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Jefe Juan's

4.7 (33 reviews)

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Ceiling decor
Shuné D.

This is among one of the many gems within this back alley bar/restaurant street known as Wharf Street in Portland, Maine. Decided to come here for a quick bite to eat - tacos and a drink. This cozy bar is lined with money decor and great ambient music. This place was a vibe! The tacos were fire! I had a passionfruit margarita and it was perfect! I would do it again. I can say that this bar is a clean environment also, as they happen to be cleaning the floors and back bar area halfway into our visit there. The bartender was personable and friendly. This place hit the spot after a full day of on foot exploring.

Pork tacos
Candice C.

This is a hidden jewel. Pork tacos are the best in the world! Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Not to be missed

Pork tacos
Alexa H.

Went on a Sunday night not too busy but not empty. They had football playing and played baseball later in the night. They had an amazing deal on delicious tacos only $6 for 3!!! That's a crazy deal. My marg was only $9 which is also crazy now a days. Great first place for us in Portland! The bar tender was also very great!

Sign and pin your dollar bills.
Maitina M.

Relatively new bar that opened right when COVID hit. We decided to swing by on a whim for some drinks. The bartender was nice and attentive. The place had a rustic look to it. It was rich with signed one dollar bills that we partook in. The alley it's in is quite quaint. It's lined up with bars and restaurants. Definitely worth a visit, especially if the intent is to bar hop.

Ranch Water & Paloma

Really nice little dive on Wharf St. Andrew is the best bartender - a friendly face and a great cocktail.

a burrito on a plate with a side of condiments
Diane R.

Fabulous hole in the wall with the best burritos and margaritas!!! Love the old port vibe.

El Jefe Margarita and the special Spicy Mango Margarita.
Robyn D.

Amazing atmosphere and drinks! Very welcoming and clean safe environment! I will be back!

two cocktails on a bar
Linda D.

Such an awesome place. Super chill staff (Sarah makes the best margs), awesome music, and AMAZING drinks... what more do you need? If you are looking for a non fancy spot to hang out, definitely check it out!

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Soooo good. Can't miss this place and the ras margs. Also got a cute bartender with a beard.

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6 years ago

Lobster burrito??? Absolutely unreal, best thing to be had in Portland. Excellent atmosphere and phenomenal staff. 10/10

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

Bartender was super cool and she was well skilled at making the drinks. We just had the chips and guac, but the drinks we had were amazing.

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

The bartender was awesome and the food was even better. Simple menu done to perfect! Will definitely be back!

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Taco Escobarr - El Nino Nachos with El Jefe Margarita

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3.9(783 reviews)
0.4 mi•Arts District, Old Port
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Taco Escobar…read more Bartenders and wait staff were excellent. There were constantly people cleaning. Our food came out quick, hot and delicious. We ordered the Mexican corn (comes on the cob with a delicious spicy mayo sauce), two deep fried gauc tacos (super interesting taste but I'm not a fan of hot avocados I have decided) and enchiladas. Oh and a marg! Inside was busy but not overly loud and the decor was fun, Mexican themed and most importantly, clean! I would recommend to anyone wanting a quick bite!

Ever since I regularly started to visit Portland a few years back, multiple friends who had also…read morevisited the city had recommended Taco Escobarr. I had never taken them up on their recommendation in the past, though, as I don't find Mexican food in the Northeast to be anything special - and I'm not really in the mood for it when in Maine. However, I was looking to try some new (to me) spots this past trip, and was in the mood for Mexican, so I decided to check it out for dinner. Escobarr is located on Congress Street - I had always been told this is a super popular spot however when I arrived on a Wednesday evening it was only half full so I easily snatched a seat at the bar. The interior is fun - the vibes are relaxed and the decor is just enough to let you know you're in a Mexican restaurant without being too over the top. The aesthetic highlights for me was the large string of pepper lights hanging from the ceiling, and the bangin' millennial playlist they were playing. I decided to start with a margarita, because Mexican restaurant. They have a variety of flavors but I went simple with their signature one. It was pretty good, nothing too noteworthy but a solid marg nonetheless. As suggested by the name, the star of the menu is tacos - they have a good variety of fillings, and can be purchased a la carte or in combination with sides. They also have a few non-taco offerings, though less than a standard Mexican restaurant - this is mainly a taco joint. I decided on three tacos - chicken, chorizo, and al pastor, and ordered a side of beans. Food came out super fast, and overall my meal was fine. These weren't the best tacos I've had, but they did hit the spot and the filling was generous. The side of beans was fine as well - they were beans. Note that chips and salsa are not obligatory here, kinda odd but maybe that's just their thing. After another round and some nice conversation with some other patrons and the staff, I made my way. Service was great - the staff were super fun and engaging with each other and the customers. That, along with the fun vibes are the reasons I feel one would come to Taco Escobarr. The food is just fine, but the overall experience was good. Would I return for the vibes alone? Perhaps, but I'm not running back.

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Guerrero Maya Mexican Restaurant - Table side Guacamole is a must!!

Guerrero Maya Mexican Restaurant

4.2(310 reviews)
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The food was very good. I had the 2 enchilada plate with rice and beans. I rarely ever eat…read moreeverything on my plate but this was excellent. The food came out piping hot. Our server was wearing oven mitts so I knew this was going to be good. Thank you for the good and kind service. Our server was a sweetheart and very attentive. We went kind of early for dinner so there weren't too many people there and I was surprised because the food is very good. You can tell they aren't using a microwave and the sauces are not out of a jar. Thanks for being there. The restaurant business is tough and you seem to be doing it right.

