Celia’s Mexican Restaurant

No longer the best place they have a new manager, it has gone down hill going from 5 to 3 stars. They run out of product a lot and you can tell the employees don’t care like they used to.

We’ve been eating at Celia’s (formerly Juan Colorado) since it opened in 1999 or so. The staff know us and treat us extremely warmly. We don’t visit as often as we used to as we now live too far, but they are open as we dined there this evening. A favorite dish has always been the Muy Especial, combining carne asada with grilled shrimp and mushrooms, beans, rice and tortillas. We tend to avoid Americanized menu offerings such as Chimichangas, mondo burritos and nachos at any Mexican restaurant for that matter. The seafood dishes, pollo en mole (which will be different from one place to the next) tacos de pescado and carnitas al pastor have been quite tasty. Request fried whole jalapeños (they grow them there) or extra hot salsa, which is different from what is automatically brought to the table. They’re more than happy to accommodate, and these are some of the things you jazz your beans and rice up with. We’re also great fans of their spicy coleslaw, again a complement to beans, rice, chips, etc. Another delicious meal (the staff are shocked whenever I don’t order the Muy Especial but it does happen) just like always. And no, they don’t microwave their dishes. The overall melting cheese, hot plate effect comes from something known as a salamander in the industry, which is a super hot broiler.

If you’re in the mood for a chile and cheese omelet, this could be the place for you. But don’t order a chile and cheese omelet. You should order the chile relleno. Because a chile relleno here is not the wonderfuly luscious deep fried cheese stuffed pepper that we’ve all come to know and love, but rather a terribly bland omelet filled with canned chiles and cheese.
But if you really want a chile relleno, you’re out of luck. Its sort of like ordering a beef taco, getting a bowl of Cambell’s chicken noodle soup instead, and being told «that’s our beef taco.»

Our favorite Mexican in the Tualatin Area. This is now called «Celia’s». Same owners as before, but they wanted to offer more items on the menu than the Juan chain allows.
Service is always good, but we eat there a couple times a month. My husband and I actually had our Wedding Rehearsal dinner there in December 2011, and it was wonderful! So hard to find a place in Tualatin big enough for 45 people. They just gave us the run of downstairs, and ordered off the menu. Was great for us, and for them as well, we hope! They love us, and always ask how my hubby is if he’s not with me (my girlfriends like to lunch there, too).
Salsa is great – one of the few homemade’s in town. Spice varies from visit to visit, so be prepared for medium-​hot! Margarita’s are great – just get the house one! Food is good. I like the Carne Asada Burrito (about 3 meals) or the Carne Asada plate. Enchalada’s are good, too.
It’s a fun experience!

Eh not to much to say. The chile rellenos were not so bueno. Very bland, but great service.

Yuck! This place is gross. Food is sloppy. Service is ok. If you like canned food and microwaveable plates then maybe it’s worth it

We were one of few people here. The food was crazy fast. Service was just fine. Little to choose from for alcohol. Two meals plus 2 alcoholic drinks came to $ 29 +tip. If it were a little lower priced I’d go more often.

Definitely not for me. The food is lacking authenticity and flavor, and it really wasn’t all that pleasurable to eat. Perhaps they’re known for their beer.
It’s pretty much a «hot plate» restaurant… the kind of place where they have to tell you «hot plate» when they set it down because they’ve microwaved it to death. Everything came out tasting a little bland and «gray». The rice and beans especially tasted like they’d sat on a shelf for a while. And my Texan grandmother made better enchiladas — with sauce from a can. Service was friendly (although distant), chips were average, and the salsa was a little above average, so I have to give some credit for those.
If you’ve got that Juan Colorado coupon in-​hand just know what you’re getting yourself into. Maybe try a salad, at least the plate (probably) won’t be hot.

Seriously, people? «Best Mexican food in Tualatin»? I guess I better venture further out then, because this is definitely a 2-​star joint in my book. Maybe there is something good on the menu but it would take some trial and error to find it, and I’m not sure I want to spend the effort. The combo platters we had were barely average — the taco tasted like the enchilada, which tasted like the tamale. And they all had different meats. All the same color, and bland bland bland.
The salsa was good, so I’ll give it an extra star. I think it was homemade but I’m not positive. The chips were good, but average. The lunch prices are semi-​reasonable, but the dinner prices are way high — for the same thing you get at lunch. Ambiance was okay; I kinda liked sitting on their enclosed balcony/​patio. Service was prompt but not terribly friendly. All in all, I’m not seeing much reason to go back. Sorry Juan, you gotta do better to win me over.

Good food. They often run coupons. The plates are really large. Extra star for the waiter calling me «Joven» Flattery is a wonderful side dish.

Good burritos, big and juicy. Good service. Indoor and outdoor seating. Coupons often available in papers or such. Nice staff. Not the best burrito Ive ever had, but certainly the best one I’ve found in Tualatin. You won’t leave hungry.

The food was huge portions, not the best but it was good, The service was awful and rude tho.

