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My good God!!!! II'm hesitant to write such an obsessive review bc NOT ONLY will I look like that crazy girl from the YOU Netflix show, but now everyone will know about this FREAKING DELICOUS CAFE. I won't gatekeep! My Mom and I walked in within a half hour of them opening for the day, and there was one other table filled. The place is vibrant, colorful! Full of healthy plants! (you can judge a restaurant by how well they take care of their plants! ). The bartender/server came over and greeted us, and she asked us if it was our first time. My Mom hasn't had much of an opportunity to eat Latin food, and she dabbles meatless sometimes. The server gave her a rundown on which items might interest her and fit her flavor profile. She went above and beyond really because it is VERY EASY to become overwhelmed when trying new cuisines... I ordered rhe Gallito de Roca drink and omg it was delicious! It was an adult juice - not too sweet, very fresh and very refreshing! My Tampa Cubano sando was great! The tostones made my heart sing! Next time I'll order their ropa vieja bc not many places in PDX offer ropa vieja. You know it HAS to be good if it's on their limited menu!! I can't wait to go back.
En Vida quietly took over the former Acadia space and is delivering some of the best Latin American food in the neighborhood. The restaurant is spacious and is done up in a bright and cheerful murals and décor . There is both indoor and outdoor seating and has plenty of colors to lift up spirits even on a dark cloudy Portland day . We came for lunch on a Sunday and even though they were almost empty it took them a little time to seat us . We had walked in dreaming of Arepas but were told that they were out of it which was a bummer however by the end of our meal they brought some out and boy am I glad for that . The food took a long time to come out but the drinks kept us engaged . My husband is a big fan of chichamorada which is a purple corn drink . Its traditionally N/A but he asked for his to be made boozy and the bartender chose Pisco for him . I on the other hand stuck to a ginger soda which was such a great choice with the food we ordered . We got Tostones , Bandeja paisa and the Arepas . Food was fabulous and very generously portioned . The Bandeja Paisa is a Colombian dish from the Andean region of the country. It is a delicious recipe that contains beans, rice, plantain, chicharrón, avocado ,egg and beef/chicken . Service was friendly albeit slow . I would hundred percent recommend them if you are looking for some good colombian/Cuban food .
Very good I must say. Been about 4 times now and have liked almost everything I've tried. Plus they have a great happy hour. I stopped in for a cubano the 1st time but had to come back bc I saw a bunch of other things on the menu I wanted to try. During HH (3-6) cubano was $10 which was a pretty good deal and very tasty, just wish it was a bit more mustardy. The pulpo dog was also excellent - a tender octopus tentacle in a hot dog bun topped w/ cilantro, onions, crema and a soft boiled egg to top it off. I had to fork & knife it cause it was so hefty. The salchipapas I wasn't a fan of. It was just a bunch of roasted baby potatoes w/ a few tiny dry pieces of lil smokies sausages sprinkled throughout. I tried a couple of their specials as well - one I liked & one was meh. The veggie moqueca, a Brazilian curry, I found to be lacking in flavor. But their short rib special, Negra Postra was very rich and delicious. The sweet hunk of short rib just flaked apart and was juicy w/ a sweet but rich glaze. It was served on a bed of mashed yuccas, which just tasted like better mashed potatoes w/ bits of crushed fried plantain sprinkled around. It was topped with a tasty light creamy whip and fresh cilantro which paired very nicely w/ the other flavors. This was probably my favorite dish, but it was a limited special and a tad pricey at $28 but worth it IMO. My only other complaint is that the 1st time I went, the pico was so good - fresh, bold & spicy but the following times it seemed to have been tamed down & just tasted like every other average pico.
Came in last night with g/f for the Valentine's Day pre fixe dinner. Had a reservation, got in a bit early and were seated immediately. A nice rosé was poured and our orders were taken. This was our first time at En Vida and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The vast majority of the pre fixe dishes were good to outstanding. The only bump in the road were an unfortunate dish of raw fish combined with undercooked legumes underneath. Also, given the event, service could have been a bit better. I think we were there for almost two hours. As I've mentioned in other reviews, PDX has a wealth of dining options to explore. I'd like to give En Vida another opportunity based on the strength of many of the dishes we enjoyed that night.
