Tecalitlán Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Bellingham

There are some times when you want to bring home an entree for everyone, and sometimes when you want to go a la carte and build your own meal but you don't want to resort to waiting in the drive-thru line at Taco Bell. I had heard whispers of a place on the other side of town that had two-dollar tacos. Proper tacos even, not the Americanized kind.

Now, this review is really late in coming, but it does mean I can be a bit more thorough since I've been back to Tecalitlán a lot in the year since I first found it. The overall takeaway here is that the price-to-value ratio here is extreme. The entrees are priced about standard, if a bit on the low side, for Bellingham. But the a la carte items is where this place really shines. A few dollars gets you a regular-sized tamale, taco, or tostada. The entrees run from ten to fifteen. It's hard to think of anywhere else you can pick up a full dinner for two that was right around twenty dollars and makes you want to go back.

I'm almost exclusively a take-out person these days, but if I was dining in they have a comfortable and spacious seating area inside, as well as beautiful outdoor seating on the other side of the parking lot. And when I say beautiful, I mean absolutely gorgeous, like "impress a first date" gorgeous.

I want to start with the high point, and that is the Chiles Rellenos. Tecalitlán has my favorite Chiles Rellenos I've had anywhere in the area. They're done in that classic Central Mexican style. A poblano pepper stuffed with cheese and dipped in a light, fluffy, souffle kind of batter before frying, then served smothered in a light tomato sauce. It is absolutely a must-order. The prices have gone up quite a bit over the past year, but they've offset it just a bit by allowing you to choose between a one-chile entree or a two-chile entree. My wife and I get the two, and then each have one.

The tamales here are also my personal pick for tamales in Bellingham, though that could just be personal preference. They have the heft of a proper, homemade tamale, and they don't skimp on the filling. The meat is full of flavor and you can taste both the meat and sauce while the masa is steamed and still dense without being rubbery. It makes a great accompaniment for whatever you've chosen for your meal.

The tacos are exactly as advertised. Two little corn tortillas stacked then piled with your choice of meat, onions, and cilantro. The beef is fried until it has a crispy, caramelized texture. It's not the greatest quality of meat and you do get the occasional bit of gristle, but I have dogs so that's never bothered me too much. It does mean that some of the other options on the menu, like the carne asada entree, aren't as appealing. I personally prefer the beef tacos to other options. The chicken has a flavor that seems more suited to a different dish, but is still pretty tasty as a taco, especially with a squeeze of lime over the top.

The asada burrito is my usual go-to. It's about half beef by volume backed up by rice and beans, with a few jalapenos and some fresh avocado slices, which I don't think I've seen anywhere else. It's a solid burrito slightly undercut by the quality of the meat.

All told, it's good food at a great price, which is not a combination you find much around here, and it works on just about every level imaginable. Need to get a bunch of different things for a family that can't agree? Want to pop in and get a quick meal to go? Looking for a place to take a date that's different than the usual but pretty enough to be remembered? Doing any of those things on a budget? Whatever you need, Tecalitlán...

BEST CHILE RELLENO IN TOWN! Seriously, I’ve tried at least 6 other “chiles rellenos” in town, and all of them have failed to even come close to the proper batter for the chiles. The batter should be whipped to soft peaks so that when the chile is coated and fried, it sets on the outside but retains a spongy, light texture that absorbs the equally important salsa that is poured over the chile. It’s a bit of a technical process that isn’t easy to perfect, especially when cooking to order. While other places just douse a chile in scrambled egg over hard and call it a day, the chile relleno here at Tecalitlan is carefully cooked to perfection every time. The salsa is delicious and rich, with the perfect amount of heat. It’s humble presentation and price point make me love it even more. Service is always quick and...

We moved here from San Antonio and believe me when I say we know great and authentic Mexican food. We were so looking forward to trying this restaurant and extremely disappointed in what we found. I always try enchiladas because they’re so simple, but what I got was a plate of cold (so cold!), tasteless rice and beans with cold enchiladas covered in some thin, runny red sauce and piled up with bland iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. Seriously, cold and no flavor. I was really hungry and didn’t even finish a third because nothing could save it. Husband ordered posole, which was also bland and disappointing. His came with chips and salsa, which turned out to be Rico’s stadium nacho chips and Pace picante salsa. Disgusting. We won’t be back. Do yourself a favor and go to...