Really great and unique Mexican food. High level and unique versions of a lot of classic dishes. Smaller place, think there were maybe 6-8 tables? Plus a chef's counter seating area. Service was terrific. Wish I'd gotten our server's name so I could praise him here but he was friendly and interesting. Happy we came here. read more

De Noche - Salad - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Delicious food and warm service. The menu is small, but that's because it rotates frequently and is perfectly executed. We had the entire menu, and nothing was less than amazing. The ensalata was the stand-out, being their take on a Caesar. Our drinks were awesome, and everyone was incredibly sweet. Our server was excellent, and helped us confidently order each thing on the menu. His descriptions of the plates were phenomenal. Because of the changing menu, we will have to come back. We were sad there was no tres leches, but we ordered the carrot cake. It was a nice way to end the meal, and we left perfectly satisfied, not wanting more or feeling over-stuffed. read more

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Honestly really enjoyed our visit to De Noche. We had been to their sister restaurant Republica earlier in the year and we were curious to see how they'd compare. De Noche definitely took the top spot in my opinion. The space is simple and quaint. There's soft lighting, nice plants, some lovely hispanic textiles and an open kitchen. Space doesn't fit more than maybe 10 tables so it's a cozy atmosphere. Service was great, a little less pronounced than republica as you'd expect which I usually prefer. They did forget my drink to start the meal but quickly brought it out once reminded. Food was the star of the show. We wound up going with the tasting for 2 which is a great offering as you get to try everything on the menu. I was worried portions wouldn't be significant, which was my main critique for Republica, but I was happily surprised with the well proportioned dishes that came out. Everything was tasty in its own right with rich flavors and authentic taste. Each round had its own uniqueness and was plenty of food for two to share. I definitely didn't leave hungry. The horchata drink I got (non-alcoholic) was also a standout and was like nothing I'd had before. Overall, it's a great atmosphere and a pleasant dining experience. Would definitely suggest giving it a try and having a reservation ahead of time. A fun place to try as the menu switches throughout the seasons. Also they can accommodate most things as vegan which is nice for those who need it. read more

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By far, my favorite restaurant in Portland! The tasting menu (entire menu for 2) offers every single item on the menu. Every course was delicious and beautifully presented. Love the balance and variety of flavors, textures and colors of the dishes. The staff's explanations made the dining experience even more interesting. Our server Ernesto explained the origins of the dishes in Mexico and how the chef transformed them. Great learning experience about Mexican cuisine each time I visit De Noche. All the staff are very friendly and fun. They have a great Mexican wine list, and their mezcal-based cocktails are top-notch. While I love their sister restaurant, Republica, De Noche has a livelier, more casual and comfortable vibe, which I prefer. read more

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Skeptical at first but I'm so very glad that the Beli app recommended De Noche! Accommodating and friendly staff and delicious food! The meat falls off your fork and the chicken creates all different flavors in your mouth. We eat at the bar and got to watch them make and plate our food! If you're in Portland make sure you have at least one meal at De Noche! read more

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This review is for DeNoche. What a hidden gem of a restaurant. I would have preferred to have an online menu, but Yelp helped get an idea of what we were in for. The $145 prix fixe for two people seemed steep, but honestly getting as many courses as you do, we were full and still took food home. We started off with a sopa - not shared. It was a hit and really set the tone for the rest of the dishes. Next was the ensalata, which I'm going to be dreaming about for some time. It was a prohibition time caesar dressing with kalettes and hit your palette like a grand symphony. We also had short rib birria, which were not as tender as I was expecting, but still flavors were all there. Followed by a butternut squash sope, then raw fish crudette, salmon mole, and then a delectable dessert of fried banana donuts and caramel. Service was great, ambiance was cozy and quiet, and the mocktails were delicious. I got a pineapple, ginger beer, and bitters which was tart, sweet, and complimented the food well. read more

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Restaurant team went out of their way to make my group birthday dinner extra special. We felt like pampered queens from start to finish. The chef's menu allowed us to try everything they offer and we added on a mezcal flight as well. Highly recommend! read more

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We really enjoyed our meal at De Noche and it reminded us of the delicious food we had recently in Mexico City. Everything was spot on although I wish the Elote soup was a smidge warmer. The birria was great! read more

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Our first time here and we just loved it. The atmosphere, the service and food were excellent. We opted for the tasting menu for two and enjoyed the ingenuity, the favors and quality of ingredients. I also felt the price was extremely reasonable. I have not had this level of Mexican cuisine since dining at Rick Bayless' restaurant in Chicago. I can't begin to name the dishes we had, but the sauces were extraordinary. We will definitely be returning! read more