Great food and service! I especially loved the Patacon Pisao with beef and absolutely recommend trying this dish if you're torn on what to try. We also ordered fresh oysters on the half shell and the Bandeja Paisa with an empanada which was plenty of food for two.
Great food, service and accommodations! The food was well put together, a little bit of a wait, but worth it for what you get and the mouth watering orgasm of flavor. The owner was very kind and helpful with ordering, especially if you're not sure what to eat. The arepas are always a go to for me. The feijoada was to die for, especially if you love black beans. Parking is street, so not too bad as well.
Everything I've had so far it's been 10 out of 10, their amazing approach to traditional South American dishes will blow your mind and taste buds with top quality ingredients you can appreciate. Amazing service and great ambience, nice music and all glass dining room. One of the best bandeja paisa I ever had, perfectly crafted, only missing the chorizo.
BEST COLOMBIAN/LATIN FOOD IN THE PNW!! We went for Saturday's Brunch, and had the arepa benedict, yuca, Gava & cheese empanada, and a Chicha drink.... wow! Everything was terrific and fried to perfection. Cute vibrant decor, great service, and ambiance. Elevated Colombian/latin food without a doubt, we've tried Colombian/latin restaurants all over Oregon and Washington and this is without a doubt the finest food experience for this cuisine in the Pacific Northwest. We'll gladly be back!
Oh my gosh I cannot speak more highly of this restaurant. I'm so blown away by how good the food was. I ordered the arepa con queso and then also the Medianoche sandwich with a side salad. Portions are big enough to share for sure. Everything is cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and you can taste the love that goes into this food! The atmosphere in very casual and comfortable. It's bright and colorful and feels full of life. You can go on your own and just have a self date or got with several friends and grab some cocktails. Service was great, everyone was so friendly and kind and I got great recommendations on what to order.
Checked out En Vida today and must say I was pleasantly surprised! For apps, we shared some chicken hearts and yuca fries. The chicken hearts were juicy and flavorful. The yuca fries were the perfect texture and the accompanying sauce and pico were both tasty and packed with a punch. For entree, I got the mapache burger without buns + chicharron. The burger was AMAZING with everything you could possibly want: fried egg, seared ham, cheese, beef patty and the chicharron is out of the world. Remember to ask for their house habanero sauce for some extra kick. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back to try the other menu items.
This is a great place to get some Cuban style food. The place is located off Ne Fremont area with a nice and bright interior. We came for dinner and it was pretty busy. We did get our drink order in while deciding on what to order. We had the "T" is For Trustworthy, a drink that is similar to an Old fashioned. We ordered the Medianoche sandwich and the Bandeja Paisa. The Medianoche was made perfectly and what you expect to get from a Cuban Sandwich. The Bandeja Paisa was an excellent entree that had a little bit of everything. The grilled steak was cooked perfectly and the sides in the dish were all great. Make sure you use their dipping sauces and if you like it spicy, ask for their special spicy sauce. Overall, we had a good time here and would come back again.
Really good food & great service. I'm not Colombian and I don't know if it's authentic, but the food was fresh and delicious. It's a small restaurant but it gives very cozy vibes. We happened to come during happy hour and we ordered a Colombian hotdog and some Tostones. Everything was delicious as well as the non-alcoholic drinks that we ordered. For our main dish, my friend and I shared the Bandeja paisa. It was really good and we wanted to try a little bit of everything so I would definitely recommend that if you want a variety of food. Check this place out if you're in Portland or near Fremont Street. Also follow me on TikTok for more Portland recommendations!
I love the vibe here! It reminds me of a combination of central and South American local neighborhoods brought into one scene. Any place with fried yucca is authentic to me! The service was extremely quick, attentive and the food was very fresh. The side salsas were excellent. I recommend ordering a Refajo on a hot day.
