Tienda Latina — Restaurant in Renton

Disappointing Experience :( I drove 20 minutes to try authentic Mexican food at Tienda Latina but unfortunately, my excitement was short-lived. Despite the tasty flavors, my experience was marred by two major issues.

Food Safety Concerns I ordered the Birria soup, but mid-meal, I discovered a plastic piece in my bowl! This alarming find made me hesitant to finish my meal. I'm extremely concerned about the food safety handling practices at this establishment.

Misleading Menu Description Additionally, I was disappointed with the pork carnitas, which turned out to be pork belly. While this might delight those who enjoy fatty meat, it wasn't what I expected.

The Silver Lining The staff were friendly and polite. The food did have good flavor, and the portions were generous. However, the positives were overshadowed by the plastic contamination and misleading menu description.

Until Tienda Latina addresses their food safety concerns and improves their menu accuracy, I would caution potential diners. What could have been a great experience ended in...

We ordered a burrito and a pambazo for pickup. Both were massive and delicious, although we especially thought the pork with the burrito was gorgeous. I liked that the burrito wasn't soggy -- it was stuffed full and moist but held together perfectly so I could add my own amount of the salsa/sauces. They fit our order in right at the end of the night, and the lady behind the counter was super nice and gave me a refreshing drink on the house for the wait. It wasn't long of a wait at all but much appreciated! Good food, casual atmosphere, nice people; we will get food here again.

Also, some kind customer channeled my dad and gave me a pair of gloves when I admitted I didn't have any. This was entirely unexpected and I probably fumbled the thank you in my surprise. So thank you, Glove Man, my hands are much warmer now and I'd bake you cookies if Tienda Latina didn't have far better...

As someone who lives across the street and has gone here several times, this place is... not great. My latest complaint would be their new habit of blasting music outside all throughout the weekend, which is very frustrating to the residents - myself included. Seating inside the restaurant is hit or miss, with one of the booths smelling STRONGLY of mold. Quite alarming. The produce here is always rotten, the bakery products look pretty but taste quite bland, and the wet burrito unfortunately comes absolutely swimming in salsa, which doesn't sound bad but really detracts from the dish when half of each bite is salsa. I can and do make better ones at home. I would love to support a small local business, but there are other ones nearby that are cleaner and more considerate of their neighbors and...