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It was too bad we had been eating our way through Oregon for a few days, and didn't arrive super hungry. Everything was precious and perfectly executed, if very expensive. It's art, that goes in your mouth! I've attached a menu. If the prices look good to you (these are small plates), then I highly recommend. Bring a friend or two so you can try more things. read more

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Place is very nice. Service was great very friendly and everyone know the dishes. I did a tasting menu and everything was really good. read more

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Overall, 10/10 out of this world food. I love Mexican food and have tried several variations. We were super impressed with the Pacific Northwest twist. Appreciate the quality of the ingredients and the thought behind the flavors. Now we will be dreaming of this food going back to Arizona. read more

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Mind blown. If you're up for a unique take on Mexican cuisine, look no further. This is a cozy joint with great service. The "full menu" ( $160 for two ) offers a 7-dish menu with everything from Scallop to Mole, created with a twist, and absolutely decadent and delicious. The cocktails and Mexican wine pairing are near perfect and the horchata is probably the best I've ever had. Get reservations ahead of time and celebrate a special occasion here - you can't go wrong! read more

DeNoche and companion Bar Comala are hidden gems. On the one hand, I don't want you to take my seats. On the other hand, the people are so nice and their place so great, I want to support them. Excellent atmosphere. I love the bar on a dark night. Excellent craft cocktails. Just trust the bartender. Food in the restaurant is tops: Sophisticated and tasty. read more

Update from previous review. We decided to give them another shot. Yesterday I walked in upon opening just hoping they would have availability and was laughed at. Tried the next day and they said they could fit us in but upon looking at their menu it had shrunk allot and while they can make the few items they make vegetarian they sounded awful. Sadly we left. read more

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Had a fantastic time at dinner enjoying the tasting menu! I came with a friend and for under $100 you leave STUFFED. At first we were skeptical with the one tortilla for the first dish but after the next couple of dishes I can understand why because they are generous with their portions the rest of the meal. We had bar seating so it was nice to chat with the bartender as we were enjoying our entrees. Overall, flavors were tasty and good pacing for the meal. Really enjoyed the mole, tacos, and flan. There was a salad option which wasn't my favorite but it was a nice palate cleanser in between dishes. read more

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Excellent service and drinks. I highly recommend the mezcal flight. Their person who selects the mezcal is extremely knowledgeable. Our server was highly attentive and friendly. Food was very good. It was surprisingly slow on a thursday evening, i hope more people discover this place. Ambiance was pleasant. read more

De Noche - chocolate mousse dessert - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The awful thing about having an amazing meal, is it can ruin the next time you have a mediocre meal. I had the Chilaquiles con huevo - they were AMAZING! definitely my new gold standard that all others will be judged by. It was beautifully plated. The tortillas chips were perfectly covered by the salsa roja, while maintaining texture. The salsa roja was intense and bold but with just the right amount of heat. There was tasty black bean purée at the bottom. The egg that topped everything was perfectly cooked. Oh, and the coffee was really good as well (though I do wish that they would have offered a refill). I've already been looking at the menu for my next trip. Soon! read more

De Noche - chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The food is actually pretty good and beautifully presented. What this restaurant and also its parent restaurant Republica doesn't seem to grasp is the concept of a "tasting menu for two". At Republica they made you choose between the two very different tasting menus for two and you could not order one of each. I now know why. At both restaurants they serve odd proportions "for two". Like three hard tortillas, forcing us to cut one in half. They don't split the food for you, even though it is presented "for two". Sometimes dining partners are neither married, partners, or basically wanting to share spit. They want their own food! And, what is with having three of anything? The menu is set up "for two" so you should either serve two or four. Duh! On top of not proportioning split food for two (why not just serve two sets of the tasting menu), they don't give you extra serving ware to do it yourself either! We had to ask for it. The pace of serving the courses was faster than we could eat them, causing the table to get crowded and the warm food to get cold. We mentioned it, but it never caught on. There was too much food. We took some home. Asking them to split the bill for us seemed to be a stretch. Again, not everyone is partnered so two payers should not be a foreign concept for them. It took awhile to figure out. The name (is it La Fondita or De Noche?) and the differences between their various restaurants is confusing. Their explanation of this place was traditional food from Mexico in a modern interpretation. That is the same as Republica. Until they can get a handle on the idea of tasting menus for two, and either serve it up as two separate complete meals (of the same items), or split it for two diners, I won't be going back to any of their restaurants. Too much work to enjoy the food! We had to do the work to cut all of the dishes you see below in half, ourselves. read more