Enticed by all the good reviews for this place and a hankering for Latin American food, I needed to check them out. They're quiet on a Friday afternoon. Their space is very colorful and has a lot of fun energy. Their menu is pretty focused but the items all sound very tasty. We went with an Empanada of the day, The Cubano, and the Bandeja. Their focused menu certainly paid off when you see how fresh and well-executed their dishes were. The empanada of the day was a mushroom and cheese. It's made fresh so the cheese was nice and gooey. Their crust is different from what I'm used to. It seems to be a mix of maize and cornmeal rather than flour. I think it gave a nice crunchy crust and slightly chewy inside. A bit small for the price though. The Cubano was again made fresh. Bread was nice and crispy. Inside was filled with hearty meat and cheese. A solid sandwich, especially when paired with their pico de gallo. The start of the meal was easily the Bandeja. You can choose between chicken and flat iron steak for the Bandeja; we went with the steak and we weren't disappointed. It's cooked medium-rare, making the steak super tender. The outside crust was well-seasoned and flavorful. The Plato came with a lot of other tasty things like a perfect over-easy egg, rice and beans, avocado, and the best chicharron I've had. It's small but packed a punch. The outside was crispy all around while the fat layer was still melt-in-your-mouth soft. This dish had everything, perfect for sharing. The staff were attentive and friendly. Happy hour is from 3-5PM on weekdays. All in all, we had an amazing meal and will be spreading the word of their goodness for sure. read more
2 years ago
E A T. H E R E . if you're like me and maybe live nearby and have driven by or scrolled passed thinking "looks cute but I'm in 'X' or 'Y' mood right now and I'm not all that familiar with South American or Cuban etc so you put it off another day... STOP. Come here IMMEDIATELY. I popped in for brunch on a Sunday, no wait, Sat right at the bar. Vibrant bright sun filling the place, upbeat tunes playing. Handful of tables occupied. The vibes were 10/10 I pulled up a barstool and the menu had a lot of solid, tempting options. I went with a pressed Cuban sandwich topped with fried egg, bacon strips, hollandaise and sliced avocado. Had a beer and a shit, tasty. It was PERFECT. I'm coming back again, frequently, before this place POPS OFF. Gotta be a regular for me going forward. It is just GREAT!!! read more
Wow, maybe the Portland crappy trend of small portion, big price, stand in line, and bus your own stuff is coming to an end. Here, they knock it out of the park on all metrics. The coconut mocktail was super yummy. While the rum heavy Bocagrande was oh so satisfying, albeit pricy. The Snowbird (sp?) was a happy medium on price, very refreshing for hot weather. The Arepa Benedict and Torrejas (sweet toast) were excellent! Cilantro and Aji Verde condiments on point. On that note, do yourself a favor and order extra Arepas: airy goodness, one of the best versions in Portland. Their version of the classic Cubano - on Dos Hermanos bread - grades an A, one of the best I've had. Ceviche was delish, but it's not filling enough as an entree. Service was way above par, portions fair, thus overall value. Loving this place so gonna go to town on that menu. read more
My good God!!!! II'm hesitant to write such an obsessive review bc NOT ONLY will I look like that crazy girl from the YOU Netflix show, but now everyone will know about this FREAKING DELICOUS CAFE. I won't gatekeep! My Mom and I walked in within a half hour of them opening for the day, and there was one other table filled. The place is vibrant, colorful! Full of healthy plants! (you can judge a restaurant by how well they take care of their plants! ). The bartender/server came over and greeted us, and she asked us if it was our first time. My Mom hasn't had much of an opportunity to eat Latin food, and she dabbles meatless sometimes. The server gave her a rundown on which items might interest her and fit her flavor profile. She went above and beyond really because it is VERY EASY to become overwhelmed when trying new cuisines... I ordered rhe Gallito de Roca drink and omg it was delicious! It was an adult juice - not too sweet, very fresh and very refreshing! My Tampa Cubano sando was great! The tostones made my heart sing! Next time I'll order their ropa vieja bc not many places in PDX offer ropa vieja. You know it HAS to be good if it's on their limited menu!! I can't wait to go back. read more
En Vida quietly took over the former Acadia space and is delivering some of the best Latin American food in the neighborhood. The restaurant is spacious and is done up in a bright and cheerful murals and décor . There is both indoor and outdoor seating and has plenty of colors to lift up spirits even on a dark cloudy Portland day . We came for lunch on a Sunday and even though they were almost empty it took them a little time to seat us . We had walked in dreaming of Arepas but were told that they were out of it which was a bummer however by the end of our meal they brought some out and boy am I glad for that . The food took a long time to come out but the drinks kept us engaged . My husband is a big fan of chichamorada which is a purple corn drink . Its traditionally N/A but he asked for his to be made boozy and the bartender chose Pisco for him . I on the other hand stuck to a ginger soda which was such a great choice with the food we ordered . We got Tostones , Bandeja paisa and the Arepas . Food was fabulous and very generously portioned . The Bandeja Paisa is a Colombian dish from the Andean region of the country. It is a delicious recipe that contains beans, rice, plantain, chicharrón, avocado ,egg and beef/chicken . Service was friendly albeit slow . I would hundred percent recommend them if you are looking for some good colombian/Cuban food . read more
