I drove past this place the first time because the numbers were hard to read, so I posted a photo…read moreto make it easier to find. It's about 10 minutes or so from downtown Hood River, an easy drive on 35 and then onto 282 W, into a little main drag with a gas station and a few shops and hole-in-the-wall eateries. Michoacan is only open til 8, so get here in time.
A single TV showed Mexican soccer, and the tables are basic. AC worked just fine, and the "sports bar" theme is mainly in some wall posters along with a hanging set of boxing gloves and some soccer and basketballs.
The food is why you come though. For $2.50, you'll get a brightly flavored perfect guacamole, but a few bright red tomato bits and the herby bite of cilantro. The waitress told me that my entree came with guacamole, but I wanted more. I'd expected the carnitas entree to just have a spoonful,but it was a generous portion too.
The chips were thick, not too salty, with enough heft to hold the thick warm bean dip that is complimentary. Inside the kitchen, visible from the dining room, you can see the women cooking. There's no celebrity chef here, no big presence in the kitchen. Just dark haired women chopping and stirring and making authentic food, and perhaps going home later to do laundry and care for family, all in the shadow of Mt Hood.
Carnitas platter was visually satisfying - dark meat with a hint of charred crust, bright green guacamole and limes, a few orange pickled carrots, finely diced cilantro and onion. I often bypass the sticky rice at Tex-Mex joints, but here the grains were flaky and you could get the sweetness of tomato.
As a solo diner I didn't have a chance to try the array of $2 tacos this time, but the tortillas that came with the carnitas were fresh and tasty, so that's my next visit!
No mixed drinks - a selection of bottled beers (Negra Modelo, Corona, Victoria, Pacifico) which will come with no glass. The "glassware" is plastic, so you might prefer drinking out of the bottle anyway!
Glad I came here - friendly staff too. Service was a bit slow - I had to ask for the bill - but fine.