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Need to make reservations, but it was definitely worth it. Reservations weren't hard to make and the ambiance is very quiet and intimate. Did the dinner for two and tried all the dishes. Everything was delicious and filled us up! Bunch of different variety of dishes, presentation was beautiful, and the drinks were great. Would definitely come back just for the albacore tostada and the salsa appetizer. The servers were friendly and welcoming and didn't mind explaining each dish over to us as we kept asking questions. Overall a great experience. read more

De Noche - Tacos Yucatecos - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Honestly really enjoyed our visit to De Noche. We had been to their sister restaurant Republica earlier in the year and we were curious to see how they'd compare. De Noche definitely took the top spot in my opinion. The space is simple and quaint. There's soft lighting, nice plants, some lovely hispanic textiles and an open kitchen. Space doesn't fit more than maybe 10 tables so it's a cozy atmosphere. Service was great, a little less pronounced than republica as you'd expect which I usually prefer. They did forget my drink to start the meal but quickly brought it out once reminded. Food was the star of the show. We wound up going with the tasting for 2 which is a great offering as you get to try everything on the menu. I was worried portions wouldn't be significant, which was my main critique for Republica, but I was happily surprised with the well proportioned dishes that came out. Everything was tasty in its own right with rich flavors and authentic taste. Each round had its own uniqueness and was plenty of food for two to share. I definitely didn't leave hungry. The horchata drink I got (non-alcoholic) was also a standout and was like nothing I'd had before. Overall, it's a great atmosphere and a pleasant dining experience. Would definitely suggest giving it a try and having a reservation ahead of time. A fun place to try as the menu switches throughout the seasons. Also they can accommodate most things as vegan which is nice for those who need it. read more

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Don't sleep on De Noche at La Fondita. The mole was awesome and we ate some with 3 Oaxacans who are pretty picky. The chefs and service staff were very helpful picking out drinks and dishes. The space has a great vibe, almost felt like a lounge. I can't wait to order the other things on the menu. read more

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I had a wonderful dining experience last night. This is my second time here and it was just as good as the first time. My spouse and I had the full menu for two people and it is a lot of food, but we were able to explore all the different flavors which are very unique. The food is elevated Mexican cuisine that you will not find just anywhere. The service was absolutely wonderful too. We will be back. read more

De Noche - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I really wanted to like La Fondita and was excited to try the tasting menu however the experience left a lot to be desired . First of there was a seating issue even though we made reservations . They had a glitch in the system and we were made to sit at two different tables somehow - but the staff profusely apologized for that and even gave us complimentary mezcal shots as a kind gesture. The place is set up beautifully and feels intimate and cozy .They had handicrafts from Mexico adorning the walls and the color scheme of the restaurant kind of goes very well with the food they serve. They sat us down and then forgot about us for at least 20 minutes till we flagged someone down to take our order . We started of with cocktails and ordered the tasting menu . The food starts with the Mole and was followed by an array of dishes that the chef described as he served them and also told the history associated with that food and the region it came from . We had - Sop de Fideo - I found this the best item of the whole menu Tortillas con Salsa Quasedilla Oaxaquena Tlacoyo Tacos Tetela Mixteca Tostadas Mixteca Tostadas de atun Tres leches cake &Flan - We were more than one party so we had the option to try both the desserts. The food itself was good and had some very unique flavors . I wasn't blown away by the taste but definitely very pleasantly surprised. The main issue was the service and how the food was served - In between the courses they would completely forget about our table and we had to wait multiple times in between courses, before the food would come again and then at times they would give us multiple dishes at once and there was no space to keep everything. At certain parts during our meal we were holding our plate in one hand and eating with the other because the tables couldn't accommodate all the food simultaneously .They missed a few courses and we had to remind them multiple times of what we had not had yet . The staff was trying their best to be helpful , but the service was just bananas . It certainly did not feel like a well thought out experience because of the rushed and haphazard way the food was being served. Having said that I also want to add that the P/P is very reasonable, and the amount and quality of food are really good. If they can fine tune the service to match the innovative food they serve this place would definitely be a 5 star experience . read more

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Amazing experience, the service was incredible. The food was absolutely insane I couldn't recommend this place enough. read more

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Phenomenal meal! Ernesto was very knowledgeable about wines from Mexico. We will be back for sure. The chef really hit all the flavors we've been missing! read more

The food continues to be innovative and delicious. The snap peas were our favorite dish. The crema, crunchy chili sauce, and perfect peas made this dish rich with texture and flavors. The quesadilla filled with asparagus, mushrooms, and cheese was earthy in flavor and worked perfectly with the pureed beans. The chef changes her mole recipe every week and this version did not disappoint. The halibut was cooked perfectly and the mole was exceptional. I highly recommend! read more

