Eat All About It: New Mexican restaurants for the new year

The new year appears to be bringing a slew of new Mexican restaurants to the Tri-Cities.

In Kennewick, Tomatillo Authentic Mexican Flavors is preparing to open in a space near the Carmike movie theater west of the Columbia Center mall.

An official opening date hasn’t been announced, but the initial menu was released recently on the restaurant’s Facebook page, revealing lunch specials, appetizers and meat options for tacos, sopas and tortes with several varieties of pork, beef and chicken.

Las Lupitas at 1410 E. Lewis St. in Pasco opened in recent weeks.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering everything from churros to flautas, with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Prices range from $8 for breakfast to about $11 for the most expensive lunch and dinner entrees. The restaurant has applied for a liquor license to sell beer and wine.

At the other end of Lewis Street is Restaurante Las Cazuelas. Details about the restaurant at 1623 W. Lewis St. were not immediately available, but its owners have applied for a liquor license.

Thai restaurant changes name, look

What once was Thai Spice at 5601 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick is Green Papaya Thai Restaurant.

The new name took effect Nov. 1 after a renovation.

While touting vegetarian and low-sodium meals, and a plan to add mixed drinks to their beer and wine offerings, the restaurant hasn’t changed everything. A lunch buffet is offered from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with dinner service from 5 to 9:30 p.m. most days.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Eat All About It: New Mexican restaurants for the new year."