while.

I ate there once; thought it was pretty average. Gave it a second try due to all the hype; still average. I don't get why people wait in line to eat at this place.

The best mexican food I have EVER had anywhere. The enchilada sauce is absolutely to die for. I love how they don't fill you up on some disgusting rice and beans. The plates are the perfect size. I've had the halibut tacos–perfect! I've also had the enchiladas lunch special (I forget the actual name) which was so flavorful and absolutely delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to experience what REAL mexican food is all about. I also enjoy watching the woman who makes the homemade tortillas. I would also recommend the margaritas which are simple and fresh. MUST GO!

It' all about the taste of the dishes here. They are smaller and it works well for the group to get a bunch of dishes and sample them all. It is not about service.....they are pretty fast but not so friendly. Be ready to order when they get there.
This is REAL mexican food, so don't expect massive plates and cheddar cheese.

great food plus they have small portions so you don' t have to worry about overeating.

I love to go here and order something I've never had - trying to work our way through the entire menu! Always wonderful!

Little plates, big quality. One of our best.

This place is fantastic - it's a true oasis in the Northwest for an Angelino like myself. I was scared to try Mexican food in Seattle and was so glad to find La Carta. You can't beat their hand-made tortillas, authentic dishes AND authentic portions. You really don't need to order more than one dish - it's not as much food as we gluttonous Americans are used to - and isn't that nice for a change.

Don't come here if your preference for Mexican food is huge burritos (which by the way isn't even really Mexican food) and a slop of refried beans and greasy rice. You can go to run of the mill Azteca for that. Come here if you love authentic Mexican food, great mole, fresh tortillas, great rice, and decent margaritas.

It's not a great place to catch up with friends or take your grandparents - it's VERY loud and crowded almost every night. Hopefully they'll do something about the acoustics soon, because everything else about this restaurant is divine!

I like authentic Mexican food a lot, but I'm not a fan of lukewarm and overpriced food that takes forever to make it to your table.

Lets get this straight! This is NOT Azteca (and I like Azteca) or like any other local Americanized Mexican fare. So when someone goes in with that in mind and orders they are disappointed because of the size and lack of mexi-fries and chalupas. Also, as the line that stretches out the door and down the block indicates...wonderful food is ahead. So if you don't want to wait in line and you like lots of American cheese and sour cream on your Mexican food (and who doesn't sometimes) then this isn't right for you. However, if you want authentic wonderful food from the Oaxaca region (Southern Mexico) run don't walk to La Carta De Oaxaca! This is by far one of the best Mexican restaurants in Seattle. And when you go you must try their soon to be famous if not already famous house special Mole' Negro Oaxaqueno... it is to die for...nuff said!

This restaurant is our favorite Mexican in Seattle. Yes, it is cozy quarters and sometimes a wait, but it's worth it to have the authentic fare. Prices are cheap enough to order a couple of dishes each & share family style. We really recommend the entotamadas. Excellent! You'll start to crave this food.

We went here once and were dissapointed. For what it costs, there was not nearly enough food on our plates. Much better Mexican can be found in Fremont, and it's worth the 5 minute drive.

The dishes are tappas and they are inexpensive and some of the tastiest I have ever eaten. If you want huge gobs of rice and beans, then go to Azteca for that kind of mush.

If you're looking for a large quantity of Mexican food like you get at Azteca that's covered with low grade cheese then La Carta is not the place for you. If you're looking for flavorful authentic Mexican food then you'll find it at La Carta.

I've gone to La Carta many times over the past few years and I've had great service and meals there on most every time.