Definitely not a kid friendly place. The service was horrible. Never got our pan dulce (we probably were charged but we were at the point where we just wanted to leave). We arrived at 11:15 I was able to order however my husband had to wait until 11:30 for his order. I ordered Chilaquiles I ate the eggs and avocado. Husband ordered cochinita pibil. They also bring you water, which we did not drink any after seeing the server pour the left over water from 2 cups back into the jar. read more

De Noche - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ambiance was outstanding and so fun to watch the open kitchen while they prepare the plates. My husband loved all his meat dishes while I enjoyed my vegan dishes. I will say I wish they had had a vegan dessert option the night we went, but it sounds like they might sometimes? read more

It's honestly hard to find a place with a good chilaquiles. But I did enjoy La Fondita's offering. I got up sold on the egg and avocado. In all honestly could have done without the avocado. The egg yolk was over cooked imo(I prefer a runny yolk) and was kinda small for the $4 price point. But the dish itself was good. The fried corn tortillas was still crispy through the meal and all the original ingredients paired well with each other. Definitely would get again but without the egg and avocado as I don't feel the dish needed it. If you like runny yolk I suggest requesting it if you get one read more

De Noche - Chilaquiles- $16 Extras egg $4, avocado $3 - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This review is for De Noche, the restaurant inside La Fondita. Excellent upscale Mexican restaurant. They have a very interesting menu - some eight plates (más o menos) of different dishes, each designed for two people, that can be purchased as a group for the full tasting menu or individually if you want to eat less. As we had overeaten the previous night, we took it easy here and skipped a couple items. As is the norm in upscale restaurants, De Noche had a good selection of custom drinks that we worked through as we nibbled the delicious food. Because the menu changes frequently and the website doesn't keep up with the changing menu, this is from my imperfect memory: First up, tostadas made with raw (maybe "cooked" in lime?) albacore, with micro-greens and a bright tangy sauce. Next, pibil tacos that were awesome. Taquitos, one of pork and one made of potato. Mole de la dia, which was spicy hot version, almost like chile colorado. The mole bathed a piece of pork that was falling apart tender and had its own sweet flavor. This came with hand made tortillas fresh off the grill. Outstanding. We finished the meal with flan that had corn masa embedded within it. It made the flan slightly richer and with a sweet corn taste. Again, great. Our servers were warm and friendly, and very knowledgeable about all the dishes. The price for everything was reasonable for this quality of food and service. We both recommend De Noche highly and will return again ourselves. read more

A true culinary experience with a Mexican flair! We loved the facility all hip and cozy, and seating inside or outside. The drink menu was great and the food was fabulous! We ordered the entire menu for two at $138 and is was fantastic . My only complaint was they don't accept American Express? Seriously it's the only card we carry. read more

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This review is for De Noche. I loved the food, I loved the drinks and I loved the staff. It's nice to see a restaurant who's staff is not so cookie cutter. I appreciated the service - they seemed really exited to talk about their product whether it was the food or drink. I ordered a flight of mezcal and really enjoyed the explanation that came with each taste. Manny was very knowledgeable. I also had a margarita and have to say it was probably the best one I've ever had - it was really well balanced and so smooth. The food was excellent we had the quesadilla with huitlachoche which is always a treat; the torts de papa which was creamy and flavorful, and the birria tacos with amazing corn tortillas. read more

Just look at this beautiful presentation! The flavors & knowledgeable staff were incredible. The atmosphere is intimate & relaxing! Highly recommend. read more