This was some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. The portions were insane and everything we…read moreate was delicious. Service was good, everyone who works there is very friendly. I ordered the veggie quesadillas and they were amazing. They were filled with roasted squash and carrots aside from the usual peppers and onions so they were way more filling than the usual veggie quesadilla, and the veggies had great seasoning. Husband got the steak burrito and he loved it. The portion sizes were massive. We both took home enough for another meal. Plantains were good. We especially loved the complimentary sopapilla-esque bites of cinnamon sugar tortillas with whipped cream and cherry sauce which were provided at the end of our meal. There was one per person and it was a nice sweet light bite to end the meal.

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Sal De La Tierra - Chicken burrito

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0.4 mi•Arts District, Old Port, West End

Updated review for the Salterito food truck in the parking lot of Allspeed on Brighton Ave. The…read morecarnitas burrito and Three Amigos tacos (1 chicken, 1 pork, 1 steak) tasted very good! I could've done without the lettuce in the burrito, and I did remove 1 star because it was falling apart when I got home and I ended up having to use my own (store bought) tortilla, which was disappointing after paying $17 for a burrito. Even so, everything was super flavorful! Tacos would be my recommendation to others. I also very much appreciate that the food is all authentic and handmade, they had picnic tables in the shade for seating, and the chef was welcoming and happy to explain the menu options.

Saw this food truck on Brighton the other day and had to make a quick turn in to the parking lot to…read morescore myself some Latin cuisine! I have heard great things and was really hoping they had pupusas available on the truck... but no such luck. Only tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. That's ok because the very kind gentleman on the truck made the 3 Amigos sound really good! It's one pork, one beef, and one chicken taco on homemade tortillas with the standard fixings - onion, cilantro, guac, and salsa. I will say that the homemade tortillas are very good, though different than most I've had. They are soft to the point of almost being creamy? Very very rich, reminded me of the base of a sope. The meats were absolutely delicious and grilled and full of flavor. I loved both the pork and the beef, though the fattiness could've used an extra lime or two. I took one bite of the chicken taco and got a couple little bones, so I didn't eat the rest of that one. The sauces were good, though I was told one of the sauces was VERY VERY hot and I didn't detect a lot of spiciness from it. I think overall, I could've used double garnish, double lime, and a lot of extra heat. There are no prices on the board so I was thinking three tacos would come to like $10 - $12. Turns out they are $20 before tax, holy moley. I admit that my expectations were high before I even took a bite, because that price point is a little crazy. I am super curious about the brick and mortar because I'm sure it's a different experience with the food truck. These tacos were definitely tasty enough to do some more research!

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Terlingua - Terlingua board

Terlingua

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Food is amazing. You can smell the BBQ around the whole block. Servers are friendly and…read moreknowledgeable about their menu. Great place to sit outside on a nice day or inside if you want. Top tier tequila available and seasonal fun drinks. This is a place you should not miss

First night and meal in Portland Maine and we started off at Terlingua. We had a large group so we…read moreended up doing the family style dinner which was $55 a person but let me tell you, you get some much food. We started of with what they called snacks... That being Chip, Guacamole, and Salsa. I will say I was a bag fan of the Guacamole. I was very was seasoned and very fresh. So for the mains them Family Style comes with Smoked Prime Brisket, Pork Shoulder (Pulled Pork), and the Rotating Daily BBQ which for us I believe were Burnt Ends which are one of my favorites. For the side we had Mac & Cheese Cornbread w/ Honey Butter, House BBQ Sauce & Spicy Vinegar with Pickles and Salad. To start with the sides that Mac & Cheese was really good but the winner was for the the Cornbread with the Honey Buter. The 2 just paired together so well. For the mains my favorites were the Smoked Prime Brisket and the Burnt Ends. The Brisket was good., probably not in my top 3 all time but for sure a must try. The Burnt Ends were also very good. You can't always get Burnt Ends but when you can it's for sure a must. We really enjoyed Terlingua and can't thank the staff enough for working with us for this event. For sure a must stop in Portland when you have a big party. Just plan ahead because they are so helpful to work with.

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Exceptional brunch in Portland! From the vibe to the service and the food and drinks, this place…read moreticks all the boxes! They take reservations, even for breakfast/brunch, and I highly recommend making one, especially if you'd like a spot on their very-cool covered patio. Even if you don't, and even if you have to wait a few mins for a seat, don't be deterred - it's so worth it! The feeling inside feels like a celebration of culture, like a Mexican restaurant got a glow-up. Big comfy booths invite you to sit and stay a while. The menu is small but thoughtful and the drinks, from the horchata and cold brew to the cocktails, are nicely curated and feature delightfully unique and seasonal ingredients. My mango coffee cocktail was nothing I would've ordered on my own but I took a recommendation from the bartender and was blown away by how well the flavors played together. Anything you get to eat will be exceptional. If I'm not mistaken, this is the sister restaurant to Teralingua. If you know anything about their brisket, you have a slight idea of what delights await you! Most recently, we tried the brisket grilled cheese birria-style, with consomme on the side for dipping. Let me tell you, my eyes rolled so far back in my head, I lost a contact lens. The service, even at the bar, was wonderful - Jenny was friendly but chill, helpful, quick. A sheer delight during times when great service seems like a relic of the past. We always leave stuffed with a smile on our face.

Had an amazing breakfast meal here. We were just walking by and decided to stop in and see what it…read morewas all about. There was such a cozy and texmex vibe. We sat at the bar and just got a couple dishes off the menu. The food was vibrant, full of flavor. The service at the bar was awesome too, very attentive, great recommendations. But this is a must stop. Parking is just on the street, and if you come during the week, it's a bit quieter. We will be back.

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Jefe Juan's - mexican - Updated October 2026

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