Casa Raya Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria — Restaurant in Mount Vernon

Hands down best authentic Mexican food I have ever eaten in the states!! Our minds are blown. We talked about this meal the entire hour and a half home and can’t wait to return!

Super fresh ingredients, all elements made in house for same day serving. NOTHING is prepared prior day and tasting will prove it to you. Absolute through the roof, out of this world flavor profiles.

Smoothest guacamole I have ever had with just the right levels of acid and cilantro. The way the creamy guacamole wraps around the finely diced cooling tomatoes and fresh onion is addictive to say the least. Silky refried beans with no feeling of grit crossing your pallet. Salsa Taquera with delightfully bright fresh ingredients that is mouth watering when paired with their warmed tortilla chips.

First bite reaction of my taco salad literally brought tears to my eyes. Literally I had to wipe my eyes, they must have thought I was crazy. The freshness of each ingredient glows without the overbearing element of salt that you may experience in other Mexican restaurants. The shredded chicken is amazingly flavorful and extremely tender. This creates a rich melt in your mouth bite when paired on the fork with the schmer of beans that lay beneath the perfectly crisp shell. Clean, cold fresh lettuce along with bright silken soured cream break through the richness creating a perfect bite.

One surprising and unexpected element was the slice of cornbread atop their rice. Another recipe followed by the owners which they have mastered. Incredibly moistened with what I can only assume is sweet cream butter reflecting an ever so subtle hint of salt. I will never ask a restaurant owner of this stature for a family recipe however if I were to ever, this is the one I would request. You will want the entire loaf of her cornbread! My husband isn’t one who normally partakes in cornbread, crazy right?! He is still talking about how delicious it was. He’s going to have to live with disappointment as I cook and bake but my cornbread will never come close to hers! I’m dealing with it…

Rice not overcooked, not mushy, not sticky, again not over salted. Beautifully light fluffy rice perfectly seasoned and not smoothed in fake cheese sauce! You actually get to taste the rice and appreciate the care put into this element.

Details down to the sweet tea are clearly noticeable. If you have ever had homemade sun tea made with REAL sugar, that same refreshing hand mixed taste is what you will get here. There is no detail unturned and perfected by this amazing team.

The owner stated that he and his wife follow their recipes to the T staying true to tradition and flavor. Pride & love can seriously be tasted in every single bite.

I consider this a high end dining experience. Warm rustic Aztec decor lines the walls with beautiful wooden furniture which creates a feeling of stepping back in time. All staff is welcoming and friendly with care as soon as a customer steps in the door. No doubt this family loves what they do and we can’t thank them enough. A meal of this stature is more than a meal, it’s...

12/03/2023 Our first time trying Casa Raya, we were not disappointed. We were promptly seated, chips and salsa immediately brought to the table. She took our drink order and quickly returned with them. We needed a little more time to look over the menu. She returned to take our food order within a few minutes. I decided on the Raya Fajitas. Food was on our table in about 15 minutes. Everything was as delicious as it looked. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. The guacamole had the perfect balance of flavors. We are definitely fans and looking forward to trying other menu items in the near future. Our "one and only" complaint has nothing to do with the food or the service. We were almost finished with our meal when an overpowering perfume smell took over the area. It turned out someone had lit an incense up by the register. As a person with asthma, some strong smells have the potential to trigger an asthma attack. Fortunately there was not any issue. I will say this was the first time I have experienced a food establishment...

Passing through Mt. Vernon, stayed for the night and asked the front desk clerk at our hotel for a dinner recommendation… she highly recommended Casa Raya and it was fantastic! Our server was the daughter of the owners and was delightful, helpful, and friendly. The margaritas were huge, tasty, and garnished with fresh limes and orange. The food was delicious! The menu includes traditional items you might expect, but also dishes that are not your typical fare… I had the Molcajete (stone bowl) with different meats and vegetables (huge meal) and my sister had a chicken breast with mushrooms… both amazing! For my 91-year-old mother, the server recommended a kid-size portion of chicken fajita and my mom was thrilled with her meal. We enjoyed a Guacamole Mexicano appetizer (a twist on the usual) and a very satisfying sopaipilla for dessert. Everything was delicious; and the restaurant was clean and well decorated. I’m looking for another excuse to stop by Mt. Vernon just so I can eat at...