Very good I must say. Been about 4 times now and have liked almost everything I've tried. Plus they have a great happy hour. I stopped in for a cubano the 1st time but had to come back bc I saw a bunch of other things on the menu I wanted to try. During HH (3-6) cubano was $10 which was a pretty good deal and very tasty, just wish it was a bit more mustardy. The pulpo dog was also excellent - a tender octopus tentacle in a hot dog bun topped w/ cilantro, onions, crema and a soft boiled egg to top it off. I had to fork & knife it cause it was so hefty. The salchipapas I wasn't a fan of. It was just a bunch of roasted baby potatoes w/ a few tiny dry pieces of lil smokies sausages sprinkled throughout. I tried a couple of their specials as well - one I liked & one was meh. The veggie moqueca, a Brazilian curry, I found to be lacking in flavor. But their short rib special, Negra Postra was very rich and delicious. The sweet hunk of short rib just flaked apart and was juicy w/ a sweet but rich glaze. It was served on a bed of mashed yuccas, which just tasted like better mashed potatoes w/ bits of crushed fried plantain sprinkled around. It was topped with a tasty light creamy whip and fresh cilantro which paired very nicely w/ the other flavors. This was probably my favorite dish, but it was a limited special and a tad pricey at $28 but worth it IMO. My only other complaint is that the 1st time I went, the pico was so good - fresh, bold & spicy but the following times it seemed to have been tamed down & just tasted like every other average pico. read more
Came in last night with g/f for the Valentine's Day pre fixe dinner. Had a reservation, got in a bit early and were seated immediately. A nice rosé was poured and our orders were taken. This was our first time at En Vida and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The vast majority of the pre fixe dishes were good to outstanding. The only bump in the road were an unfortunate dish of raw fish combined with undercooked legumes underneath. Also, given the event, service could have been a bit better. I think we were there for almost two hours. As I've mentioned in other reviews, PDX has a wealth of dining options to explore. I'd like to give En Vida another opportunity based on the strength of many of the dishes we enjoyed that night. read more
Great food and service! I especially loved the Patacon Pisao with beef and absolutely recommend trying this dish if you're torn on what to try. We also ordered fresh oysters on the half shell and the Bandeja Paisa with an empanada which was plenty of food for two. read more
3 years ago
Great food, service and accommodations! The food was well put together, a little bit of a wait, but worth it for what you get and the mouth watering orgasm of flavor. The owner was very kind and helpful with ordering, especially if you're not sure what to eat. The arepas are always a go to for me. The feijoada was to die for, especially if you love black beans. Parking is street, so not too bad as well. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Everything I've had so far it's been 10 out of 10, their amazing approach to traditional South American dishes will blow your mind and taste buds with top quality ingredients you can appreciate. Amazing service and great ambience, nice music and all glass dining room. One of the best bandeja paisa I ever had, perfectly crafted, only missing the chorizo. read more
3 years ago
BEST COLOMBIAN/LATIN FOOD IN THE PNW!! We went for Saturday's Brunch, and had the arepa benedict, yuca, Gava & cheese empanada, and a Chicha drink.... wow! Everything was terrific and fried to perfection. Cute vibrant decor, great service, and ambiance. Elevated Colombian/latin food without a doubt, we've tried Colombian/latin restaurants all over Oregon and Washington and this is without a doubt the finest food experience for this cuisine in the Pacific Northwest. We'll gladly be back! read more
2 years ago
Oh my gosh I cannot speak more highly of this restaurant. I'm so blown away by how good the food was. I ordered the arepa con queso and then also the Medianoche sandwich with a side salad. Portions are big enough to share for sure. Everything is cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and you can taste the love that goes into this food! The atmosphere in very casual and comfortable. It's bright and colorful and feels full of life. You can go on your own and just have a self date or got with several friends and grab some cocktails. Service was great, everyone was so friendly and kind and I got great recommendations on what to order. read more
2 years ago