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I cannot stress this enough, you HAVE to eat here. I am so grateful for this unplanned Thursday walk in dinner I had. The best meal I've had this year, and one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We were sat at a table by the bar, which we enjoyed. If I had to say a single negative thing about this place, it's pretty dark. But that really does not matter. The service was impeccable, every server we had was so excited to talk about the food and drink and truly SERVE us. I felt luxurious. Started off with a mezcal drink, WOO. Strong, but also refreshing! Unfortunately, we did not do the tasting menu, which I'm kicking myself for. I do love that you can order a la carte. We did the quesadilla, guisado, tacos de birria, and the tetela (at the recommendation of our server). Starting off strong with the quesadilla with huitlacoche, three types of masa, and salsa macha. Holy sh*t. This was so so so so so so sooooooooo amazing. They source their huitlacoche from PORTLAND, which is just mind blowing. If you don't know, huitlacoche is the result of a fungal disease that attacks corn. Sounds intense, but it is the most amazing meaty texture with the funk from the fungus and lingering sweetness from the corn. They partner with a mushroom company to inoculate the disease in a controlled setting. I am a nerd, this is so cool. The chef was so excited about this dish, and he really should be, because it is some of the best food money can buy. The masa was so flavorful and had the most delightful texture, and the SALSA was just nuts. I want to eat it with everything. Next was the guisado, stewed pork served on a masa dumpling with beans and a green crema. Also, just insane. The texture of the dumpling was to die for and the spice that came from the crema was just delightful. The tacos de birria, such a good take on a classic dish. I would have drank the consommé in a less fancy setting. Again, masa was just so delicious and flavorful on its own. The last thing we had was the tetela, blue corn masa stuffed with a broccoli duxelles (like, cmon, what?!) and served on a creamy salsa frita, topped with fried broccoli and pickled grapes. This was the surprising win of the night. I genuinely did not know broccoli could taste like that. So savory and delicious, the pickled grapes delivered the perfect zing to cut through it. This is a genius dish. Actually, this is a genius meal all together. I'm so mad at myself for not trying the molé, but all the reason to come back. also we ordered another quesadilla because it was that dang good. Thank you to the staff for delivering an unforgettable experience. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE YOU NEED TO BE HERE!!!! read more

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We had reservations and the restaurant only had one table occupied. There were at least three tables for two and we were told we would have to sit next to the door under the stereo speaker. We left. read more

Literally cannot say enough nice things about De Noche @ La Fondita but let me attempt to try. Husband and I were able to snag a last minute reservation as a anniversary celebration and wowow -- no regrets whatsoever. We were initially considering order ala carte but everything looked AMAZING and they were pretty darn helpful in making the menu vegetarian friendly if we chose the chef's tasting menu for two so that's what we went with. I also grabbed the Spanish '75 cocktail which was super yummy -- passionfruit and sparkling is all I needed to hear :P as a heads up there were a couple of non-alcoholic drinks that looked delicious as well! They started us off with salsa and tortillas and some delicious beans - honestly everything was ridiculously delicious from the get go. All the salsas had their own unique flavor and the tortillas were heavenly. The beans held their own aka did not need any salsa because they were seasoned SO well. Then we were hit with the most delicious, hearty soups ever -- my husband had the chicken broth sopa whereas I had a lentil based soup with some delicious veggies on the side. Everything had the perfect level of spice. Next came the oaxacan quesadilla and the tlacoyo both of which were amazing. We were hit with the tacos and tostadas next and I swear to god, what a delicious set of dishes. They were seriously so good I don't even know what to say. My husband LOVED the pork tacos and fish tostadas that he had and I was absolutely blown away from my vegetarian tacos. By this point, I was getting really full but who says no to a tetela mixteca with huitlacoche~ For the main of the day, they had a mole with either lamb or mushrooms; we had the mushrooms so I could have it as well. To be honest, I am not usually the biggest mole fan but gosh this place made me actually enjoy it. We ended dinner with a tres leches that was out of this damn world -- made me even more motivated to go check out Matutina quickly! Service was friendly, the interior was cozy, and all of the food was not only beautifully plated but also absolutely delicious. This is truly me trying to reign in everything I want to say about this place. GO GO GO. read more

The best food Mexican food in town we see this place I love it it's so good that's amazing good service good quality very friendly place I recommend you 100% to visit this place thank you read more

De Noche - Muy Rica sop's gallina negra - Mexican Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Can't recommend enough. Ordered the tasting menu with another couple (Birthday celebration). The food was amazing and priced fairly (about $70/person) for a tasting menu and quality/amount of food being served Each item they brought out was a modern and creative take on a Mexican favorite which provided a sense of comfort while still being fun. For example -- the best quesadilla you ever had. Ordered beer (which I love with Mexican food) so can't speak on wine list or cocktails. Fantastic service. Table was ready when we arrived. Food was explained when it came out but not too much. Attentive but not hovering. They made you feel very welcomed and like it was a special occasion. Ambiance was intimate. Not a place for small kids/families, but great for couples on a date and/or small group of friends. One of my favorite 3 meals in Portland in last year. read more

The chilaquiles are incredibly savory. If you cherish this dish you know you have a fifty percent chance of getting something so terrible it will scare you off. This is the real deal. Bathed in a smoky roja sauce with complexity and depth. Silky beans. Lovely presentation. Do not forget to ask for sauces. A creamy citrus tomatillo avocado. A tomato picante fresh and tangy. And a unique slightly toasted pine nut oil dip. Your taste buds will be reinvented with delight. read more