2 Best Restaurants in Centralia, Washington Cascade Mountains and Valleys

La Tarasca

$ Fodor's choice
Fans of Michoacán-style Mexican food have been known to schedule their Portland–Seattle road trips to hit this festive but unfussy family-run restaurant for dinner. Authentic meals start with pickled carrots instead of chips and salsa, and favorite dishes include classic chicken mole and carne en su jugo, a heady soup of steak strips, bacon, onion, and cilantro, served with tortillas.
Mexican Lunch Dinner $ Fodor's Choice
1001 W. Main St., Centralia, Washington, 98531, USA
360-736--7756
Known For
  • save room for the rich and spicy bread pudding
  • dining room has a casual, colorful vibe
  • regional dishes like chicken mole
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.

Mackinaw's Restaurant

$$ Fodor's choice

In a vintage brick building in downtown Chehalis, a 10-minute drive south of Centralia, you'll find the region's most sophisticated restaurant, a source of consistently imaginative, fresh Pacific Northwest fare at reasonable prices. The seasonally driven menu changes daily but might feature a starter of cheddar ale fondue with apple, artisan bread, and sausage, followed by Parmesan-crusted whitefish with a light lemon-dill sauce, or sliced duck breast with a black-cherry-and-walnut reduction—it's pretty urbane fare for this laid-back, down-home part of Washington.