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En Vida PDX

4.8 (44 reviews)

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Cubano Sandwich $10 (during HH)
Sean R.

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.

Colorful, vibrant bar and restaurant with REAL plants!
Chels O.

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.

a woman sitting at a bar
Rashi T.

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 .

Valentine's Day menu
Bubba Y.

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.

Bandeja paisa
David C.

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.

Patacon pisao
Ariel W.

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.

Feijoada
Anthony C.

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.

Arepa con queso
Thesla L.

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.

Cornell N.

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!

Colombian hotdog
Ashley R.

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!

Wen Q.

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.

Drinks Menu (Nov 22)
Charlie T.

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.

Hanna C.

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.

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3 years ago

Wow! The food was outstanding and the cocktails are creative and made with care. Will definitely be back to try the hot dog!

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2 years ago

Super fresh and tasty. Friendly server. Cool art and nice big windows- I'm a fan. Also gluten free options

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3 years ago

Delicious food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff, coconut pineapple drinkies. Gluten free options. Two thumbs up!

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Ask the Community - En Vida PDX

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I came here for brunch and to check out their offering for the Mercury's Sandwich Week and I was…read morenot disappointed! The food cart is located in a little gated square, along with several other carts. The central dining area is great-- space is plentiful, there are tented and untented tables, and it is very clean. The food cart space is located on Albina, which means you can easily make an afternoon of your outing. There are a ton of small shops and boutiques around with pretty much anything you can imagine. Chubby Bunny doesn't have anyone outside to take your order. Instead, you order on a big tablet and they text you when your food is ready. I'll admit I actually hate ordering on tablets because I miss getting to chat with a human being, but that was the only negative thing about this experience and I know a lot of people vastly prefer the no contact options. I got the Sandwich Week Breakfast Sandwich (fake eggs and meat with a spicy sauce on a pretzel bun) and a hash brown. It was INCREDIBLE. I was a little skeptical to try the fake eggs (I am a vegetarian, not a vegan), but I couldn't tell a difference at all. I get why they call themselves "accidentally vegan"-- it absolutely tasted like the real deal. The sandwich was large, flavorful, and the sauce had such an excellent zing. The hash brown was perfectly crispy. This was a great meal and for $10, it was a great deal too. We will absolutely return.

I saw that it was sandwich week in Portland this week. I love the affordable food themes that have…read morebeen going on! I did a filter for which restaurants are offering a vegan sandwich for $10! I have heard of Chubby Bunny, but until now, I have not tried them out. They are a food truck located in a pod on Alberta Street. I was able to park close by in the neighborhood. When I entered the pod, I found Chubby Bunny right away. I was planning on paying with cash, but I saw a sign to use the kiosk. The kiosk was handy, but pay with a card. I thought oh well. But when I went to the window, I saw a sign to ring the bell if you were picking up an order, paying cash or had questions. I decided to get another sandwich to go, so I rang the bell and paid cash for it. When my first sandwich was ready, they called my name. I sat at a small outdoor table next to the food truck. The Nice Bunny, which was the special for sandwich week, was really good! It consisted of Fried Spamm, egg, melted provolone cheese, Creole mustard, on a toasted pretzel bun. 100% Secretly Vegan. It was really satisfying! I definitely plan on returning to try other menu items!

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RELEASE THE RECIPE FOR THAT AÏOLI!!…read more I ordered the vegan roasted turkey and I will say this HANDS DOWN THE BEST VEGAN SANDWICH IVE HAD TO DATE. It was beautifully presented fully loaded and extremely filling. I was able to eat half a sandwich and save the rest for later. I will say I had my roommate grab the order so I can't comment on anything else but MAN. it's been about a month and I haven't stopped thinking about it. I had to come in here and say something delicious!

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En Vida PDX - latin - Updated May 2026

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