Olympia and Lacey area update?

Question

I visit family here once or twice a year but only now did it occur to me to look into the Chowhound angle on the area. Reading Seattle and this Board, I've noted these places, and wonder if anyone might add to, correct or fill out these ideas:

1. Curry Corner on Martin Way E in Lacey: people as far away as Seattle say it's really good

2. La Tarasca, in Centralia, which lots of CHers describe as one of the better Mexican places anywhere in the region

3. Cicada in Olympia; many mentions, sounds a bit upscale

4. Bread Peddlar in Olympia

5. A taco truck at a gas station off the Old Nisqually exit (anyone one know how to check on whether this is still active?)

My own preferences go to quality ethnic dining, but basically I'm enthused by any kind of excellence or quirky ambience and fun.

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Curry Corner
9408 Martin Way E Ste 2, Lacey, WA 98516

La Tarasca
1001 W Main St, Centralia, WA 98531

Answer

I tried Curry Corner with a party of 7 and we all enjoyed the food very much. I would have preferred a slightly hotter spicing across the board, but the flavors were solid and the preparation, too. If I lived in this area, I would go frequently.

All that said, I was not delighted by some aspects of the presentation. From the general chaos of our group--several of whom knew little about any Indian foods--we ended up following the waiter's suggestion of getting 4 different curry lunch specials to share. The amount of food was
said to be adequate for 7 people, and that was true. But they serve these lunch specials on thin metal trays with variously sized wells for rice, the main curry, some lentils and/or aloo ghobi, and a rice pudding. The trays make sense for an individual, but they were very awkward to pass around, and the food lost temperature before we could get our sharing out of the way. In addition, the plates we were given were downright cold, so the food was soon room temp or less. On any future visit with a group, I'd order a la carte.

Another front: I tried Tofu Hut in Lacey and that place was delightful: a tasty pad thai and bul-go-gi. I will go again tomorrow for some other tastes. The menu is eclectic Southeast Asian.

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Curry Corner
9408 Martin Way E Ste 2, Lacey, WA 98516

Tofu Hut
4804 Pacific Ave, Lacey, WA

Answer

Across Martin Way from Curry Corner in back of the Chevron station is Pattaya Thai. Clean and flavorful. A great option in the greater Olympia Thai scene.

Pattaya Thai
9323 Martin Way E.
Lacey

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Curry Corner
9408 Martin Way E Ste 2, Lacey, WA 98516

Answer

I've lived in this area for a long time. Before the Iron Rabbit, a Skippers incorporated that location.

Anyway, if you want Thai food, simply go to Lemon Grass or Mekong Thai in downtown Olympia.

If you want a burger, go to Eagan's in Tumwater. There's also a location in Westside Olympia and on the Eastside near Ralph's Thriftway.

If you want Mexican, try Peppers in downtown Olympia.

Or if you want a sandwich, go to Meconi's. There is an establishment in Lacey, near Saint Martin's University, and in Olympia, near the capitol...across from Subway.

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Lemon Grass Restaurant
212 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA

Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar
2103 Harrison Ave NW Ste 1, Olympia, WA 98502

Answer

There are also a number of Vietnamese places that are selling banh mi, the very cheap and tasty French/Vietnamese sandwiches, almost always under $5. You can get them in vegetarian or meat style - it's a baguette roll made from rice flour, so it's light and crisp, filled with something savory, then a sort of coleslaw of julienned carrot, daikon, sliced jalapeno, and cilantro. They have them at Nami's, on Capital Way between Legion and 5th; Mini Saigon on Columbia between 4th and State; Da Nang on 4th and Water, and at a lot of the Vietnamese groceries around town.

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Mini Saigon
111 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501

Answer

One of the stands at the farmer's market in Olympia does a hangtown fry for breakfast. Serious stuff. Good crab cakes too. Sorry, can't remember their name or seem to find them Googling.

Batdorf and Bronson... have never eaten there, but they do a mean macchiato. 

I'm not much for La Tarasca, but Tacos El Rey in Centralia is something special. Probably the best tacos I've had north of San Francisco. The buche... oh the buche. If you see a guy driving down the I5, leaning out his window, belting out an ode to a pig's esophagus... well, that'd be me.

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La Tarasca
1001 W Main St, Centralia, WA 98531

Answer

Just moved here from northern Italy via Seoul after eight years in LA so hard to compare anything here with great restaurants from my past, but I think there are great plates of food to be had apart from the overall restaurant quality. I was especially excited to get into some Mexican again as there is none in Italy and poor facsimiles only in Korea.

For example, try the Camarones Ahogadas at Viva Mexico in DuPont. Maybe not quite up to what you'd find at a Sinaloense beach hut but nevertheless a refreshing, tasty protein hit. Yesterday drove down to Ramirez Market in Tumwater to shop for carnitas fixings and had their Pozole: wonderful tender chunks o' pork flesh falling apart under my spoon with deliciously crunchy chickpeas standing out in contrast.

What other standout dishes exist out there, Mexican or otherwise?

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Viva Mexico
1455 Wilmington Dr, Dupont, WA 98327

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Olympia and Lacey area update?

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