Checked out En Vida today and must say I was pleasantly surprised! For apps, we shared some chicken hearts and yuca fries. The chicken hearts were juicy and flavorful. The yuca fries were the perfect texture and the accompanying sauce and pico were both tasty and packed with a punch. For entree, I got the mapache burger without buns + chicharron. The burger was AMAZING with everything you could possibly want: fried egg, seared ham, cheese, beef patty and the chicharron is out of the world. Remember to ask for their house habanero sauce for some extra kick. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back to try the other menu items. read more
4 years ago
This is a great place to get some Cuban style food. The place is located off Ne Fremont area with a nice and bright interior. We came for dinner and it was pretty busy. We did get our drink order in while deciding on what to order. We had the "T" is For Trustworthy, a drink that is similar to an Old fashioned. We ordered the Medianoche sandwich and the Bandeja Paisa. The Medianoche was made perfectly and what you expect to get from a Cuban Sandwich. The Bandeja Paisa was an excellent entree that had a little bit of everything. The grilled steak was cooked perfectly and the sides in the dish were all great. Make sure you use their dipping sauces and if you like it spicy, ask for their special spicy sauce. Overall, we had a good time here and would come back again. read more
2 years ago
Really good food & great service. I'm not Colombian and I don't know if it's authentic, but the food was fresh and delicious. It's a small restaurant but it gives very cozy vibes. We happened to come during happy hour and we ordered a Colombian hotdog and some Tostones. Everything was delicious as well as the non-alcoholic drinks that we ordered. For our main dish, my friend and I shared the Bandeja paisa. It was really good and we wanted to try a little bit of everything so I would definitely recommend that if you want a variety of food. Check this place out if you're in Portland or near Fremont Street. Also follow me on TikTok for more Portland recommendations! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I love the vibe here! It reminds me of a combination of central and South American local neighborhoods brought into one scene. Any place with fried yucca is authentic to me! The service was extremely quick, attentive and the food was very fresh. The side salsas were excellent. I recommend ordering a Refajo on a hot day. read more
3 years ago
Absolutely amazing brunch! Arepo Benedict, Huevos Pericos, Torrejas, and Praline Bacon were all incredible! Forgot to photograph their mocktail, Tasty Little Coconutty Drinky, but it was also delicious. Coffee was great too. If I HAD to complain, the Bloody Mary was just ok, I would've loved more spice, but our server told us it was the first one she's made so I'm not sure if it was a good representation. And it was good!! Just not as amazing as everything else. read more
2 years ago
Such delicious moqueca and yuca fries. Portions are generous and service is friendly. There are lots of nice drinks like mojitos and margaritas and caipirinhas. And you can order French press coffee with a guava cheese pastry for dessert. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The ambiance was nice, the waiters were a little too attentive but service was fast, and the food was good but not amazing. The yucca fries were really good, but the avocado on my bandeja vegetariana was brown, and that tuned me off since you eat with your eyes first. I guess I would expect a fresh avocado for $17. Everything else was really good. Tostones didn't come out with the plate and we had to ask for it separately and they're a little over cooked. Overall a good place and worth a try. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Phenomenal experience. Top notch food, atmosphere, and wait staff. Have been here multiple times, and every time is an amazing experience all around. I always take my out of town guests here, as the food is always superb. Definitely a lifetime customer! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
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4 years ago
The food is always excellent. The drinks are inventive and exciting. Have always been met with a friendly face. This is one of those spots in Portland that you know will be so busy a year from now that you won't be able to walk in and get a table. Enjoy it now while you can get in without a wait. read more
3 years ago
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3 years ago
Found this restaurant on google and decided to come eat here for my mothers birthday. There seems to be only street parking but not too hard to find somewhere to park. The place is very cozy and inviting. One of the staff members greeted us and made a table for us because there was 7 of us. He answered all our questions and was very friendly. Once our appetizers came out they were gone in 5 seconds. It was so good!! We ordered salchipapas and tostones (patacones ) and it was delicious!! I myself had a bandeja paisa and the meat was delicious and seasoned well. It also came with an arepa that's not pictured. I definitely recommend checking it out !! I will be back again (: read more
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