I have lived in Oregon since 1976 and have honestly tried many Mexican Restaurants in my time since. Some have been very exceptional, some not so much. Juan Colorado’s in Tualatin ranks one of my favorites in the whole State of Oregon for their consistent great service, very good food, and very good drinks. My favorite dish? Their Tortilla Soup is a reference that others should be measure by: a hearty broth that warms the soul, large meaty chunks of chicken that are perfectly cooked, a maze of freshly sliced avocado, peppers, seasoning, cheese, and of course the thin strips of corn tortillas to top it all off. All contained in a very generous sized bowl that dares the lucky consumer to just try and reach the bottom of. Prices are on target for the quality of food & service they provide. Two Thumbs up for sure!

First Mexican restaurant I tried since moving to the area. A bit pricier than I expected, but it was very good, service was top notch. Unless I find somewhere with the same quality and dirt cheap prices, I’ll be back.

OK, the chicken was seasoned perfectly and I could actually taste it… and wanted to taste it. It wasn’t just there for texture. It was cheesy. OMG I love cheesy! Hello, I am from Texas! The rice and beans were also not just filler. They were fresh and tasty.
I came with friends who have eaten here for years. Everyone’s dish was plentiful, hot and good. More tortillas? No problem.
Very pleased, as you can see by the 5 stars I give them. Great lunch.

Yummy place to eat. I used to be a regular when I lived near there. Need to go back soon and see if the food is still delicious which I am sure it is. Big Fan. The verde sauce is awesome and the people were always so friendly. I am a spoiled brat for good Mex and this place has always passed with flying stomachs.

I LOVE this place! Upon entering you can climb right up the stairs while glancing at their drink special menus. My husband always orders the chicken fajita & after asking the waitress for her recommendation one evening, I am now a die hard fan of their Carne Asada. (I think Thursdays are the nights that feature this dish as the special). Its definately not a «fancy» restaurant but is a very comfortable relaxed atmosphere and the servers have always been very kind, helpful & fun. I always find the prices are fair for what I get (and what I take home that I couldn’t fit in my stomach. ha ha) I hope you can get a chance to come enjoy this place!

Juan Colorado’s Tualatin is my A#1 south of the border seleccion on the lower west side.
No Mexican food restaurant will get past a three star with bad salsa. I think salsa is the foundation of any good kitchen and nothing good can come if they can’t get it right. Juan’s got it right! The chips and salsa are perfeccion.
My favorite entrée is the Carne Asada plate with corn tortillas. The platter of food is presented with a colorful array of orange rice, brown beans, near blacked beef steak, brilliant red tomato, topped with a grilled green onion.
I have also enjoyed Mole from Juan’s. For those of you who are connoisseurs of Mole you will not be displeased but it’s not their signature.
Those of you who like or don’t like Juan’s in Wilsonville, don’t fret or flock, this location stands on its own fundacion.

This restaurant in Tualatin is conveniently located near my home and close to my wife’s work, so we visit occasionally for lunch or a convenient dinner after work. I stress the convenience of the location, because it factors into our choice. We stopped by for an early dinner last week and the service is still pleasant and fairly prompt, the margaritas are a 7.5 on scale of 10, and the food is good (i.e., it falls short of great, but it really is good). I’d recommend this location if it’s conveniently located for you. I’ve not been to other Juan Colorados (yet), so I can’t make a comparison. I’ve enjoyed this one because we’ve stopped in from time to time for several years, and there’s a consistency that I appreciate. The staff does change from time to time (I believe the rude person referred to in an earlier post is gone), but it’s been a good local family option for us.

Sometimes I like to tag along with one of my work friends and her totally charming family for lunch. I’m determined to make her children love me. I can’t help it. They are just so darn cute and all kids are supposed to love me. And work friend;s charming husband graciously tolerates me. I’m «this» close to making the little girl like me. This close. I think it may have been the gift of lip gloss for which I’m fairly sure the work friend hates me.
At any rate we headed to Juan Colorado since it is close to my «working for the man» job and I desired fake Mexican. The salsa is decent, but there’s something un-​Mexican about it. Some kind of herb. Oregano? I’m not sure. I had the chicken fajita «salad.» Of course «salad» at a Mexican joint is all relative. Fried flour tortilla bowl filled with lettuce, chicken, peppers, onions and cheese. The weird part was that the chicken and peppers had a bar-​b-​que type quality. Not exactly yucky, but not quite what I was expecting. It came with rice and beans and was a great amount of food for the price. At least it was more than I should have eaten in one sitting which I’m fairly sure is a requirement for Tex-​Mex. The work friend husband had some flan. Mexicans got the short end of the stick in the dessert department I tell you.
Atmosphere is okay. Service is decent. Oh, some weirdness though. We sat on what i suspect was probably a terrace upstairs at one time. However, there are makeshift windows made out of Plexiglas, glue and duct tape. I’m not sure if someone pulled a Clapton’s kid and took a tumble and they had to prevent future accidents or what but it is very strange.
Final verdict… Tex-​Mex that will do in a pinch.